Florida.co.uk
Website for visitors to Florida, the greatest holiday destination in the world
Florida is many things to many people, and nowhere is it more evident than along the balmy shores of the Gulf coast. You can find a quiet stretch of beach on a private island to call your own or spend the day at one of the many crowded beach bars along the fun-filled shores. Check out the museums, galleries and charming historical venues, or explore the untamed wilderness in the numerous natural attractions. Whatever you're looking for in a sunny holiday, Florida's Gulf coast has got it.
Clearwater is a beautiful peninsula located on Florida's West coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and Tampa Bay to the east. Home to warm sands and clear blue waters, Clearwater is a popular spot for active families. It has all of the usual amenities one would expect from a Gulf coast town including beach activities, golf, shopping, and great restaurants. It also has a diverse cultural heritage. Expect to find museums, playhouses, festivals, and an extensive park system. Be sure to check out Moccasin Lake Nature Park - a showcase of the plant and animal species native to the area. If the underwater world is of interest to you, check out the Clearwater Marine Aquarium - a unique natural attraction where one can view, touch and experience the biology and behavior of all sorts of underwater life. Of course, the main reason to visit the Clearwater area is the 35 miles of award winning beaches. Lie back, relax, and enjoy the rejuvenating results of a perfect beach holiday in Clearwater.
Clearwater Beach
Like its neighbor Clearwater, St. Petersburg (often referred to as St. Pete) is located on the peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. St. Petersburg is famous for its sun - so famous that a few decades ago it captured the world record for the most consecutive sunny days. Since it averages 360 days of sunshine a year it's hard to imagine a better place to escape the winter blahs.
But St. Petersburg is much more than just sun and sand. The area offers a wide range of recreational activities. St. Pete is the cultural hub of central Florida and the Gulf coast with nationally renowned museums, performing arts centers and galleries. The powerful Holocaust Museum, the breathtaking Salvador Dali Museum and the awesome Great Explorations Museum (a must-see for kids), ensure that museum lovers will be in heaven. Another popular attraction is the St. Petersburg Pier. It contains a small aquarium, shopping, adventure activities, and both casual and fine dining restaurants. Various sightseeing tours are also offered. If nightlife is your thing you'll get a great variety in St. Pete. Check out the beachfront hotspots or venture downtown to BayWalk, an open-air retail and entertainment complex that offers shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Tampa has everything you could want from a Florida holiday: water, sunshine, sports, the arts, and lots of fun amusement parks. A single day's activities can include breakfast overlooking the water, a visit to Busch Gardens or the Florida Aquarium, a little shopping, a sporting event or two, and then top it off with a stay in a gorgeous hotel or resort.
While in Tampa be sure to visit the historic Ybor city area where wrought iron balconies, brick-lined walkways and the amazing architecture of old cigar factories, social clubs and other unique buildings, provide a glimpse into an era rich with culture and history. Today Ybor city is a shopping, dining and entertainment district, and it has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
With all of the mouth-watering restaurants, fantastic entertainment venues, and cultural attractions, you'll quickly see why Tampa is a popular holiday destination for discerning travelers looking to get the most out of their Florida vacation.
While not as well known as its neighbors, Bradenton is a great place to explore arts and historical attractions, have fun in the sun, and relax with friends and family.
Take a tour of the South Florida Museum, which is actually three sites in one: the artifacts displays, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Aquarium. There's also the Manatee Village Historical Park where you can step back in time to see how the area's early pioneers lived. The village features the restored 1913 train engine known as Old Cabbage Head; the Wiggins Store, built in 1903 as the area's general store; the Manatee Burying Ground, the final resting place for many of the county's pioneers; First Courthouse, built in 1860 (the oldest remaining building built as a courthouse in the state); and more. And best of all - it's all free! Bradenton is also the spring training home of the Pittsburg Pirates. In March, the Pirates play their spring training games at McKechnie Field, thought of by many as one of the best spring training stadiums in Florida's Grapefruit League. Sports fans will love it.
