So I'll be at Daytona for the 24 and will be heading to Sebring likely on Wednesday 28th or Thursday the 29th, seeing that it doesn't make a ton of financial sense for me to fly home for 2 nights what should I do in Florida in January. (other then clear my camera's memory card, and start on press releases and an article or two for work).
Done the Manatee swim twice now, and its one of the favorite things I have done in Florida. Not exciting, but just cool. The other thing I like to do is hire a day of fishing (not deep sea) in Tampa for Redfish or whatever is biting. I like being out on the water.
In St Pete's there is the Dali museum if you need some culture, or you can join the Church of Scientoloy if you feel the need for spiritual awakening and financial fleecing. At least have a quick check to see if you need a Thetan top-up.
Is NASA still in business? I seem to recall a nice day looking around the Kenedy Space Center after watching an early morning shuttle launch on the way back from Key West.
St Augustine is a neat place. The beach is huge and deserted. Seem to recall a neat reptile farm nearby and a place that served like 300 flavors of beer.
Miami is a bit down from your two locations mentioned, but if the drive down counts as part of the adventure, Miami is the defacto capital of South America and not boring. Great food if you are in to Latino eats.
I have it on my bucket list to stop by and visit Karl La Follette and his crew. They seem to be having more fun than most people at what they do!
I've never been to St. Augustine, that may be an option. Outside of Spearmint Rhino, tracks and Disney I don't know much regarding places to pass time down there. If my rental is decent I'd be tempted to blast down to the keys for a night and wander through the Everglades on the way back to Sebring. Or heading to the Bahamas for a day or 2 is always an option, but it defeats the benefit of not flying home and SWMBO would be bitter with me for heading there without her.
If you hit the Keys, I can recommend "Marker 88" as a good place to grab a bite. The drive to the keys is worth it in itself.
Stay away from the frozen Eeverclear slushies in Key West; parking lot snorkeling might ensue. Not that I would know anything about such things.
If I get a Fiesta ST from budget I plan on heading to the keys before finishing off the tires (and brakes) at Sebring.
I've wanted to do a roadtrip to the Keys for years, cutting 800 miles from the trip does suggest that I should go for it.
I hear that there is a big park in Orlando somewhere.
In reply to pinchvalve:
you of all people should know that hooning a fiesta st in a state where points don't convey would be far more entertaining then a world of plaster inspired by a cartoon mouse. If SWMBO was coming she'd be dying to go there and I'd suggest the Bahamas as an alternative in order to avoid going there. I'm not big on amusement parks, but if I go to one it's only for coasters, where Disney is definitely lacking. I won't deny my future children a trip to Disney, but a 35 year old male at Disney by themselves screams out to be registered.
Busch gardens? Nothing like cheap beer and roller coasters.
St. Augustine is a good choice. Old town is just that: The oldest continuously occupied city in the U.S., with several blocks of historic buildings, many dating back to the 16th century. Take the trolley tour--it's cheesy fun, and you get to look inside Flagler College, where Katie goes to school. 
A little bit south of town is St. Augustine Alligator Farm, where you can watch them being fed, stroll the really beautiful grounds, and even zip line over the gators. 
Make sure you hit the taco truck parked across the street afterward.
If you're digging the gator thing, from Daytona you can take a 15-minute drive up to Tomoka State Park, where you can rent canoes and explore the Tomoka river. You are pretty much guaranteed to see at least one gator sunning himself on the banks.
It'll probably be too cool for beach weather that time of year, but if you like lighthouses we have a first-class one at Ponce Inlet. Climb the stairs and enjoy the view, then check out the extensive boardwalks through the dunes at Lighthouse Point Park. The reptiles to watch for there are Gopher Tortoises.
Another nice day trip is over to the west side of the county. Begin the day by cooking your own pancakes at the table at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill restaurant at DeLeon Springs State Park. You can also rent canoes there and check out the spring run. Nearby is Blue Spring State Park, where you will be almost certain to get a good look at manatees that time of year. Have lunch in downtown DeLand, where you'll find nice shops to stroll.
Of course, there are lots of those "other" parks not too far from here, too, but I'll take nature over theme any day.
Margie
Oh, and yes, do stop by. Though we aren't exactly exciting to watch at work. Pretty much the highlights are when JG puts his shoes back on, or one of us threatens a Laserjet's life.
Margie
I work in the motorsports field, and the gentlemen's desk adjacent to mine is our digital media coordinator and previously wrote for Excellence and AutoBlog, so I know how dry it can be. But I'll have a few hundred, if not a few thousand photos from Daytona that I'd be willing to provide/share. I may have a few characters with me as who'd make us swinging by worthwhile.
Cool. And I guess compared to manatees, we're pretty exciting.
Margie
bgkast wrote: Busch gardens? Nothing like cheap beer and roller coasters.
you used to be able to catch a nice buzz for free at the "hospitality house" However, that is now gone and beers are far from cheap :(
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