patrick.net

I probably won't be able to meet up due to work schedule combined with holiday back and forth across the state, but I'd suggest the Warbirds Museum in Titusville, just a hop away from the Space Center, which is also pretty damn good and not super expensive to get in. There's also a lesser known US Army/Air Force Missile museum by the Cruise Lines, but I haven't been yet.

If you're in the truck, it's good camping weather most nights and Manatee Hammock is real good and cheap, I take my kids there. Great views of a launch, too.

The beaches around Cape Canaveral/Cocoa Beach is some of the best surfing on the East Coast, but can be rough for taking a dip sometimes. There's also Jetty Park beach which is a good place if you're in the mood to camp, can walk to the Ocean from your campsite.

The weather's been pretty good even cool some nights. By cool I mean 50s (at worst) and 60s. Camping season in Florida is definitely the winter!

If you run through Miami be sure to stop at a Cuban Diner and have a Medianoche. Totally different than Mexican cuisine.

Yeah, holiday season is difficult. Great tips, thanks!!

I'm actually thinking tent now that you mention that. One night in a row max. I need a shower. Very curious how warm it'll be far South. Do you know if any launches are upcoming? I barely missed one from Disney World when I was there for that wedding. It was canceled or something.

It'll be warm most days, but can get cool at night. Right now it's in the upper 50s, just came back from my goodnight decaf. I have the backdoor open and the HVAC off.

Helluva lot better than 89 with 90% humidity though.

If you bring a light jacket/sweats and a decent blanket you'll be fine. Won't need it in the day, just at night and only if you camp outside or go out after sundown sometimes, I took the kids out last month and it "dropped" to about 60 at night. Back to the 70s not long after sunrise.

The West coast might be different, I think the Panhandle can get cooler. The South (of Port Saint Lucie) might not drop off so much and might be more damp and uncomfortable without a fan.

Falcon 9 | 425 Project Flight 4, 5, Astranis MicroGEO, Cygnus CRS-2 NG-22, USSF-31, ViaSat-3 F3
Scheduled: December 31, 2025, around midnight
Operator: SpaceX (and others)
Details: Multiple missions are tentatively scheduled for the same timeframe, including national security, commercial, and resupply missions. Exact times and visibility depend on final launch updates.

Hmmm... I will probably miss that unless the St. Pete's plan changes. I could terminate the trip early if I get tired of being away from home. I never have much of a plan for these sorts of road trips, just go with the flow, whatever I want to do that day.

Oh one more thing, the best campground in FL according to many, and I agree so far:

https://www.brevardfl.gov/ParksAndRecreation/Campgrounds

This is just north of Sebastian Inlet. You can camp right next to the Intercoastal, walk just feet right into it, fire grill and electric provided, tent or RV no problem. Very nice bathroom and showers.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

Hmmm... I will probably miss that unless the St. Pete's plan changes. I could terminate the trip early if I get tired of being away from home. I never have much of a plan for these sorts of road trips, just go with the flow, whatever I want to do that day.

There's only a 2-3 hour trip between St. Pete and Space Coast, but Dec 31 wouldn't be a great time to drive across Orlando or do any driving. There is a Falcon launch scheduled I think the 28th, but there is another Starlink and the USSF#31 payload on a Falcon scheduled for this month, but TBD right now. EDIT: And a MicroGEO launch

Weird to get so used to launches now, ha! I can now tell the rocket from the sound, or rather NON-Falcon launches.

Nice, I most certainly will check that out. I didn't consider driving the barrilands but I really should, I've done that in TX but I had a jeep and 4 trucks with me because we get stuck.

But Florida looks like it has real roads most/all of the way. Truck isn't setup for tricky sand.

I want to check out the Haulover Inlet too. Mostly due to the many boat fails videos I've seen.

I was put off by Miami Beach, which has a Vegas rip-off vibe to it.

I liked this Portuguese restaurant in Miami proper, near Viscaya Gardens:

https://bragarestaurant.com/

Good quality for the price.

Little Havana was interesting.

I didn't understand the attraction of the keys. Seemed like an eternally long strip mall, though there is some nice natural scenery.

FreeAmericanDOP says

Weird to get so used to launches now, ha! I can now tell the rocket from the sound, or rather NON-Falcon launches.

Nutz!

I had a buddy that was a stripper than wound up an aircraft mechanic then teaching it at University then testing military weapons on the beach not too far from the launch sites. His job was basically blowing shit up on the beach. 6 figure job doing that too!

