Florida's Fearsome Fivesome: More reasons to Rent a Car
4/10/2008 8:58:45 AM
Florida is a long, narrow state
filled with large cities and accessible roads to those cities. If you
have landed in Florida and are not sure what to do, I'd suggest renting
a car and start driving. In fact, Florida lends itself to car
rentals more than any other state, with the exception possible of
California. A fun game plan would be to fly into Miami and work your
way north or fly into Tampa and work your way south—hence flying out of
a different city than you flew into.
I-75 is the road that runs north/south along the Gulf of Mexico, while
I-95 is the highway that runs north/south along the Atlantic Ocean. If
I were to visit Florida for a week or more, I'd fly and rent a car in Tampa, hop
over to Orlando in your rental vehicle and
then head south using either 1-95 or just take the turnpike, which is a
toll road but may save some time. 1-95 runs closer to the east coast,
so if you think you may want to explore some of the many historically
rich beach towns along the coast, take 1-95.
From Tampa you take I-4 East to Orlando
(takes less than an hour). Tampa and Orlando are cross town rivals
of sorts, with Orlando claiming Disney and Tampa is the proud owner
of the NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the 2009 Super Bowl.
Tampa is most recognized for Ybor city, which is a nightly hotspot
filled with bars and restaurants. Orlando also has an active downtown,
which is always good for
live music and a fun time. It can be said that Orlando is the
“cleaner” city, while Tampa is more unique than it's mouse trapped
neighbor.
In Tampa around late January the Gasparilla Pirate Festival takes
place, which is kind of like a Marti Gras.
Once visiting Tampa and Orlando, I would recommend driving your rental
car south to West Palm Beach for a night. Along
the way you'll pass Sebastian Inlet, which is home to some of the best
surfing and fishing Florida has to offer. West Palm is also known for
their water endeavors, along with some of the best restaurants and has
plenty to do. You could say West Palm is like a mini-Fort Lauderdale,
which is a mini-Miami. After checking out West Palm it's time to
graduate to Ft. Lauderdale, sitting less than
an hour south. Lauderdale is home to an active airport and a vibrant,
diverse population. The Marriott Harbor Beach Resort is a popular place
to stay beach side. The Culture Room and Voodoo Lounge are among the
popular nightlife spots and the restaurant options are unlimited. Hugh
Taylor Birch State Park is a great place to take the family and Las
Olas Boulevard and Sawgrass Mills are great places to shop.
Now that you've gotten Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach and Ft.
Lauderdale out of the way, it's time to take a deep breathe and brace
yourself for the city that has been called a different state of it's
own, Miami. South Beach is the most
famous destination in Miami, FL for sure. You could visit the city for
a week and sit on the same spot at the beach and never get bored. In
fact, many of the locals do this every day anyways and seem perfectly
content with their lives. If forced to break down a couple places in
particular to visit I'd say for family fun check out the Vizcaya Museum
and Gardens, for a great dinner eat at Joe's Stone Crab and for a good
time at night check out Skybar or Di Lido Beach Club (don't forget your
credit card!). Miami is also set to host the college football 2009 BCS National Championship.
Whew, I hope you had a good time. Florida is home to the most unique
wildlife preserves and diverse populations in the United States and
this drive, totaling about 5-6 hours in all, will allow you to see it
all (with the exceptions of Jacksonville and Panama City that are in
the northern part of state). And oh yeah, last but not least; golf
courses. They are everywhere and they are beautiful. Just make sure
before you hit the tees you first remember the suntan lotion or else
the back 9 could get uncomfortable.
If you have not had enough, somehow, drive your car to the keys and
visit the southern most point in the United States at Key West. Duval
Street is the most laid back good time around and it's just a stones
throw from our Cuban neighbors.
Helpful tip:
Check out Coupon
Car Rental opportunities to save money and explore every
avenue the city has to offer. Joining the E-Z rewards program can save big
money.
