some driving time/ florida questions

Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
limit without stopping.

Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would want
to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
backyard would be ideal :-)
Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course

Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome; prefer
smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
Thank you so much in advance

"paula" wrote:
Planning to arrive around April 23 in Orlando, going to end up
in Fort Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few
questions
1: What time does it start to get dark (dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.

On that date, sunset in Orlando will be 7:56PM. Sunrise at 6:52AM.

2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a
good stay in Orlando; Orlando itself?

Most tourist and higher class hotels are located near the Interstate-4
corridor on the way to Tampa, primarily in the "International Drive"
area between Universal Studios and Seaworld, with others near
Disney World, at "Lake Buena Vista" and US 192 near Kissimee.

Hope to rent a car by hotel; my understanding is that one way's
are easy in Florida. If we can make it during light though, we
prefer to drive to Tampa right away; how long would that really
take (weekday).

Orlando to Tampa is typically a 90-minute, straight-shot down I-4.

And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Going from Orlando to Sarasota, via I-275 thru St. Petersburg and
exiting on U.S. 301 at Bradenton, will take you about 3 hours, plus
whatwever time you spend checking out the local sights.

"paula" wrote in message
news:xLdDj.85591$FO1.39065@edtnps82...
Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
limit without stopping.

Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would want
to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
backyard would be ideal :-)
Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course

Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome; prefer
smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
Thank you so much in advance

My wife has a sister and bro'n'law that retired in Ft. Myers. They seem to
like it. They spend half the year there and half the year in S. Dakota where
their home is. Quite a few people from the Dakota area seem to have retired
Ft. Myers. In Texas a lot of retirees move to the Rio Grande Valley area.
Don't know where exactly but the weather there is mild and that is where we
get our fruit and some vegetables from. OTW, near Austin, my home town,
there is a Del Webb Sun City. Austin is a wonderful town but getting too
popular. Also in TX you might look into what we call the Hill Country,
especially if you have lots of money to spend on real estate. That would
include Fredricksburg area, which, BTW is getting very touristy or
Kerrville, a sleepy little town 22 miles north of Fredricksburg. K'ville is
on IH 10 so you are an hour from San Antonio and about two hours from
Austin. In Fredricksburg you are close to the LBJ ranch and home and in the
spring you can get the best damned peaches in the world from around
Stonewall and environs. K'villle is in a very nice setting, hills all around
and then the Guadelupe River running east. Problem is, there is not much to
do around there. In Austin there is a very vibrant arts scene, good music,
etc. and Austin is becoming a wonderful city for eating. We have 3 Food and
Wine Top 10 chefs here, not to mention a passle of CIA graduates. Also near
Austin is a city called Bastrop that is growing like a weed. It is about 40
minutes outside of Austin and very accessble to our airport. Hope this
helps.

"singlemalt" wrote in message
...

"paula" wrote in message
news:xLdDj.85591$FO1.39065@edtnps82...
Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
limit without stopping.

Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would
want
to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
backyard would be ideal :-)
Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course

Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome;
prefer
smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
Thank you so much in advance

Paula,

1. It seems like this is your first time doing such a trip and if so,
might I suggest that for easy research, start at www.google.com , then
click MAPS. For example, type in
kissimmee. fl ( I chose it because lots of stuff nearby for you to "try
it out".)
and you'll see a map,
for hotels ( or ANY business), click Find Businesses and type HOTEL,
you'll see a lot of them . Then ZOOM in/out by sliding the scale up or
down ( in upper left). To "move the map around", press AND HOLD the left
mouse button and drag the map left/right/up/down. If you choose hotels and
then click on one - you can find reviews for that particular hotel ( like
_ " Very nice place -" Cheap but good" or "cockroaches everywhere")
You can also use
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
put in a start and an end and it will map it for you , tell you how many
miles, and how long it should take ( or if you have AAA can do the same
there).
Whenever I take a trip, I put in all of my info , then print put maps,
directions, everything and have it in the car with me. As we go along just
pull out the next sheet of paper with that day's info. As you are doing
the homework from home - email it to yourself in case you lose your
papers. Many hotels have a PC in the lobby that you can use if you want to
revise your plans.

2. Having said all of that,
your comment - " prefer smaller towns; non touristy."
Fort Myers is NOT a "small place" for a snowbird to hide. THE local area
airport is there ... Rt 75 cuts through ( which makes it handy - not
quiet).... The Red Sox have spring training there. A Lot of New Englanders
will be there for that ( as well as fans of a lot of other teams).

3. I don't know what price range you're looking at, but for quiet you
might want to be more near he
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...5,2.752075&z=9
Port Charlotte harbor is nice. The towns are handy enough to the highways,
yet once off the hwy it is pretty quiet. I was in Punta Gorda last month
( on the south side if the harbor) having lunch at a bar overlooking the
water ( Harpoon Harry's) and lots of sailboats going by. If not ON the
water, maybe trailer the sailboat ??

Also, if you're just starting to look, I'd also recommend renting one ar
two seasons in different areas.. maybe 2 months per house so you can try a
few towns per season. They all come furnished so not too much hassle to
"move". Just a thought. Good luck.

"paula" wrote in message
news:xLdDj.85591$FO1.39065@edtnps82...
Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
limit without stopping.

Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would want
to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
backyard would be ideal :-)
Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course

Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome; prefer
smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
Thank you so much in advance


I hope the OP got our messages and was able to benefit from them. Too often
peoplel post asking for advice and you never hear from them again. Makes you
wonder if they croaked, wandered off to the wrong end of town or what. It
would be nice, and provide some closure for those of us to offer
suggestions, if the OP's would come back and say thanks, you all suck, or
something. IMO only.

"singlemalt" wrote in message
...

"paula" wrote in message
news:xLdDj.85591$FO1.39065@edtnps82...
Planning to arrive around april 23 in Orlando, going to end up in Fort
Myers, and not familiar with the roads. hence a few questions
1: What time does it start to get dark ( dusk) that time in Orlando?
We prefer not to drive unless daylight; plane arrives around 7 p.m.
2: Leaving Orlando going to Tampa area, what place would be a good stay
in Orlando; Orlando itself? Hope to rent a car by hotel; my
understanding is that one way's are easy in Florida.
If we can make it during light though, we prefer to drive to Tampa
right away; how long would that really take ( weekday)
And how long does it normally take from Orlando to Sarasota via
Tampa and via the coastal line? Planning to check out communities
there hoping to come across nice harbours.

Please note: we do normally do not speed, so time using normal speed
limit without stopping.

Purpose of our trip is to find an area to which we believe we would
want
to retire to; even if only as a snowbird :-)
We love the water, harbours and hope to get a (smaller) boat, maybe
sailboat also to go onto the Gulf. Being able to dock a boat at the
backyard would be ideal :-)
Any suggestions on area's very welcome of course

Oh, not stuck to Florida. any suggestions for Texas also welcome;
prefer
smaller towns; non touristy. That will be our next trip
Thank you so much in advance


I hope the OP got our messages and was able to benefit from them. Too
often peoplel post asking for advice and you never hear from them again.
Makes you wonder if they croaked, wandered off to the wrong end of town
or what. It would be nice, and provide some closure for those of us to
offer suggestions, if the OP's would come back and say thanks, you all
suck, or something. IMO only.


Ditto.