Awesome Weekend Trip In Florida IDeas

[Charles Woodson]

getting certified for scuba diving is like a month long process. I mean it depends on your schedule, but when I got mine, it took me two months. The cost for the course was $250. It's probably more now, just depends where you go.

FL isn't the greatest for snorkeling. But that is something you could do without any lessons or anything.

You are in a prime college town, I would think there is an abundance of nightlife and cheap bars to find.

the best place to visit in FL IMO are on the southern Gulf side. Naples, Sanibel Island, Ft Myers, etc...but it would be like a 5-6 hr drive for you. I lived in FL for 8 years, but am not too familiar with the northern part.

Something that I found interesting and I don't think it's too far from you is St. Augustine. It's the oldest city in the US. If you are a history buff, you'd really enjoy that.

BH my friend... fess up about the age thing already, will ya?

Actually the best place for snorkeling, is the Cayman islands. Just got back from there on a missions trip. It was amazing.

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Re: Awesome Weekend Trip In Florida IDeas

I am in Gainesville and plan on going on a weekend trip this friday evening through sunday afternoon.

Do any of you guys have any good ideas of places to go? I'd kind of like to go snorkling, go somewhere with good nightlife, and hopefully not have too much travel time and cost.

BH and CW, I am looking at you.

Arent they both like 15?

Yeah but they live in Florida. I was going on the assumption their parents took them to the beaches and stuff when they were little.

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getting certified for scuba diving is like a month long process. I mean it depends on your schedule, but when I got mine, it took me two months. The cost for the course was $250. It's probably more now, just depends where you go.

FL isn't the greatest for snorkeling. But that is something you could do without any lessons or anything.

You are in a prime college town, I would think there is an abundance of nightlife and cheap bars to find.

the best place to visit in FL IMO are on the southern Gulf side. Naples, Sanibel Island, Ft Myers, etc...but it would be like a 5-6 hr drive for you. I lived in FL for 8 years, but am not too familiar with the northern part.

Something that I found interesting and I don't think it's too far from you is St. Augustine. It's the oldest city in the US. If you are a history buff, you'd really enjoy that.

BH my friend... fess up about the age thing already, will ya?

Gainesville is an awesome place so far. I like the area except the street system is very screwy. They have numbered streets going in both directions and have a coordinate plane system in place. It's really rather bizzare crossing over the Y access and be going on 1st street W to 1st street E without doing anything really. Makes navigating a little tough.

We're going to go out to a bar on Thursday to watch the game. Tonight we just cracked open some of that new miller chill (which is pretty good) and sat around by the pool.

There is a lot of stuff to do that is near us, but I have never seen the ocean or clear water before so I wanted to go do that whole experience. Scuba seems out of question but I guess there are some good areas for snorkeling after doing some research. Too bad everything is down south!!

We figured out we're too far to go to the white beaches of the pandhandle, namely penesacola and panama city. We're also too far north to go to Miami or the Keys.

What is big around Gainesville are the natural springs and the state parks. We went to Ichetucknee State Park and did the whole tubing thing the other day. That was awesome. Very clear, cold water which was a beautiful shade of green over the sand.

We've narrowed it down to either Daytona Beach or Saint Augustine because now we are committed to doing something with her cousin on Friday night. I think we'll likely hit them both actually, because they are fairly close by and we have two days. Hopefully its a great time. I will post my adventure experiences when we get back!

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WAIT A SECOND!!! This is Partial we're talking about. The original Hooters is in Clearwater just across the Howard Frankland bridge from Tampa...

You guys know me so well!

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the best place to visit in FL IMO are on the southern Gulf side. Naples, Sanibel Island, Ft Myers, etc...but it would be like a 5-6 hr drive for you. I lived in FL for 8 years, but am not too familiar with the northern part.

Something that I found interesting and I don't think it's too far from you is St. Augustine. It's the oldest city in the US. If you are a history buff, you'd really enjoy that.

St. Augustine is cool, but it's more of a day-trip type of thing. If that's what he's looking for and he's into history, that'd be a place to check out.

I agree, it is a good place to visit. You've got the beach, although the beaches up in Sarasota are way better then the ones down here. You're about an hours drive from the Everglades and about 45 minutes from Marco Island, one of the best beach resort towns in Florida.

Don't come here looking to party, unless bingo is your scene.

BH my friend... fess up about the age thing already, will ya?

I guess I'll just have to show up at the poster's game one year to prove my innocence.

45 minutes from Gainesville BH? What is this Sarasota and Marco Island you speak of. Sounds promising.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

From gainesville you really have 2decent choices within a short drive...and no I don't count PC as a choice. Maybe for spring break.

