2017-Dec, Florida | FindPenguins

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Trip start
December 27, 2017
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Monday, December 25, 2017 at 10:06 PM
☁️ 4 °C
Altitude: 28 m
Germany Düsseldorf International Airport 51.276112, 6.76555551°16’34” N 6°45’56” E
Maritim Düsseldorf
December 25, 2017 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
What should I say.. almost every trip just NEEDS to start here, when flying from Düsseldorf 🤭
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Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 1:23 PM
⛅ 5 °C
Altitude: 432 m
Switzerland Zurich airport 47.461388, 8.552547°27’41” N 8°33’9” E
Flight
December 26, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
This time we were flying with Swiss & Edelweiss from Düsseldorf via Zurich to Tampa.

It was my first time with these two airlines and I really liked it.

LX1017 only took about one hour, and yet we got fresh coffee and soft drinks and a croissant and chocolate - didn’t expect this on such a short flight 😁 moreover, the legroom in row 5 on this A320 was more than enough for me.

When we arrived in Zurich, we had to walk from one end of the airport to the other end (at least it felt like that 😂).

I had an SSSS on my boarding pass from Zurich to Tampa, so I had an extra security check.. but this was no big deal 😎

Flight WK4 took about 11 hours and surprised us with exceptional service and good food (yes, even in economy class 😋 - Bratwurst, Sauerkraut and Rösti and always fresh and warm bread - I loved it!).

Arrival and immigration in Tampa was convenient and smooth - as we arrived quite late, we were the only international flight at that time.Read more
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Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 10:23 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 16 m
United States Clearwater 27.961945, -82.79305527°57’43” N 82°47’35” W
Residence Inn Clearwater Downtown
December 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
We finally made it - I think the whole trip took us like 24h 😌

Check-In was quick, so we could enter our home for the next 4 days with no delay.

We booked a Studio Room, so we had kitchen, living room and bedroom in one.

It took like 30 mins to Tampa or Clearwater Beach (of course, depending on traffic 😁)Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 9:49 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 15 m
United States Cabbage Swamp 28.190277, -82.39083128°11’25” N 82°23’27” W
Shopping
December 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
As it was too early (and therefore still a bit too cold) for going to the beach, we decided to do a little shopping first.

So we went to Tampa Premium Outlets and enjoyed this nice place (unfortunately, I did not find the deals I was expecting 😋).Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 2:16 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 16 m
United States Sand Key County Park 27.956945, -82.83138827°57’25” N 82°49’53” W
Clearwater Beach / Sand Key Park
December 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Later that day we spent the afternoon at the beach 😎

It's always strange when you just left the German winter two days before and now lie in the sun at the beach with 27°C instead of 3°C 😋

You can easily get used to it, though.. 🤫Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, December 27, 2017 at 8:32 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 28 m
United States Station Square Park 27.963991, -82.79995727°57’50” N 82°47’60” W
Chili's
December 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
The last thing we did that day: stopped by at one of our favorite restaurant chains in the US - Chili's 😍
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Day 2
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 11:52 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 12 m
United States Big Bend 27.794167, -82.40277927°47’39” N 82°24’10” W
Manatee Viewing Center
December 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
The next day we visited the Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, which is one hour away from Clearwater Beach.

This complex is divided in two parts - some trails through the landscape with an observation tower and the actual viewing complex.Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 2:52 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 19 m
United States Rocky Bluff 27.533055, -82.50888827°31’59” N 82°30’32” W
More Shopping
December 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
As this Outlet was just 30mins from Manatee Viewing Center, we simply had to visit Ellenton Premium Outlets as well.
TravelerLove that mall.
5/3/22Reply
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Day 2
Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 3:05 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 6 m
United States Whale Island 27.654857, -82.67695827°39’17” N 82°40’37” W
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
December 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
When staying somewhere south of St. Petersburg you will most likely use the Sunshine Skyway Bridge when making your way up north.

