6-Day Itinerary with 3 Teens – First Trip to Florida

Hi everyone,

This summer, from June 29 to July 5, we’re heading to Florida for a week. We’ll start with Miami Beach on the first day. We have two older teens (22 and 17) and our 25-year-old daughter. It’s our first visit to Florida!

I’d love your thoughts on whether I should add or remove any stops. I put this together based on your travel journals...

- **Day 0** – Arrival Saturday, June 28, 2025, evening at Miami Airport + picking up the rental car - **Day 1 / Sun, June 29, 2025**: Morning bike ride to explore Miami Beach, and one night in Miami Beach - **Day 2 / Mon, June 30, 2025**: OCEAN DRIVE, afternoon at South Beach - **Day 3 / Tue, July 1, 2025**: Morning walk in LITTLE HAVANA/Cuban Quarter + afternoon at Crandon Beach - **Day 4 / Wed, July 2, 2025**: Depart for KEY WEST (3.5-hour drive) – stop in Islamorada. Afternoon visit to Old Town and Hemingway Home - **Day 5 / Thu, July 3, 2025**: Morning at Mallory Square – afternoon return toward Miami + one night in Homestead - **Day 6 / Fri, July 4, 2025**: Visit Everglades Alligator Farms and Flamingo - **Day 7 / Sat, July 5, 2025**: Return to Miami Airport

What do you think?

Thanks for your feedback! I’ll also check out your travel journals for more ideas. I’m all ears for great tips if you’ve booked through Booking or Airbnb!

Hello, Reading your travel plans already makes me jealous...

Two suggestions: * In MIAMI, I recommend a visit to BAY SIDE: an open-air "shopping mall" right on the waterfront, with lots of restaurants, a really pleasant musical vibe... and, if you're interested, the "HARD ROCK CAFE".

* In KEY WEST, the OCEANS EDGE Hotel, with several pools and an "idyllic" setting. And on DUVAL STREET, that bar completely covered in $1 bills... Amazing...!!!!

...and if you end up following my modest suggestions, thanks in advance for your feedback. Have a great trip!

Hi there, I’d only rent the car on day 4 since you’ll be staying in Miami Beach until then (except for Little Havana and Key Biscayne, which you can reach by bus, taxi, or rideshare). That way, you’d save 4 days of rental and parking, which can be pretty pricey there.

Hello, a round trip to Key West in 2 days means a lot of driving, plus the same route both ways...

And the weather needs to be sunny for the water colors (which are really beautiful in the sun). If it's cloudy, it's less pretty. Also, there aren't many beaches in that area, if any. Plus, beach access isn't always easy—it's built up and private...

And 3.5 hours seems pretty unrealistic to me: there are often roadworks, and a big part of the route is two lanes, so you can't overtake...

In just one week, personally, I'd skip Key West—but if you love road trips...

And as another poster mentioned, keeping the car in South Beach costs money for parking.

Just a little note about teens. We didn't get them the US plan extension... so no social media without Wi-Fi... it was a disaster for my wife's son who couldn't reach his friends in the middle of nowhere...

To add to what our friend Ducono said, a Free SIM card for 19.99 € + a 10 € SIM card valid for 1 month works perfectly, with 35GB of data in the USA. 😉

Hi, I just saw your great suggestions, I’ll work on that. :)

Thanks for your feedback. The rental until day 4 is fine. The hardest part is getting another rental for days 6/7 for my return to Miami Beach, the night, and the airport... we'll see.

Absolutely, it’s necessary and I’ve got it set up—long live FREE for its 35 GB!

No. Maybe we misunderstood each other. Rental starting on day 4 (in Miami or South Beach) and returning the vehicle at the airport.

In Miami, it’d be a shame to miss Wynwood (street art murals). Also, depending on their tastes: Venetian Pool, the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens