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10-day itinerary in S. Florida would be....`

Boston...
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10-day itinerary in S. Florida would be....`
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My husband and I are planning a 8 nights/10 day trip in early March and want to take in the following, if possible (in order of importance): the Everglades (biggest draw), the Keys, kicking back by the water (Sanibel? Marco Island? the Keys?) fly-fishing, a horse race, and a Red Sox game.

I don't have a sense of driving times. Airfare / car rental are better if Ft. Myers for start and end (from Boston), but perhaps that's not practical and we should use Miami, too.

Prefer to be off the beaten track at least some of the time (possible?) and would choose large, new, modern only if I didn't expect to be there much (e.g. between day trips or en route). Old, funky, charming (and clean!) is best. Shopping is not a draw, can be active, adventurous. Budget is moderate, but can include a splurge or two. Will be joined by another couple for the Everglades segment(s).

I know this is a BIG question, and an answer to any part of this would be great. Please help save me from obsessive Web searching!

Edited: 13 years ago
Ft.Myers Beach,FL
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1. Re: 10-day itinerary in S. Florida would be....`
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Nice Trip, remember early March is "season" and spring break so there will be traffic. Check out http://www.airboateverglades.com for an awesome airboat ride and history trip, take the Totch's Island Tour, all guides are locals and will point out things "we" don't see. Awesome and a GR8 memory. the Keys are unique, you'll want to hit Duvall St in Key West and do "the Duvall crawl" and at sunset Mallory Square comes alive...I would also check out Ft. Myers Beach, we are a quaint little 7 mile Island with white sugar sand and good shelling. Excellant restaurants,bars,live entertainment, shops and sunsets. You'll be in Ft. Myers for the Red Sox so don't miss our piece of paradise.

Florida
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2. Re: 10-day itinerary in S. Florida would be....`
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You have probably figured out that the Everglades have two main lodging/access areas. One, Everglades City, is on the west coast near Ft. Myers. You could fly into FM, catch the game, relax on the beach and then head over to Everglades City for a couple of nights. (Look at the lodging there - I think it's what you are looking for!)

From EC, you would want to explore the water part of the Everglades. Then take Tamiami Trail across to the Keys, stopping at Clyde Butchers gallery and Shark Valley. If you want more Everglades. Spend the night in Florida City. Or keep going to Islamorada. Fly fishing capital of the world.

Not quite in Islamorada but a nice place is Dove Creek Lodge. It was built as a fishing lodge and has guides available. Then on to KW for a couple of days.

Back to FM for another night and then home. If you could fly out of Miami, that would cut a few hours off the drive but it's not that big a deal.

Vero Beach, Florida
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I suspect the Ft Myers air fare justifies making a circle trip.

Think about getting a nature-oriented guidebook. Roger Hammer, an excellent naturalist, wrote the Falcon Guide to the Everglades.

Thee are some very nice places to visit on or near the Gulf coast, including Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Rookery Bay, Lovers Key State Park, Collier-Seminole State Park, Sanibel-Captiva, and so on. Sanibel is an unusual combination of low-key development and a much-visited National Wildlife Refuge (more visitors than Everglades National Park).

The Everglades City entrance to Everglades National Park is the main one, justifying at least a full day. Key Largo is worth a day too--the State Park system has several properties, including one accessible only by boat.

I worry that Key West may be overrated. It's a classic case of gentrification. The Conchs have largely been priced out, and have emigrated to places like Ocala. They've been replaced by people you might see in Aspen.

As has been noted, you will be in high season, so your itinerary may be dictated to some extent by finding within-budget lodgings.

Note that, with some exceptions, funky/charming is NOT what Florida does. With few exceptions, urban growth is such that older areas are left to decay, or are demolished if the location's desirable. Central Punta Gorda (north of Ft Myers) was pretty much wrecked by a hurricane in 2004. Tiny Everglades City is indeed funky.

Marco Island is an artificial landscape created by dredging and bulldozing, much like Ft. Lauderdale. Anything funky would probably be a code violation.

Boston...
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Thank you, everyone, for such informative responses. So, I guess we'll trade 'funky' for 'small and low-key' in terms of our lodging search!

5. Re: 10-day itinerary in S. Florida would be....`

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