Who: Jelle Collignon and Heidi Willekens
State: Florida
When: July 2010
Destinations: Miami, Cocoa Beach, Orlando
Sights: Miami Art Deco District, Everglades, Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, SeaWorld
Day 1: We’re going to Miami!
After an 8 hour flight we set foot on American soil for the first time in Philadelphia. The first American we meet wants to know everything! Who are you? What are you doing in the USA? How long will you stay? Intimidating, those immigration officers. We answered all questions right, so we were allowed to enter the USA. Now quickly pick up our luggage and check in for our flight to Miami.
Once landed in Miami we pick up our car and drive to our first hotel, Howard Johnson Miami Beach. It’s a good hotel, but a little old (edit 2017: The hotel has been demolished and was replaced by another one). We will stay here for 2 nights and had no complaints, except for the very unfriendly man at the reception.
Day 2: Miami!
When we left the hotel to go explore Miami, we met some other hotel guests from Dessel, 10km away from our hometown! Small world…
We went to South Beach. It was warm and the humidity was high. The Art Deco neighbourhood was the ideal spot for a stroll on the boulevard next tot the white sandy beach. The weather wasn’t that good, so there weren’t many rollerskaters or bikinibabes… Off to Downtown Miami then. A ride on the Metromover took us passed some nice skyscrapers. After the ride we relaxed in Bayfront Park, where we did our first shopping in Bayside Marketplace. In the evening we had a drink in the hotel.
Day 3: Roadtrip!
After a good night’s sleep we left Miami Beach and set course for Cocoa Beach. About an our from Miami we had a stop in Boyton Beach, where we visited the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. This is a part of the Everglades. We made a walk through the cypress swamp and want to the waterfront afterwards. We were lucky! An alligater was gliding through the water just feet a way from us.
Back in the car with the airco on full power. Next stop, Cocoa Beach. We will stay for 1 night in the International Palms Resort. A fancy name, but it is more like a basic motel. The rooms weren’t very clean. Next time we would choose another hotel. Once checked in we took to car and went to Ron Jon Surf Shop. This shop the largest of the Ron Jon shops and is open 24/7. Some T-shirt richer (and some dollars poorer) we ate in the beachside restaurant at the hotel and enjoyed the evening at the beach.
