13 Mar 2009, 9:36 am
Interesting thread. I guess you need to match up what you are "into". Miami is absolutely, positively not for everyone.
I love Miami for South Beach - and there are some pretty neighborhoods in the old part of Miami proper, too. Otherwise, Miami is the colorful, quirky, place you see in the crime shows. But they even do that with style - if you're the kind of person who can laugh at it. I would not stay anywhere BUT South Beach. Yep, Miami definitely requires guts and a sense of humor.
I guess Miami/South Beach is probably just for the aspies who like pretty, sparkling things and don't get sensory overload from neon and salsa-tech music - in small doses, anyway. The ones who can just lose themselves in that environment. Better than acid. (never done acid...)
Also for aspies who love to people-watch - not for those who don't enjoy that. Its kind of like Paris in that regard - long, leisurely. respites at a sidewalk cafe.
As far as the beaches, the beach at South Beach isn't the best in Florida. It reminds me of a beach you'd see in Brazil. Crowded - lots of people sun-tanning. (Sun-tanning??) But it's still pretty awesome being "on the beach" - even if you don't spend a lot of time "at the beach".
For my beach activities I much prefer somewhere more down-to-earth and wild. I do like surfing and swimming and I don't think I'd want to do it there.
South Beach is also great for architecture and any architecture lover has to go there at least once in their life times. There are a bunch of art deco boutique hotels in South Beach with very reasonable rates. Really cute funky places like you'd see on the Travel Channel.
I also love Miami because its a great jumping off point for the Keys - if you're into kayaking and snorkeling and that kind of stuff. I agree with the above poster - that the flora and fauna is absolutely my favorite part of Florida.
So what we do is go to South Beach for a couple days than go relax in the Keys and recover from South Beach.
13 Mar 2009, 4:38 pm
14 Mar 2009, 2:32 pm
Thanks for all the information, everyone! My mom and I have been talking more and (if she gets that bonus), we may definitely be going to Florida. She's very interested in the Salvador Dali museum and Tampa as well as St. Pete and she's curious about the Florida Keys because of the Hemingway palace thingy where all those six-toed cats are from (we have one actually). If anyone could tell me more info about that, I'd appreciate it! 
gina-ghettoprincess
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14 Mar 2009, 2:38 pm
I love Miami for South Beach - and there are some pretty neighborhoods in the old part of Miami proper, too. Otherwise, Miami is the colorful, quirky, place you see in the crime shows. But they even do that with style - if you're the kind of person who can laugh at it. I would not stay anywhere BUT South Beach. Yep, Miami definitely requires guts and a sense of humor.
I guess Miami/South Beach is probably just for the aspies who like pretty, sparkling things and don't get sensory overload from neon and salsa-tech music - in small doses, anyway. The ones who can just lose themselves in that environment. Better than acid. (never done acid...)
Also for aspies who love to people-watch - not for those who don't enjoy that. Its kind of like Paris in that regard - long, leisurely. respites at a sidewalk cafe.
As far as the beaches, the beach at South Beach isn't the best in Florida. It reminds me of a beach you'd see in Brazil. Crowded - lots of people sun-tanning. (Sun-tanning??) But it's still pretty awesome being "on the beach" - even if you don't spend a lot of time "at the beach".
For my beach activities I much prefer somewhere more down-to-earth and wild. I do like surfing and swimming and I don't think I'd want to do it there.
South Beach is also great for architecture and any architecture lover has to go there at least once in their life times. There are a bunch of art deco boutique hotels in South Beach with very reasonable rates. Really cute funky places like you'd see on the Travel Channel.
I also love Miami because its a great jumping off point for the Keys - if you're into kayaking and snorkeling and that kind of stuff. I agree with the above poster - that the flora and fauna is absolutely my favorite part of Florida.
So what we do is go to South Beach for a couple days than go relax in the Keys and recover from South Beach.
Wow, those two pics are awesome. I'd like to go to Miami. Sounds more sophisticated and less Disneyfied than Orlando.
14 Mar 2009, 10:27 pm
Been several times; on vacation, and once played a coupla gigs there. Never been south of Punta Gorda, tho...so I don't know Miami at all.
I hear good things about Key West (mainly from Spider Robinson...
, may have to see the other end of US1 one of these days.
Went to NASA...once. Sat down on the floor (all the seats were taken), then saw the sign saying 'next tour 180 minutes' (that's 3 hours). Said a few choice words, and went to Orlando. Maybe I'll get back there some day.
I know it's a loooong drive if you come from the northern border. Drove through it one time when the 'love bug's were mating. Imagine percipitation (black snow), only it's all bugs. Did a lot of window cleaning (don't tell Mom about this one; it only happens for a short while)
have fun.
14 Mar 2009, 10:59 pm
16 Mar 2009, 9:02 am
16 Mar 2009, 9:22 am
16 Mar 2009, 9:37 am
I haven't been in the Hemingway house - but I stood in front of it and marveled! It's really beautiful and I saw some of the cats! They were setting up for a private outdoor party. (The staff - not the cats!
) The garden looked like my idea of heaven. Plus, I'm Hemingway's #1 fan! 
Key West is a trip. The architecture and sense of history is amazing, as is the nightlife, love the gay influence, and sunset is like a religious thing down there. Just be warned - it can be a little too touristy and there aren't any beaches, per se. Also - there's a Naval base nearby. Nothing against our good men and women in uniform, but a bar full of drunken sailors could be a little dangerous for two women travelling "alone".
So - just avoid the really gross bars like Fat Tuesdays and the Hog's Breath if you go. 
If you went there - you'd definitely want to drive up to some of the other keys to get away from the madness. Rent a kayak and go look for barracudas and (baby) hammerheads! Tooooo cool!
Oh, another great reason to check out the Tampa Bay area - it's awesome for shell collecting! Something to do with its position on the gulf. I visited this beach near Dunedin (North of Clearwater) that was all shells and coral! No sand! I could have stayed there all day but we were in a hurry. Aspie heaven! I know there are other places south of the Tampa Bay area that have even better shell beaches - but Dunedin was awesome because of its proximity to civilization.
16 Mar 2009, 11:17 am
I had a great aunt who used to live in Tampa (I have no idea why she moved to Wisonson of all places) and she used to collect a bunch of shells for me and my cousins when we were little. One of the shells actually had little shells inside of it! I'll have to remember to do that if we go. Right now, it's a 50/50 chance. But I do have some more good news. My mom's boyfriend has been to Disney World before and he really enjoyed it. He wants to go back again sometime soon and if he pays for it, we could probably do that, too!
17 Mar 2009, 6:43 am
17 Mar 2009, 9:22 am
Sounds just like Houston in that aspect. I think I can handle it. 
17 Mar 2009, 10:08 am
17 Mar 2009, 12:27 pm
lol You should work for a travel agency! Especially one for Florida! 
I'm going to keep talking to my mom about it. Like I said, I know her bf is interested in going back to Disney World and neither my mom nor I have been there so that could be fun. She's especially interested in the Epcot Center (I think that's what it's called) and I really want to go to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
