I am up by Gainesville, so my place would be on the way if you decide to go up to the pan handle. With a slight detour, there is some great Tarpon fishing out in Homosassa..... the best in the world, and I am not making that up. Charters can be had CHEAP with this tanked economy. In pan handle, Grayton beach is gorgeous.... we actually went last year to the national park there, absolutely gorgeous. Pensacola has a lot of historic stuff like Pensacola Village..... I guess it all depends what you and your family are looking to do
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Orlando wise, if your family likes botanical gardens, etc, then check out Harry Leu Botanical Gardens.. gorgeous place
It's also worth it to take a short drive and spend 1/2 a day @ Cypress Gardens just South West of Orlando, after all, it is Florida's first theme park... great place to take the family. Also, I don't know if you have ever been to St. Augustine, but it's a great sight seeing town, especially if you are into lighthouses like my g/f is
Only problem is that it's on East coast of FL north of Jacksonville, so it wouldn't be on the way to anything else.
P.S. Don't eat at the tourist dives in Orlando. If you don't end up going up to pan handle, at least pm me so zee blonde and I can take you and your family out to dinner in Orlando