I am planning a cruise to FL in a few weeks. No destination, just a cruise. When I read about the waterway, I want to go that way. When I read about the rest of FL, I want to go that way. Maybe I can do both.
Assuming you have a trawler, the waterway is fine. There are some bridges that limit sailboats to 49' or so.
FF mentions the rim route vs. directly across the lake. The depths on the rim route vary a bit depending on rainfall but you can find current information and decide if it's doable for your boat.