Sarasota is more than just the home of the Ringling Brothers circus. In fact, Sarasota has a very distinct cultural identity. The area is sophisticated and elegant, yet laid-back and fun loving. It's also dedicated to the arts. In the Sarasota area you can enjoy educational museums, operas, ballets, plays, golf tournaments, and boat races. Check out Siesta village, a funky and noisy beach hangout favored by writers and artisans. Or if you're looking for something a little more upscale, visit St. Armands Key, one of Florida's ritziest shopping and dining districts. Adjacent Longboat key is also pretty swanky. If affordable family fun and hotels is what you're looking for, try Lido key, which is generally more attractive to family vacationers. But wherever you stay in Sarasota, you can take part in activities like tennis, lawn bowling, water skiing, bird watching, golf, boating, and tons of other recreational activities. At night indulge your cultural side with some world-class theatre or perhaps the Florida West Coast Symphony. Whatever you want, Sarasota's got it.
Venetian-style palazzo in Sarasota Bay
Vacationers not interested in the Spring Break scene will find a bit of "Old Florida" in the town of Englewood. The intimate community atmosphere offers visitors tropical beaches and acres of parks and recreational areas to use for all kinds of outdoor activities. Miles of unspoiled beaches, world famous fishing, terrific sailing, and other boating opportunities are just a few of the amenities offered.
Englewood's shoreline borders the Gulf of Mexico, the Intracoastal Waterway, Charlotte Harbor and the Myakka River. Many consider this region to be a waterfront paradise for both saltwater and freshwater fishing, cruising, sailing, and the great outdoors. In fact, there are few places in Florida that have as many tropical beaches as Englewood. They include Stump Pass, Blind Pass, Manasota Beach, and Englewood Beach. All four are fairly isolated and free of the usual Florida beach crowds. But if lying on the beach isn't for you, why not go boating, bird watching, fishing, or try golfing on one of the town's eight golf courses.
Rotonda is an upscale community located not far from Englewood, mid-way between Sarasota and Fort Myers. A relaxed community with easy access to beaches, shopping, boating, golfing, and more, Rotunda has become a popular destination for winter snowbirds and retirees. There are six golf courses; thirty miles of lovely canals, lakes and ponds; a designated bird sanctuary; a wildlife preserve; as well as beaches, theaters, sporting events, and fine restaurants. Rotonda is a planned community laid out in the shape of a wagon wheel (which can be seen when flying overhead). Closed-in freshwater canals help to create Rotonda's wheel design and separate the different subdivisions. There are plenty of villas and homes to rent, so if you're looking for a peaceful, quiet holiday in a laid back community, Rotonda might just be for you.
Port Charlotte is an excellent example of all that makes South Florida an idyllic and relaxing holiday destination. There are miles of rivers and sandy beachfronts; a plethora of sailing schools, charter cruises, and deep-sea fishing opportunities; and more than two-dozen marinas. With so much river and beach access you'll find all manner of water recreation here, from kayaking and fishing, to diving and sailing.
Other popular attractions in Port Charlotte include a federal wildlife refuge where nature enthusiasts can see Florida's flora and faunae in their natural habitats; the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center that encompasses several hundred miles and is filled with trails, picnic areas, and educational opportunities; the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra; and the Charlotte County Historical Center. Of course, this being Florida, you can also expect to find dozens of excellent golf courses, more than ten tennis courts, and for baseball enthusiasts, there's the spring training home of the Texas Rangers.
Located in Lee County, Fort Myers is known as the "City of Palms" for its streets lined with royal and queen palm trees. A city also known for its Gulf Coast beaches, Fort Myers remains a top holiday spot for travelers from all over the globe. There are an endless number of things to do in Fort Myers, from day activities on into the night.
The major attractions are the homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, which are separated by a fence called "The Friendship Gate." Thomas Edison built a home and laboratory (Seminole Lodge), beside what is now McGregor Blvd. Nearly 20 years later, Henry Ford joined him, moving in next door and building the first Ford Car Dealership nearby. Their estates are now on public display, and no Fort Myers holiday is complete without stopping by and checking out some of Edison's lesser-known inventions.
Thomas Edison Home
For sports fans, the city is home to the spring training camps of the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. It's also littered with college teams and sports bars always busy with activity. For beach-lovers, Fort Myers' beaches have a laid-back atmosphere and act as a gateway to several islands, including Captiva and Sanibel Islands.
