Here’s a link here to a long list of Florida balloon companies (28 of them!) so you can compare them and pick one close to where you’ll be visiting.  Also, here’s a link to Visit Florida articles about ballooning. Happy flying!

Here are a few places to get you started. Florida Eco-Safaris is located at Forever Florida and the Crescent J Ranch, 4,700 acres of pristine Florida wilderness and a working cattle ranch. Forever Florida offers an overnight ride (ride all day, camp at night). They only offer camping if you want to stay. Here’s their website. 

At the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park you can stay in a cabin and ride out of their facility daily.  Their website says "experience the intoxicating beauty and natural charm of North Florida as you make your way along the banks of the historic Suwannee River. With twenty+ miles of trails to ride, there is always something new to see.” 

Grand Cypress Equestrian Center offers countless options to guests interested in combining top riding instruction, a luxurious and relaxing getaway, superb fine dining and more. Each and every equestrian vacation is designed personally for your needs and level of equestrian expertise. 

Here are links to Visit Florida articles about horseback riding. 

Write back if you’d like information about a specific area – Florida is a big state!

I’m not sure if you’d like to my opinion on the best way to explore the Everglades National Park or the best way to get a cool airboat tour. Here’s lots of information about the park. Airboats are not permitted in Everglades National Park, however, if you’re not set on an airboat, you can rent a canoe or kayak, and explore them that way. This personally appeals to me, since it’s quiet, very back-to-nature, and I like to get some exercise – but it may not suit YOU or the people that you’re traveling with. Here’s a link to a whole slew of articles describing different trips you can choose from. 

You may take an airboat ride outside park boundaries along the Tamiami Trail, at Everglades City, and between Homestead and the Ernest Coe Visitor Center off route 9336. Here’s a link to articles about a bunch of airboat companies that operate in the Everglades, so you can pick one close to where you will be staying. Here’s the website for Everglades Safari Park if you decide to go there.

I recently had a long conversation with a man who used to take out airboat tours. He advised that you should find a small, private company, and be willing to turn off the motor, hang out and wait. He said that you see the coolest wildlife that way.

I hope you have a great time! 

I’m not sure what kind of things you and your family are interested in and your personalities -- adventure sports, theme parks, nature -- so here's a link to attractions in Orlando and also a link to attractions in Miami. This way you can pick for yourselves.
As 3 days isn’t much time I would choose to visit either Miami or Orlando, not both. Either place has stuff to keep you occupied for weeks, and you don’t want to waste a minute driving back and forth.
The web site www.hotels.com has great prices and a comparison chart from low to high. It changes all the time. You type in your destination; they give you the current choices. I also found article about finding cheap hotels for you. Here is advice about car rentals; here is website that helps you get inexpensive airline tickets.
I hope you have a great time here!

You’re in luck! Dolphin Cove is a marine education and dolphin swim facility located in sunny Key Largo. The swim takes place in a natural lagoon that opens to the Florida Bay.  You can also enjoy a dolphin swim at the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon. Dolphin World can help you find even more locations.

Or, opt to discover the world of wild dolphins in the local waters of Key West, Florida with Wild About Dolphins. 

Mitzi Gordon, Visit Florida’s smart travel expert, is better suited to answering this question than I am. You can contact her here. Thanks lots, and sorry to redirect you – but she is absolutely brilliant at traveling in style without breaking the bank, and this is right up her alley.

You have LOTS of choices. Here are places to scuba near St. Petersburg. Here are places near Vero Beach. Finally, here are some articles about scuba from Visit Florida. Have a great time!

Mapquest says the driving time is about 3 hours and 11 minutes and that the distance is about 213 miles. Have a great trip!

The name of the place in the video is Everglades Safari Park. It’s about 2 hours from Flamingo (it’s close to Miami) so you may want to find a closer company. I just had a long conversation with a man who used to take out airboat tours (He is a zookeeper in Miami now, and I was “zookeeper for a day” on Tuesday.) He advised that you should find a small, private company, and be willing to turn off the motor, hang out and wait. He said that you see the coolest wildlife that way.

Airboats are not permitted in Everglades National Park, but you may take an airboat ride outside park boundaries along the Tamiami Trail, at Everglades City, and between Homestead and the Ernest Coe Visitor Center off route 9336. I spoke with Cindy in ENP this morning, and she said they are not allowed to recommend airboat companies.

You can rent a canoe right in Flamingo. Cindy told me that everyone LOVES the 9 mile Pond loop—and here’s info about it plus a whole list a fantastic trips you can choose from – but the best place to go will depend on the time of year you visit and the water level (which is a little low right now). I hope you have a great time! 