You have some stunning views over Tampa Bay and it's definitely worth the 1.50USD toll.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 10:24 AM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 15 m
United States Hillsborough River 27.945, -82.45861227°56’42” N 82°27’31” W
Tampa Riverwalk
December 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
The next day we decided to visit Downtown Tampa, as we've been driving through Tampa so many times without actually making a stop there once.

Unfortunately it was freezing this morning (yeah, freezing.. like 14°C.. while having -2°C in my home town 😅), so we basically just walked along Tampa Riverwalk.

I guess it's much more interesting when the weather is better - we sometimes felt we were the only people around.. so there was not that much to do and we started looking for other activities.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 2:05 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 4 m
United States Safety Harbor Site 28.009167, -82.67722228°0’33” N 82°40’38” W
Philippe Park
December 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
After we were slightly disappointed by the Riverwalk, we had more luck with this beautiful park.

Philippe Park is located in Safety Harbor, east of Clearwater at Old Tampa Bay.

Luckily the weather got better with every hour (with immediate impact on our mood 🤪) making us spend some hours at this spot enjoying some nice views.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, December 29, 2017 at 3:03 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 14 m
United States Dunedin Beach 28.0575, -82.82472228°3’27” N 82°49’29” W
Honeymoon Island State Park
December 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
At the end of that day we decided to stop by the beach once again - so we went to Honeymoon Island State Park, where we watched the sunset.
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Day 4
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11:37 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 27 m
United States Poinsettia Mobile Home Park 26.625, -81.80583326°37’30” N 81°48’21” W
On the road again
December 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
After spending some days in Clearwater, it was time for us to slowly start moving towards our final destination of this Trip.. but before reaching Miami we had one last stop in Fort Myers 😎
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Day 4
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 11:59 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 14 m
United States Page Field 26.597222, -81.85138826°35’50” N 81°51’5” W
Residence Inn Ft Myers
December 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Yet another Residence Inn 😎

We like these Studio-Like rooms with a fully equipped kitchen, lots of space and the free, hot breakfast 😋
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Day 4
Saturday, December 30, 2017 at 2:45 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 4 m
United States Long Key 26.386667, -81.87638826°23’12” N 81°52’35” W
Lovers Key State Park
December 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
As temperatures were constantly rising, we just had to go to beach again ☀️

We made the experience that beaches in state parks are often more enjoyable than public beaches - that's why we chose visiting Lovers Key State Park.

And honestly.. it was one of the most beautiful beaches we've seen in Florida so far 😎Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, December 31, 2017 at 1:34 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 9 m
United States Lake Pancoast 25.799723, -80.12805925°47’59” N 80°7’41” W
The Gates Hotel South Beach
December 31, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
31st December - the last day of the year 🎆

After having spent the whole day at the beach yesterday, we made our way to Miami Beach quite early.

This time we spent the night at The Gates Hotel South Beach - A DoubleTree by Hilton.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, December 31, 2017 at 3:23 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 7 m
United States Collins Park 25.796112, -80.12583325°47’46” N 80°7’33” W
Miami Beach
December 31, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
After we checked in at our hotel we spent our remaining time that day at the beach (again 😋).

Luckily we had complimentary beach chairs included 👍
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Day 6
Monday, January 1, 2018 at 12:12 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 14 m
United States Miami Beach 25.786161, -80.12792225°47’10” N 80°7’41” W
New Years Eve at the Beach
January 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Not much to say 😁

Happy New Year 🎊
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Day 6
Monday, January 1, 2018 at 4:38 PM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 7 m
United States Blue Lagoon 25.788055, -80.27111225°47’17” N 80°16’16” W
Time to go Home
January 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
That's it 😁

Starting the new year flying just has to be a good sign 😏

We discovered our new favorite seats on Lufthansa's A380.. there is a tiny economy compartment in the upper deck with just 4-5 rows and a 2-4-2 configuration.. we took the 2 seats at the last row.. and from now on, we will always try to get these seats again 😁Read more
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Trip end
January 1, 2018