Chasing Cars: Homestead (and Florida)

[UKCraig]

I have now booked a cheap hotel (average reviews, but I can live with that in return for the location) on the oceanfront in South Beach, Miami for the first two nights. And I've booked into the Ramada in Key Largo for the Sunday (very cheap deal) on the basis that the traffic heading north out of the circuit is said to be hellish.

I have been unable to pre-book camping in the Everglades National Park but one website that I visited suggested that there might be a number of 'walk-up' sites there - does that mean 'first-come, first-served'?

I was reading about what to do in the Keys and had the bright idea of travelling to the Dry Tortugas National Park which is 70 miles off Key West. I then realised that they had a campground there which sounds pretty cool! I searched this site but I couldn't find mention of anyone here who had done that -- is that the case?

[UKCraig]

Okay, the camping at Dry Tortugas didn't work out as a) the seaplane no longer carries camping gear and b) the ferries sail only once per day so it would have meant crossing at something like 8am on day one and returning at around 5pm the following day. When it came down to it, I just didn't have two days to spare. A shame, as camping there would have been fantastic, but I have booked a beachside camping place at Bahia Honda State Park instead so hopefully that'll go at least some way to redeeming the situation.

I have booked the 1/2 day sea plane trip to the Dry Tortugas as I've never done anything like that before - the idea of crashing (ooops, landing) at sea sounds somewhat fun! I also discovered that there is a sunset Bi Plane tour available from Key West and I am severely tempted to do that too... naughty, I know, but you only live once eh!

Fri 16th November: Fly into Miami and check in to hotel on South Beach before heading out to have a look around the area. Hotel booked
Sat 17th November: Have a look around Miami then head across to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Busch Series race (4.30pm). Head back to South Beach for the night. Race tickets and hotel booked
Sun 18th November: Head back to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Nextel Cup race (3.30pm). Full day attendance as hospitality and pitlane experience booked. After the race head down to Key Largo and check in to the Ramada hotel for the night. Race tickets and hotel booked
Mon 19th November: Head up to Biscayne National Park and take the glass bottomed boat tour, then head south to the Florida Keys and set up camp at the Bahia Honda State Park. Watch the sunset at Mallory Square in Key West. Camping booked
Tues 20th November: Drive back to Key West and take the 1/2 day Sea Plane tour to Dry Tortugas National Park (10am). Return to Key West approximately 2pm, photo opportunity at Southernmost Point & Mosaic Tile Car then take Sunset Bi Plane ride. Back to Bahia Honda State Park for the evening. Seaplane and camping booked
Weds 21st November: Leave the Keys to explore the Everglades National Park. Find accomodation on the far side of the park for the night.
Thurs 22nd November: Head up the Gulf Coast towards Sarasota. Find accomodation locally.
Fri 23rd November: Arrive in Sarasota (am). Look Katie up, drink some beer, talk about old times, crash on the floor.
Sat 24th November: Head off with Katie to have her show me round the local area, Tampa and St Petes. Overnight back at Sarasota.
Sun 25th November: Drive to Daytona and check out Daytona Turkey Run. Meet up with Olly for lunch and a pint then visit Daytona USA. Find hotel on beach then head out for bite to eat at the Cruisin Cafe.
Mon 26th November: Head south and visit Kennedy Space Center. Later in the day visit Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum and then find accomodation locally in the Titusville area.
Tues 27th November: Have a look around Orlando area then head to Orlando airport for flight to Miami (6.10pm) and onwards back to London (8.20pm).

As always, interested in your thoughts and/or suggestions!

[UKCraig]

Just bringing this up to date really.

I've been real bad and booked the Sunset bi-plane trip for the evening of the 20th November.

Been talking to a friend here in the UK and he suggests that I might want to rethink the latter part of my trip. Instead of going up the Gulf Coast he suggests that driving up the Atlantic Coast might be better. Obviously this would mean rejigging everything post Everglades - what are your thoughts?

He also gave me the details of a 'must see' bar on Daytona Beach so I'll post the details up here for anyone else interested in Nascar:

Cruisin Cafe, Bar & Grill
2 South Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach

I'll report back on that after the trip but, in the meantime, would welcome any input from any of you good people regarding the trip.

Thanks!

[UKCraig]

Wow, was just looking at the Daytona website and discovered that the Daytona Turkey Run was being held on the 22-25 November! Looks like I could have lucked in there -- though I best book a hotel in advance, I guess. Anyone ever heard of this event/been?

[Mark Sedenquist]

Does sound like a fun event. I had forgotten that this newest trip was for the November period.

You are going to give Gerald "Mr. RoadTrip" Thurman a run for his money with this many trips!

Mark

[UKCraig]

I can try! I received a brochure from Trek America this afternoon and was rather keen on the tour departing Vegas on Dec 24, touring the west for a week, then ending up back in Vegas on NYE. I had to give it to someone else to tear up else I could have been very very naughty!

Just reading the website for the Turkey Run:

Is there anything for the Ladies to do?

Yes, we have a large "crafts" area located in the Nextel Fan Zone and the Volusia Mall is directly across the street from the speedway.

Yowsers! Are they for real?!

[lhuff]

Just saw an article referring to a female student in Natchitoches as a co-ed. I thought that went out of style years ago.

Or - they could just do like my boss and forget there is a female (me) involved in activities and set up an entire day of testosterone activities. I don't mind, but still. Would have been nice to at least make a concession for me. You know like a Tour of the Texas Motor Speedway? :)

[Laurent]

Hi bud, fellow car & usa roadtrip addict :)

In september 2005 I did a similar trip.
First weekend of my trip I was in Atlanta for the Nopi Nationals at the Atlanta Motor speedway. Then we headed south and did a roadtrip through Florida.
We wanted to drive the eastern coastline of Florida from North to South, so we did. We had a stop & sleep in Daytona and the day after we visited the Daytona motor speedway, took us about a 1/2 day (guided tour, visitor center & giftshop) and drive further more south. Further on our route we passed Ron Jon's Surfshop, Kennedy Space Center, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, ... till whole the way south the Everglades, Key Largo and Key West. It took us about 9-10 days for the whole trip...but is was really good ! Don't forget to rent a jetski at key largo on their blue bay & ocean waters. I thought it was more worth the money than a glassbottem boat.

Enjoy your trip.

[UKCraig]

I like the sound of the jetski!! Might do that :)

Was talking to a mate I'd not seen for a few years the other day. Seems he'll be in Daytona the same day as me. Small world. We're gonna meet up for a beer.

Do you think, given it's Thanksgiving weekend and there's a big do on in town, that I'll need to book accomodation in advance? What other implications will Thanksgiving have?

[lhuff]

I'd book ahead. Between the Homestead race and people getting mad at family and going to a hotel to get away from each other I would expect the hotels to fill up pretty fast.

You might also run into heavy traffic on the Wednesday before and the Friday after Thanksgiving Thursday with people heading to and from destinations. Thanksgiving is a lot like Christmas with people getting together in a family spirit. Although we had an anti-Thanksgiving on Friday this past year and invited all the people we knew who had attended horrible Thanksgiving dinners or who didn't have family to visit. It was freaking awesome.

Laura