"singlemalt" wrote in message
news:13tt99859a02623@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "paula" wrote in message
> news:xLdDj.85591$FO1.39065@edtnps82...
>> Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
>> Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
>> 1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
>> We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
>> 2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
>> in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
>> understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
>> If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
>> right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
>> And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
>> Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
>> there hoping to come across nice harbours.
>>
>> Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
>> limit without stopping.
>>
>> Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would
>> want
>> to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
>> We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
>> sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
>> backyard would be ideal :-)
>> Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course
>>
>> Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome;
>> prefer
>> smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
>> Thank you so much in advance
Paula,
1. It seems like this is your first time doing such a trip and if so,
might I suggest that for easy research, start at www.google.com , then
click MAPS. For example, type in
kissimmee. fl ( I chose it because lots of stuff nearby for you to "try
it out".)
and you'll see a map,
for hotels ( or ANY business), click Find Businesses and type HOTEL,
you'll see a lot of them . Then ZOOM in/out by sliding the scale up or
down ( in upper left). To "move the map around", press AND HOLD the left
mouse button and drag the map left/right/up/down. If you choose hotels and
then click on one - you can find reviews for that particular hotel ( like
_ " Very nice place -" Cheap but good" or "cockroaches everywhere")
You can also use
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
put in a start and an end and it will map it for you , tell you how many
miles, and how long it should take ( or if you have AAA can do the same
there).
Whenever I take a trip, I put in all of my info , then print put maps,
directions, everything and have it in the car with me. As we go along just
pull out the next sheet of paper with that day's info. As you are doing
the homework from home - email it to yourself in case you lose your
papers. Many hotels have a PC in the lobby that you can use if you want to
revise your plans.
2. Having said all of that,
Re: your comment - " prefer smaller towns; non touristy."
Fort Myers is NOT a "small place" for a snowbird to hide. THE local area
airport is there ... Rt 75 cuts through ( which makes it handy - not
quiet).... The Red Sox have spring training there. A Lot of New Englanders
will be there for that ( as well as fans of a lot of other teams).
3. I don't know what price range you're looking at, but for quiet you
might want to be more near here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&view=map&saddr=port+charlotte,+fl&daddr=englewood,+fl&sll=26.94166,-82.332916&sspn=0.305448,0.688019&ie=UTF8&ll=27.332735,-81.848145&spn=1.2175,2.752075&z=9
Port Charlotte harbor is nice. The towns are handy enough to the highways,
yet once off the hwy it is pretty quiet. I was in Punta Gorda last month
( on the south side if the harbor) having lunch at a bar overlooking the
water ( Harpoon Harry's) and lots of sailboats going by. If not ON the
water, maybe trailer the sailboat ??
Also, if you're just starting to look, I'd also recommend renting one ar
two seasons in different areas.. maybe 2 months per house so you can try a
few towns per season. They all come furnished so not too much hassle to
"move". Just a thought. Good luck.
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