How dangerous is Homestead, FL? (Redland Orchid Festival) - Orchid Board

Orchidreamer · #1 03-01-2016, 11:03 PM

We'll be flying down to Miami, FL in May, and then driving to Homestead, FL for the Redland Orchid Festival. I'm trying to book a hotel, but I've heard some iffy things about how dangerous Homestead is, with "not very safe" neighborhoods. Where do you recommend we should stay? For those of you from the area, how "bad" is Homestead and the area around the Fruit and Spice Park? Should we be worried about safety? Distance is not too much of an issue, since we'll have a rental car, but it certainly would make life easier if we didn't have to stay too far away.

WhiteRabbit · #2 03-02-2016, 07:51 PM

estación seca · #3 03-02-2016, 08:46 PM

I was last at the Fruit and Spice Park about 4 years ago. I was not there for the Festival; there were no special events, and I was just visiting the Park. It is out in the boonies, rural farmland. I was not near the city center.

If you're planning on spending the entire time at the Festival and vendors, realize Miami is less than an hour away, and it's a beautiful drive. You could stay anyplace from Miami to Homestead. You might consider renting an apartment or condo via AirBnB unless you plan on eating out every meal. It would be very much less expensive.

I would think the only people who might conceivably take all your money would be the vendors at the Festival!

SFLguy · #4 03-02-2016, 09:19 PM

I don't know too much about the danger or lack of in homestead since I don't go often but I've never heard people saying anything bad in that sense about homestead, especially not near the park

Subrosa · #5 03-02-2016, 09:34 PM

I know nothing of Homestead, but I can tell you that either in the jungle or on the streets fear is the dinner bell for predators.

emg53 · #6 03-03-2016, 03:39 PM

I went to the Redlands orchid festival last May and we had a great time. We stayed in Florida City (Best Western) about 15 minutes south of the fruit park. There are some real nice cheap hotels in Florida City, just check trip adviser. The area is really just like anywhere else that is a small town near a big metro area, just be aware of your surroundings. The traffic in Miami is awful so you want to stay close.

The area around Redlands is very rural farm land. There are a lot of orchid nurseries near by that are fun to stop at. You can also take a quick trip down to the upper keys or Everglades National Park if you have time.

Optimist · #7 03-05-2016, 10:38 AM

Wow, that sounds like a dream vacation!

FSUOrchids · #8 03-06-2016, 07:37 PM

I grew up in the South Dade area....I would recommend Florida City. There are not many hotels or anything in the Homestead area. As mentioned you could also stay in the South Miami area and drive down. I wouldn't recommend staying near downtown Miami because that is a long drive from Homestead. Unless you want to see that area.

pipsxlch · #9 03-06-2016, 08:18 PM

There are rough areas in Homestead/Florida City/ without a doubt Miami, but if you stick to the main drag (US 1) and national chain hotels, you should be fine. I second Florida City, it's a much shorter drive than Miami would be and VERY convenient to the Upper Keys. I myself stay in an older shabby motel off Krome Ave. in F.C., it's cheap and my rooms have been clean, after all I'm not there for the resort experience. It's on the outskirts of a rundown area but I've never had any problems.
IMO, it's no worse than the Orlando area I live in now, get off the main drags and away from the tourist areas there is some real blight but as long as you stick to the US 1 corridor, it's fine as anywhere. Seems all areas of any size have bad dangerous areas anymore.