Places to visit in Florida?

[NLM13]

Hi there all.

I'm off out to Florida for two weeks in June for a bit of hour building. Can anyone suggest places/airfields to visit out there as I haven't been before. I will be based in Winter Haven when I go.

Thanks,

NLM13;)

[grahampotts]

I can really recommend a trip to Cedar Key. NW from WH, about 80 miles. It's a small collection of islands about 3 miles offshore on the Gulf Coast. Runway is 2000 feet with the sea at either end.
You can arrange a taxi on the radio as you approach (the taxi driver is likely to hear your inbound call and ask you if you need a lift) which will take you into the town - very scenic.

If you do go there.... exercise caution when parking on the grass on the opposite side of the runway to the concrete apron. It's more sand than grass - took me ages to dig the PA28 out of it!

If you're interested I can mail you a picture of the place from the air.

Cheers,
Graham

[The Greaser]

Really scenic airport at St Petersburg - Albert Whitted which is very near downtown. Watch out negotiating the Tampa Class B.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

NLM13,

If you are looking for places to fly to, there are two ways to go, sightseeing or in search of what we like to call the $100.00 Hamburger.

If its flying to find food, check out The $100 Hamburger of Florida (http://www.100dollarhamburger.com/fl.html) its a great site full of Pireps. If you find any place to add, please do.

If you are looking to fly to a place of interest to look around, try:

Mobile Alabama(MOB) - See the Battleship USS Alabama and many aircraft including the SR-71

St. Augustine(SGJ) - Great old city with a Spanish Fort to explore

Titusville(TIX) - Kennedy Space Center

Tampa(TPA) - Bush Gardens

Kissimmee Muni(ISM) - All the Theme Parks

Florida Keys - Marathon(MTH), Key West(EYW) (Great Flight)

Vero Beach(VRB) - Piper Factory (Call ahead to make sure you can take a tour)

Bahamas - Great flight, just avoid Nassau, Freeport, and Bimini. Those are the three places the Cruise Ships go, and the locals are tired of tourists. Any of the outer islands and family islands are fantastic.

If you need more ideas ask Jatin, I am sure he has plenty of ideas too.

Happy Flying,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

[Tinstaafl]

When I go to Florida - about once every few months - I go there to see my girlfriend. She's in Orlando & I think she's a wonderful place to go to.

Not sure I think that I'd like that to be your reason though! :D

[NLM13]

Cheers for the ideas. All are welcome. I had a look at the $100 hamburger site, some nice sounding burgers available!

Anyone been to the Bahamas from winterHaven? How long a trip is this? Quite like the sound of that one!

NLM13:cool:

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

NLM13,

I see you already have your shades on, so I guess you are ready for the Bahamas.

I did not go into any detail on the Bahamas, since I was not sure you were looking to fly outside of Florida.

My recommendations for the Bahamas are:

Andros Town - MYAF Andros

Small Hope Bay Lodge (http://www.smallhope.com/)

http://naples-air-center.com/06Cabins.464.jpg

Marsh Harour- MYAM Abaco

Abaco Beach Resort (http://www.abacoresort.com/)

http://www.abacoresort.com/images/photos/BCHGIRL.jpg

Hope Town Harbour Lodge (http://www.hopetownlodge.com/) (Hope Town, Elbow Kay)

http://www.hopetownlodge.com/images/pool.jpg


North Eleuthera - MYEH Eleuthra

Runaway Hill Club (Sorry, no website)


Stella Maris - MYLS Long Island

Stella Maris Resort Club (http://www.stellamarisresort.com/)

http://www.stellamarisresort.com/images/photo2.jpg


I have flown to all the places above and been to all the hotels I listed. They are all fantastic and truly memorable.

Best of luck,

Capt. Richard J. Gentil, Pres.
Naples Air Center, Inc.

[alphaalpha]

As you are flying from Winterhaven, have you considered a couple of days float plane flying from Jack Brown's? Great fun and you get a float rating at the end. Not much use in the UK, though!

