Part 1. 11 Days in Florida – Our Road Trip Itinerary

Hey there!

Today we’re coming to you with a post about Florida, which also kicks off our new USA series! We’ll soon share our road trip from the West Coast as well, so if you’re interested in that topic — stay tuned! 🇺🇸

We spent 11 days in Florida this November. We were looking for a destination that wouldn’t be too demanding in terms of hiking, as Tomek was recovering from knee surgery — but at the same time, we didn’t want to completely give up on exploring somewhere new. We also wanted a place where the weather would still be good for sightseeing in November, that we could explore fairly well within 10–11 days, and ideally — a destination that wasn’t too far away (unlike Patagonia, where we had four flights and over 35 hours of travel — not exactly ideal for a short trip). Since we’ve really fallen in love with the USA, Florida was the first destination that came to mind — and that’s where we ended up going! A big bonus? At the time, rocket launches were scheduled from the Kennedy Space Center, and since Tomek has been passionate about space since childhood, there was no way we were missing that opportunity!

So, let’s get to the point — below you’ll find a list of the most popular places worth visiting in this sunny state. We’ll start with the classics:

• Miami – A huge metropolis on Florida’s east coast and an extremely popular tourist destination (over 14 million visitors per year!). Some people never leave Miami during their entire stay! With around 70% sunny days annually and temperatures rarely dropping below 23°C (73°F), it’s easy to see why. Miami is a city of contrasts — you’ll hear just as much Spanish as English here, as nearly half the residents come from Latin America and often speak little English. There’s even a “Little Havana” district where you can soak up the true Cuban vibe. If you want to relax, head to Miami Beach, packed with luxury hotels and long stretches of sand.

• Orlando – This is THE city for theme parks — and Americans sure know how to do them right! You’ll find Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Gatorland, and Legoland here. During our stay, we also went to an NBA game at Amway Center, where the Orlando Magic played against the Los Angeles Lakers. The home team won, and to top it off, we managed to meet Marcin Gortat, the Polish basketball star who used to play for Orlando!

• Kennedy Space Center – About an hour’s drive east of Orlando, you’ll find the legendary space center from which rockets still launch today. It’s from here that the Apollo missions to the Moon lifted off, as well as many other space explorations! We were super excited about this and honestly — we think it’s one of the most unique attractions in Florida that you won’t find anywhere else! The Kennedy Space Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., and we recommend dedicating an entire day to explore it. There are tons of exhibits — original rockets, a spaceflight simulator, 3D films in the cinema, even a piece of the Moon you can touch, and sometimes you can chat with an astronaut! We recommend it for both kids and adults.
  Pro tip: For the best rocket launch views, head to Port Canaveral.

• Key West – We’re heading south now — to the southernmost point of the continental USA! Key West is the town located closest to Cuba — it’s actually closer to Havana than to Miami! It sits at the end of the Florida Keys, which look a bit like a peninsula on the map — but they’re not. They’re tiny islands connected by long bridges, creating one of the most scenic drives in the USA. Key West is famous for its colorful architecture — even new buildings are constructed to match the old, charming style, giving the whole place an incredible vibe. While there, take a stroll through town, visit Hemingway’s House, check out the port, and don’t forget to try the local delicacy — Key Lime Pie!

• Everglades National Park – The best place to see alligators in the wild! This is the third largest national park in the USA, located near Miami — so you can easily combine a visit with exploring the city. The Everglades are made up of mangrove forests, wetlands, and slow-flowing rivers, home to tropical birds, alligators, and many other species. The most popular way to explore the park is by taking an airboat tour — the Everglades are too shallow for regular boats with underwater engines.
  Important: Airboat tours don’t depart from the main Visitor Center — type „Everglades Safari Park” into Google Maps to find the right spot. The tour takes about 40 minutes, followed by a short alligator show and a walk along wooden boardwalks.

That wraps up our list of the most popular attractions in Florida. If you’re curious about the hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path spots we discovered — stay tuned for our next post, which will be up very soon! ✨