How get the most out of two weeks in Florida

Last updated on October 15, 2024

A view of downtown Miami.

Are you heading to Florida and looking for a way to do both the theme parks and get a taste of the wider Floridian life? This 2-week Florida itinerary is a way to satisfy everyone in your group, from the theme park lovers to the beach hounds to those who like a bit more culture in their vacation. 

From the vibrancy of Miami and its local neighbourhoods to the tropical vibes of the Keys and the beauty of the Everglades, it adds something extra to the typical Orlando theme park vacation. For us, that was essential. As much as I love theme parks (and I really do!), they’re also exhausting and I didn’t want to go all that way without experiencing some more of what Florida has to offer.

This is the 2-week Florida itinerary we came up with – you could easily shorten or extend it, depending on your timings and priorities.

Why visit Florida?

Beach at Bakers Cay Resort, Key Largo.

You might be thinking Florida doesn’t really match the vibe of Bridges and Balloons. And to be honest, it wasn’t high on my bucket list before I had kids. But the call of Disney was strong, and when I looked into Florida more, I was excited about visiting, especially the south.

There’s no doubt Florida gets a lot of bad press – from the endless ‘Florida man’ memes to the hurricanes, and a breed of politics that will be hair-raising to anyone who leans even slightly liberal. But, while that press might be true, Florida is also one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations for good reason. The weather at the right time of year is glorious, the water’s azul, the sand powder white, and the list of attractions goes far beyond theme parks. We enjoyed it more than we thought we would.

How to use this Florida itinerary

You could copy our itinerary exactly if you like, but it’s also easy to adapt if you want to focus on different areas. Our main priority was the theme parks so we had the most amount of time in Orlando. If you’re only doing a day or two at the parks, then you could extend your time in the Keys/Miami. There are also many places you could add to the itinerary, like Naples, St.Pete, some of the natural springs, or the Space Coast.

Who is this itinerary for? Families? Couples?

Us at Animal Kingdom.

All our itineraries on Bridges and Balloons can normally be adapted to suit different groups and this one is no different. We did it as a family with two kids, aged 3 and 6. But you could definitely do it as a couple, group or solo traveller too. You might just skip some of the more kid-focused activities. Everywhere we stayed is good for all ages. 

Florida itinerary at a glance

  • Miami – 3 nights
  • Florida Keys and Everglades – 3 nights
  • Orlando (Disney World, Universal Studios and Kennedy Space Center)– 8 nights 

Our Florida highlights

  • Exploring all the street art in the Wynwood area of Miami
  • Riding bikes along Miami beach
  • Staying in gorgeous oceanfront hotels in the Florida Keys
  • Watching the sunset in Mallory Square, Key West
  • Eating key lime pie in the Florida Keys
  • Harry Potter World at Universal
  • Seeing the kids’ joy at Disney
  • Seeing a space shuttle at Kennedy Space Center 

Florida itinerary map

Florida FAQs

How long do you need for a Florida vacation?

There really is no set time you need for Florida vacation (it’s way too big to “do” in a set number of days), but for this itinerary, I’d suggest at least 10 days, and ideally 2 weeks. If you’re there for less than two weeks and following this route, you’d need to do less of the theme parks in Orlando. 

The individual destinations on this itinerary would all suit weekend trips too if you’re a domestic traveller. And they could easily be made into longer trips if you want to focus on just one or two places. Personally, I’d have loved a week in the Florida Keys. 

When to go to Florida

For some people, Florida is a year-round destination, but we would personally avoid both the summer (June-August) and the hurricane season (June-November). Summer can get unbearably hot, so only go then if you can tolerate the heat. And hurricane season is risky, so probably best to go at another time if you can manage it. 

We went at the end of March/early April and the temperature fluctuated a lot, from around 13ºC to 32ºC, both in Miami and Orlando. But overall, the days were sunny and warm, providing pretty much perfect weather. We had two days of rain in a 16-day trip, and those downpours were biblical but fairly short lived. That said, the week before our trip had really wet weather, so it’s a lot down to luck.

It was warm enough for swimming in heated pools, but the kids found it too cold to swim in the unheated ones. I think May, and of course, the hot summer would be a safer bet for swimming temperatures. 

Bear in mind that the state is huge, so the temperature difference between the north and south is large. It can get quite chilly in the north in winter.

How to get around Florida

Kids on the brightline train.

Florida, like most of the USA, is built for motor vehicles, so you’ll most likely be travelling by car. That said, there’s a brilliant train line (the Brightline) between Miami and Orlando that connects the two cities in around 3 hours. We used this and it was a really convenient way to travel, especially with the kids.

