Getting around in Orlando.

192/I drive/I4/route 27.

Driving in Florida could not be any easier. Whatever your mode of transport car, pickup truck or sports car you are going to have fun! The roads are laid out in a basic grid fashion (anyone who’s been to Milton Keynes will get the basic idea) and on the whole the locals are pretty courteous drivers. Signage is really well laid out for the first time Florida driver, the signs for a junction are always quite a way before the turning, just make sure you are in the correct lane as they have a habit of having slip roads on BOTH sides of the road. A novelty for a UK driver.

Getting around.

When we stay in Orlando we normally stay off The route 27 in the Davenport area. Disney is only a 15 minute drive away and Universal is about a 30 minute drive along the I4. We choose this area as it’s sort of central for us with lots of amenities (stores such as Walmart, Publix CVS and Target). This area is an ideal little base for us. It’s near to shops and our favourite breakfast restaurant the Cracker Barrel.

As a rule we only ever use three roads when on holiday, the I-4 to and from Universal Studios , the route 27 then Turning on to the route 192 into Disney. We jokingly call it the golden triangle. You can get anywhere simply using these 3 roads as a start.

Along the route 27 we have access to all manner of estates and country clubs. I think the reason we tend to stay that way is because its a combination of being quiet enough, with easy access to every we need. Some of the big estates are Highlands Reserve, Solterra, Calabay Parc and Champions Gate. Champions Gate is one of the largest in the area. You can access it from either the I-4 OR from the Route 27. It’s a massive estate consisting of golf courses and conference centres, and villas and apartments. It’s over 900 acres in size with a golf course putting green and a driving range. And for the non golfers there is a swimming pool and a lazy river. One one estate. Always say the Yanks don’t do things by half’s!!

We tend to stay further up the route 27 towards Lake Davenport, we have sampled the delights of Highland Reserve and Calabay Parc and Hampton Lakes . each house had its own charm, for instance Troon Circle on Highlands Reserve was lovely first thing in the morning as the sun came up, the house backed onto a golf course and it was delight to sit there at dawn with a brew watching the sun come up through the trees and the sound of the golfers tee-ing off. Then swearing as they hooked or sliced a shot!! Hampton lakes was a wonderful house for a large group of friends. Lots of room for everyone to spread out or relax by the pool with out seeming to get in each other’s way. It was a lovely 2 story house with a well appointed kitchen with a wrap around breakfast bar that these houses seem to favour, or there was a really nice dining room for those times we all ate together.

The BIG HOUSE we stayed in last year was pure luxury. A huge pool, a Mickey Mouse shaped hot tub!! Lots of decking space so everyone was never in the way. It was a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom executive house. A massive kitchen and dining area with a games room. (A converted garage, this seems to be the norm in Florida for rental accommodation) the landing on the second floor was so big it had. A football table on it. Handy for when we were waiting for the ladies to get ready….. each room was en-suite. So no waiting around for a shower. Good tip for viewing these is to download the app for the rental site called ‘home and away’ you can get a virtual tour of some property’s and see the reviews.

If you drive to Disney along the 192 there are so many more rental properties along the way, from small condos to villas and estates. The new guy on the block is Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville Resort. Recently opened this is a brand new beach style community, i must say this looks fantastic. We passed it most days on the way to the parks and were wondering what is was going to look like when completed. It’s a combination of a hotel and cottages. All done in a typical Floridian style, wooded fronts and picket fences and a vast array of colours. It looks a treat for the eyes . The hotel is linked with the brand new water park ‘Island H20’. (We talked about this in an earlier blog) the resort is only a hop, skip and a jump to Disney and about 15/20 mins to Universal studios.

Along the ‘192’ you have mind blowing array of shops and eateries. You will be literally spoilt for choice. I’d go out on a limb and say if you were staying for 14 days you could eat in a different one each night. You want BBQ? Mannys chop house. You want high end sea food? Bone Fish Grill for you it is. Fuel stations , gift shops, crazy golf courses. You name it. It’s on here. A quick note about fuel. A lot of the Gas stations in the US are pre pay. So a quick trip to the till before you fill up, other wise you are standing there with the pump in your hand waving like a loony at the cashier to start the pump! Also fuel is really cheap, we were paying an average of $3.10 for a gallon. Yes, that’s correct… A GALLON. ( the US gallon is one pint smaller than the UK, but still its cheap so whatever you do, don’t worry about having the air con on in the car!)

The I-4.

This is the backbone of Orlando. And as a consequence it can get VERY very busy at peak times. It’s a road the locals and tourists alike use all day, everyday. Ive never actually seen it quiet. You can take it east to west. (Little tip odd numbered roads usually travel north to south, and even numbered roads east to west) THE i-4 take you from the top (east) Daytona to as far (west) as Tampa. Virtually coast to coast. So many things to access from the I-4, Cape Canaveral or known as Kennedy space Center Visitor Complex. This is a brilliant day out. It’s a whole day visiting here, so much history in one area and so much to see. There is also Coco beach nearby and Daytona beach. Opposite end is the city of Tampa, gate way to the keys. A lovely city, having passed through it many times to great on or off a cruise ship or on the way to Clearwater beach or St Petersburg. The beach at Clearwater is one of the best I’ve seen. Ever. It goes on for miles and miles, white and sandy with some beautiful beach front hotels and restaurants.

The I-4 also takes you Universal Studios, the outlet malls and a vast array of shops and nightlife. Because Universal are growing at such a rate and so in consequence the area is having to adjust as well, there major road works all along it, adding new retail parks, housing developments and parking. So you need to keep a wary eye on what’s happening around you. One minute there is no road, then the next day its open!

I just wanted to give a little insight into where we stayed and what roads we used as I’ve been asked about these quite a lot over the last few weeks with fiends old and new visiting or re visiting Orlando for the summer break. We look forward to the next blog with you all sometime over the weekend. Bear with us, we are new to all this and its our summer break as well!! See you all soon.