need trip advice

[oldRNineTguy]

Planning a fly-ride-fly trip for 2nd week of January. My portion of the planning is from the morning of Jan 10 until noon of Jan 12. We (4 guys) will be in Marathon Florida on the 10th, and have to be in the vicinity of Orlando airport by noon on the 12th (to return our rented Triumphs!!!). We have no desire to spend much time on freeways, Any advice on accommodation, restaurants, places to avoid?
oldRNineTguy

Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:57 am

[Duane Ausherman]

I usually avoid that part of the country, so I didn't offer up anything. I expected our local experts to give you hints and tips. Since nothing got posted, I will take this opportunity to degrade the thread.

Here is my advice on what to take and do.
1. A big smile.
2. Cell phone
3. A great attitude
4. Credit card
5. Smiles

[Major Softie]

Yeah, I stayed out of it for the same basic reason - I don't know the area at all - but, since it didn't stop Duane, I don't see why it should stop me.

I've never heard anything about exciting roads down there, so I think one would be looking for things of interest there rather than interesting paths. The only area there that might peak my own personal curiosity would be the Keys.

[dwerbil]

If you like altitudes, Sugarloaf Mountain, at 312 feet, is the highest you'll find in Florida.
Here's a view from the top....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... norama.jpg

For the rest of the state, flatness would be the word.
Never been there myself, but I'd try the coastal towns east and west, Key West, Cape Canaveral, the Everglades.
bbelk has been there a few times. Maybe he'll chime in here.

[oldRNineTguy]

Toronto is a higher altitude than Florida, but the vantage point, and view, is from a mound of snow. Compare weather reports from the Keys and Toronto in Jan. and you will see the appeal of the Keys. Just a chance for a winter ride, if I really crave warmth then, Cuba is just another 1/2 hour further, and quite a bit cheaper as well.

[khittner1]

It can be fairly cool in northern Florida in mid-winter---it was highs in the 60s and low 70s when my family went to St. Augustine in late March a few years ago. Apart from the coastal roads. (A1A, etc.), my impression was that Florida is mostly made up of sub-divisions linked by 4-lane highways. You go for the beach, not for the scenic roads.

[Rob]

The only thing I want to see in that part of Florida (or any part - already been to Canaveral) is The Coral Castle. Pretty cool and it probably won't take a lot of time.

Steer clear of Miami.

[Duane Ausherman]

I have spent a lot of time in Florida for NASA, but that was around 1965 and I was driving Avis wheels. I didn't much like it then and that was before English became and endangered language.

I liked the Everglades, but you really have to watch out for the gators. Of course they are just about everywhere down there and are even all the way up to North Carolina.

The keys were sort of interesting, but back before the Hippy days it was quite the artist colony. I was there for NASA, so didn't have time for fun.

[Zombie Master]

There are no curves there. So an Ipod shuffle and some noise cancelling ear buds might keep you awake. Isn't this a subject for the Motorcycling forum?

[Major Softie]

Cheese it - the cops!!