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These Florida travel articles offer
information on the helping you find the best Florida beach vacations for
families, romance, relaxing, golf, fishing and more. Should you choose a
vacation home, hotel or villa? Plus info on the Florida Keys.
Best
Florida Beach Vacations by Jolana Klobouk
Why choose a beach vacation in Florida? One
good reason is because wherever you go in Florida, you're never more than 60
miles from the beach!
Florida is also easy to get to, the temperature is pleasurable year round,
it offers good value for your money and that’s just for starters. So whether
you are looking for a family vacation, a romantic vacation, a relaxing
vacation or getting in some golf time, there is a Florida beach vacation
area for you.
Best Florida Beach Areas for Families
Siesta Public Beach
Siesta Public Beach in Sarasota makes a great family beach because of its
gradual slopes, shallow waters, lifeguards on duty, fine white sand and
tranquil waters. It has won awards for best beach based on sand, water
quality and facilities. The beach facilities include picnic areas, rest
rooms, concession stands, playground, trails, and tennis and volleyball
courts. If you enjoy collecting shells, try Turtle Beach, at the south end
of the island.
Tampa Bay Area - St. Pete/Clearwater
Located on the West Coast of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, the Tampa Bay
area is a waterfront heaven! Miles and miles of white sandy beaches along
the Gulf Coast offer unlimited options for a fun and relaxing vacation. When
you need a break from the surf and sand, there are plenty of nearby
activities to keep the kids amused including the Florida Aquarium, the
Museum of Science and Industry, and the Lowry Park Zoo.
Daytona
With twenty-three miles of sparkling white sandy beaches and beautiful
blue-green waters there is no shortage of beach fun for whole family. The
beach is up to 500 feet wide at low tide and is perfect for castle building,
cycling, jogging, fishing or just relaxing in the sun. The Atlantic Ocean is
great for swimming, especially during the spring and summer when water
temperatures range from 74 to 80 degrees. And you are only an hour’s drive
from Orlando if you are so inclined.
Best Florida Beach Areas for Romance
Miami Beach
A Miami romantic vacation has everything from relaxing on the beach by day
and dancing by night. There are lots of art deco and interesting hotels on
South Beach. A short drive west will bring you to the Everglades, where you
can take a Scenic Boat Tour and see plenty of wildlife, including
alligators. You can shop at the ritzy Bal Harbor shops, and at night choose
from plenty of dance clubs or mellow jazz bars and restaurants.
Marco Island
Marco Island is located at the southern tip of Southwest Florida's Gulf
Coast at the western entrance to Everglades National Park. The island is
surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and natural wilderness on the
other. There are miles of white-sand beaches, lavish real estate, shopping,
dining, nightlife, attractions and lots of outdoor activities. Your
recreation choices include swimming, sunbathing fishing, golf, tennis, and
more. Enjoy the subtropical ambience that exists in Southwest Florida's Gulf
Coast.
Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach has beautiful sandy beaches and a great pier that is available
for fishing, dining & dancing. There is a large promenade leading to the
beach with an observation deck overlooking the ocean, perfect for romantic
walks. While you're on the Space Coast you can visit the Kennedy Space
Center, go deep-sea fishing, surf, windsurf, rent a jet ski, golf our take a
take a river tour. At night there is lots of nightlife and great dining for
you to enjoy.
Best Florida Beach Areas for Relaxing
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a laid-back beach town without the crowds, noise or
pollution, which gives visitors a relaxing beach experience. Although the
northern beach is accessible to cars, the majority is traffic free, allowing
for peaceful sunbathing and strolls along the beach. New Smyrna has a small
town feel in its architecture and atmosphere. There are no high-rises along
the beach, only low-rise buildings and these accommodations range from bed
and breakfast inns, family-size condominiums or oceanfront motels.
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is one of the unique barrier islands of the world, having an
east-west orientation when most islands are north south. This gives the
island great sandy beaches with plenty of shells. Check out Bowman's Beach
for peach and quiet, you won't find any hotels here. You can park and walk
over a bridge to secluded white beach. There are barbecue grills in the area
so it is a great spot to have a picnic and enjoy the beach.