I haven't spoken to him in 5 years but the last 3 he seems to be in Dubai with hot chicks around him all of the time. I should really give him a call soon haha. Maaaybe he's home while I'm there. I forgot about that.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

I want to check out the Haulover Inlet too. Mostly due to the many boat fails videos I've seen.

And probably Haulover Beach, same general area. Famous for being the only public nude beach in Florida.

But yeah, Biscayne Bay is paradise for boat lovers.

Oh, and Coral Castle, which is on US1 in Homestead. Ed used the "magic" of leverage to build as a monument to his lost teenage love. He suggested older women keep the "Fresh" boys occupied so they don't spoil the younger chicks. 1000 Tons by one 5', 120lb man all by manual methods

Patrick says

I didn't understand the attraction of the keys. Seemed like an eternally long strip mall, though there is some nice natural scenery.

I really don't plan stopping in Miami but worth driving through. My impression is that it's no place for a guy's guy white guy but I'm really not sure. And yeah, tourist trap stuff.

I might grab some food there so thanks!!

FreeAmericanDOP says

1000 Tons by one 5', 120lb man all by manual methods

Heysus Kristos!

Patrick says

I didn't understand the attraction of the keys.

Well there I will do some tourist stuff - at least what I've seen Viva (from Viva and Barnes) post - or some of it. Various things like feeding some giant ass fish by hand..

The Key's: I've driven the entire West coast and CA to Gulf shores Alabama. I'd like to complete the perimeter of the US at some point but I've got a long way to go. If I have extra time I was considering driving up to Savannah as well.

There is some sort of ... I don't know what you call it. Air boat, with the huge fan on the back that I want to try out too, down in everglades.

I have a little bit of the Boston area from a work trip last month but that's basically it. I didn't even see NY as it was the wrong side of the plane one leg and cloudy the other.

The Everglades are practically devoid of people, one of the few large areas on the East Coast Like that. Aroostock County in Maine, parts of the Carolinas just inland (to a lesser extent), and the Everglades. There's a place called Flamingo (a one way drive since no road cuts East-West through the Everglades south of the Tamiami Trail) that was abandoned because of sheer number of mosquitos and bugs.

Oh, and bioluminous plankton, particularly in the Space Coast Intercoastal:



Airboat rides are everywhere in Florida, as well as Gator places.

https://bahiahondapark.com/

Here's some North Florida suggestions as you are passing through.

Jacksonville : Check out a local hole in the wall seafood place, there's several there, ask around.
St Augustine: Check out Ripley's believe it or not, and the Alligator Farm
Orlando: Old Town

Flamingo Park is a great camping place. It's a long drive to the entrance, then another 2 hour drive to make it to the camp site.

As you come down the west coast stop at Crystal River. The manatees are in close to land this time of year and worth seeing. There is a great state park in Dunnellon, about 20 miles inland from Crystal River. It centers on a huge spring that turns into the crystal clear Rainbow River. A good place to stretch your legs and do some hiking, if so inclined. Back in the 20´s there was a hotel there. Also a zoo. Happy to meet you for lunch if you come this way!
Btw, I would skip the keys and Miami. MIami is 3rd world and the keys are boring.

I saw some vids about Flamingo Park. One a guy who met his wife there maybe 45 years ago. She's passed away now. He had great things to say about it and some of the rental units look pretty cool. Def considering it.
SharkyP says

Back in the 20´s there was a hotel there. Also a zoo. Happy to meet you for lunch if you come this way!
Btw, I would skip the keys and Miami. MIami is 3rd world and the keys are boring.

I will post here when I get closer to the area to see if lunch works! This is now a definite stop for me. I hadn't thought about the manatees. Like sea Teddy bears!

Miami I don't plan to spend a lot of time in. Maybe check out that place Patrick pointed out or a Cuban sammich.

The everglades still sound somewhat interesting to me because although I work in biotech, I'm a basic bitch biologist at heart. Not super interest
ed in the gators or python's or whatever though.

