NYC to Florida Adventure: Beaches, Theme Parks & Colombian Delights

Intro

🌴 Ready for a whirlwind trip from NYC to Florida? Let’s go! Starting at LaGuardia Airport, enjoy the Manhattan skyline from your Spirit flight to Miami. Snack with a view, anyone?

Then it’s off to Miami Beach for burrito bowls and beach time at Haulover Beach. Next stop: Orlando for Disney and Universal fun! Savor coconut shrimp and Colombian burgers before heading back home.

Don’t forget the sunset over Orlando Airport! And as you touch down in NYC, catch one last glimpse of the skyline. Get ready for a weekend packed with memories! 🌇✈️

From LGA to MIA

I had just done this same exact trip 2 weeks before this one, and you can read all of this right now:

Miami Birthday Trip: Brunch, Gators, and Brightline Adventure! 🎉

Birthday Thrills at Universal Orlando: Wizarding Wonders & Theme Park Magic

So, this blog is going to be a shorter version of these experiences, but time happening with a different group of friends, and having different plans in center and south Florida.

But first, I gotta get out of New York, and for that I picked a Spirit flight departing from the same Terminal A in LaGuardia Airport.

After this work day, I was so glad New York was giving me a show of its skyline and beautiful night views. This is why I love this city.

Downtown, Midtown, and I could even see the Verrazzano Bridge on the very back, connecting Brooklyn and Staten Island.

For once in my life, I decided to buy some snacks from Spirit, and I was surprised the price was not that bad for what was offered and included.

Tried to take a nap, but I do not think I fell asleep, since quickly we were descending onto MIA Miami International Airport. The view of the big Metropolitan Area awed me.

Exploring Miami Beach

Landed, and went to my hotel in Miami Beach, Gaythering Hotel, an adult exclusive hotel. The rooms were literally crates.

Later in the night I went for some drinks, and a bite around at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila. I liked the place and the fact that was one of the few things opened in that area, but the fish sticks, I was not really a fan. I should have ordered something else.

Haulover Beach

And just like I did before in New Jersey with the Gunnison Beach, I went to the nude beach of Miami: Haulover Beach. Although not everyone was super naked, like the one in the North.

The sunset though, was very beautiful. We just had a beautiful day of relaxation in Miami today.

And guess what, another sight of Icon of the Seas, departing from Miami on a 7 Night Western Caribbean and Perfect Day Cruise from Miami. I will step on that cruise one day.

Loved hanging at the beach, and getting to know this new area in Miami Beach I had no clue about.

Not too far from there, and while leaving, we saw the 32nd Annual February Kite Festival at Haulover Park, and got some food from the food trucks. Arepas, and many other types of Hispanic and international food were offered in this festival.

That evening

Back in Miami we got to see more of the sunset…

… and then, in Lincoln Road, we went to Havana 1957. I was craving Cuban sandwich, so I got it. It was amazing, although I had to save the other half for another time. I was so full.

On the way to Orlando

The next morning, it was time for the main event, I was going to show my friend one of the new things in the south of Florida: Brightline. I had taken this fast train, two weeks in advance, and I really liked it. I would not have to just travel to Miami or Orlando anymore, I could split a trip between the 2 cities.

On the way there, we say another Royal Caribbean cruise, the Oasis of the Seas.

We got to the station, and waited for the train. We were called and got into the 4 hour train into Orlando. We loved this ride, super convenient.

Disney Springs

We got to Orlando, and got into an Uber to the hotel: Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, which is one of my favorite ones for stays in this city.

From there, we walked to Disney Springs, literally just steps away. We were hungry, and wanted to repeat one dinner we had before in this restaurant. Even though it was raining, we were seated almost outside. I got the salmon and it was healthy but it was too little lol.

To compensate, I also then got the coconut shrimp. It was very delicious and loved every bite of it. The sauce really gave it a kick.

From Disney Springs we took the bus to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter. The boats were not working, but we too the bus and proceeded to obviously buy some Mickey shaped donuts. Basically mandatory for anyone coming into this resort.

Enjoying Orlando

But Orlando is not only Theme Parks. And when a bigger group of friends joined us, we went to this Escape Room called The Bureau. The entrance is very unassuming, but the creepy story we had in this escape room was way better to the one I did back in New York. We were also able to solve it!

And later that night we also went to the Southern Nights Club in Orlando. We had a lot of fun, until one of our friends got sick and we had to cut the night short lol.

Islands of Adventure

The next day, of course we had to go to Universal, and after checking out, we went to Islands of Adventure. The crowds were telling me this was not going to be a productive visit.

We went to do Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and Velocicoaster, and both were a success, but we could not really do more than that. We got coffee and explored around.

For late morning, we picked Three Broomsticks to eat, and of course, I gotta pick once again, my always favorite Fish and Chips.

The last thing we did in this park was to get the Who Hash from Green Eggs and Ham Cafe at Seuss Landing. It was more delicious than I expected, very creamy, warm and yummy. I would recommended a lot.

Universal Studios Orlando

The crowds were so crazy on this Holiday, that we had to walk from park to park. Hogwarts Express had crazy long wait times. Of course, as soon we got in, we went to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.

Mardi Gras was happening at Universal, and we got to explore the Tribute Store for this festival. It was probably one of my favorites ever. Really cute.

But with the Mardi Gras festival, multiple booths from different countries were offering their local food, and I could not miss more Colombian food. For the first time ever, I got to see a Colombia Booth in a major park. I was so proud.

We tried the Colombia Burger which was a little dry and I do not really know what exactly makes it Colombian, besides the little flag lol. But the Arepa de Choclo (a type of corn arepa) was delicious. The best thing we tried this day.

The crowds seemed a little dispersed later in the afternoon, but the wait times were crazy high.

To finish in this park, and before heading out, we stopped at Bake My Day at Minion Land to get some macarons. They were cute and yummy.

The return to New York

We quickly grabbed an Uber from the designated area in Universal, and went to the MCO International Airport, which was waiting for us with a nice sunset.

And after a few hours we were back in New York, once again, and like not usual, waiting for me with a great view of the best skyline on Earth. Love to be back.