Ten Days in Florida - Road Trip

[Mazdarese]

Right, booked tomorrow night at Pine Island

[Ross1988]

I'm currently on a road trip in Florida, In Tampa currently, only for 1 night though. Busch Gardens is our destination.

[Ross1988]

P.S The shooting range at east orange sports shooting was awesome, In Orlando. If that is your thing.

[egor110]

I'm thinking of doing a road trip in florida but i'd like to watch some basketball so would want to visit
orlando, miami and jacksonville for there college team.
What sort of distances are involved , would i be able to stay in the keys and travel to miami just for the game or is it to far?

[Mazdarese]

Ross1988 said:

P.S The shooting range at east orange sports shooting was awesome, In Orlando. If that is your thing.

Yeah quite fancy that, will look it up if we get time!

Just having lunch in Ocala. Saw a bear earlier, crossed the road in front of us!

[Mazdarese]

So, it seems there are two "Pine Islands" in Florida.

The one we had booked accommodation at, and the one 200 miles further north that we travelled to

We ended up diverting to Clearwater, where it is now raining, thundering and lightning.

[sussexjob]

Drive up to South Carolina and then realise that Florida is a sithole of a state, and that Orlando is where the tube is inserted.

[Mazdarese]

Yeah, real sthole.

[Matt Harper]

sussexjob said:

Drive up to South Carolina and then realise that Florida is a sithole of a state, and that Orlando is where the tube is inserted.

This, from a travel writer?
What a plonker.

[Mazdarese]

Matt Harper said:

This, from a travel writer?
What a plonker.

We are hoping to get to the drag strip in Orlando on Friday night

[sussexjob]

Matt Harper said:

This, from a travel writer?
What a plonker.

Having relocated to South Carolina after living in the Keys for a number of years I was somewhat annoyed that I'd actually thought FL was heaven on earth, in refection the white rumble strip freeways, neon signs, over ground wiring combined with the highest percentage in USA of Days Inn's has taken it's toll on the sunshine state and left it looking tacky at best.

With Orlando (not the city)being the industrial soulless high volume hotel capital of the world combined with International drive seemingly having taken the track suit/fast food crown I'd rather visit Las Vegas for a night out.

Whereas in SC from Table Rock in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the wide sandy beaches has most the breathtaking coastline, The cobblestone streets of historic Charleston combined with the golf of Augusta is a class act, and with all those outlet's discreetly hidden away behind manicured hedges I felt that I'd been teleported from Brixton High Street to overlooking Regents Park without any extra cost.

Edited by sussexjob on Monday 12th September 09:10

[Adenauer]

Mazdaarse, go and check out Cape Coral for me please, we have a Villa with a speedboat booked for two weeks there next year

[Mazdarese]

Adenauer said:

Mazdaarse, go and check out Cape Coral for me please, we have a Villa with a speedboat booked for two weeks there next year

Nice! We're currently about ten miles west of there, on Pine Island.

[Mazdarese]

Last night's rather nice sunset.

[Matt Harper]

sussexjob said:

in refection the white rumble strip freeways, neon signs, over ground wiring combined with the highest percentage in USA of Days Inn's has taken it's toll on the sunshine state and left it looking tacky at best.

With Orlando (not the city)being the industrial soulless high volume hotel capital of the world combined with International drive seemingly having taken the track suit/fast food crown I'd rather visit Las Vegas for a night out.

Edited by sussexjob on Monday 12th September 09:10

This, from a travel writer?
Do you actually earn a living from this profession?
Las Vegas has more hotel rooms than Orlando, which probably makes it theindustrialsoullesshighvolumehotelcapitaloftheworld, contrary to your suggestion.

[Matt Harper]

Mazdarese said:

We are hoping to get to the drag strip in Orlando on Friday night

Cool - Friday nights are RWYB, but they won't let you race a rental car. Keep an eye on the weather, needless to say, they don't run in the wet - and finally a quick note on the environment.
Orlando Speedworld is out east of the city in Bithlo FL. The area is a little 'back-woodsy'.
After you're finished at the track, I would advise against hanging-around for a beer/dinner out there. Head back a little closer to civilization and folks with multiple teeth and footwear.

If you're lucky, you will see some terrifyingly fast street cars. Sadly, I'm working in CA this week and won't get home until late Friday - I'd have taken a ride up there myself, otherwise.