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda is located about 30 miles north of Fort Myers. There is plenty
of waterfront in this town, and a very nice riverfront beach area. Here you
can enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking and walking in the woods, it
is a great place to get away from the crowds. The town of Punta Gorda has
street art, water views and interesting murals that enrich the historic
downtown district that also has cobblestone streets and gaslights, and many
fine shops and restaurants.
Best Florida Beach Areas for Golf
Sarasota
Sarasota is a sophisticated resort town near the Gulf of Mexico. For beach
lovers there is Sarasota’s 35 miles of fine, pure, sparkling white sand
beach to enjoy. As far as golf is concerned there are 32 golf courses in the
Sarasota area and almost 20 more if you include the surrounding cities of
Bradenton and Venice. You will find one for every level of ability available
for your golfing pleasure.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville has twenty miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches and lots of nearby
state parks to explore. You will find lots of things to do and lots of
beaches to explore in Jacksonville. For golfers there are over 25 golf
courses in the area. Several championship golf courses are located nearby;
many of which are ranked among the top in the country offering challenges
for players of every skill level, ranging from top ocean side resorts to
popular public courses.
Naples
Naples, located on a stretch of southwest Florida that is not bordered by
barrier islands, has seven miles of silky, white sand beach that overlooks
the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is plenty of shopping and
dining in the area once the sun goes down beachfront. There are also dozens
of excellent golf courses in the area. From May through October, the golf
courses are not as crowded and you can pick your tee time and be assured of
a leisurely round. Also, many private courses are open to the public during
these months.
This is only a sampling of some of the great beaches located along the
shores of Florida. There are many more that can fill your Florida beach
vacation needs year round.
About the Author
Jolana Klobouk is a former
travel agent who has traveled extensively for work and vacations with her
family. For more travel information, visit her travel websites:
http://www.best-family-beach-vacations.com and
http://www.FlyFromCanada.com
Florida
Vacation Villas by Art McCarty
Florida Vacation Villas
Ah! Dreaming of staying in Florida vacation villas, while the snow is flying
and the wind is kicking up outside your window?
Who wouldn’t like to make a quick escape to balmy, sunny Florida? No waking
up to dark days with freezing temperatures. No bundling up to scrape the car
and keep it running to thaw it out. Sound enticing? Winter vacations spent
in sunny Florida vacation villas will be sure to warm your spirits as well
as your body. Along with the comfort offered in sunny Florida vacation
villas, loads of attractions, grandiose and smaller scale also await you.
The Central Florida area remains one of the most popular tourist
destinations in the world due to the unparalleled allure of the Walt Disney
World kingdom. Other major attractions near Orlando, Florida include Sea
World and Universal Orlando Resort. Staying in Florida vacation villas in
this area places you close to these major theme parks with loads of other
attraction destinations near by. The City Beautiful is home to 95 plus
attractions and 150 plus golf courses. Hungry? It may be a difficult
decision choosing from some of the 4,500 restaurants. Staying in Florida
vacation villas close to Orlando, Florida also places you near some
unexpected and delightful destinations offering up a collection of cultural
and ecotourism offerings.
Florida Vacation Villas Near Kissimmee Florida
Looking for Florida vacation villas accommodations closest to Disneyworld?
Kissimmee, Florida will place you closest to the Disney World of family fun.
Lodging in Kissimmee ranges from cheap, discount and low cost to luxury
accommodations. Beachtree Villas in Kissimmee, Florida offers spacious and
well-appointed 2 and 3 bedroom villas with fully equipped kitchens starting
from $46 per night. Condolodge in Kissimmee offers a similar accommodation
starting at $46 per night also. Midrange family Florida vacation villas in
the Kissimmee area include Emerald Island Resort featuring a range of single
family vacation homes and town homes. This resort offers you the privacy and
security of a gated community. Prices begin at $91 per night. In this
category you may be surprised to learn that Disney World offers the All-Star
Sports, Music and Movies resorts all starting at $80 per night. These
economy level Disney World resorts are themed after five sports, five music
and five movie themes. Rooms contain two double beds, an armoire and a desk.
The greatest attraction of these resorts is number one, the price, and
secondly the proximity to Disneyworld resorts.
