The time has come for you to fly to Southeast USA to the state of Florida. You land at Orlando Airport.

After arrival, pick up your baggage and go through immigration. In the arrivals hall, follow the signs to the car rental office, which is located inside the airport (details can be found on your voucher).

From here, it is only a short drive to your hotel. You probably feel tired after the journey, especially with the time difference. Make sure you get plenty of fresh air and drink plenty of water before the clock says its bedtime at this new latitude. Perhaps stretch your body with a dip in the pool?

One of the first things you will undoubtedly notice is the humidity and the heat that hit you like a wall when you step outside for the first time. However, as you venture into the tropical surroundings your body quickly becomes used to the new climate.

Welcome to the Sunshine State.

The day’s mileage: approx. 25 km.

You probably wake up early and are ready to take a closer look at the city. The day is at your leisure, and it’s up to you whether you want to laze by the pool, visit one of the famous amusement parks or do something completely different.

Orlando offers unparalleled theme parks, and you need to allocate a whole day to each one. The city is also the perfect starting point for shopping in its massive shopping and outlet centres.

And if you are fascinated by rocket launches and space, visit Cape Canaveral, a peninsula located on the so-called ‘Space Coast’. Cape Canaveral is home to both the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which has been responsible for all of the USA’s manned space flights. The trip from Orlando to Cape Canaveral is perfectly manageable as it involves only 90 km of driving.

You can also book a guided day trip to the nation’s oldest city, St Augustine, where you can get a sense of the city’s European roots that were first established more than 450 years ago.

If you are dreaming of visiting one or perhaps more theme parks in Orlando, it is easy to add extra nights in consultation with your travel specialist so you can make the most of your stay.

Unless you have extended your stay in Orlando, now is the time to start your ‘road trip’ to the western coast, which runs along the Gulf of Mexico.

Being on a road trip in the USA is rarely about getting from A to B quickly. There is usually lots to see and do along the way, and it is up to your inner explorer how many detours you want to make.

Today is no exception, and you can choose to stop off in the small town of Crystal River, home of the large and tranquil manatees – also known as sea cows. When sea temperatures drop in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter months, hundreds of manatees swim to the hot springs at Three Sisters Springs. You can watch the large animals here from the edge of the more than 3 km of pathways as they swim slowly on the surface, and at certain times of the day it is even possible to rent a kayak and paddle up close to them (must be booked locally). The manatees can be seen in several different places in Florida, but at Three Sisters Springs they are usually gathered in herds and easy to spot.

Later in the day, you will arrive at the coastal town of Indian Shores, which is part of the Tampa Bay Area, and which also includes large cities such as Clearwater, St Petersburg and Tampa, which are all about a 30-minute drive away.

After arriving at your hotel, there is only one thing you need to do: take a dip in the sea. Sea temperatures are warmest from April to October, but whatever the time of year, a dip is always refreshing after a day on the road.

End the day admiring the sunset from the beach followed by dinner at one of the local eateries which often have freshly caught fish and shellfish on the menu, or perhaps you’ll head off at once and get a taste of city life with a visit to one of the larger cities nearby.

The day’s mileage: approx. 170 km.

For the next two days, you wake up close to the sea in Indian Shores, and you are free to spend your time with sand between your toes or exploring what Clearwater, St Petersburg and Tampa have to offer.

Visit the historic neighbourhood of Tampa, Ybor City, which in the 1880s became the starting point for Tampa’s cigar production, and which is why Tampa is today also known as ‘Cigar City’. The district was founded by and named after the Spanish cigar manufacturer Vicente Martinez-Ybor, who prior to his time in Tampa had started cigar productions in the Cuban capital Havana, and in Florida’s southernmost city, Key West.

Today, Ybor City is a melting pot of Latin American and southern European roots, and a small part of the district is owned by Cuba. Well-preserved houses from a bygone era stand today as a beautiful backdrop for museums, restaurants and small cafés, where you often see locals enjoying a cigar in the afternoon sun. Here, it is not inconceivable that you have to wait in your car to give way to the free-roaming chickens.

If you visit St Petersburg or other districts in Tampa, the surroundings will be much more modern. In both cities you will find everything from shopping to a diverse gastronomic scene.