The Brightline opened in 2023, and if this is how the USA does trains, we hope they start doing more as it was a brilliant way to get around. We had the premium tickets, which granted access to a well-stocked departure lounge as well as food and drinks on board. It all felt a bit like air travel, but on the ground.

As for getting around the individual destinations, I’ve added more details in the ‘how to get around’ section for each destination in the itinerary below. We only rented a car for the Florida Keys and Miami. In Orlando, we travelled by bus/Disney transport/uber to get to the parks and between hotels. Miami also has some public transport options, but you’ll almost certainly need a car to explore the Everglades and the Keys unless you book an organised day trip. 

How to get to Florida

For this itinerary, you’ll need to fly into either Miami or Orlando, which are both major international airports. Fort Lauderdale is another international option near Miami. We flew from the UK with Norse Atlantic, a no-frills airline, which had by far the best deals. 

With Norse, you have to pay extra for everything, from online meals to blankets to luggage, so do check carefully that the additions don’t make the flight more expensive than your other options. For us, Norse was still cheaper and we’d definitely fly with them again. Despite the flights being cheaper, their fleet of Dreamliner planes are modern and as comfy as airlines like BA. 

I always use Skyscanner and Kayak for booking flights and searching for the best deals. They both have handy flight price trackers, you can set up to get alerted of the best deals.

Domestic travellers could consider flying directly to Key West.

Our detailed Florida road trip itinerary

Miami

Miami Beach South Beach.

I love cities by the beach and Miami has one of the best with white sand, turquoise water and a palm-fringed boardwalk. 

The city, especially South Beach, is famed for its party lifestyle, and while that does ring true, Miami also has a lot more going for it beyond the clubs. We went as a family and found plenty of kid-friendly activities – in fact, I’ve written a guide to all the top things to do in Miami with kids.

One of the best things about the city is its diversity – there are cultures from all around the world, especially its Caribbean neighbours, and you can explore cultural enclaves like Little Havana and Little Haiti. There’s also an impressive food scene and world-class arts to explore. It makes for an exciting city trip and one you could easily stretch to a week.

A lot of creatives are now flocking to the city, bringing with them a breath of innovation to Miami’s businesses, from cafes to shops to restaurants. Wynwood is a good hub to see this in action, especially around the Wynwood Walls gallery. 

The only issue with Miami is that it’s expensive, especially in peak vacation times when accommodation prices soar. And food is a big expense too – be prepared to dig deep.

Things to do in Miami

Like I said, I’ve written a guide to all the best things to do in Miami with kids, and many of those ring true for grown-ups too. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Wynwood – We loved the whole Wynwood area where the streets are a canvas for street artists from around the world. It’s a creative, hipster part of town where regeneration was kickstarted by the Wynwood Walls outdoor street art museum.
  • Little Havana – Little Havana is Miami’a Cuban district and the place to go for cigars, rum, Cuban coffee and sandwiches, and plenty of live music. It’s well touristed, but still authentic, especially the famous Maximo Gomez Park (aka ‘domino park’). Be sure to get a sweet treat from Azucar Ice Cream
  • Little Haiti – much smaller and less touristy than Little Havana is Little Haiti, which includes the Little Haiti Cultural Complex that celebrates all things Afro-Carribbean. 

Where to eat and drink in Miami

Miami has an exciting food scene that I wish we’d been able to dig into more – quite a lot of the places are fairly fancy so not ideal for unruly kids like mine, which somewhat limited our options. But we did have some great meals. Here are some places I recommend from what we tried, plus a few I’d have loved to go to…

  • Coyo Taco – well-priced quick stop for tacos in Wynwood
  • Zak the Baker – bright and breezy, hipster vibe bakery in Wynwood with excellent baked goods and a small, nicely put together lunch menu. 
  • Night Owl Cookies – amazing cookies in Wynwood. Get the brownie one!
  • The Citadel – The Citadel is a street food style market in Little Haiti with over 12 places to choose from – ideal for families or groups when you all fancy something different.
  • Sweetgreen – lots of branches across the city for healthy, well priced meals and snacks.
  • Azucar Ice Cream – iconic ice cream shop in Little Havana, including the famous Abuela Maria flavor of guava, cream cheese and Latin American Maria crackers. 
  • Stubborn Seed is where I’d have most liked to eat had we been in Miami as a couple. It’s described as having a party atmosphere and an incredible tasting menu by a chef who won the TV show Top Chef. I’d go for the cacio e pepe cheese puffs alone, which sound incredible!
  • 27 Restaurant has the vibe of a living room restaurant and looks gorgeous. If you have kids, you’d need them to be fairly adventurous eaters as it serves quite refined small plates.
  • Versailles – the most famous of Miami’s Cuban restaurants. 
  • Cecconi’s in Soho House has a good kids menu and welcomes kids, but it’s very stylish and fancy, so when we stopped by, we felt pretty conspicuous with our noisy children, so decided to eat back at out hotel! It is beautiful though, so go if you have well behaved kids or are travelling without them!