I think I may have seen some vids about the Crystal River. Is this the general area:https://www.google.com/maps/place/Crystal+River,+FL/@28.8818175,-82.6510263,13z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x88e85976f242b497:0x90b9ea35b30946bb!2sCrystal+River,+FL!3b1!8m2!3d28.8997632!4d-82.5952976!16zL20vMGdnNHo!3m5!1s0x88e85976f242b497:0x90b9ea35b30946bb!8m2!3d28.8997632!4d-82.5952976!16zL20vMGdnNHo?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

That's close to the end of my return trip but I will def save time for that if you're available. My buddy in St. Pete's posted vids of him giving Manatee's a drink of water from his garden hose every morning. Right in his back yard. Before the hurricane wiped his house out.

Appreciate the additional tips peepo! I knew I could count on ya'll.

hmmm... Maybe I'll flip and go down the West coast first. My reason for picking East was simply that the ocean would be closer to the dridver's side of my truck.

If I go down West 1st I might be able to squeeze in Savanah too before I cut left and head back to TX.

I need to chat with Matt next week when I know for sure what day I can bail out of work until next year.

I've been on the road 5 days and finally made it to Panama City Beach. I can see why @AD likes it so much.

The water is very clear but today at least not as clear as Maui, but close. The only other negative thing is there are no AM radio stations!

I guess that and tons of muslims and women in burkas. Some East Asians too but so many muslims. Where TF are all of them coming from?

Beautiful weather this time of year. Nice clear day on the beach, the pier is top notch, well made and clean.

Wild guess that there is a mild bump in tourism here around the holidays but summer is probably much more crowded. It's not crowded at all.

Smaller but I think Gulf Shores MS is a great alternative, for living in a house, not so much for tourism stuff although it has some. GS has a lot of beautiful plantation style houses along the beach and NO is not that far, about 1.5hrs.

I drove along the coast as much as possible to get here. There is a great carwash BK's I think where you pay $10 to get in and then you an take all of the time you want. [manual, touchless spray wands]

I didn't go down in the sand but there was a hot blonde swimming next to the pier in a black bikini playing with her Labrador in the water. Great eye wash the other clientele staying in the Embassy suites with me.

In the morning heading to Tate's Hell State Forest -> Tallahassee -> Jackson -> St. Augustine if I can make it that far in a day. I need to pick up the pace.

Oh, unlike some beach towns the land here seems raised up a bit more than usual, so maybe that helps a lot with storm surges / hurricanes?

I made it to St Augustine today. I have to say I'm very impressed with the gulf coast, very nice roads, minimal poverty. Nice sugar sand beaches. I have a lot of family along the gulf coast near Corpus Christi / Port Aransas and I have to say the beaches are crap there. I was expecting to run into at least some of that. With rusty buildings, cars etc.

I think it's mixed with clay and there is lots of oil in the sand that sticks to you even if you try to avoid it when swimming around. It has a super cool barrier island that so far is unmatched vs. what I've seen East. I think it's 70 miles or so of sand you can drive on - if your vehicle can handle it. I did it in the 90s in my jeep with super swamper tiers and pals in a bunch of trucks so we could pull each other out.

I've been told the oil is natural ad seeps up from the ground but who knows.

If you go very far there is nobody else and I mean nobody. But there is trash and shit all over that comes in from the ocean. Lots of crates with China is Asshoe characters. Medical waste. All sorts of crap.

A friend of mine apparently used to 'fish' for coyotes. He'd throw a chicken attached to a rope over the sand dunes and wait. Might be a 'fishing' story.

If you head South closer to Mexico the beaches get nice, comparable to what I've been driving through with no trees basically so not as nice. But. If you're 17 you can go over to Mexico at night and get drunk on Spring Break. Or could way back when.

Panama City was very nice when I drove through, actually there were at least a few other cities squeezed in there. That was the beginning of my trip this morning after staying in Panama beach.

I went to Tates Hell which was kinda cool but I couldn't find the bridge over calm water or whatever. I did find a nice spot to checkout the salt marsh and got some great pictures.

The climb, yes, I said, climb to Tallahassee was unexpected. I didn't realize this part of Florida was so hilly!

I ended up getting dinner at a chain Italian place which sucked but only after I bailed out on Conch Joes or something like that. It was a sketchy food truck in the parking lot of even sketchier looking apartment complex. But overall a nice looking town with Spanish Oak moss everywhere - it's been that way since East Texas but has increased.

The roads in Tallahassee are great but not designed well for driving. Well maintained and all but confusing and lots of strange turns. Probably for historical reasons.

