hi all, im taking my little girl to key largo for dolphin therapy (shes autistic) its an intensive 5 day course where she will spend lots of time in the water with the dolphins , its always been a dream up to now but i got a fair compensation payout for an accident a few years ago and am really ecxited to be able to do this with her........anyway the whole family are going(katie 5 kieran 6 my other half and me , spending 2 weeks there so its going to be a nice holiday aswell....just wondering if anyones ever been and any tips siteseeing and stuff like that?
emma

a family 6 house up the road to me did the same thing with they daugther last year and had a great time i could find out more for you if you like.

briedog

Never been to stay in the Florida keys,but we did take a boat trip and coach tour combined whilst staying in Florida at Kissimee,it was fantastic,we sailed out into the bay to watch the sun go down.
Have also hand fed and petted dolphins at Seaworld a great experience.Hope you all have a fantastic time!!
We took an airboat around the everglades,saw a few smaller ?alligators or crocs. never can remember the difference :D and you could take a tundra buggy ride through the glades.The boat may be a bit 'hairy' for youngsters tho'.
Depending on how far you want or can travel,there is always the Space Centre which may be a good experience for an autistic child.
Of course Disney is in Florida,but quite a drive from Florida Keys,it looks tiny on a map until you work out the scale!
Jacqueline

Emma,

I've swam with them and it was amazing!  I would recommend the Everglades but you'll need shots and a course of malaria tablets if you're planning to go their.  For the kids, Seaworld is a must.  And as a big kid myself - Universal Studios was MUCH better than Disney IMO

Joe - where did you do your swim?  We came back from Florida 3 long weeks ago - the whole family swam with Capricorn at Discovery Cove........  I hated the Disney parks - too much queing and too many spending money opportunities forced down your throat :(    We loved KSC - it's amazing what humans are really capable of.  I've heard you can also swim with manatees - that's on my new 'to do' list :)

I guess the queues must depend on the time of year? We went in 2001 to Florida and got to the parks early(1hr) before they officially opened in May and didn't have a queue at any of the rides,they also do the fast track system so you could avoid queues if you wanted.We caught all the 'millenium' parades too! fantastic! Hope it's as good next time around ;)

Yes Joe, I agree Universal was excellent,especially for someone wary of simulator rides the first thing we went into was one of them and I was so enthralled I have been on one at every opportunity since! Coming back to England we just don't seem to have the same level of technology here yet which is a great shame.

We didn't have the malaria tabs.or shots for the everglades,but maybe with kids it would be a good precaution! one good tip though is NEVER EAT BANANAS where there may be mossies,because they will bite you to bits. :D :D

Jacqueline.

Digger,

About ten miles from Daytona Beach.  It was about ten years ago so I don't remember the name of the place.  I think it was 'Dolphin Swimmy Beach' or something :D

hi, briedog that would be really great if you could find out a bit more for me..........ooo reading all the replys has got me even more ecxited(if thats possible!) disney was on my list as kate is bonkers about all the charactors..........everglades? hmm not to sure ........ALLIGATORS you say???
emma

Saw several 'gators in the drainage ditches on the way back from KSC - and Armadillos, Vultures, Buzzards, Pelicans and Ibis....  It's really weird to see creatures you see in the Zoo in their natural habitats

Hi Emma,

I've been to the Keys - they are a day's drive from Disney or a short flight, so if you are staying in the keys for a short time I suspect you will want to stay there the entire time.  Closest city is Miami, which has a lot to do for adults.  Everglades are near enough.

Keys are great.  There are lots of water sports and beautiful beaches to keep the kids busy.   You can drive down to Key West, which is full of good restaurants, bars, shops and things to do.  You an take a glass bottomed boat out of Key West to view the coral reefs offshore.   If you are only there for a week you will not run out of ideas. 

Stacey