Friday, April 20, 2018

Planning Trips, Part 1

It has been a while since a too an excursion. I have done a bit of planning and re-planning. One that has involved is my Florida trips. I worked with three. First takes me to Orlando and Jacksonville. I would go to Tampa, but there is not a lot that is interesting to make it worth it. The second would be to Miami. This would include seeing the new Brightline, between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Brightline will eventually go between Orlando and Miami. I could wait until it is finished, but this trip is for now only. The third trip combines the two trips.

As we plan such trips, we, of course, look at railfan sites. SunRail, commuter rail runs out of Orland, Tampa only has their airport shuttle. I would only seek a pass through which is not what I would be doing on these plans. Jacksonville has a monorail. Both have nice intercity transit, going through point also of interest. I am not into amusement parks so they are not considered for my trip. This trip would be nice as a train trip and can planned to take very little non train ground travel. My projeted iteneraly is


Cary, NC to North Florida
Day 1
Cary, NC to Orlando, FL, 9:23p-10:06a 91 Silver Star (part 1)
Day 2
Cary, NC to Orlando, FL , 9:23p-10:06a 91 Silver Star (part 2)

SunRail, Orlando, FL
10:54As
11:22An
12:54Ps
Orlando, FL to Jacksonville, FL, 1:35p-4:47p 98 Silver Meteor (map)
Jacksonville, FL, Amtrak to Rosa Parks Transit Station, Jacksonville, FL Bus K2 (map)

JTA Skyway, Monorail
Rosa Parks Transit Station, Jacksonville, FL to Jacksonville, FL, Amtrak, Bus K2
Jacksonville, FL, Amtrak to Cary, NC, 11:03pm - 8:08am 92 Silver Star (part 1)
Day 3
Jacksonville, FL, Amtrak to Cary, NC, 11:03pm - 8:08am 92 Silver Star (part 2)

Our Miami trip has to be more complicated. There is not overnight travel, between Orlando and Miami, for instance. It would require hotel stays, for that reason. The best for Miami Hotels is near the airport. This is normally a less expensive option for hotel. However, the most reasonable is in Fort Lauderdale, which has the duel function of giving a stop on the new Brightline train. And the hotel is close to the train station. Unlike the north Florida, there are a number of Tourist sites, I want to be seen such as the art Deco Architecture in Miami Beach. This is added to the train watching.The following is suggested itinerary.


Cary, NC to Miami, Florida
Day 1
Cary, NC to Miami, Florida, 9:23p-5:58p: 91 Silver Star
Day 2
Cary, NC to Miami, Florida, 9:23p-5:58p: 91 Silver Star

Miami Hotel
Day 3
Miami, Florida, Airport to Art Deco Historic District 8:20a, every 20 minutes, 45 ride, bus 150 (route) 9:00-9:45

Art Deco Historic District full tour: walking, self guide(part 1), walking, self guide(part 2),  32 min. plus stops
Art Deco Historic District to Adrienne Arsht Center Metromover Station, Miami, FL 10:27, every 12 minutes, 22 min ride bus 120 (route), 11:53a-12:15p
Adrienne Arsht Center Metromover Station, Miami, FL 33132 to Government Center Metromover Station, Miami, FL 10 min travel every 5-6 min. 12:15-1:15

Metromover various stops 7 stops
Stephen P. Clark Government Center to Airport Station 1:27P-1:42P

Miami, Fl, Amtrak to Fort Lauderdale, TriRail FL, P630, 3:10P-3:59P, P632, 3:50P-4:47P, P634, 4:30P-5:17P, P636, 4:50P-:37P, P638, 5:20P-6:07P
Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, FL, Brightline, 3:55p-4:35p,4:55p-5:35p,5:55p-6:35p,6:55p-7:35p

Days Inn Ft Lauderdale Airport
Day 4

Brightline: 8:35an,9:00as,9:35an,10:35an,11:00as,12:00p
Brighline station to Amtrak 12:17 PM (Monday) - 12:33 P
West Palm Beach, FL to Cary, 1:27p-8:08a 92 Silver Star
Day 5
West Palm Beach, FL to Cary, 1:27p-8:08a 92 Silver Star

I have noted potential times for some transits with enough flexibility.