I’m going to be getting a minivan to camp in and to road trip around the state. I start in Miami (December 22 - December 31st) and am not super interested in visiting there since I've been there before. I wanted to see the Everglades and to see some caves. I really enjoy nature and the unique places the locals enjoy. I love art and tasty food. I’ll be with a corgi who is chill in the car for a bit if she can’t come along. I don’t drink alcohol, so bars and breweries aren’t for me.
Thanks for taking the time to read and share insight!
Welcome to Florida! The Everglades are in South Florida, South of Lake Okeechobee. The only caves for tourists I know of are the Marianna Caverns in the Panhandle, a 10+ hour drive from the Glades. Plenty of Florida cool places between.
We've got caves in Central Florida. Some are harder to find than others, but they exist in and around Crystal River, Lecanto, and Inverness. All worth the trip, IF you can find them.
Also, up the road in Dunnellon, the road the high school is on is where parts of Jeepers Creepers was filmed. The buildings were in the movie and there is a big, open field where various scenes were filmed too. Then take a tube down the rainbow river. Start at the KP hole and tube on down. Water is 72 degrees all year round. If you go north of Dunnellon toward Ocala, you can go to Santos in the Ocala Nat'l Forest, rent a mountain bike, and rip the trails. It's most excellent riding. Plenty of walkable trails all around that whole area too. Don't bug those poor manatees! You can see them easily without getting on a tour boat all over Homosassa amd Crystal River. Go to seven sisters. Or is it three sisters...I'm having a brain fade. Lol
Oh, and when you're near Tampa, go over to St. Pete to visit the Salvador Dali museum.
Yeah umm no. A corgi is last thing you want to take to the everglades. Gators are size oriented. That dog is perfect food size and even in winter it can get to hot in a car and you dont leave windows open in Fla ever. Please rethink this.
I concur
1) don’t plan on leaving the dog in the car. It can be 80+ degrees
2) don’t take a small dog to the Everglades unless you want to attract predators
When you get to the central west side, I recommend checking out the Homosassa & Crystal River areas for nature AND local art. it’s The Nature Coast, actually.
And there are “caves” in Withlacoochee State Forest, Dames and Peace.
Tour the coral castle, take Tiger Tales airboat tour through the Everglades (Miccosukee owned), go up 75 and stop at a few springs, most springs with a dog you will need camping reservations (some don’t even allow dogs then, so do your research on floridastateparks.org). Stop at Devil’s Den (reservation absolutely required) to snorkel in a sink hole, Crystal River to swim with manatees, Florida cavern state parks in Marianna is the only show cave (basically in Alabama in the panhandle). If you can time it when they’re having events Lubee Bat conservancy near Gainesville is so cool if you like bats but they don’t do public events often. Chase Sancturary in Webster for other animal encounters.
A mini van is nice, but have you considered a Prius? All teh seats fold down flat, its a hatch back, but the best part is you can leave the car on all night long, with the ac, and the car cycles on and off automatically every 25 minutes for about 7-10 minutes. Plus you get 50 mpg. Also consider going into they keys, very beautiful
I’m renting for now but this is a really good point. My own personal car right now is a Camry but it’s not the right fit for me.
You can rent a Prius. Have a few times before, try hertz or their partners.
West of West Palm, try lion country safari. You can drive around and see so much wildlife all around your vehicle. Pretty cool.
Caves in the everglades? That's news to me.
Two separate interests
We have spent years camping all over Florida. There are some great suggestions from others. East coast, Long Point Park, Brevard Co. Also check out Gamble Rogers. Central Florida, Paine's Prairie, home of wild bison and horses. Yes, there are wild bison in Florida. The caves in central are located in the South end of the Withlacochee Forest,. Check out Florida Forest Service website. Panhandle, St George Island State Park is by far the best park in the State if you like beaches and seclusion. Plenty to do and see, a lot of information available online. Good luck and safe travels.
How long will you be here?
Edit: I'm an idiot... I see it now.
If you have time, Myakka River is a beautiful area!
Do the jet ski tour in the Everglades, unbeatable.