Both south and north of Clearwater, paradise-like beaches line the coast like pearls on a string, so there is always something new to see. Here, the beach is not just a beach, but somewhere that epitomises the slow-living lifestyle that is incarnate in Florida’s DNA, and which characterises all the small towns in the area. If you are looking for a local gem, visit the small beach town of Pass-A-Grille, where you will find small charming streets decorated with fairy lights, with handicrafts on display in the windows, and which is said to be the most beautiful place to experience a sunset.

Today it’s time to head south towards Fort Myers, and experience the nuances of Florida’s charming coastal towns and beaches along the way. It’s a beautiful journey, and you need to keep your swimwear and towels accessible, because there will be plenty of opportunities to hop into the sea at one of the route’s many picture postcard beaches along the way, such as Siesta Key.

You stay in Fort Myers, adjacent to Estero Island, where miles of white sandy beaches await you.

In 2022, the area was hit by Hurricane Ian, which particularly impacted the nearby small islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Today, the small islands are being rebuilt and many places have reopened. At Fort Myers Beach, the effects of Hurricane Ian are not noticeable and, not surprisingly, the area is once again extremely popular with both locals and tourists alike.

Once you have arrived, the day is at your leisure. Head for Fort Myers Beach, located at the northern end of Estero Island, and enjoy the tranquil surroundings with a refreshment at one of the small beach cafés located in the adjacent streets to San Carlos Boulevard on the island side of Matanza’s Pass Bridge.

The day’s mileage: approx. 240 km.

You spend the day on your own in Fort Myers. You don’t have to travel far to find world-class beaches, mangrove forests and manatees. At the Six Miles Cypress Preserve, you can walk through the vast wetland area from the landscaped footpath and see the mangrove trees at close quarters and experience the wildlife in its natural habitat. It is not uncommon to spot alligators, wild boars, otters, waders and butterflies.

You can also follow in the city’s historical footsteps with a visit to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates museum, where inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had their winter residences. The house was the birthplace of more than 1,000 patents, and you can visit the laboratory where many ideas first saw the light of day. The museum also has a beautiful botanical garden.

On the barrier island of Sanibel, you can go cycling, kayaking in Tarpon Bay and find special seashells at Bowman’s Beach (remember that you are not allowed to take the shells away with you). Sanibel is also home to one of the USA’s largest mangrove ecosystems, which attracts many ornithologists every year. It can all be experienced at the J. N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Today, you leave the west coast and move towards the eastern side of Florida. Set off in good time, make sure you have plenty of fuel and snacks for the journey, and gear up for a morning of driving to Everglades Safari Park. Here you park the car and get ready for the next available departure in an airboat that takes you from the Everglades Safari Park through part of the Everglades National Park. See details on your voucher.

In the Everglades National Park, you will feel the rush of excitement when you almost hover on top of the water in the iconic airboats as you whizz along together with your guide and fellow passengers. The approx. 30-minute guided tour gives you an insight into the flora and fauna of the ecosystem in the more than 6,000 km2 national park. The park is home to alligators, crocodiles, black bears, frogs, snakes and more than 360 species of birds.

It is up to you how long you want to spend in the Everglades Safari park before and after your guided tour, but we recommend that you allow 2-3 hours including the airboat tour.

From here, you continue the short distance to the first and largest of the beautiful Florida Keys, namely Key Largo, where you will stay for one night. The island is known the outstanding diving which is possible among the corals in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. One of the island’s biggest attractions can also be found underwater – the bronze statue Christ of the Abbys, which depicts Jesus Christ. Key Largo was awarded the monument in 1965, and it is one of several underwater statues that pay tribute to those who died at sea. The park offers everything from diving equipment to kayaking, paddle-boarding and boat trips (must be booked locally).

You can also go directly to the hotel, relax for a while by the pool before dinner, and then enjoy an evening stroll around the picturesque marina where you are staying.

The day’s mileage: approx. 350 km.

You can choose to spend the morning at Key Largo if you want to continue exploring here. However, make sure to set off in reasonable time, as you need to leave Key Largo and drive to Key West. Although the route is relatively short at just 160 km, you should still allow plenty of time to stop off along the way. The trip along the famous Overseas Highway, which consists of 42 bridges in all, is incredibly beautiful with endless views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, you should make detours to some of the small islands such as Islamorada and Marathon, which abound with local eateries with freshly caught fish on the menu, cold beers from local breweries and small shops selling local art. And it also makes sense to pull in for a break at one of the beautiful bounty beaches.

