Sunday, September 18, 2022

Florida travel ideas from Houston in December 2022

Option 1: Theme parks preference + some Nature.

  • Fri, Dec 23: Drive to Mobile, Alabama. Stay.
    • Bayou airboat tours, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
    • Gulf Shores State Park, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park Nature Center (animals for kids), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
    • The institute of mammal studies, Gulfport, Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir museum, Biloxi visitors center, beach & lighthouse
  • Sat, Dec 24: Drive to Orlando, Florida. Stay. En-route visit:
    • Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    • Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
  • Sun, Dec 25: Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, Florida (with Harry Potter)
  • Mon, Dec 26: Universal studios theme park
  • Tue, Dec 27: Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park or Epcot
  • Wed, Dec 28: Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park or Hollywood Studios
  • Thu, Dec 29: Drive to Miami. Biscaynes national park.
  • Fri, Dec 30: Everglades national park.
    • 10,000 islands cruise, airboat tours
  • Sat, Dec 31: Key West. Dry Tortugas national park if tickets booked early or see Key West attractions.
  • Sun, Jan1: Drive back to Houston (17.5 hours)
Option 2: Nature preference + some theme parks.

  • Fri, Dec 23: Drive to Tallahassee. Stay.
    • Bayou airboat tours, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
    • Gulf Shores State Park, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park Nature Center (animals for kids), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
    • The institute of mammal studies, Gulfport, Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir museum, Biloxi visitors center, beach & lighthouse
  • Sat, Dec 24: Drive to Miami, Florida. Stay. En-route visit:
    • Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    • Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
  • Sun, Dec 25: Biscaynes national park.
  • Mon, Dec 26: Everglades national park.
    • 10,000 islands cruise, airboat tours
  • Tue, Dec 27: Key West. Dry Tortugas national park if booked early or see Key West attractions.
  • Wed, Dec 28: Big Cypress National Preserve. Drive to Orlando.
  • Thu, Dec 29: Universal Studios, Florida (Harry Potter)
  • Fri, Dec 30: Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park
  • Sat, Dec 31: Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park
  • Sun, Jan1: Drive back to Houston (14 hrs)
Option 3: Theme parks:
  • Fri, Dec 23: Drive to Mobile, Alabama. Stay.
    • Bayou airboat tours, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
    • Gulf Shores State Park, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park Nature Center (animals for kids), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
    • The institute of mammal studies, Gulfport, Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir museum, Biloxi visitors center, beach & lighthouse
  • Sat, Dec 24: Drive to Orlando, Florida. Stay.
    • Aggressive option: Drive to Orlando in one day. Go to Sea World or Kennedy Space Center.
  • Sun, Dec 25: Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park, Florida (with Harry Potter)
  • Mon, Dec 26: Universal studios theme park
  • Tue, Dec 27: Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park
  • Wed, Dec 28: Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park or Hollywood Studios
  • Thu, Dec 29: Disney's Hollywood Studios
  • Fri, Dec 30: Disney's Epcot
  • Sat, Dec 31: Start driving back. Stay en-route.
    • Aggressive option: Add one more theme park. Busch Gardens or Sea World Discovery Cove or Gatorland.
  • Sun, Jan1: Drive back to Houston
Option 4: Nature:
  • Fri, Dec 23: Drive to Tallahassee. Stay.
    • Three rivers state park, Florida at Florida, Georgia, Alabama line: Chattahoochee, Flint, Apalachicola rivers. Rent canoe.
    • Florida Caverns State Park
    • Bayou airboat tours, Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
    • Gulf Shores State Park, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Gulf State Park Nature Center (animals for kids), Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
    • The institute of mammal studies, Gulfport, Beau Rivage Casino, Beauvoir museum, Biloxi visitors center, beach & lighthouse
  • Sat, Dec 24: Drive to Miami, Florida. Stay. En-route visit:
    • Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    • Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
  • Sun, Dec 25: Biscaynes national park.
  • Mon, Dec 26: Everglades national park.
    • 10,000 islands cruise, airboat tours
  • Tue, Dec 27: Key West. Dry Tortugas national park if booked early or see Key West attractions.
    • Bahia Honda State Park: Kayaking, snorkeling, beach.
    • John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: Snorkeling.
    • Grayton Beach state park: Beach, Sand dunes, kayaking.
    • Collier-Seminole State Park: mangroves
  • Wed, Dec 28:
    • Big Cypress National Preserve. or
    • Jonathan Dickinson State Park: Riverboat ride
    • Myakka River State Park: Canopy walk, pontoon boat ride, boardwalk
    • Lake Kissimmee State Park: paddling & wildlife.
  • Thu, Dec 29: Silver Springs State Park. Glass-bottomed boats, kayak. Manatees. Ocala National Forest nearby.
  • Fri, Dec 30: Blue Spring State Park: Manatees
  • Sat, Dec 31:
    • Anastasia State Park: Kayak, see manatees
    • Big Talbot Island State Park: birds.
    • Falling Waters State Park: waterfall, wildlife
    • Weeki Wachee Springs State Park: mermaid show
  • Sun, Jan1: Drive back to Houston

References:

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