I'm very impressed at how clean things have been and how nice and well maintained the roads are. I think I mentioned lack of apparent poverty. I'm used to seeing dilapidated crap in California when I ventured away from the coast. Not here but I haven't really ventured away from the coast except for the trip to Tallahassee -> Jacksonville -> St Augustine, the last 2 I did at night.

Tomorrow: Space Ghost!

I mean Space Coast!

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

I've been on the road 5 days and finally made it to Panama City Beach. I can see why AD likes it so much.

I'm out of town this month for the holidays.

I used to live in Cocoa Beach. Check out The Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, as it has a lot of great wildlife. Canaveral Wildlife Tours may be of interest.

Patrick says

I didn't understand the attraction of the keys. Seemed like an eternally long strip mall, though there is some nice natural scenery.

Its great for wildlife watching, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. The last island (Key West) is a lot of fun and has a lot of interesting cultural attractions.

I agree Little Havana is a treasure, like Chinatown and Little Italy in New York City.

.

AD says

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

I've been on the road 5 days and finally made it to Panama City Beach. I can see why AD likes it so much.

I'm out of town this month for the holidays.

I used to live in Cocoa Beach. Check out The Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, as it has a lot of great wildlife. Canaveral Wildlife Tours may be of interest.

Thanks for the tips! I tried to get into Meritt Island National Wildlife Refuge but it was closed. The sign shows it's open on Tuesdays and Saturdays only but it has these sort of slid-ins for the days that had been removed so perhaps that changes.

I did see the Canaveral National Seashore which was super cool. And I drove all over the cape and saw lots of birds etc.

AD says

Patrick says

I didn't understand the attraction of the keys. Seemed like an eternally long strip mall, though there is some nice natural scenery.

Its great for wildlife watching, snorkeling, fishing and kayaking. The last island (Key West) is a lot of fun and has a lot of interesting cultural attractions.

I agree Little Havana is a treasure, like Chinatown and Little Italy in New York City.

.

That's the plan man! I brought the snorkeling gear I used to keep at my condo in Maui and my fishing gear. I need to find a place to get a license and am guessing it'll be easy to find on down further south.

I've noticed a LOT of oldsters since I hit the East coast. I knew the stereo type but I'm sort of blown away. I think @AmenCorner_AntiPanican silver wave theory on housing prices here has a lot of merit.

The diner I ate at in Daytona this afternoon was fantastic. I gave the server a fat Christmas tip and also one for the bar maid that made the Cuban sammich I have stashed in the hotel fridge. It'll be my lunch tomorrow if everything is shut down for the holiday. I might eat some of it tonight but I'm still full from lunch and got a nice slice of chocolate cake.

I am just South of Cocoa Beach in Melbourne and plan to wander down the coast tomorrow. Today I was getting 29mpg in my F150 long bed. Most of the time I was driving 35-45 over the 6.5hr trip.

I need to find a place to get a fishing license before I reach the Keys, or maybe there is someplace on the Keys I can get one.

I'm not sure how much there is to see South of here, tourist wise. I'm going to huge the coast again but if nothing stops me (I may try to get a glimpse of Mar a Lago) I might reach or get close to Miami by sunset. I'm way ahead of schedule.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

I need to find a place to get a fishing license before I reach the Keys, or maybe there is someplace on the Keys I can get one.

https://license.gooutdoorsflorida.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx

May be best to go to a bait and tackle store who can recommend what to buy like a spin cast rod and reel with 20 pound test, DOA shrimp lures, etc. if you are going to fish on shore for speckled trout and redfish.

Or go to Walmart which you likely can get a fishing license there, and a $30 decent rod and spin cast reel (if you want to add to your existing gear as you said you brought your fishing gear as well as snorkel gear), and $10 in lures like Berkeley shad and DOA shrimp.

I've caught flounder, redfish and speckled trout on a Berkeley shad which usually cost around $4 for a pack of 6 and I caught a lizard fish on a $1.50 DOA shrimp.

.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

I'm not sure how much there is to see South of here, tourist wise. I'm going to huge the coast again but if nothing stops me (I may try to get a glimpse of Mar a Lago) I might reach or get close to Miami by sunset. I'm way ahead of schedule.

As far as south Florida there is a lot to see like Viscaya in Miami, Little Havana (which Patrick likes), Coconut Grove, and South Beach Art Deco district, the southern most part of Continental USA in Key West as well as Mallory Square and Hemingway's home, and lot to see on Tampa side like Salvador Dali museum