Where to stay in Miami

We tried two hotels while staying in Miami, and can recommend both. I’ve also put together a post on places to stay in Miami with kids, which includes other hotels that made out shortlist.

The Palms Hotel & Spa

The Palms Hotel is unique in that it’s a large resort owned by a family rather than a brand, and that personalisation shines through, making for a large hotel but with a cosy feel. 

The location is impressive right on Collins Avenue in Mid Beach, and our ocean-facing room had jaw-dropping views of that fabulous Miami coast. The hotel has loungers for guests on the beach as well as morning yoga, making the most of their location. We woke for sunset and it was one of the highlights of my time in Miami – what a view to wake up to!

While excellent for kids, the Palms Hotel isn’t an overt family hotel – there’s no water slide or kids’ club – but little ones will love the big pool and of course the beach. It’s an overall welcoming place that attracts a mixture of people, from families to young couples to retirees – and the vibe is relaxed unlike the more “see and be seen” attitude of nearby South Beach. It suited us perfectly.

The Palms has focussed on sustainability for over 10 years, leading the way among Miami’s hotels. And you can see those efforts throughout the hotel, from toilets that reuse grey water to an excellent farm-to-table restaurant. The breakfast buffet is excellent and free for under 5’s, which was highly appreciated!

Check availability and book now.

Kimpton Anglers Hotel

I don’t tend to stay in chain hotels, but the Kimpton is always an exception. I’m yet to find one I don’t like. Each hotel has a unique design, taking its inspiration from the local neighbourhood, which makes for a unique chain hotel experience. 

We stayed at the Kimpton Anglers, which draws on the glamour of its location while also providing a peaceful retreat from the famous bustle and party life of South Beach. Despite being a stylish boutique hotel, it’s also welcoming to kids and we didn’t feel out of place despite having two unruly littluns in tow. 

The rooftop pool is a highlight with great views of the Miami skyline. It’s a lush place to relax in the Miami sunshine. And there’s also another smaller pool on the ground floor, with a secluded, peaceful vibe (I’d recommend taking kids to the rooftop instead).

The rooms, as you can expect with Kimpton were stylish to a tee, and we loved having a private courtyard patio, which was an ideal place to hang out once the kids were asleep.

The location is fantastic, within walking distance of all the hotspots in South Beach. And they also have bikes you can use to get around, which is the best way to explore South Beach. 

Check availability and book now.

How to get around Miami

Most people in Miami are travelling by car, but there is a public transport system, including buses and an elevated rail network that’s cheap and easy to use. In fact, the downtown section of the railway – the MIA Mover – is completely free to use. We used it to get from the Frost Museum to the Brightline station and it was a really convenient, easy way to travel. You can find more details on how to use Miami’s public transport here.

If you’re staying in South Beach and plan to spend most of your time there, you can easily get away without having a car, and opt for walking or cycling instead. 

Everglades

Us on Anhinga trail.

The Everglades were a big highlight for us, and I’d say they’re a must on a Florida itinerary as they’re one of the best ways to experience the nature that makes Florida special. A Florida trip can get a bit heavy on highways and concrete, but the Everglades is a perfect antidote to that. 

It’s one of the world’s most unique ecosystems, and the vast expanse of wetlands is home to all sorts of wildlife, including its most famous resident, the alligator.

You can easily do a day trip from Miami – either to Anhinga or Shark Valley. The other entry point is near Naples on the other side of the state.

We visited en route to Key Largo, which was a convenient way to visit as part of our Florida Keys road trip.

Things to do in the Everglades 

If you’re visiting the Everglades from Miami, you can choose to visit the Shark Valley or Homestead areas. Shark Valley has ethical airboat rides, a tram and an excellent bike route. And Homestead has a bunch of easy trails, a good chance of seeing alligators and is probably the easiest way to visit from Miami. We opted for the Homestead entrance as it was convenient for us to stop there en route to Key Largo. Here are a few things to do in the Everglades with kids.

