Nature Focused Itinerary

Question

Hello Florida fans,

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Florida when we retire in about a year. Our goal is to visit the Everglades, the Keys, and see as much nature and wildlife (manatees, alligators and crocodiles top the wish list, along with a variety of birds) as possible. The wildlife we’d like to avoid if possible are mosquitoes! Also on our list is Kennedy Space Center and maybe a day at Epcot. We’re not big theme park people, but Epcot seems different enough from what we have here in SoCal to be interesting to us.

I’m thinking late February/early March might be a good time to visit, given our interests. We would fly into Miami and out of Orlando. Here is a rough itinerary with some questions.

Day 1 - Arrival Day in Miami; overnight in Homestead or ???

Day 2 - Anhinga Trail and Main Park Road to Flamingo; overnight in Homestead

Day 3 - Hwy 41, airboat ride, and Shark Valley; overnight in Homestead

Day 4 - Drive to Florida Keys; overnight in Marathon or ???

Day 5 - Day trip to Key West; overnight in Marathon

Day 6 - Kayak through mangroves; overnight in Marathon

Day 7 - Drive to Cape Canaveral; overnight in Cocoa Beach or ???

Day 8 - Kennedy Space Center; overnight in Cocoa Beach

Day 9 - Drive to Blue Spring State Park, spend day there, drive to Ocala; overnight in Ocala

Day 10 - Spend the day at Silver Springs State Park; drive to Crystal River; overnight in Crystal River

Day 11 - Spend the day in Crystal River; drive to Orlando, overnight in Orlando

Day 12 - Epcot; overnight in Orlando

Day 13 - Depart from Orlando

Questions:

1. What is the best time of year given our interests?

2. Any other recommended destinations? (I’m considering adding a day to Florida Keys in order to make a day trip to Dry Tortugas.)

3. My husband is very interested in Kennedy Space Center. Would we need more than one day in order to see everything, or is one day generally enough? Would we have any time after our drive from the Keys on Day 7 to see part of it, perhaps the Astronaut Hall of Fame?

4. Does our loop from Cape Canaveral to Blue Spring, Silver Springs, and Crystal River to Orlando make sense, given our interests?

Thanks for your thoughts on our first draft!

Answer

Your proposed Florida itinerary is well thought out for a nature-focused trip with a mix of wildlife, scenic drives, and select attractions like Kennedy Space Center and Epcot. Here are detailed insights and suggestions based on your questions.

Timing of Year:

Late February to early March is excellent for your goals. The weather is typically mild, humidity is lower, and mosquitoes are much less active than in summer. Wildlife viewing is also optimal, as manatees are often still in warm waters like Crystal River and Blue Spring.
This period avoids hurricane season and the intense summer heat, which is ideal for comfortable kayaking, hiking, and wildlife spotting.

Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas:

Your plan to spend 3 nights in the Keys (Marathon/Key West) is good. If you can add an extra day, it would allow you to schedule a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park. The park is accessed by ferry or seaplane and requires a full day, but it’s stunning and wildlife-rich.
If staying in Marathon, the drive to Key West is about 1-1.5 hours, so a day trip works well. Consider starting early to maximize time in Key West.

Everglades and Wildlife Viewing:

Your Days 2-3 in Homestead are solid for exploring the Everglades. Anhinga Trail is excellent for birds and alligators, and Shark Valley offers a tram tour that’s perfect if you want to see wildlife without much walking.
Airboat rides are touristy but offer a chance to see alligators up close; try early morning for cooler temperatures and better wildlife activity.

Kennedy Space Center:

One full day is typically sufficient for most visitors to experience the main exhibits, IMAX movies, and launch viewing areas. The Astronaut Hall of Fame is now part of the main visitor complex, so you can see it during a single day.
Arriving after a drive from the Keys on Day 7 would allow limited sightseeing, depending on your timing, but you could do the visitor complex highlights in the late afternoon. Overnight in Cocoa Beach is ideal for an early start the next day.

Route from Cape Canaveral to Blue Spring, Silver Springs, Crystal River, and Orlando:

Your loop is logical and manageable. Blue Spring State Park is known for manatees (best in winter/early spring) and is a good stop before heading to Ocala.
Silver Springs offers glass-bottom boat tours and walking trails; it’s scenic and wildlife-rich.
Crystal River is perfect for manatee encounters in early spring. Staying overnight allows for guided tours or snorkeling experiences.
Driving from Crystal River to Orlando is about 1.5-2 hours, making it feasible to reach Epcot comfortably the next day.

Additional Recommended Destinations:

Everglades City or Big Cypress National Preserve – less touristy, excellent for birdwatching and wildlife.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo – great for snorkeling or glass-bottom boat tours, adds a marine wildlife element.
Fort De Soto Park near Tampa or Siesta Key Beach – if you want pristine beaches along the route, though optional.

Overall, your itinerary balances nature, wildlife, and a couple of iconic attractions. Minor adjustments could include adding a day for Dry Tortugas and ensuring travel times between parks are reasonable, but otherwise it’s very solid for your first Florida adventure.

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