One thing is certain when you land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, head over to the car rental agency, pick up your car and hit the road: nothing but fun is awaiting you. Just hope you have set aside enough time.
IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SPARE: And if you have time to spare, a trip down to the Florida Keys is an absolute must as well. The beautiful Key West will blow you away with its gorgeous waters and relaxed Florida lifestyle. This is the perfect place to end a fly drive of the Sunshine state.
Let’s face it! Florida is made for road trips. There’s no better way to see all that the Sunshine state has to offer than by hitting the open road. A Florida fly-drive is the perfect mix of fun, more fun, and a lot of sun, adventure and relaxation.
Your starting point, Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coast has the perfect relaxed Florida vibe. Its canals and charm have earned it the nickname “The Venice of America.” The beaches offer 23 miles of golden sand, lively with the spirited antics of happy vacationers. For a handful of dollars you can sail the blue-green waters on a chartered catamaran, or dive beneath the surface to meet-and-greet the local sea life. Shopping and dining on Las Olas Boulevard is one of Fort L auderdale’s greatest pleasures, thanks to adorable shops and prime people-watching.
Then off to another location that offers nothing but pure fun: Playful Orlando with all its theme parks and resorts, located approximately three and a half hours by car north of Fort L auderdale. Spend a few days enjoying all the amazing theme parks that are based there. Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld are some of the must do theme parks. Each park is a full day venture. Orlando is also known for its outlet shopping, high end shopping malls and its many restaurants.
After your fun packed few days in Orlando, you can then hit the open road and head towards the Mexican Gulf Coast. After about two hours you arrive at Clearwater Beach with its beautiful and sandy beaches, gorgeous hotels and a relaxing atmosphere. The Clearwater Beach area is the perfect relaxing stop after a busy few days in the theme parks in Orlando. Before leaving this part of Florida, why not check out nearby Tampa, spend a night, enjoy the city’s restaurants and nightlife and maybe even catch a NHL- hockey match. As unlikely as it seems climate wise, Tampa Bay Lightning in southern Florida is one of the top contenders in USAs prestigious National Hockey League. Tampa is also well known for the theme park, Busch Gardens. The city is practically a must on your fly-drive route.
Going further down the Mexican gulf coast, why not take in Sarasota, Fort Myers Beach and Naples. All are beautiful beach cities and are a lovely stop off for a night or two. Following on from your stop in Naples, you can head inland and cross from west to east over to the Atlantic Coast on Interstate 75 – also known as Alligator Alley – and catch some Everglades/swamp fun on your way back to Fort Lauderdale to drop off your car and fly home.