  • Airboat Rides – Airboat rides are one of the most popular ways to explore the Everglades. These high-speed boats skim across the water, providing a thrilling ride while offering great views of the wildlife. Many tour operators offer family-friendly options that are safe and exciting for kids. Choose an airboat company that is approved by the national park as many aren’t and are contributing to pollution and destruction of the Everglades. These ones have good reviews: Everglades Airboat Tours and Airboat ride and walk with a naturalist.
  • Shark Valley – Located in the northern part of Everglades National Park, Shark Valley offers tram tours that take you through the heart of the Everglades. There’s also a 15-mile loop that you can bike, providing an up-close look at the unique landscape.
  • Anhinga Trail – This short trail is perfect for families and offers a great chance to see wildlife. It’s an easy walk, and you’re likely to spot alligators, turtles, and a variety of birds. The boardwalks provide safe viewing points, making it ideal for kids. This walk was perfect for us – we saw alligators and had a good taste of what the Everglades are all about. If you’re doing this, you could also drive a bit further to the Mahogany Hammock Trail and Pa-hay-okee Overlook.
  • Ernest Coe Visitor Center – The Ernest Coe Visitor Center is a great starting point for any trip to the Everglades. It has informative displays about the park’s ecosystems, wildlife, and history. You can pick up a Junior Ranger pack here, which kids can complete to get their Junior Ranger badge (unless they’ve run out, which happened when we visited!!).
  • The Everglades Alligator Farm – near the entrance to the park and the Anhinga trail, it offers airboat rides and demonstrations with animals. We heard it’s not the most ethical place when it comes to treating animals so we didn’t visit. 

Where to eat and drink in the Everglades

Robert is Here Fruit Stand

Just before the Homestead entrance to the Everglades is the Robert is Here Fruit Stand, which has become a staple of any day trip to the Everglades. It feels like being in the Caribbean with tables piled high with exotic fruits. Buy some snacks, and be sure to get one of their famous smoothies/milkshakes. 

Where to stay

There’s only one place you can stay in the Everglades National Park and it’s around 45 minutes deeper into the park than the Ernest Coe Visitor Centre at Flamingo. 

The Flamingo Lodge has 24 rooms plus houseboats, glamping and camping. We would have loved to stay here, but it didn’t quite fit with our itinerary. Our trip to the Everglades was more a of a flying visit between Miami and Key Largo. But if you want to spend more time exploring the park, then a stay here would be ideal.

How to get around

To get to and around the Everglades, you’ll either need a car or to join an organised trip. 

Here are some options from Get Your Guide.

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Florida Keys

Shipwreck Museum Key West.

The Florida Keys are my favourite part of Florida, giving a little taste of Caribbean-style life on mainland USA. The string of over 100 islands is a land of turquoise waters, white sand and colourful neighbourhoods where Florida’s castaways have made their home.

We did a gorgeous road trip in the Florida Keys, stopping at Key Largo, Marathon and Key West. See our full Florida Keys road trip itinerary for all the details, but these are some of the highlights.

Things to do in the Florida Keys

Here are some idea for things to do in the Florida Keys. We also have a full guide to visiting the Florida Keys with kids.

  • Go snorkelling in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Or for something less intrepid, take a glass bottom boat tour.
  • Visit the Coral Restoration Foundation to learn about the important work they’re doing to protect the barrier reef
  • Head to Mallory Square for sunset and join the daily crowds as they toast the sunset together
  • Visit the Ernest Hemmingway Home and Museum where you can learn about the author’s time in Key West where he spent almost a decade. Don’t miss the polydactyl cats, descendants of Hemmingway’s own! The Key West Lighthouse is also nearby.
  • See the butterflies at the Butterfly and Nature Conservancy 
  • Head to Duval Street for the famous Key West nightlife – including Green Parrot Bar and Sloppy Joe’s Bar
  • Do a tour of the sea turtle hospital to learn about how they rescue and care for these endangered creatures. It was a highlight of our time in the Keys.
  • Spend some beach time at Sombrero Beach or Bahia State Park – both popular family options near Marathon

Where to eat and drink in the Florida Keys 

The Keys is a big seafood destination, so if you eat fish, you’re in for a treat. And don’t leave without trying some of the famous key lime pie.

We have lots of food recommendations in our Florida Keys itinerary, but here are some highlights.