Florida Vacation Villas – Higher End Disney Resorts
For a once-in-a-lifetime family holiday trip that will be sure to thrill the
kids and grown-ups alike, it would definitely be worth it to splurge on
Florida vacation villas Disney World resorts. There are many from which to
choose all offering luxury and impeccable service and accommodations. What
else would you expect from Disneyworld? One of the best known Florida
vacation villas is the Contemporary Resort, Magic Kingdom. This 15 story
pyramid offers a grand view of the Magic Kingdom, providing a panorama of
the sparkling skies during the evening fireworks show. Booking reservations
here for your vacation villa will give you convenient access to the Magic
Kingdom with the monorail running directly through the pyramid. Other
amenities include pools, health club, hair salon, hot tubs, boating,
water-skiing, children’s programs and on and on it goes. Prices here start
at over $220 per night. For the exotic animal lover in the bunch and a sure
kids-pleaser, Animal Kingdom Lodge will wow you as giraffes, zebras and
other African wildlife nonchalantly roam the three 11 acre savannahs
separated by the lodge’s wings. For more information on Disney resorts see
www.disneyworld.com.
Cheap Villas – Kissimmee, Florida Area
Not able or ready to spend a fortune on lodging? Deals are available on
cheap villas in the Kissimmee area around Disney. Finding the best price or
lowest price may mean having the flexibility to book your reservations for
cheap villas at the last minute. Cheap villas specials are often found on a
villa that would remain vacant if it wasn’t snatched up at the last minute.
If you have this kind of flexibility in booking your reservations, keep
searching the internet for those last minute specials and be sure you look
in that great rate as soon as you see if offered. Cheap villas will more
likely be available during the off-season. Peak times are spring break,
summer and major holidays. One of the best times to find cheap villas is
right after the kids return to school through October. Best Value Inn and
Suites in Kissimmee is a 180 room hotel which is close to Disney and offers
a resort setting and outdoor pool with major restaurants within walking
distance. Prices begin at around $45 per night, a discount price for sure.
The Days Inn 192 Orlando-Kissimmee is just 10 minutes to Disneyworld with
free shuttle service, heated pool and free continental breakfast all
starting at just $45 per night. This is just a sampling. Other great deals
for cheap villas can be found by visiting www.orlandoinfo.com.
Cheap Villas – Orlando Area
Renting cheap villas in the Orlando area will place you within easy driving
distance to the Disney resorts plus give you quick access to Universal
resort and Sea World. Universal Studios is the number one film and
television-based theme park in the world. Universal’s Islands of Adventure
will thrill you as you journey through its five distinct islands offering
adventure and thrills for kids and adults alike. Renting cheap villas in the
Orlando area will also place you close to Sea World. A close encounter of
the sea life kind awaits you here. This is a place of laughter and joy as
the family-oriented animal shows will delight all. Comfort Suites Maingate
maintains a 3 diamond AAA rating. Free scheduled transportation is provided
to the major theme parks. There is excellent on-site dining with other
culinary delights awaiting you close by. Rates here start at just $47.99.
Talk about cheap villas! Holiday Inn Maingate West is a 3 star starting at
$41.95 per night. Be sure to check out time share rentals also. An option
for cheap villas not often thought of, discount rental rates on these unused
units can start at $57 per night. A good source is www.redweek.com.
Cheap Villas – Davenport, Florida Area
A little known location that offers quiet respite from the bustling tourist
areas of Kissimmee and Orlando is Davenport, Florida. This quaint town
located in Polk County and only a short drive from Disney will be just the
place to put your feet up and relax after a busy day at the attractions.
Davenport is only 2 square miles in size but less than 30 minutes from Walt
Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Florida and other attractions.
Kennedy Space Center is just one and ¼ hours away and Cocoa Beach and Tampa
are accessible within an hour. Cheap Villas accommodations here include
Ramada Inn Southgate with its plush tropical landscaping, starting at only
$49 per night and Best Western Central Florida, with rates starting at $64
per night. Be sure to ask for specials, discounts and the lowest price when
calling for room availability. You may be offered great discount deals when
calling that would not be officially publicized. Island Hideawayis a great
choice in cheap villas lodging. Rates there start at just $34 for the
economy Tiki room in off-season and range up to $150 per night for the five
bedroom three bath villa, also during the off-season. Check out the monthly
specials as many different discounts are offered. Amenities here include a
large pool and kiddie pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts,
on-site massage and fitness room and other great amenities. For more
information see
www.islandhideaway.net. There’s just no excuse for not enjoying the
beauty and bounty of Central Florida. Start packing!
