Fly drive-Miami Arrival Orlando Departure, Where else to go?

Hello,

Were spending 2 weeks in Florida in September. The plan is to fly into Miami and fly back from Orlando. We%26#39;ll probably spend 2 nights in Miami then drive down to Key West for 1 or 2 nights (is that enough time?) before spending our last 7 days in Orlando.

The question is can anyone suggest good places for breaking up the journey on the drive up to Orlando. Looking for a bit of culture/shopping/relaxation....

We plan to visit Kennedy Space centre but could probably do that trip from Orlando, also thinking of visiting the Everglades, is that a day trip from Miami or would it be best to find a hotel nearby..

Thanks in advance.

Fly drive-Miami Arrival Orlando Departure, Where else to go?

The Everglades is only an afternoon trip from Miami - depending on if you decide to take an airboat ride.

Shopping - the Sawgrass Mills mall. You could spend an entire day there.

Relaxation - if you are not in a hurry to get to Orlando, take the scenic drive along A1A. It is not one continuous road so you have to come back on the mainland and then catch the next bridge across to continue on it. A Florida map will show you where the crossovers are.

Culture - The say the South Beach area of Miami Beach is a culture on its own, especially at night.

Fly drive-Miami Arrival Orlando Departure, Where else to go?

I%26#39;d definitely stay 2 nights Key West , not 1- There is a nice museum in Palm Beach, the Norton Gallery and also a lovely Japanese Garden and Museum , the Morikami, in north Boca Raton, which would both be between a half to an hour drive up from Ft. Lauderdale. Morikami frequently has special programs like the traditional tea ceremony. Las Olas Blvd in Ft. Lauderdale is a lovely street lined with small galleries and sidewalk cafes- and there is a Museum of Art at one end there too- let me check on what is going on there in Sept- I haven%26#39;t been paying attention. Ft.Lauderdale is about 4 hrs north of Key West- you might want to consider it as a nice stop off on your way north.- Sawgrass Mall- about 30 minutes west of the beach area is really a shopping mecca- hundreds of outlets - some designer. Orlando is almost exactly 200 miles north of Ft Laiderdale- about three hours by car- so you could easily spend late morning, early afternoon at Morikami and /or Norton on your way and still lbe in Orlando by early evening.

www.norton.org

and

tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34179-d53鈥?/a>

Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is closed for refurbishing till Sept 7- at which time a famous touring quilt exhibit will be their ';grand reopening';

http://www.moafl.org/

Ta very much to both of you for your suggestions, very helpful :)