Actually, it’s not a dumb question at all. I assumed there wasn’t any whitewater in Florida since the state is pretty flat, which doesn’t make for a lot of fast moving water. I was wrong.

Big Shoals Public Lands is a 3,772-acre parcel of cooperatively managed public land that features the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. The park has 28 miles of wooded trails for daytime recreational use. Bird watching, picnicking, bicycling, hiking, canoeing, kayaking and horseback riding are encouraged. Here’s some info about nearby White Springs.

I spoke with a woman at the Big Shoals Park (Phone: 386-397-2733) this morning and she said you can raft there, but only if you bring your own. However, you CAN rent a canoe or kayak from American Canoe Adventures in White Springs (Phone: 386-397-1309) and run the rapids on them.

Florida Whitewater Rafting says that “it offers canoe, kayak and whitewater rafting trips on rivers, creeks, streams and lakes near Florida. You can experience rafting trips ranging from a brief two hour tour to a wilderness adventure lasting several days.” Their number is 352-759-3483. I also spoke with a man there this morning, and he said that they run trips around the Georgia/FL line. However, they have not run any trips in FL recently because of the low water levels. Their season runs from mid-May until early September. You might check back with them later because the woman I spoke with at Big Shoals said they’d had a boatload of rain lately and their rivers were way up.

I hope this helps!

Thanks so much for writing. Unfortunately, there isn’t a tunnel that runs from Ft. Myers to Key West. It’s just shy of 300 miles. However, the drive is truly stunning since you often have water on both sides of the road. You could take a ferry if the drive doesn’t appeal to you. Key West Express provides a passenger ferry service between Ft Myers, Marco Island, Miami and Key West. Have a great trip!

Hi Mario,

It was fantastic to meet you and watch you skydive the other day. Your attitude is an inspiration. I’ll give you a call – but hey, if I go skydiving, will you be the one to take me? Pleeez? I need to go with someone who has had a zillion jumps! Bawk bawk (that’s the sound of the chicken).

For readers’ knowledge, my friend Linda flew down from New York this week to visit family and fly a hang glider at Wallaby Ranch. Besides being one of my closest friends, Linda is my teammate on the US Women’s Hang Gliding Team. She is ranked # 1 in the U.S. (Sadly, I am ranked #2.) While at Wallaby, she met up with Mario.

Mario will be helping us find our way around Italy in the World Hang Gliding Championships this year. He grew up at the base of Monte Cucco, where they are being held. Besides being a master skydiver, he is also a hang glider pilot and paraglider pilot, and those are just his hobbies. He took Linda skydiving, and she was moved to tears by the time they landed. It’s hard to make Linda cry, so I guess I have to go, too!

Mario, about your last comments: I have not made a final decision whether to represent the U.S. in Italy or not. It’s very expensive and I’m not sure I have enough mountain flying experience to make my nation and myself proud, but as you point out, I need to make up my mind quickly. I promise I will.

So, when are we going to jump out of a plane together???

Hi Lisa Jackie,

You’re in luck! The Miami Seaquarium is only 24 minutes and 20 miles from Hollywood. You can swim with the dolphins there. They have several interactive experiences to choose from.

The Seaquarium has participated in the recovery and rehabilitation of more than 65 manatees and houses the most prolific manatee breeding colony anywhere in the U.S.  – but you can’t swim with them.

If you want to swim with the wild manatees you’d have to travel to the Crystal River area. Actually, Citrus County, Florida, is the only place in the world you can legally swim with wild manatees and interact with them, but it’s quite a drive from Hollywood – 4 hours, 41 minutes and 297 miles, to be exact! Here’s the contact info for Sunshine River Tours if you decide to make the trek. There are other good companies in the area, but I’ve been out 3 times with these guys and really like them.

Hi Marissa,

Here’s a parasailing operation that’s fairly close (I did a similar search earlier this week and cannot find a closer one – sorry). Here’s the contact info:
Beach Water Sports

555 NE Ocean Blvd
Stuart, FL 34996
(772) 225-2000

 It’s right outside of Port St. Lucie, which Mapquest says is 43 minutes and 31 miles from Vero Beach.

The 2 closest places I found that you can swim with dolphins are in Orlando at Discovery Cove, which is about 1 hour, 44 minutes and 107 miles from Vero Beach, and Miami Seaquarium, which is about 2 hours, 26 minutes and 153 miles.