Copyright 2005
http://www.islandhideaway.net
The Florida Keys by
Clint Leung
When people ask about the top sights to see
in the south Florida area including Fort Lauderdale and Miami, I always
advise them to try and make some time to go down to the Florida Keys. The
Florida Keys are the string of islands just south of the Florida mainland
and runs 120 miles from end to end. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are fun but
for a relaxing change of pace, the Florida Keys is the place to be. For
snorkellers and scuba divers going to south Florida, I would consider
Florida Keys a must. The waters around Key Largo are a protected marine park
with a very healthy fish life and offer the best diving in the US. Key Largo
is the first town as you enter the Keys after crossing the bridge from the
mainland. It can be reached from Miami in an hour and from Fort Lauderdale
in an hour and 45 minutes. Once the bridge from the mainland is crossed, the
change in pace is noticed immediately. There is much less traffic and people
just seem more relaxed in the Florida Keys compared to the mainland.
Key Largo is the main scuba diving town with many dive shops. There is even
an underwater hotel with two guestrooms for adventurous types. This was a
former marine research unit that was converted to the hotel. Islamorada and
Marathon located more west are also top scuba dive locations. For those who
are not into diving, there are numerous shops with colorful local arts and
crafts. One collection of shops has a giant statue of a spiny lobster out in
front. For more fun, there are two dolphin centers, one in Key Largo and
another near Marathon where visitors can interact with captive dolphins.
Dolphin programs should actually be booked well in advance since they are
extremely popular.
There are sign markers along the main US number 1 highway that mark each
mile along the 120 mile route. Most addresses in the Florida Keys along the
main highway will actually refer to which mile marker they are located near.
It's a very efficient way to navigate. It takes about 3 hours to drive from
Key Largo to the far end at Key West but more than likely, visitors would
want to stop off at numerous locations along the way for shopping, photo
opportunities or just admiring the scenery. The scenery gets better as one
heads out more west, especially near the bridges that connect the islands. A
common sight to see are locals fishing off the bridges and numerous pelicans
standing on the posts like permanent fixtures. One of the most spectacular
sights is the seven mile bridge which is the world's longest segmented
bridge.
The Florida Keys are not really known for its beaches with the exception of
Bahia Honda Park which is even further west in the lower keys. The
snorkeling in this area, especially Looe Key, is among the top sites in
North America. The city of Key West at the far end of the Florida Keys is
the largest community in the islands and a stay here for a night or two is
well worth it. The downtown area full of restaurants, bars, boutiques and
shops is a funky, fun place to be. There are hotels along the water as
well as numerous B&Bs inland. We stayed at the Quality Inn near the entrance
of the city and had no problem getting downtown since there is a very
convenient bus system that runs throughout Key West. We chose to leave our
car at the hotel and use the buses because parking can be limited in the
downtown area. A very neat
way to tour the city is to rent scooters which are very common in the
streets here. With the scooters, we criss-crossed the city and saw the
wonderful colonial houses in the residential streets including Ernest
Hemmingway's house.
The seafood is predictably very fresh in restaurants everywhere in the
Florida Keys. Some local specialties not to be missed are conch, local spiny
lobster and a few varieties of the local fish including snapper and grouper.
Of course, one must try the real, authentic key lime pie that originated in
the area. Each restaurant has a slightly different recipe but in general,
the authentic key lime pie here is not as sweet as the commercial brands
sometimes found in the rest of North America.
Hotel accommodations suit every budget in the Florida Keys from simple
motels to top notch resorts. The last town back in the US mainland is
Florida City and it has some very affordable hotel accommodations with well
known chains such as Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn and Best Western. This is
another option for some travelers, especially those who are scuba diving in
Key Largo as Florida City is only about 20 minutes away if hotels in Key
Largo are fully booked or at high season rates.
The Florida Keys has a way of enticing visitors back during return visits to
south Florida. Its slower pace helps balance things out against the crowded
and crazier styles of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. I have been to the Keys
three times and will definitely return there again.
About the Author
Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit
Gallery
http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca , an online gallery specializing in
Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture
and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles
with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.