I lived in Fl for 10 plus years.

1. Head over to Jacksonville. You have the beach, beach bars, or downtown Jville. The beach bars are pretty fun. this time of year plenty of younger types around. Not sure when UNF starts but still should be plenty of good times.

As for snorkeling/scuba. no way in the states can you be certified in a couple of hours. Out of country is a different thing. But, there are plenty of very cool scuba and snorkeling sites that are not beach related. Caves and such. http://www.cavediving.org

Most serious scuba people do the caves or springs and then get out of florida if they are wanting ocean diving.

Inland, springs are an ideal place to snorkel and dive because the water is so clear. Also, spring water temperatures are usually constant in the 70-degree range, so they are a great place to cool off in summer and to warm up in winter. One thing you may notice while snorkeling or diving right at the spring source is the lack of fish..not enough oxygen. Even though you may not see fish at the spring source, you may see other cool-season visitors: West Indian manatees; live in the ocean during warm weather and come inland when temperatures turn cool. And springs are some of their favorite places to congregate. Some springs may be off-limits to you when manatee season comes around, so look for signs.

Good spots for snorkeling in central Florida:
Wekiwa Spring State Park in Apopka -- snorkeling only
Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach
Blue Spring State Park in Orange City

N. Florida:
Peacock Springs State Park in Luraville
Fanning Springs State Park in Fanning Springs
Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Fort White
Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland
DeLeon Springs State Park in DeLeon Springs


2. Orlando. You can party in Orlando or head down to Kissimmee for Disney and Universal. Each has its own party zone...City Walk and downtown Disney. You can party late into the night there. Orlando may have changed bar time, but it was 2. I know the new mayor campaigned on changing bar time, but i've been gone for 2 years.

[Charles Woodson]

the best place to visit in FL IMO are on the southern Gulf side. Naples, Sanibel Island, Ft Myers, etc...but it would be like a 5-6 hr drive for you. I lived in FL for 8 years, but am not too familiar with the northern part.

Something that I found interesting and I don't think it's too far from you is St. Augustine. It's the oldest city in the US. If you are a history buff, you'd really enjoy that.

St. Augustine is cool, but it's more of a day-trip type of thing. If that's what he's looking for and he's into history, that'd be a place to check out.

I agree, it is a good place to visit. You've got the beach, although the beaches up in Sarasota are way better then the ones down here. You're about an hours drive from the Everglades and about 45 minutes from Marco Island, one of the best beach resort towns in Florida.

Don't come here looking to party, unless bingo is your scene.

BH my friend... fess up about the age thing already, will ya?

I guess I'll just have to show up at the poster's game one year to prove my innocence.

45 minutes from Gainesville BH? What is this Sarasota and Marco Island you speak of. Sounds promising.

Marco island is a good place. Its been a few years since ive been there but the beaches were nice when i did go...

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Those places down south are probably too far. Next time I come down I guess we'll have to plan on doing that and plan on an extra day to compensate for driving.

How is the weather down in Miami and in the keys right after the New Year?

[Charles Woodson]

Those places down south are probably too far. Next time I come down I guess we'll have to plan on doing that and plan on an extra day to compensate for driving.

How is the weather down in Miami and in the keys right after the New Year?

Miami always has good weather, If your coming down to party, then New Years is a perfect day to be here.

[BallHawk]

How is the weather down in Miami and in the keys right after the New Year?

I'd bring some earmuffs and a heavy coat. The temperature might get down to 50 degrees!

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Those places down south are probably too far. Next time I come down I guess we'll have to plan on doing that and plan on an extra day to compensate for driving.

How is the weather down in Miami and in the keys right after the New Year?

The weather is great, but it is high season. Expect to pay a ton for lodging, etc. Prices rise in November. The keys are jammed up by that time.

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This New Smymra Beach seems to have a lot of shark attacks.

What sort of sharks inhabit the area and is this something I should be concerned if I want to go surfing or bodyboarding? Are their any precautions I should take or items I should purchase to avoid death/bite?

[MJZiggy]

To avoid shark attacks at New Smyrna Beach, you should go somewhere other than New Smyrna Beach.

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To avoid shark attacks at New Smyrna Beach, you should go somewhere other than New Smyrna Beach.

Is there good surfing at Daytona? The two seem very close and the one has the best surfing in the US or something.

[MJZiggy]

I haven't really spent time in either place, but from what I understand for the best surfing in the US you need to go to Hawaii. That's a bit of a drive from where you are.