Cape Coral is a must-visit destination for people who love the water. This coastal community boasts more than 400 miles of canals (more than any other city in the world), plus lakes and a "mega-river". Families are sure to enjoy the sun infused days and warm nights in this relaxed area. Beaches, bathing, and boats fill leisure time in this coastal community. There's even a huge water park that offers more than two-dozen wet and dry attractions on more than 15 beautiful acres. Whether you want to drift on a tube down the lazy river or speed down a 225-foot black tunnel, there's something for everyone at the Sun Splash Water Park.
If something a little more tranquil is more to your liking, wander down to the Yacht and Racquet Club and let the kids play at the riverfront while you drop a fishing line from the nearby pier. Stay until dusk and catch the view at one of the best spots to see the sunset on the Gulf coast.
Cape Haze is a 30-mile, largely natural peninsula overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Featuring beautiful state parks, beaches, and protected Florida wilderness, it's a prefect spot for people looking to get in tune with nature.
The area is refreshingly un-crowded, yet has all the characteristics of a tropical Caribbean island; white sand beaches, secluded barrier island neighbors, Gulf waters fishing and boating, romantic beach views and picture-perfect sunsets.
Visitors looking for peace and privacy can visit the largely uninhabited barrier islands in the surrounding area: Boca Grande, Palm Island, Little Gasparilla, Don Pedro, Cayo Costa, Pine Island and the even more private Useppa and Cabbage Key. Go boating among lost islands and find virtually uncharted marinas, inns and restaurants and find superb fishing in secret and unmapped inlets, creeks and waterways. For anyone wishing to leave his or her worries behind, Cape Haze peninsula is the perfect place to do it.
Naples is known for its world-class shopping, dining, and numerous challenging golf courses. With more than 80 championship golf courses in the area, Naples is the self-titled "Golf Capital of the World", claiming to have more holes per capita than any other community.
Boasting one of the nation's most beautiful beaches and the coast's calmest waters, Naples is equally popular with water lovers and land recreationists alike. Friendly parks beckon sports enthusiasts and picnickers with lovely green spaces and recreational facilities. The beach is more than 10 miles long and is often praised for its cleanliness and pristine white sand. Naples offers exquisite sunsets, incredible shopping, championship golf, and white sand beaches while being home to some of the most luxurious waterfront estates and condos in the world. Experience a piece of paradise in Naples.
Naples Bayfront
Nestled in the mangrove islands of southwest Florida's coast, Marco Island is a world-class resort destination surrounded by miles of pristine deserted islands, bays, creeks, and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Marco Island is the largest of Florida's Ten Thousand Islands and has been described as "magical, mystical and alluring". The sun-drenched beaches, untamed wilderness, excellent restaurants, and easy-paced lifestyle are part of the reason why. Here you can explore the natural wonder of the Ten Thousand Islands by land, boat or air. Enjoy superb fishing and abundant wildlife. Sunshine, outdoor activities, and all of the water sports that go with the beaches are available for your enjoyment.
Marco Island is beautiful and swanky but a sleepy beachfront community, best left to those who enjoy daytime activities. When the sun goes down, so does the excitement. But with so much to do during the day, you'll likely want to take an early to bed early to rise approach and make the most of the daylight hours.
The Everglades is a unique and amazing place and it is one of North America's most incredible wild areas - a beautiful, subtropical landscape that welcomes about a million visitors each year (relatively small considering the size of over one million acres). The Everglades is a massive ecosystem with over 600 species of birds and animals and thousands of plant varieties. It is also home to many of the world's endangered species.
Many people who appreciate the rare qualities of this untamed wilderness argue that it is a place better kept secret, but its excellent and growing reputation is preventing that from happening. It has been declared an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance; only one of three locations in the world to appear on all three lists.
There are many things to do in Everglades National Park including bird watching, camping, hiking, eco-tours, boat tours, wilderness adventures, and more. During the winter months, when the temperatures and the large number of bugs lessen a bit, the park draws large numbers of boaters, along with bird-watchers, hikers, anglers, and lots of car-bound explorers on the hunt for wild alligators and panthers.
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