Have fun!
Lauren

Hi Danielle,

Jim Abernethy's Scuba Adventures in Palm Beach goes to a place called “Shark Canyon” about once a week. Mapquest tells me Palm beach is about 79 miles from Vero Beach, or 1 hour 23 minutes. Hopefully that’s not too far for you to travel. The woman I spoke with at JASA says that you most often see Nurse Sharks and Reef Sharks, but that they’ve recently seen a couple of Bull and Hammerhead Sharks, too. They don’t feed the sharks or chum; it’s just a location where sharks naturally gather. Have fun!

Lauren

Hi Danielle,

Here’s a parasailing operation that’s fairly close. Here’s the contact info:
Beach Water Sports

555 NE Ocean Blvd
Stuart, FL 34996
(772) 225-2000

 It’s right outside of Port St. Lucie, which Mapquest says is 43 minutes and 31 miles from Vero Beach. Happy flying!

Lauren

The short answer is no. You can swim with the dolphins in other locations in Florida, but as far as Orlando goes, Discovery Cove is it. However, I called a park representative this morning, and she told me you should go onto their booking section and keep checking, because people have 30 days to cancel for a full refund – and you may well still snag a reservation that way.

Alternatively, you can go on a 60-minute walking tour with Sea World in Orlando, which says “brings to light the over 20 years of experience our SeaWorld trainers and Animal Care specialists have with our Atlantic bottle-nose dolphins. Discover how building relationships with these magnificent mammals helps to inform, entertain and enrich all our lives.” For reservations call 1-800-327-2424.

Lauren

Hi Patrick,

Now this is a WILD adventure. I used to barrel race a zillion years ago (with a traveling rodeo in Germany). The difference with getting bucked off a horse or a bull is that after you fall off the horse, he won’t try to gore you!

I did find a place you can go. Sankey Rodeo Schools is running a bull riding school in Homestead March 28^th-30^th. Send pictures afterwards, okay?

Lauren

Hi Sarah,

You’ll like either place. They both have rave reviews, but here are some more details so you can pick the one that would best suit your fancy. Where you decide to go may partly depend on your kayaking skill level.

Lovers Key State Park (as you probably know) is made up of four barrier islands, and is renowned for its pristine white beach and wildlife viewing opportunities. It has lots of manatees and dolphins. The woman I chatted with this morning was watching manatees play while we talked.

The park's boat ramp is a great place to put-in.  Heading downstream, the river runs for 3.5 miles towards Estero Bay. The current is lazy and at normal water levels can easily be traveled by novice paddlers. If the water level is substantially higher than normal, paddling up river will require some energy.

 You can also put-in at Estero Bay (the same outfit that rents kayaks in the park has a place there). If you paddle there, you need to have more experience because of the boat traffic and rougher water.

Other cool things about Lover’s Key: The Lee Island Coast has one of the world’s largest populations of loggerhead sea turtles – they weigh up to 300 pounds! May -October, they come ashore and dig nests along some of the beaches. 60 days later the hatchlings break out of their eggs and crawl their way to the sea. Visitors can participate in turtle monitoring activities.

Allow an extra hour to explore the Koreshan Unity Settlement (now known as the Koreshan State Historic Site). Dr. Cyrus Teed – who thought the world was hollow and that humans lived on the inside of the sphere-- founded this strange communal society in the late 1800's. He also thought he was immortal, but nevertheless died in 1908 (surprise, surprise!). Subsequently, the community slowly dissolved.

The large island a tic southwest of the bay entrance is Mound Key. It was literally built to heights of 30 feet from oyster shells over a period of nearly 2,000 years by the Calusa Indians.

Note: Bring insect repellent. It will come in especially handy if you decide to go hiking on Mound Key or any of the other islands.

As you mentioned, Cayo Costa is accessible only by boat, and is one of the largest barrier islands in Florida. It contains unique vegetation that has gone unspoiled for the past 500 years, and is ideal for camping, swimming, shelling and fishing.

What’s cool about Cayo: One of the big deals about it is because it’s remote, it appears much as it would have to the early explorers, especially now that the Australian pines are mostly gone. The island is thickly forested with cabbage palms and small oaks. The wildlife includes wild hogs descended from those brought by the Spanish explorers.

The gentleman I spoke with on Cayo said if he had the choice, he’d come there, because it is so pristine and wild. I recommend making the 16 mile round trip from Pine Island to Cayo Costa by kayak. Check out the trip on YouTube. The pictures explain lots better than I can. 

