NJ to Fort Myers

Have yet to do a search - being lazy tonight and just wanted to get some opinions. We are debating some options on an anticipated trip to the Fort Myers, FL area ( I believe Cape Coral - although this glass of wine may be fogging the memory...)- Opinions needed:

1. Flying down to visit relatives - spending the next 7 days in the area sitting beach/screened-in-poolside- thne flying back.

2. Driving down - hitting numerous roadfood locations during 2 days of vacation,spending 4 in FLA, then another two driving back.

3 Driving down with rental car - hitting roadfood locations, then flying back.

Any opinions? We are at a deadlock......

Depends how bad you might want to visit certain roadfood locations. One way car rental can be expensive, and sometimes one way air bites you too. You could consider flying to a Florida airport maybe 4-5 hours away from Ft. Myers. then renting and returning there. You could then plan a nice roadfood tour. Consider Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, or on the east coast.

I just rented a car in Tampa for a week at a base rate of less than $17/day.

Mmmmm - interesting considerations....thank you - not doing much car renting I assumed it would be cheaper to rent one way ...I have much research to do! Thank you for the advice. By the way - will we have the pleasure of seeing you again at the Philly/MD tour? I think we will be able to make it!

The good thing about renting a car in Florida is that most rental car companies will allow you to rent a car in one part of the state, drop it off in another and they won't charge a "drop off fee"!

The one time I was in Fort Meyers, we flew into Tampa, then drove down to FM. I think it took somewhere like three hours, but I can't remember for sure. I recall that there are excellent Roadfood options in Tampa, and there's excellent dining on Sanibel Island. I also know a place in Clearwater for excellent Delaware County (Pa.) hoagies and cheesesteaks, but that's a long story.

Also, several years ago, I did a baseball fly/drive (Detroit (Lafayette Coney Island), Dayton, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh (Primanti Bros.), Baltimore, New York) and the one-way rental car fee was only an extra hundred dollars. As for the flight portion, I don't know where you live in New Jersey, but if you're not too far from JFK, Jet Blue flies to either Tampa or Fort Meyers for as little as $84 and they don't penalize the one-way flier.

I-95 *shudder*

Hiram, Will be in Clearwater shortly so would appreciate the name of the hoagie shop, unless it's LaSpada (sic) maybe on Gulf to Bay, in which case I obviously know about it.

Aleswench,

If you're willing to come down 95 (on the Philly side) instead of the NJ Turnpike (before you get to Delaware), you'd be able to go to Tony Luke's, which is less than a minute off the highway and well worth a drive from anywhere.

I wouldn't recommend doing this during rush hour, however. Also, you may want to consider that TL's may be on the Philly tour later this year, so you may have another opportunity to try it. Still, they are open for breakfast and beat the crap out of any rest area on the NJTP.

Oh, and Happy belated Birthday, by the way!

Email me if you'd like directions from the Turnpike.

quote:

Originally posted by signman

Hiram, Will be in Clearwater shortly so would appreciate the name of the hoagie shop, unless it's LaSpada (sic) maybe on Gulf to Bay, in which case I obviously know about it.

Sorry, it is indeed LaSpada's. So it goes.

So long as your headed to Cape Coral, go a little futher south to Naples Florida. Go downtown to the "5th Ave" district. There is a restaurant there called "Tommy Bahamas" I think it's a chain but with only 5-10 stores nationwide. I've tasted so many different things I've never tasted anywhere else in my life in the 2 times I've eaten there. Have fun SW Florida is awesome.

Here is a link to a review of their Restaurant:
http://dinesite.com/info/rstrnt-359352?%3F&t=0

If you are going down I-95, please stop in Titusville, Florida at the Dixie Crossroads. I have suggested this to several other roadfooders and all have enjoyed. Their rock shrimp is wondeful. I guarantee you will be pleased.

http://www.dixiecrossroads.com/

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3447&SearchTerms=dixie,crossroads

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Thanks! I would've missed that advice. I think we've decided on driving down and make it a true roadfood experience. Most likely April or May, but that's negotiable. We'll see how soon we need a vacation from work. Dixie Crossroads looks great, and Chumley - I'd love directions. I'll email you as we get closer to our journey!

Dixie Crossroads is a great stop. Some of the best fritters I've ever had, but don't eat too many or you will spoil your dinner.