Travel Log: Homestead

The finish is here, and in our last trip of the season we head to one of the best stops on the tour: South Florida.

Call it Homestead. Call it Miami. Call it whatever you want, but don't forget to call it a must-visit place on the schedule. Since this is the only venture to the greater Miami area, this year's focus is placed on the many attractions that are:

• Within driving distance
• Easy on the pocket
• Family-friendly
• Good for spending the entire day

Granted, the schedule this weekend is already packed. Three champions will be crowned, and none of them are gimmes. But just in case the trip leads you off the normal pathway from hotel to racetrack, here are some alternatives.

Florida Keys -- "Come as you are" is the slogan, and nothing could quite fit better. This writer's wife lived in Miami for a year, and what does she remember most about the experience aside from the relationships? The Keys. Whether it's Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key or Key West, there's no lack of attraction, even in November (perhaps it's the best time of year). The way to capture it all for first-time visitors is to simply rent a car and drive. Drive until the road stops.
• For more information, click here

Kats24 -- Miami is a great place to visit. Make sure you visit South Beach. Take a leisurely stroll along its quaint streets. We go every year. The track is very fan-friendly. If you're going in an RV Miami/Everglades RV park is where we stay. The staff is very fan-friendly and has activities all weekend.

Key West is a great place to visit if you have a lot of time. It's a six-hour drive but very worth it.

Fairchild Botanical Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. That is located in Cape Coral.

We haven't done the night life as we aren't sure where the safe places are.

Enjoy your time and race

Join the Homestead-Miami Speedway Crew

Thursday: Mostly sunny with a high of 84 degrees, low of 73
Friday: Cloudy with a high of 84 degrees, low of 72
Saturday: Cloudy with a high of 83 degrees, low of 65
Sunday: Partly sunny with a high of 77 degrees, low of 60
Complete Forecast

More
• Let NASCAR.COM help book your last-minute travel.
• Directions and aerial map of Homestead, Fla.