Also you could take a trip to Everglades City and do the air boats ride around the everglades. Worth staying overnight for dinner, especially if you like eating crab.

Also recommend Cedar Key, as above. If its a hazy day with no clear horizon, make sure your instrument flying is OK. There's a plaque on the airfield commemorating two local pilots who lost their lives because they lost the horizon over the sea (on take off I think).

Finally, a scenic day flying down the keys to Key West and stopping off at Marathon. It's quite boring by car, but magic by plane.

Do you know that you need to convert your licence to a US airmans certificate? No big deal, but it is a must. Most rental FBOs will be able to arrange this.

Whatever you decide, be safe, enjoy...
Regards.

[What a Loop]

NLM13


Whilst in Florida on vacation last year I flew out of Kissimmee down to Venice Beech, had Lunch at Sharkey's and sat on the beach for a while with my daugther. Both enjoyed the trip.

To get you JAR or CAA license endorsed requires a trip to the nearest FAA office,. I went to the one at Orlando airport. All very helpfull and only took about 20 minutes and was free, don't forget your passport as they need this for identification.


Though About doing the Bahamas but chickened out. Going this year to Pheonix so should be quite a contrast.

Anyway enjoy the flying and watch out for the thunderstorms in the late afternoon, or maybe I was just unlucky but we had quite a few.
:eek: :eek::)

[CoJoe]

Must just add my support to the above recommendations by grahampotts and alphaalpha.
Cedar Key and the Everglades are great places to visit by air, and fun to be had when on the ground. The airboat ride through the mangoves in the Everglades is a must do - then take the boat tour and be chased by dolphins in your wake.

Naples is very nice too. A busy corporate airfield with some fantastic aircraft. We jumped into a taxi and he took us to a local hotel by the beach where we were welcome to chill out for the day. Did get into a spot of bother with the ground controller there though - but that's another story!

In June keep an eye on the weather - briefing facilities are excellent, as are all of the aviation community.

I'm sure you'll have fun.

CJ

[NLM13]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I already have my licence endorsed as I have flown in California before, but thanks for the info anyway. I think my main problem will be fitting in all the places I want to visit, seem to be loads worth a look. I'll have to let my co-pilot decide where we go I think!

Any other tips are welcome.

NLM13:) :cool:

[Ace Rimmer]

Crystal River, about 80 miles north of Tampa on the Gulf coast. Lots to do snorkling with manatees, good golf course (both within a mile and half of the field) If you like BBQ, Billy Bobs is OK (and only about 1/2 mile from the field) but Fat Boys at the other end of town is better.

[Jinkster]

Just finished hour building myself in Florida based at Kissimmee. Saw a lot of florida - nivce place, hot but watch for hurricanes in july.

Cedar Key - a definate must

Lakeland - about 10mins from Winter Haven - nice restaurant

Venice - about 2hr round trip (C-152) - Sharkys restaurant, white beach - fly in over the sea on base to runway...(cannot remember)

Daytona - pretty busy (class C) airport - but a great view of the speedway and beaches)

Immokalee - real florida, lots of crop dusters with no radios - be careful

Orlando Country airport - very narrow runway - 20mins from W Haven

Ocala - 2hr rond trip from W. Haven - nice restaurant and famous for horse racing

Key West - beutiful place - my instructor said it was better than bahamas.

Well, I do have some old charts on florida north and south if you are interested (out of date feb 2002) just send me an email.

[VORTIME]

I flew with NAC months back, excellant organisation if you're looking for somewhere to rent...altough I've always wondered if the email problem will ever be sorted out?

Try Venice (KVNC I think), great location on the coast...

[Zeitgebers]

You must do the seaplane rating, the best fun and only takes 3 days.
Polk City - 5 mins by air from Kissimee, for Kermit weeks' museum.
Cedar Key, absolutely.
Florida keys and Bahamas ( not everyone will let you rent to the Bahamas and read the procedures carefully )
You're gonna love it !:cool:

[NLM13]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Think I am going to have a busy fortnight!!:)