Let me know if you'd like any non-tourist oriented tips on places to see/drink/eat in the area, while you are here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX6fvC7NL-E

Edited by Matt Harper on Monday 12th September 16:50

[cat220]

Matt Harper said:

Let me know if you'd like any non-tourist oriented tips on places to see/drink/eat in the area, while you are here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX6fvC7NL-E

Edited by Matt Harper on Monday 12th September 16:50

I'm heading out there at the end of the month. Any non-tourist orientated tips on places to see/drink/eat would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
C

[Matt Harper]

Sorry for the delay in replying. These are a few suggestions based on personal experience - I have no vested interest in any of these places.

If you're feeling flash and flush - Hue, Thornton Park. Good menu, excellent mixed drinks, lots of totty.
Best steak in town - some say Ruth Chris, some say Vito's - but the answer is Del Frisco's on Lee Road. Some of their sides (the creamed corn for instance) are totally awesome too.
Best fish - Roy's, in Dr Phillips - good Hawaiian vibe going on there.
Primo Barbeque - Four Rivers Smokehouse, in Winter Park - mid price - Wildside BBQ at Thornton Park.
Italian - Cariera's Cicina Italiano - Dr Phillips. Authentic - eat in or out, under the radar.
Sushi - Shari - Central Ave (downtown) - not cheap - but worth it.
Burgers 'n' beer - Johnny's Filling Station - Michigan Ave and Fern Creek - big burgers, big beer selection, great crowd.
VFM seafood/bbq - Fish on Fire, Conway. Excellent bar restaurant only 2 miles from the airport and the only UK accent you will hear there is mine.
Sportsbar - so many to choose from - my faves are Frank's Place on Clark Road, Ocoee. Big, big place, must have more than 30 screens and really big food portions. If you're not wearing your NFL shirt on Sunday's, you look a little out of place. In contrast, I also really like Burton's in Washington St., downtown. A bit of a cave, no cooked food, but lots of fun during the football season. Safer than it looks.
Cocktails/Girly drinks - Doc's on Orange Ave, opposite Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Chicken wings - deserves a category all on it's own - Gators Dockside in Ocoee. Their 'scooter' wings are unbelievably lush - in fact most of what they offer is good, but those wings are something else. This is one branch of a circa ten outlet chain. The other Orlando Gators are nothing like as good, in my opinion. This place is big and well run.
Tits - Rachel's - Casselberry or South Orange Ave. Stay well clear of the nasty establishments on Orange Blossom Trail.

[cat220]

Matt Harper said:

Sorry for the delay in replying. These are a few suggestions based on personal experience - I have no vested interest in any of these places.

If you're feeling flash and flush - Hue, Thornton Park. Good menu, excellent mixed drinks, lots of totty.
Best steak in town - some say Ruth Chris, some say Vito's - but the answer is Del Frisco's on Lee Road. Some of their sides (the creamed corn for instance) are totally awesome too.
Best fish - Roy's, in Dr Phillips - good Hawaiian vibe going on there.
Primo Barbeque - Four Rivers Smokehouse, in Winter Park - mid price - Wildside BBQ at Thornton Park.
Italian - Cariera's Cicina Italiano - Dr Phillips. Authentic - eat in or out, under the radar.
Sushi - Shari - Central Ave (downtown) - not cheap - but worth it.
Burgers 'n' beer - Johnny's Filling Station - Michigan Ave and Fern Creek - big burgers, big beer selection, great crowd.
VFM seafood/bbq - Fish on Fire, Conway. Excellent bar restaurant only 2 miles from the airport and the only UK accent you will hear there is mine.
Sportsbar - so many to choose from - my faves are Frank's Place on Clark Road, Ocoee. Big, big place, must have more than 30 screens and really big food portions. If you're not wearing your NFL shirt on Sunday's, you look a little out of place. In contrast, I also really like Burton's in Washington St., downtown. A bit of a cave, no cooked food, but lots of fun during the football season. Safer than it looks.
Cocktails/Girly drinks - Doc's on Orange Ave, opposite Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Chicken wings - deserves a category all on it's own - Gators Dockside in Ocoee. Their 'scooter' wings are unbelievably lush - in fact most of what they offer is good, but those wings are something else. This is one branch of a circa ten outlet chain. The other Orlando Gators are nothing like as good, in my opinion. This place is big and well run.
Tits - Rachel's - Casselberry or South Orange Ave. Stay well clear of the nasty establishments on Orange Blossom Trail.

Excellent, heading over at the end of the month, so if you hear a UK accent in Fish on Fire then fair chance it might be me! Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Cheers,
C

[Matt Harper]

FoF is an excellent choice (and my local). They have good live music, an inside-outside bar and the blackened grouper sandwich is really good. I struggle to decide if it's better than their "Dancing Pig" pulled pork, so continual research is required.