Where to stay in the Florida Keys 

The Florida Keys are a prime vacation destination, so there are plentiful accommodation options to choose from, especially around Key Largo and Key West. It’s particularly known for its resorts, and I’ve written a guide to the best Florida Keys resorts for families. Another option if you’re travelling with kids is to hire a self-catering apartment, which would also help save some money on eating out. 

How to get around

Florida Keys Trolley Tour.

The best way to get around the Florida Keys is by car as that will give you the most freedom to explore. But it is also possible with public transport. There’s a greyhound bus connecting Miami to Key West. Once in the Keys, there’s a good public bus network that also connects the main parts of the islands. Key West is easy to get around on foot or by bus. We also like the trolley tour for a fun, semi-guided tour. 

Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando.

Orlando is the theme park centre of the USA, home to the two giants: Disney World and Universal Orlando. Chances are your visit is going to revolve around one or both of these. But there are some other fun things to do in Orlando, and good day trips to break up the theme park bubble. 

Things to do in Orlando

We have a full guide to things to do in Orlando with kids, including some fun nature experiences and day trips. But the main focus of our trip was going to Disney World and Universal Studios, with a day trip to the Kennedy Space Center

The key thing when tackling the theme parks is to plan your time in a way that gives you enough time to enjoy them balanced with enough time to relax and recharge your batteries. Theme parks are exhausting! Luckily, I’ve put together some tips to help you do just that!

I’ve written a full guide to visiting Disney World with kids, including guides to each individual theme park: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. And I’ve done the same for the Universal Orlando Resort, and its theme parks: Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida. Plus a special guide to Harry Potter World too.

If you’re heading to the Space Center, you could make it an overnight stay so you could explore Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna too.

Where to eat and drink

See our guides to each individual theme park for advice on where to eat within the theme parks. Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs also have great dining options, and you don’t need a ticket to visit these. 

One of the best high-end options in Disney Springs is Jaelo, a Spanish restaurant by Jose Andres, but kids will likely prefer the Rainforest Café or T-Rex restaurant, which are a full-on themed experience. Make sure to get a reservation for these as they get really busy in the high season.

In CityWalk, there are lots of fun options, including Antojitos for Mexican, and The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen, which looks a bit like the factory from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Where to stay

If you’re going to Universal or Disney, staying in one of their official hotels is the most convenient option, and they come with lots of perks. But they can also be quite expensive. And there are alternative options, including some normal hotels that still give early entry to the parks. 

We stayed in five different hotels in Orlando to review different types of accommodation and assess the pros and cons of each. I’ve written a full review of all five and an explanation of all the options in our guide to the best Disney hotels for families.

How to get around Orlando

Orlando is a land of highways and is built for travel by car. But you don’t necessarily need a car if your holiday is theme park focussed and your hotel is connected to the parks (most have shuttle buses to and from the parks). And there are also rideshares widely available. We only hired a car for one day in Orlando to get to the Kennedy Space Center. The rest of the time we used the hotel transport or ride shares. 

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Creative family travel guides

We don’t think you have to sacrifice creativity and style when travelling with kids. Browse our guides for creative family travel around the world. We also have a whole section on cool places to stay with kids in destinations worldwide. And guides to theme parks too.

Family travel tips: Tips for travelling with a baby | Baby packing list | Flying with a baby survival guide | Where to stay with a baby | Ultimate guide to Home Exchange | Bucket list family vacation ideas | How to plan a road trip

UKBirmingham with kids | Bristol with kids | Cornwall with kids |London with toddlers Edinburgh with kids | Manchester with kids UK family Christmas trips

Europe: Annecy with kids | Barcelona with kids Barcelona with a baby | France family surf camp | Majorca (Puerto Pollensa) family holiday | Croatia (Sibenik) family holiday | Trentino with kids | San Sebastian with kids

USA: Austin with kids | Boston with kids | California with kids | Charleston with kids | Chicago with kids | Florida with kids | Florida Keys with kids | Hawaii with kids |  Los Angeles with kids | Miami with kids | New York with a baby | Orlando with kidsPortland with kids | Sacramento with kids | San Antonio with kids | San Diego with kids | San Francisco with kids | Savannah with kids | Tuolumne County with kids

Asia: Koh Lanta with kids | Phuket with kids | Thailand family holidays

Family road trip itineraries: Boston to Maine |California road trip |Florida Keys road trip | France road trip | Italy (Trentino) road trip | New England road tripPacific Coast Highway road trip | Provence road trip | San Francisco to Seattle road trip Southern USA road trip | Portugal road trip | Texas road trip | West Coast France road trip

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