Canada - British Expat Forum

Hi

Not sure if I have posted under the right category....so sorry if I haven't

Has anybody done the drive from Ontario down to Florida....if so, do you know if there is a website where I can get information etc. Our aunt in Canada did the journey but over 20 years ago and cannot remember where she stopped off for hotel breaks etc.

Thanks

Mal

depends which bit of Florida!

Firends of ours (family of four) went to North Florida, took them about 22 hours, they stopped in a motel overnight.

I think it's worth doing cost wise if you're a family of about four, better to fly if there's less of you going.

Mal.
Hello its Jim Bunting, used to be on the "other forum".

From Toronto, to Miami, by car, we did it in 2006, with 3 days of about 800 miles, each day. That equated to about 9 hours a day, split into two halfs, with a lunch break around 1 pm.

Depending on your destination in Florida ( it is a big state ) the distance could be 1900 to 2400 miles, in total, one way.

One point to find out about, will you be admitted to the USA? Never assume, anything.

Just because you are in Canada legally, does NOT mean that you will automatically be admitted to the USA. So you need to check with the US Immigration Service's website to find out about your "admissability " to the USA.

AS for driving directions, it is dead easy. Tell me your destination in Florida and I can give you a "turn by turn" route. Or you can use the "Google" driving directions website to get a printable map, that goes from your front door in Barrie to the address in Florida, with every change of road and highway, with distances and elapsed time to drive the route.

Let me know how I can help you.

Cheers Jim B.

Kissimmee is where we have stayed when we have flown from the UK.....I cannot believe how close it is to us now. It's one of my favourite places LOL

You are right, it works out a lot cheaper...no flights, no car hire.....

Any info you have would be great. Just trying to work out how to keep our 6 year old amused for so long

Mal

deppfan64 wrote:Just trying to work out how to keep our 6 year old amused for so long

Have you tried a nintendo?

Hi Jim

Glad to hear from you!!!! Hope you have been well. The guys on the other forum have been wondering about you

As I have just posted, before your's came in, Kissimmee (sp?) would be our destination......

We have thought about the US immigration thing, but wouldn't we just be considered as UK citizens who are entering the US? We have never had any problems when flying from the UK.....but I do take your point in never assuming anything.

I think hubby's aunt did the same amount of driving you did.....they started off early in the morning and stopped around 4pm....it's just where to stop etc that I need to find out.

Thanks Jim and glad you are still around!!

Mal

Hi Sawman

We are kind of working up to a nintendo. We have been lucky in that he hasn't really shown interest in that kind of thing. However we did buy him a gameboy for his birthday in Jan and he likes that.......
It a hard call as it works out a lot cheaper but it is a long drive....he gets bored driving to the mall...which is 20 mins away.

Plus if we say where we are going we are going to get "are we there yet" for the next 2 days LOL

Mal

MAL:

Here is the link to the Mapquest "driving directions" website. Give it a test and see how you like it. Enter your start address, in Barrie, and the finishing street address, or town, in Florida, and see how it works.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Jim B. Toronto.

Mal,

Ive found that nintendo DS and a good addictive game like super mario, keeps my 6 year old pretty quiet (until the battery dies!) but the prospect of 3 days in the car with her would be tough, We've done a few runs from the uk to the alps and broken it into two chunks with a day or so at Eurodisney, but that pretty much negates the saving on flights!

Hi,

I believe there are several books you can get at Canadian bookstores that go through routes from Ontario to Florida taking the I75 (I think!). They go through different route variations, places to stay and visit on the way if you want to, just look in the travel section of a local bookstore, or ask.

Hope that helps!

Hi Jim

The mapquest worked well....apparently hubby had already done it. It is where to stop en route that we are anxious about.

Although Dasha has said that there are books that we could buy....so I will give that a go.

Thanks

Mal

OK Mal:

Here is a route for you to examine, and see if the distances work out for you.

Bearing that yiu are in Barrie, start at 7am, cross into the USA at the Queenston/Lewiston bridge, by driving 400 south to 401 west, then 403 and then QEW to the border.

After entry to the USA, follow Interstate 90 west to wards Erie Pennsylvania, then south on I 79, towards West Virginia. Stop for the day at Beckley, West Virginia. Lots of great motels and places to eat. One of the best steaks I have ever had in my life was at the "Outback Steak House " in Beckley. WV. This is a place that sees thousands of Canadians every week of the year.

Second morning, get out of town by 8 am. Heading to Savannah Georgia, this will be the longest day, and you should be there by 6 pm. Stay near the airport not downtown. cheaper and less traffic to deal with going in and out again.

Third day, less distance than day two, still following I 95 towards the destination, splittiing off to the west, towards Orlando on the cross state expressway.

Try that on the mapquest system. Let me know.

BTW how about a DVD player for the young guy, or a video payback unit that can be set up with headphones, for some quiet?

Jim B.

Hi Jim

Thank you for the info, very much appreciated. I will show directions to hubby. I think he is pretty keen to do it now. He has just been to a client who drove to Florida during spring break....with a 2 and 3 year old
She said that the key is to keep them amused and make the journey down part of the holiday. She said that by driving, it saved them a ton of money and that we should give it a try.

We have a DVD player which would go in the car....may have to invest in a second one though....as son and daughter will be arguing over the choice of films!

Thanks again

Mal

Last year we drove from NY to Florida, We own a house in Florida and go for 5 weeks every year. Last year we wanted to do somthing different. It was great. SOME ADVICE... Take your time, there is lots to see and do. If you want more info let me know.

Hi Jeff

Thank you for your reply. Any extra info/tips you can give would be much appreciated.



thanks

Mal