I am visiting Florida next week and will be there for about 17 days, visiting friends and family. I have rented a car and am prepared to get lost a time or two. I have my maps ready. Starting in Melbourne , Datona, Plant City and then heading for Tampa. Any suggestions?

If you're starting point is Melbourne, Fl, that's where I live. First stop, Lone Cabbage Fish Camp. It's not a fish camp and has nothing to do with cabbages. It DOES, however offer airboat rides that reveal some of the best scenery and wildlife available in Florida, especially if you are a bird lover. http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/index.html

There's Daytona Beach of course. But if you're going to go that far up, I'd go a little further and hit St. Augustine and catch some real history of early America. It's a beautiful town with museums, shops, and nice local dining. I wouldn't take a "scenic tour" I'd just stroll out on my own. Virtually everything is within walking distance. When you're heading West toward Tampa, two things. The least talked about but most enjoyable activity at Disney is "Blizzard Beach." There are more fun things to do at this place than anywhere on the property, if you like water of course. Or you can just crash and relax in what is supposed to be really nice weather by the time you get here. Info: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/refurbishmentslisting/index?id=BBCalendarRefurbishmentsListingPage&date=20081001

When you get to Tampa, you must not miss the Salvador Dali museum. It's a treasure trove of some of his most famous works. If you enjoy that type of art, you can get more than you ever dreamed of under one roof. Very affordable outing. Now the museum is in St. Petersburg, but St. Pete is virtually attached to Tampa and the museum is right over the first bridge, so you're not really going out of your way. More info here; http://www.salvadordalimuseum.org/home.html

Enjoy.

Thanks for the information, I'll print it out and take it with me. I'm looking forward to some fun in the sun.

Fla. is my home state. The only thing I can add, is to have plenty of change handy. There seems to be a lot more toll roads when I visited a couple of years ago. If you like seafood, do expect to pay very high prices for it. Enjoy !

Thanks for the advice, I just went out and bought a GPS so that I won't get lost.

We were in Leesburg for 5 months..

one piece of advice we were given when we lived down there, dont go off on the little side roads nephew called them "bubba roads" cuz bubba dont like no intruders....ifn u know what i mean....

hope you like it better than i did....

what used to be swamp ground is now a parking lot or a condo....or a dollar general store or strip mall ...

and besure to take a golf cart to get around :)

jmop and im stick'n to it !! enjoy...

Thanks, I was there before a few years ago visiting friends. This is the first time that I am traveling alone. I have friends and relatives there so I think I will be in good hands. I have heard travel stories and am well aware that there can be pitfalls.