Family Florida Off-The-Beaten-Track

Sarasota, Palm Beach & Miami

Florida

Duration: 16 nights

Price: From $1,750 per person in low season based on two adults and two children under 12 travelling together and including accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, private transfers, transportation, experiences as stated and taxes

A fun family vacation in Florida that combines beautiful hotels with the simpler pleasures of the Sunshine State. Starting off on the stunning beaches of Naples, you’ll self-drive up the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, and then down the east coast until you reach Miami. Along the way you’ll swim with dolphins and get close to manatees; zoom past alligators in the Everglades, and discover one of Florida’s best-keep secrets as you relax on the blissfully isolated Amelia Island.

Perfect forFamilies who want an in-depth Florida adventure, and to see it through local eyes rather than just sticking to the tourist hot-spots.

In the knowIf your family loves diving and snorkelling, why not drive from Miami to the Florida Keys?

Best for

Beach
Cultural Immersion
Family-friendly
First-timers

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Itinerary details

3 nightsNAPLES

Having flown direct to Miami, it’s a two hour drive to La Playa Resort and Spa in Naples which lies between the Gulf of Mexico, and stunning Vanderbilt Bay. When you arrive at La Playa, you’ll be greeted with a warm Floridian welcome, amazing service, and have a fantastic choice of restaurants to choose from in the evenings. The first thing you’ll want to do though is hit the huge stretch of beach, which is one of the most beautiful in Florida. Rack up the photos for the family album with some stand-up paddle boarding through the mangroves; take out pedal-boats in search of huge pods of dolphins, or head into the glades to see beady-eyed gators, pink flamingos, and fresh water manatees. After this, head to the Naples pier and join the locals crab-fishing, before enjoying the most amazing sunset.

2 nightsSARASOTA

It’s a two hour drive up the coast to Sarasota, which is known as the cultural capital of Florida. Here you’ll stay at the Ritz Carlton hotel where you can look forward to excellent service and amazing views over the powder-white sand beach. With two nights here, you may want to use the time to drive to Discovery Cove, where you can enjoy the absolutely magical experience of swimming with dolphins. There’s plenty to do in Sarasota itself though, and it’s a great opportunity to see Florida’s more historic side. At the Ca D’Zan mansion, you can see a fantastic collection of baroque and renaissance art, before taking a walk in the Selby botanical gardens. Another must is a visit to the Ringling Brothers Circus museum, which Florida is famous for, and the all-acrobat Sailor Circus which is one of the oldest in the world.

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3 nightsAMELIA ISLAND

Now you’ll take a three hour; drive to the East Coast, where you’ll spend three nights at what is frequently dubbed the best hotel in the USA: Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. Sitting on Amelia Island – a tiny slither of land, with softly rippling sand-dunes, and over twenty kilometres of all but empty beaches – this New England style beach hotel transports you to the days of the Great Gatsby, and introduces you to some of Florida’s simplest pleasures. Wake up to one of Elizabeth Pointe’s legendary breakfasts, before heading out for surfing lessons, cycling, and horse-riding on the virtually deserted beach. You can also hop on the ferry to the even more remote Cumberland Island (a major hatching site for loggerhead turtles) or pick up some antiques at the Eight Flags flee market.

2 nightsVERO BEACH

Heading down the east coast, it’s a four hour drive to Vero Beach which lies between Palm Beach and Orlando on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Here you’ll spend two nights at Vero Beach Resort and Spa, which again is just as much of a treat for the kids as it will be for you. The main reason for staying here though is its proximity to legendary Cape Canaveral – and the chance for budding astronauts to get one step closer to space…We can arrange you a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Centre, with the chance to see the original launch sites of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs; test your nerve on the shuttle simulator, or even have lunch with a NASA scientist and see if you've got what it takes to become an astronaut.

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2 nightsPALM BEACH

An hour and half drive from Vero Beach, and you’ll arrive in preppy-playground and country-club central, Palm Beach, where you’ll stay two nights at Breakers Palm Beach. With beautifully tended gardens and spectacular views over the Atlantic, this is the perfect place to keep up with the ultra-glossy locals. Continue the wonderfully outdoorsy Floridian lifestyle by enrolling the kids in a world-class tennis class; get them sailing their own Hobie Cat, or take them to a polo match to mingle with the Ivy League. It’s also great fun to just take a drive down famous Ocean Drive to see the huge celebrity mansions.

2 nightsMIAMI

One last drive of roughly an hour and a half, and you’ll reach the sun-worshipper’s paradise and buzzing metropolis of Miami. The W hotel is an opulent, yet fun and contemporary hotel – right on Miami’s famous South Beach – and from here you’ll be perfectly placed to wander amongst the ice-cream coloured Art Deco buildings; try the spicy Cuban food and fruity batidos smoothies in Little Havana, or perhaps take another trip into the Everglades. On your final night, you can leave the kids with one of W hotel’s excellent baby-sitters, and take a wine-trail through the Design District which takes you from gallery to gallery with a glass of wine in hand. Fly home the following day, or continue with your US adventure.