>Cape Canaveral, FL. [...] the place is worth a stop. Tons (literally) of old rockets and space capsules lying about the place.

...definitely worth a visit.








>consider heading west out of Miami across the Everglades

Yeah, I'm not sure what to say here.  It all depends on why you picked Miami.  If it was just because its a big airport, that's one thing. But Miami and South Beach are the equivalent to a NYC in that 'living life large' type of way, except it's even more hedonistic. Lots of drugs, lots of clubs, lots of beautiful people, in beautiful clothes, driving outrageous cars, reeking of money - I don't go there. Lauderdale is much more chill, much smaller, calmer, more normal... and it still has pool partys and enough lunacy to last me a lifetime, or another 5 years, which ever comes first:)

So if you like the Miami scene, soak it up, because once you go North it changes dramatically.  If you just need some beach, the West coast is mellow/do everything RC said. Or go Miami -> St. Augustine, then you have to make up your mind whether you want to go up into the hills, or stay along the coast.  Let me warn you though, the Florida coast can be driven next to... once you get above Florida, its not like you can drive right along the beach... lots of 'ins' and 'outs' and rivers and such, breaking up the shore.

This hasnt worked out for me this time. Both boats have been booked out.

Planning it as soon as I can. Ho hum