planning vacations. family style. one 3.6 year old, one 4 month old(at time of travel)
we're looking to do a few days on the gulf, and a few on the east coast. we have friends outside orlando for a pit stop/overnight in the middle.
the main attraction on the gulf side is the homosassa national park with the manatees. so things around there besides that are needed(stop in and bug Karl?)
the east coast we were going to go as far south as palm bay and work up from there. we may not even go that far south. wife wants to go to st augustine, and the kid loves space so we were thinking about taking him to the kennedy space center. i have not been there in years.
disney out of the question. prefer to spend most of the time near the water. tampa bores me.
fill in the blanks with attractions, restaurants, karting places near my destinations. go!
Manatees are usually at the power plant that time of year I think, try clearwater st pete, the beaches are nice and theres that aquarium with the dolphin movie star.
did the aquarium 5 years ago.
Ok just saw karting, theres a great track south of the skyway bridge palmetto fl www.andersenracepark.com
NOHOME
SuperDork
10/5/14 7:03 p.m.
Done the manatee swim twice and it is one of my favorite things that I have done in FL. Kids are still too young. Tampa St. Pete's area has the Lawrey Zoo.
If you are into the outdoors, Mosquito Lagoon is just North of the Space Center, and absolutely teeming with wildlife. Renting a boat / guide is easy, and you are bound to see dolphin, sea turtles, tons of fish / birds etc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito_Lagoon
A bit North of the lagoon is New Smyrna Beach, which is a quaint surfing town without the seediness of Daytona. NSB is a good place to have lunch, or hang out for the day. Crabby Chris's Crab Shack is a great choice!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crabby-Chris-Italian-Ice-And-Crab-Shack/421872134537906
http://nsbfla.com/
Driving North, you'll pass through Daytona (stop by GRM office?) and then head up along Beach St. through Tomoka State Park and the "Loop". Trees form a canopy over your head, and the forest opens up to expansive wetlands--- it's a very nice drive-- and on the way to St. Augustine. Take A1A from the Loop to St. Augustine---it's much prettier than the highway, and only takes an extra 20 minutes or so.
http://www.ormondscenicloopandtrail.com/
Have fun! 
jstand
Reader
10/6/14 12:08 p.m.
On the west past theres a couple that might've worth researching:
Weeki Wachee state park for the mermaids. Never been, but seemed interesting (in a see it before it's gone kind of way) when I saw it in one of the travel shows.
Weeki Wachee
Another aquarium, but probably with checking out the website is the Mote aquarium.
Mote.org
jstand wrote:
On the west past theres a couple that might've worth researching:
Weeki Wachee state park for the mermaids. Never been, but seemed interesting (in a see it before it's gone kind of way) when I saw it in one of the travel shows.
Weeki Wachee
Another aquarium, but probably with checking out the website is the Mote aquarium.
Mote.org
those are both worth it, we did them the last time we were down there.
i the little baby is going to determine much of the attractions that are attended.
