Help! Twisty Florida Roads needed.

[Frosty]

Greetings Florida Residents (Floridian?) We are heading your way! Watch out!1. Do you have any Scenic Twisty Roads you can recommend similar to the California Coast? I know you don't have any mountains to compare. We are hopefully going down the I75 to St. Petersburg for a few days then down to Key West. We will head back North through New Orleans so will go all along the Gulf. 2. Are there any scary neighbourhoods or cities that a person should avoid? Haven't heard of any tourists being targeted lately, have you?Thanks. Frosty out.

[lordyogi]

quote:Greetings Florida Residents (Floridian?) We are heading your way! Watch out!1. Do you have any Scenic Twisty Roads you can recommend similar to the California Coast? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!, the state is barely above sea-level, everything is straight as an arrow.

[camthecanuck]

I don't know this first hand but I have heard that New Orleans, though fascinating, can be a rough town. Lots of Canucks down Florida way, perhaps more than native Americans!!?? How about a detour to Daytona?

[shenandoah24]

Frosty--If you want twisty roads...On your way south, stop for a while in Tennessee. The smoky mountains are about 45 minutes east of Knoxville (which is right off of I-75). I haven't driven them in my Vibe yet--but they were a ton of fun in my happy meal (Cavalier). Also--Chattanooga, Tennessee has some pretty mountainous areas and it is right on I-75 jusy before you get into Georgia. Have a blast wherever you go!!!!!!

[Frosty]

I was eyeballing that area on the map. Do you have any highway #'s to recommend? Thanks, Ken.

[shenandoah24]

Take I-75 to Knoxville, then head East on I-40 to Hwy. 66 exit. It says Sevierville, Gatlinburg. Follow the signs to Gatlinburg (They are all over) and you will go straight into the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. If you go through Great Smoky Mountain National Park--you will have a blast!!!!! It's beautiful country up there!!!!

[MiamiVibe]

Frosty what part of Florida are you going to be in?

[slbpsi63]

He told me St. Pete. (The flatest part of the state)

[LavaTroll]

Oh my gosh - St. Pete. I live right across the bay, in Tampa.Not only is it well-nigh flat, it's also got the highest density of ugly strip malls, chain restaurants, car dealerships and traffic lights I've recently encountered.BUT I-275 gets a little bit twisty down toward the Coliseum and the Tierra Verde exit.Seriously, do check out the Sunshine Skyway bridge. It spans St. Pete and Manatee County, is a marvel of design, rises hundred of feet above the water and is absolutely gorgeous at sunset. $1.00 toll.

[slbpsi63]

St. Pete is ugly, but I don't like to bash or red headed step sister across the bay... LOLWelcom back Lava Troll you've been M.I.A. for awhile.

[LavaTroll]

Thank you! I had no idea my presence was missed. I moved, and now get to drive 12-20 miles to work (depending on route) instead of the mere 2.1 miles I drove last year. In a good little car like the Vibe, I consider that a blessing. (Gives me some alone time with the CDs too).I might start posting a lot more when I get an Internet connection at home this weekend. Meanwhile, I will come back to this Florida forum soon (I just found it today, unless I found it a long time ago and forgot!)LavaTroll(Master of the parenthetical phrase)

[Frosty]

quote:If you go through Great Smoky Mountain National Park--you will have a blast!!!!! It's beautiful country up there!!!! I believe you! It was amazing just going along I75. The border between Kentucky and Tennessee was spectacular. Definitely would like to revisit. For that matter, all the southern states were wonderful and beautiful. The north is too much like Canada (fffffreakin cccccold) to hang around in right now. I left before you posted your message, shenandoah24, sorry I didn't get it before I went. It was very cold (for Florida) while we were there but we did get a few beauty days in Key West, as below. Hey slbpsi63! My lady brought down Veggie cookbooks so we cooked for ourselves at her Dad's trailer. Should have called you anyway, but my mrs. is shy of internet meetings, or is it car nerds? I guess since she married one, one is enough for her. I loved Florida! Now I see why it is so popular. Met many great peoples, saw many nice sights. Lost count of the Alligators on the "Alley" , saw one freaking monstor gator that looked like he was still digesting a tourist right along the 41. Amazing. Has anybody ever counted the Bridges of Florida? We lost count of those too...

[slbpsi63]

I'm glad that you enjoyed yourself while you were here. I'm sorry that it was sooo cold while you were here. El nino years we get fridged winters. Next year we will be luck to hit 45 degrees for more than two days in a row. No problem on not giving me a call. I'm gald you didn't need a life line!!! Nice pic in the keys, I bet your Vibe loved the break from the cold as well.

[Frosty]

quote:I don't know this first hand but I have heard that New Orleans, though fascinating, can be a rough town. It is rough. The tour guide before ours got accosted, unfortunately she didn't have any big guys on her tour through Louis Armstrong Park. You would think someone would snap a photo of the guy though...They say the French Quarter is ok for muggings and what not, so we stuck around there. Cam, you will be robbed blind by the Bars there though, $9 Canadian for a can of beer. quote:Lots of Canucks down Florida way, perhaps more than native Americans!!?? How about a detour to Daytona?You wouldn't believe how many there are. Well maybe you would, how about this?We were looking for parking so we could go to the beach outside of Bradenton, there were all these "No parking, Tow Zone" signs. I see some people standing by their Ontario plated cars and I ask, "Is it ok for Ontario People to park here?". We get to talking and the fellow says he is from Kakebeka Falls (15 minutes from Thunder Bay). Turns out he married my wife and I. Like they say in Orlando "It's a small world after all!"

[Frosty]

quote:Nice pic in the keys, I bet your Vibe loved the break from the cold as well. It must have, it never so much as hicupped. 18,000 km and still going, and going, and going....The car was perfect on the trip. Big enough for all our stuff, small enough to zip around the cities.

[Shadow Realm]

Glad you had a great time in Florida Frosty. We as residents love it down here. I'm going to Cocos Island off Costa Rica on Monday and will be gone for two weeks. When I get back I'll send you some pics of a very tropical place. most of the pics will probably underwater since it is a dive trip but there wil be some land pics too. Wish me lucknathan

[slbpsi63]

That's where my neighbors went for their honeymoon. The pics look gorgeous. Enjoy!!!!

[Frosty]

quote:Glad you had a great time in Florida Frosty. We as residents love it down hereI was so impressed with the patience Native Florida people have for us dumb tourists. We had a splendid time and met many nice people. A couple of pubs we visited wanted to adopt us.I loved driving Frosty through the states but it was a bit long for my wife. We will probably get a Flight/Hotel/rent-a-car package next time. Usually they are for Orlando but I think I would prefer Miami or Sarasota. Dream, Dream, Dream.....