going to Miami...maybe

OK, we're still trying to decide where to go in October for a week.  Since the cold spell hit us here last week, we're thinking somewhere warm would be sweet...and we miss the beach too.  (sorry, Scott....since we can't count on the leaves in NH & VT in the middle of October, we'll probably try that another time.)   So....maybe Miami?  And drive down thru the Keys and see whatever else there is to see there. Any suggestions are welcome, including cheap(er) places to stay.  We don't want to see amusement parks, big malls, or other typical touristy stuff.  Mostly scenery, I guess.  

I'm thinking something along the intracoastal route?

The sailboats would be something to see..we used to do the intracoastal whenever we went down to the keys in the early fall with the catamaran...

Kitchener is about 45 min away from me in Hamilton, but it's 2 days and 1,000 miles from Florida. If you are going to visit Canada remember a few essential items. Gas is sold in litres so if you want to know what it will cost be sure to multiply by 4. Right now it's around $1.30 per litre or $5.20 a gallon.

Exchange your money in the states or at a Canadian bank for the best rate.

Nobody is really a short distance from anyone else. You can drive for 2  days and never leave the province of Ontario.

Have a great vacation wherever you decide to go!

Intracoastal waterway?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Intracoastal_Waterway

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracoastal_Waterway

Covers it from both sides...

http://www.mycruiseguys.c./images/intracoastal.jpg

You would take forever if you were to try to cover this entire thing in a week...we just went up to lake Ontario through the St Lawrence to the Maritimes and just joined the intracoastal around Chesapeake(sp?)...

My friend Willard and I drove down the keys one summer (from Cary, NC). His brother lived in Ft. Lauderdale and we spent a couple days there. Mike McCue may have heard of the brother. He was a prof at FSU and a lawyer and ran for some political offices around Tallahasee and Lauderdale.
Running out of time, we only made it to Isla Morada. Pulled off the side of the road under some trees and waded into the water. Crystal clear and you could walk out hundreds of yards and the water never got deep enough to cover your head. And you could still see all the way to the bottom. All the sea life right there to observe. It was beautiful.
Didn't get a room, just slept in the car by the ocean, case of Milwaukee's Best chilling in the cooler, waiting to be drunk.
Took a glass-bottom boat ride the next day, and as far out as we went, the water was still amazingly clear.
That was, oh, 1986 or so. It probably hasn't changed much.
Highly recommended. 

mike_mccue


Anyways, we're doing the opposite. I have my eyes set on being on top of Mt. Pisgah N.C. in October. 6,000 foot elevation and cool weather here I come!

:-)

Mike.... you'll like the top of Pisgah. A few years back, I attended a bike rally in Marion NC. It's pretty close to the mountains so on Saturday, with temps around 95 degrees, a nice cool Blue Ridge Parkway ride seemed to be the perfect thing to do. I grabbed a few people of like mind and we set off up the mountain road to intersect the BRP and head south a few miles. IIRC we were headed to Mt Mitchell, the highest peak in the eastern mountains. (I wanna say about 9k ft) 


At the top is was closer to 60 degrees and a bit overcast which added to the coolness. I dug out anything I had with long sleeves at a BRP overlook, and that was before the final climb to the top of Mitchell.   I really didn't pack cool weather riding gear since it was of course summer, and very hot in the lowlands. I know better now.


Even with the clouds and overcast skies, the view was beautiful.  Only about half of the riders decided to do the short 1/4 mile (maybe) walk to the top from the parking area. 


Enjoy it. I love the mountains and given a choice.... for me, the mountains win over the beach any day. 

 When I was flying small aircraft  I remember the pilots talking about not running into Mitchell on the return flights to NC at night.  It kinda sticks up into the air a bit. 

This is from the Park's site: In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell, at an elevation 6,684 feet it is the highest point east of the Mississippi.

The height has been disputed several times.... politics between academics I suppose. 

Still an excellent place to be on a hot summer day when it's 95 in the valley.  So enjoy it and spend some time up there drinking in the view and the cool mountain air. wish I could be there. 

If you stop at the Ritz Bapu, maybe you can get a discount. LOL

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Thanks Trimph.  That sounds great too!