Day Trips from Miami

What's that? Tired of South Beach? Yeah, it gets old. Fun places to shop, even more entertaining places to go to at night, and the people... some of the people are normal, some are tourists, some are police, and some are plain crazy! Tourists abound - with many questions. But, that's life in South Beach.

Here are a few places to go for the day, when the urge strikes to get away from the party in the sun and head for a place where you can relax - in peace.

"... That's where I want to go, to get away from it all..."

When I lived in Orlando, my then-fiancé encouraged me to go to the Florida Keys for a trip. On the way, I needed to use the bathroom and we stopped in a small town, in the middle of nowhere... called Kokomo. I couldn't believe I needed to pee in the same town as one in the song made famous by the Beach Boys. I do remember that it wasn't actually in the Keys themselves, but it was a stop on the way. Then, much later, I found out that it wasn't even the real Kokomo... Someone had just put up a sign there. Some joker! The real Kokomo is actually a small island off the Keys. It's now privately owned and has been renamed Sandals Royal Caribbean All-Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay, and is located in Jamaica. However, having said all that, there is another place called Cocomo.

The funny thing about "going to Kokomo" is that it never existed until the Beach Boys made it up. You have that right... It was a made up name in a made up song that became a real place when tourists started searching all over the islands for it. Fortunately, for the determined traveler, such as myself, there is a Kokomo to go to, the bar called Kokomo, located in Key Largo.

Kokomo, the bar, is on Key Largo inside the Holiday Isle complex on Islamorada. But the word on the street is that it's no good.

Well, now you know. For more day trips from Miami, let's move on to other Florida attractions...

You won't be blazing your own trail in this national park - unless you want to sink on it! Known as the "River of Grass" our own National Park Service has put together wooden walkways to navigate Everglades National Park. These walkways are above these wetland areas. Biking, canoeing and hiking (in the high and dry areas) are great options in this national park located a short ways from Miami, too.

There are small fees for Everglades National Park:

• vehicle fee - $10 per vehicle, good for 7 days
• walk in/bike in fee - $5 per person, good for 7 days, those under 16 years are free
• camping fee - for a nominal $16 a night, you can camp there but reservations are strongly suggested due to supply and demand

Known for its popularity during Spring Break, this is just one of many towns along the drive called Route A1A. On the way to Fort Lauderdale are many small beach towns with shopping and dining choices, free parking and easy access to the beach and waterway. This is a relaxing and scenic drive with many things to do in "the Venice of America" when you arrive, besides visiting the beach, including these free choices:

• Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale: Downtown Arts & Entertainment Center
• Fern Forest Nature Park
• Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum
• Old Dillard Art and Cultural Museum

Just a couple of hours to the West lies another day trip from Miami named Naples. Here, the tourist finds a boardwalk with the standard amenities, divine restaurants, excellent upscale shopping, and a big draw of immensely large mansions. Here are some exciting things to do in Naples:

• Babcock Wilderness Adventure - On this tour, you may see panthers, bison, birds, and wild alligators.
• Captain Steve's Swamp Buggy Adventures - Enter the Big Cypress National Preserve on this special tour that used to be by special invitation only.
• Everglades Jet Pack Adventures - They say this is the world’s first water-propelled jet pack. Have you ever flown with a jet pack? Here is your chance!