On arrival in Key West, you need to settle into your hotel, and perhaps a dip in the pool followed by a cool drink are must-do activities for the afternoon.

The next few nights are spent here in the southernmost city of the continental United States, and it makes sense to head into the city without delay and experience the constant life in the streets. Enjoy the beautiful sunset from Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park or from the famous town square, Mallory Square, to which people flock in droves to catch the last rays of the day. Mallory Square also has a charming shopping area with local arts and crafts, as well as restaurants and bars with live music.

The day’s mileage: approx. 160 km.

You decide exactly how much and what you want to see and do, but there are lots of possibilities.

The easiest way to explore Key West is by bicycle or by using one of the city’s hop-on, hop-off trolley tour options, which you can buy below.

Key West has its own unique identity with a touch of both American and Caribbean atmosphere. The island is known for its beautiful houses in bright colours, streets with free-roaming chickens, iconic cafés such as Sloppy Joe’s and Blue Heaven and, not least, for the world-famous cake: Key Lime Pie. When you are in Key West, don’t miss the chance to taste this wonder of a dessert made with the special Key limes.

You can be active on the water, visit museums or just stroll through the charming streets and enjoy the delicious food.

Key West is also known for its world-class snorkelling, with brightly coloured fish, coral reefs and sea turtles which can be experienced on one of the excursions below.

You can even follow in Hemingway’s historical footsteps with a trip to the museum, The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, where the author lived in the 1930s with his cat, White Snow, who reportedly had six toes on one paw, and which it is believed to have passed on to many of the island’s cats.

Today, you embark on the last leg of your road trip, and the journey back to the mainland is no less beautiful by driving northwards. If there were any small detours that you did not manage on the way to Key West, you now have the opportunity to visit/revisit the places that you missed before arriving in Miami.

You will know immediately that you are approaching Miami when the expansive views of the ocean start being replaced by the urban landscape with its high-rise buildings, large cars and cruise ships. You will be staying in Miami Beach, which is known for its brightly coloured art deco houses, its beach and the shops along the famous Collins Avenue.

Drop off your rented car at a city office in Miami Beach (details can be found on your voucher). From here, take a taxi or Uber to your nearby hotel.

The hotel is centrally located, so you can head off without delay in the evening to sample some of the city’s wide choice of different cuisines. Don’t miss this opportunity to try some of the Cuban dishes on offer in this large city which has Cuban DNA in its veins.

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of eternal summer and happy days in this fabulous coastal metropolis – and where you will spend the next three nights.

The day’s mileage: approx. 270 km.

Miami is a big city that has something for everyone, and the question is where should one start? Today, we have made it easy for you by including a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that will take you to 10 of the city’s most popular areas. This will give you a general impression of the city while also allowing you to hop off when something catches your attention. You can hop on whenever you want, and the trolley stops at five locations on or near Collins Avenue, so it’s easy to get to and from your hotel (details can be found on your voucher.)

Look forward to, for example, the Cuban district, Little Havana, where you can buy a freshly rolled cigar, enjoy a Cuban coffee, a ‘Cuban sandwich’ and mojitos made with Key limes, as well as experience the local Cubans playing dominoes in ‘Domino Park’.

Also, discover the Wynwood Walls, the pulsing heart of Miami’s art scene with impressive street art (admission ticket is available locally), go shopping at Bayside Marketplace or stop at the Design District if you want to see the area’s impressive art installations and architecture.

You can easily finish with a visit to Miami Beach, so you can sense the small oases of life that can be found here in the streets and on the beach along the almost 21 km long Collins Avenue.

There are no planned activities for the day, so you are completely free to choose what you want to do. Perhaps a visit to the beach? If you want to enjoy the day at a leisurely pace, a bike ride along the boardwalk is highly recommended. Feel the warm sea breeze and the sense of calm as you soak up your surroundings a safe distance from the traffic.

Today, the time has come to say goodbye to beautiful Florida.

Check out of your hotel and book a taxi or Uber to Miami International Airport, which is 20 km away (details of the departure terminal and time will be provided in your itinerary). The hotel can also help book a transfer for you. From Miami International Airport, you fly to Europe.

If you want to extend your stay with more beach holiday or a visit to another American city, you continue to your chosen destination.

You land at your chosen airport after an interesting trip with many memorable experiences.