Holidaying from Orlando
Author
Discussion

NorthDave

Original Poster:

2,525 posts

253 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Hi All

My nephew is studying in Orlando and I have said I will go over to see him for a week or two during his holidays. Only problems are his parents are there this week (so he will have done a load of Orlando based tourist stuff) and I was also there a couple of years so feel like I have seen the area too.

Has anyone got any inspiration? We are both foodies so I wondered about flying (or driving, or trains) to Texas kind of area but I am very much open to ideas.

We are close but obviously a 21 year old and a 46 year old might have different partying requirements :-)

a311

6,182 posts

198 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Some ideas, with the caveat it's been a few years since I've been to some of these myself and trends and places can change in relatively short period.

Austin and San Antonio.

Austin: Known for its vibrant food truck scene, world-class BBQ, and live music. Check out Franklin Barbecue, local food trucks, and some of the craft breweries around the city.

San Antonio: Just a short drive away, it has a more historic vibe with the River Walk and a strong Tex-Mex food culture.

Travel: You could fly from Orlando to Austin or even do a road trip to see more of the South.

New Orleans

Food: A must for food lovers, with Cajun and Creole cuisine, beignets, and fresh seafood. Dining experiences like Commander's Palace and Cafe du Monde are iconic.

Atmosphere: A younger vibe with live jazz, unique bars, and historical charm. You could explore the French Quarter and take a food or cocktail tour.

Travel: It’s about a 10-hour drive from Orlando, so either a scenic road trip or a quick flight.

Charleston

Food: Known for Southern cuisine, you’d have options like shrimp and grits, Lowcountry oysters.

Atmosphere: Charming historic streets, beautiful beaches nearby, and a relaxed nightlife.

Nashville

Food and Music: Nashville’s hot chicken, BBQ, and live country music make it a vibrant foodie and cultural destination.

Vibe: Plenty of young energy in the city, along with local distilleries and breweries.

Travel: You could fly or drive, making stops in Atlanta or Chattanooga if you want to split up the trip.

Travel: It’s a bit closer to Orlando, so driving could be fun, giving you the chance to stop in Savannah, Georgia, along the way.

NorthDave

Original Poster:

2,525 posts

253 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
That is fantastic and much appreciated!! I'll do some research.

I did a week in New Orleans last time I went and enjoyed it but I was there a bit too long. Great food though!

Sway

33,165 posts

215 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
You could head out from the common tourist spots but stay in Florida...

St Pete's/Tampa is very nice, lots of great restaurants too. I'm a huge fan of Sanford as a hidden gem, and heading over to Wekiwa Springs or Crystal River for a paddleboard/kayak is soul enriching.

If you've not done Kennedy Space Centre, then that's an absolute must, especially if there's a launch (which thanks to Musk is very common).

LHRFlightman

2,178 posts

191 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
Sway said:
You could head out from the common tourist spots but stay in Florida...

St Pete's/Tampa is very nice, lots of great restaurants too. I'm a huge fan of Sanford as a hidden gem, and heading over to Wekiwa Springs or Crystal River for a paddleboard/kayak is soul enriching.

If you've not done Kennedy Space Centre, then that's an absolute must, especially if there's a launch (which thanks to Musk is very common).
Lots of damage from Hurricane Helene on the west coast of Florida. I'd avoid that area,.or at least research the current situation.

Sway

33,165 posts

215 months

Friday 4th October 2024
quotequote all
LHRFlightman said:
Lots of damage from Hurricane Helene on the west coast of Florida. I'd avoid that area,.or at least research the current situation.
Fair shout - OP wasn't clear on how soon they'll be going over.

I was trapped in a hotel room during Ian, then was in a light aircraft flying over Fort Myers a couple of months later. Lots of 'blue roofs' where they were still covered with tarps. St Pete's is rich enough to bounce back quickly ime though.

The US is really st at this stuff though.

coach

1,110 posts

273 months

Saturday 5th October 2024
quotequote all
St Augustine is lovely! Great bar there called Pierres. Loads of restaurants. Oldest US city I think (so they say on all the tourist bits)

P2KKA

283 posts

81 months

Saturday 5th October 2024
quotequote all
If you like games and craft beers this place is ok for an evening

https://player1orlando.com/

It was a while ago I went, but we paid to get in and that covered most of the arcade cabinets and free console games. They had something silly like 100 different beers on tap.