Traveling Around Florida

Traveling Around Florida

Visitors to Florida who rely on public transportation will find their horizons rather restricted. The rail network is limited, leaving Greyhound buses – which link most sizable towns – as the main form of long-distance land transportation. Places outside the main urban areas will often elude those without cars. Some local bus services are good, but you’ll need time and flexibility to make use of these. Public transportation within cities is more useful. Here, the emphasis is on serving com-

muters rather than visitors, but the main tourist centers have some services that cater to the needs of sightseers.

ARRIVING BY TRAIN

The use of railroads in the US is dwindling, but there are still connections between major cities. The national passenger rail company, Amtrak, serves Florida from both the east and west coasts. There are three daily services from New York City. This Silver Service takes about 25 hours and runs via Washington D.C., down to Jacksonville. It terminates in Miami or Tampa. The Palmetto serves the same route but offers a business-class service.

The Sunset Limited, complete with deluxe cabins and movie entertainment, covers the 3,066 miles (4,933 km) from Los Angeles to Sanford near Orlando, stopping at Phoenix and New Orleans.

If you want to travel by train but take your own car, there is Amtrak’s Auto Train, which runs daily from Lorton in Virginia to Sanford, taking about 18 hours.

A bargain flight can work out cheaper than the equivalent rail fare. You’ll often do best to buy a rail pass.

EXPLORING BY TRAIN

Amtrak trains serve only a limited number of towns and cities in Florida. Other than Tampa, the Gulf Coast is linked only by Amtrak buses, known as “Thruway” buses. These run from Winter Haven,

near Orlando, to Fort Myers via St. Petersburg and Sarasota, with guaranteed connections with Amtrak rail services.Rail fares do not compete well with those of Greyhound, but trips are obviously more relaxing than on a bus. When traveling overnight, you can choose between the ordinary

(but reclining) seats of “coach class” and a cabin.

Anyone planning to do more than a couple of trips by train might consider buying a rail pass, which gives unlimited travel during a set period of time; this must be bought from an Amtrak agent before

you arrive; agents can also send out timetables for both national and regional services.

Florida’s only other train service is Tri-Rail, which links 15 stations on the line between Miami airport and West Palm Beach, including Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Intended primarily for commuters, the trains can also be useful for tourists.

Services run more or less hourly, with reduced services on weekends. One-way fares range from about $2 to $6, depending on the number of zones you pass through, and transfers to Miami’s Metrorail and Metromover services are free.

Tri-Rail also runs guided tours, to South Beach and Worth Avenue, for example, as well as special trips to big games at the Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami.

LONG-DISTANCE BUSES

Whether you are traveling from other parts of the country or within Florida, Greyhound buses offer the cheapest way to get around. Some services are “express,” with few stops en route, while others serve a greater number of destinations. A few routes have “flag stops,” where a bus may stop to deposit or collect passengers in places without a bus station. Pay the driver direct, or, if you want to reserve in advance, go to the nearest Greyhound agent – usually in a local store or post office.

Passes provide unlimited travel for set periods of time (from between four and sixty days),
but are useful only if you have a very full itinerary. Overseas visitors should also note that
passes are cheaper if bought from a Greyhound agent outside the United States.
A complete bus timetable is not available, but agents can send out photocopies of requested services.

LOCAL AND CITY BUSES

Bus services operated by local authorities can be useful for short hops within county boundaries, although services are rarely frequent enough for sightseeing trips. You can travel between many of the cities of southeastern Florida by stringing together local buses, but you’ll need to allow plenty of time.

There is more opportunity to take advantage of buses within cities, and shuttle buses are useful for traveling to and from the airports in Orlando and Miami. Buses in the US do not have conductors, so always have the right money, ticket, or token to give the driver (or put in the box) as you board.

Passes provide unlimited travel for set periods of time (from between four and sixty days), but are useful only if you have a very full itinerary. Overseas visitors should also note that passes are cheaper if bought from a Greyhound agent outside the United States.

 A complete bus timetable is not available, but agents can send out photocopies of requested services.

TAXIS

Taxis (more often called “cabs”) are easily found at air-ports, transit terminals, and major hotels. Taxi stands are rare elsewhere, and since cabs do not tend to cruise around city streets, it is best to order one by phone: numbers are listed in the Yellow Pages. Alternatively, ask someone at your hotel to call a taxi for you – the concierge or bellman will be happy to do this and will not expect a tip.

If you are traveling off the beaten track in a city, it will help to have your destination marked on a map. Not all drivers know their way WATER TAXIS In several cities water taxis add a new dimension to urban travel. You’ll find them in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Fort Lauderdale. Routes are

generally geared to tourists, and as a result they are fairly limited in scope – linking hotels, restaurants, and shops,for example. However, they are fine for sightseeing.

 Some operate as regular shuttle services, as is the case across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, while others, such as those in Tampa, can be summoned only by phone.

Fares are usually $5–10, which you pay on board around. All taxi fares should be metered according to the distance traveled. Some cabs accept credit cards, but you should check in advance.

TRANSPORTATION FOR TOURISTS

Most popular tourist centers provide special transportation for visitors. This often comes in the form of old-fashioned trolley buses: Tallahassee has a replica street car with wood-en seats and brass handrails. In Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale trolleys are a useful link between down-town and the beach. A familiar sight in Key West is the Conch Train, which consists of open-sided cars towed by a butane-powered jeep disguised as an old locomotive. St. Augustine has a similar train, and horse-drawn car-riages, which can be rented in downtown Orlando too.

UNDERSTANDING CITIES

You should not think of “downtown” as the heart of a city; though it may be the hub of business, most people spend their leisure time else-where. Most large cities are arranged on a grid pattern, with numbered streets taking their orientation from the junction of two main axes downtown –

as in Miami.

 As a tourist, one of the best ways to sightsee is to walk. At pedestrian crossings be sure to pay attention to the “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” or “Wait” signals.