Florida trip with nature, city sights, NOT theme parks

[Anonymous]

Would like to take our 18-yr old daughter for a quick trip to Florida after graduation. None of us have never been (probably because I am one of those people who does not care for Disneyworld and the like).

My husband and I would much prefer to go hiking in national parks in the West, but DD is not into nature and hiking. She likes shopping, the beach, and will tolerate some museums/sightseeing. We're trying to find some sort of compromise where we could do some outdoor-sy stuff and other things she might enjoy.

Any ideas? We'd fly down and stay 3-4 days, some driving is fine.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Naples.

[Anonymous]

Everglades for the nature part; Miami for city attractions.

[Anonymous]

Miami. Got to the Everglades.

[Anonymous]

There are wonderful outdoorsy things to do in Florida. You can spend a day or two in the Everglades, hiking, seeing alligators, and kayaking. Then you could drive another hour or two to the Keys and go snorkeling or diving (or fishing). I go to Florida every year for just these things and I've never been to Disney! There are also supposed to be wonderful state parks (with manatees) in the northern part, too. You could easily do a day or two in Miami and then head west 1-2 hours for the Everglades, then another 1-2 hours to the Keys.

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the PP who recommended the everglades, but it will be beastly hot in June. What about San Diego? Lots of hiking and nature, beautiful beaches, plenty of city life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the PP who recommended the everglades, but it will be beastly hot in June. What about San Diego? Lots of hiking and nature, beautiful beaches, plenty of city life.

Miami and Everglades came to my mind immediately. San Diego is very good, too, but OP only wants to do 3-4 days. I'd do San Diego for 5-7 days due to the additional travel time + time change. San Diego might be surprisingly chilly in June, too, with June Gloom.

[Anonymous]

San Diego is great!

Naples is lovely.

Fly to Miami hang out for a few days, then head down the keys to key west. Take a day trip to dry tortugas.

St. Augustine also looks lovely.

Gentle suggestion: do what your 18 year old wants. This might be your last family vacation. You and your husband will have plenty of time for museums and parks soon enough.

[Anonymous]

What about a cruise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would like to take our 18-yr old daughter for a quick trip to Florida after graduation. None of us have never been (probably because I am one of those people who does not care for Disneyworld and the like).

My husband and I would much prefer to go hiking in national parks in the West, but DD is not into nature and hiking. She likes shopping, the beach, and will tolerate some museums/sightseeing. We're trying to find some sort of compromise where we could do some outdoor-sy stuff and other things she might enjoy.

Any ideas? We'd fly down and stay 3-4 days, some driving is fine.

Thanks!

If you're doing this trip for her, why don't you do what she enjoys doing?

[Anonymous]

Agree if this is a graduation trio for her why not do what she likes? It may be the last time she goes on vacation with you, why dont you make it filled with things she likes? You and your husband have the rest of your days to go to the hot sticky everglades together

[Anonymous]

The Tampa/St Pete area would probably have a lot of what you're looking for. You can go to St. Pete Beach or Clearwater for the beaches, Tampa and St Pete for the city stuff.

St Augustine is lovely, too - smaller town than Tampa/St Pete but really charming, pleasant and nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Tampa/St Pete area would probably have a lot of what you're looking for. You can go to St. Pete Beach or Clearwater for the beaches, Tampa and St Pete for the city stuff.

St Augustine is lovely, too - smaller town than Tampa/St Pete but really charming, pleasant and nice.

Last I checked, and it has been quite a while since I was 18, but charming pleasant and nice kind of eliminate that from the menu of choices palatable to an 18 year old.

[Anonymous]

OP here...Thanks for all the suggestions. Agree that I would like to make this trip for her. But we have asked her what she would like to do, and she doesn't really know. So I was hoping some suggestions might spur her interest. We usually spend our vacations visiting family in Oregon or California, so I was hoping for something different. When she was little, we lived in Boston and used to go to Acadia and Nantucket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree if this is a graduation trio for her why not do what she likes? It may be the last time she goes on vacation with you, why dont you make it filled with things she likes? You and your husband have the rest of your days to go to the hot sticky everglades together

+1000. Jeez OP. It's your kids graduation trip.