The trip isn’t difficult during good weather, but could become a challenge if a fast moving storm appeared. Because of the number of miles and exposed open water the kayak club gives this trip its advanced rating. Just keep your eyes open and don’t go out if it’s stormy. In May you won’t have to be so concerned about the pattern of afternoon thunderstorms that we get in the summer months.

The man I spoke with said if you’re a novice (and worried about the Pine Island trip) you can paddle around the islands without difficulty.

Kayak rentals are available through Tropic Star of Pine Island.  Call (239) 283-0015 for more information.   

I hope this helps!

Hi Dominic,

Thanks so much for writing! You question is hard to answer because it is so broad. I’ve focused on things that I like the best and particularly suit Florida. If they don’t sound good to you, write back and I’ll try again.

I’d vote for you to go tandem hang gliding at Wallaby Ranch (the first full time aerotow park in the world). It’s fun and safe. It’s close to Orlando so you’d have lots of other activities available, too. The really cool thing to do would be to time your visit so you’d be there between 3/25/2008-3/30/2008. That’s when Wills Wing (a big name hang glider manufacturer) is hosting their Demo Days and party. You could fly yourself, and then check out the fabulous gliders before joining in the party in the evening. I’m going there, and I have friends flying in from all over that are going, too. (If you catch me  dancing on top of a table, you have to promise not to tell.) Check out  Wallaby and  Wills Wing. 

I’d also recommend you drive a NASCAR style racecar at the Daytona International Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. I had a crazy-good time there and Daytona is like no other place in the world. The cool thing to do with THIS trip would be to time it close to when the Speedway is having a race or a big event (which is often). Daytona’s got the beach and lots of other activities, too.   

I’m a big animal lover, and one of my favorite things is swimming with the wild manatees in the Crystal River. You can’t have this adventure – where you get to interact with wild manatees like this -- anywhere else in the whole wide world except Citrus County. This area is quiet and more suited to camping and hiking than parties. Check out my blog for details. I've gone 3 times with Sunshine River Tours. 

Another way that Florida is special is with its scuba diving on the living barrier reef that runs the length of the Keys – it’s spectacular. I did a “discover scuba” program at Holiday Isle Dive Shop.  You learn in the pool and classroom in the morning and then go on 2 dives in the afternoon. I swam with sharks, saw rays and incredible coral formations; it truly was spectacular. You can snorkel instead if you don’t like the idea of diving. You could attend one of the scuba trade shows and events at the same time you did a dive. 

I hope this helps.

Lauren

Hi Den,

Thanks for writing. I found a couple of places for you with better prices, but I should explain up front that I didn’t go with the cheapest. The reason they are not as cheap as some is that they boat way out in the ocean to teach you, away from land. This is a BIG safety factor. Kite boarding can be dangerous. The main danger factor is being dragged into something unfriendly (like land).

Here’s what I have: The Kite House in Key West offers a “Goin’ tribal” special, which will give 2 days of lessons for your son and a friend for $550 (that’s together, not apiece). All online reservations must be booked 48 hours in advance. To book earlier times, contact them at 305.294.8679 or by Email (bookings@thekitehouse.com). Here’s their website: http://www.thekitehouse.com/

Seven Kiteboarding, based on Islamorada, will give a 3 hour lesson for 2 people for $500. They also have a 3 lesson package for 2 people for $1149. If you divide the 3 lesson package up it comes to $192. apiece for each lesson. They have a free land lesson on Friday evenings, as well. This is their number: 877-937-2359 (I also found another number for them that didn’t work – use this one). This is their email:  school@sevensports.com. This is their website: http://www.sevenkiteboarding.com.   I spoke with owner Brad Lange this morning and thought he was very professional. They have an impressive safety record, too – no serious injuries since their opening in 1999!

Another tip: Your son and his friend might try to get their hands on a “trainer kite” and work with it before they go to help speed up the learning process. The snow boarding experience should be beneficial to them, as well.

Hi Mick,

Thanks for writing! Yes, you can mountain bike in Florida, in many different areas. I am, of course, most familiar with the trails close to my home, but I don’t want to limit you to the cool places that I personally know when there are so many more. I’ve included these links to give you options wherever you decide to visit.

This is the link to existing VISIT FLORIDA articles that include mountain biking: http://www.visitflorida.com/search_results/query.mountain+biking

This is a link mountain biking trails in Florida, including descriptions:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/3939/

This is a link to another, including ratings of the trails:
http://www.trails.com/toptrails.asp?area=10085

I hope you have a GREAT time. I am always discovering new places and would love to hear news of any particularly good place – both to bike and to send others.

Lauren