Beach
Vacation Photo Tips – Make Your Vacation AND Photos Memorable by Robert
Bezman
Most people, who go on a family beach
vacation, take plenty of photographs. Once you're home and you view or print
them out; are you ecstatic, bored, or disappointed? Be honest, now!
Does this sound familiar… You arrive at your destination, check the place
out, and quickly change to go to the beach. Happily, you've remembered to
take your sun block, nose plugs, and bathing suit. Maybe you remembered your
camera, maybe you didn't.
Going on a family beach vacation brings up contradicting desires. On the one
hand, you want everyone to have a wonderful, fun, relaxing, memorable
vacation. On the other hand, most people don't want to do what's required to
preserve the memories.
We will show you how to have the best of both worlds. By providing
photography tips, you can capture outstanding beach vacation pictures, enjoy
taking the photos, and ensure that when you look at the photos at home, you
won't be thinking: "Was this OUR vacation!?!"
Can’t-Miss Beach Vacation Photo Tips
1) Packing the Right Equipment
When you pack for your dream beach vacation, remember these essential items:
Camera, batteries, memory cards, camera case, battery chargers, external
flash (if available), tripod, and portable digital storage device. If you
have an abundance of memory, you can leave the storage device at home.
2) Consider These Purchases
I know… you’re already spending more than you want to on the vacation. So
the last thing you want is some stranger suggesting you spend more on photo
accessories. But, read on and find out what these low cost accessories will
do for you before you skip to Tip #3.
Consider purchasing a circular polarizer filter for your lens. STRONGLY
consider it! It will be one of the least expensive accessories you can buy,
and you will LOVE the results. What are the results? A bluer sky, the
ability to see objects under water, and creating colors that will “pop” off
the page.
3) Insurance
Do you have insurance on your possessions? Did your camera cost more than
$25.00? Then do yourself a big favor and buy a UV filter to place over your
lens for protection. If your lens becomes damaged, your camera is ruined.
You can probably get a good UV filter for under $20.00.
4) The Magical Landscape Shot
If there are colorful bluffs, harbors, or other landscape picture
opportunities on your beach vacation, you want to capture them, of course.
Not only that, but wouldn't it also be impressive to add some family
member(s) to the shot and have the people AND the background in focus?
Set your F-stop for a high number (at least F-11, or at the "infinity" or
"landscape" setting of your camera). Position the people in the foreground,
the landscape in the background. Focus on your human subject(s), while being
at least 15 feet away (25 is even better, if you have a telephoto).
Adjust the circular polarizer filter to obtain the desired shade of blue in
the sky. Skip this step if you didn’t purchase a filter. Don’t worry,
though. If you don’t like the vividness of the sky after the print is
developed, you can always take out a magic marker and color the sky. (You
didn’t hear that from me.)
Finally, gently squeeze the shutter and… voila! A perfect “postcard”
photograph.
5) Silhouettes
Silhouette beach vacation pictures (or, non-beach vacation pictures for that
matter) produce one of the most artistic and/or emotional-looking
photographs possible. Most people never take silhouette photographs, and
yet, they are just as easy as photographs taken during the day light.
The best time to take silhouette photos is from approximately 1 hour before
sunset, to ½ hour after sunset. Use evaluative or matrix metering (which is
probably your default metering mode anyway), and focus on the HUMAN
SUBJECTS, with plenty of the cloud-filled sky in the background. Then
compose the shot, as desired.
Did I mention that sunset shots without clouds are fairly disappointing?
Sort of like winning the lottery and losing the ticket.
The silhouette effect results from the camera thinking the overall scene is
brighter than it is, and therefore under-exposes the dark areas (human
subjects).
To see sample photos and additional tips, check out
http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/beach-vacation.html .
Article courtesy of
http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com , where you can see numerous
sample pictures & photography tips on many subjects and events.
Copyright 2005 Robert Bezman. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Robert Bezman is a professional
photographer and owner of Custom Photographic Expressions. Robert has
created
http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com to help the digital
photography users create better photographs. Robert has a blog at
http://www.best-family-photography-tips.com/family-photography-news.html
8-Tips
for Packing and Traveling Lite by Holly Bentz
How-to Pack and Travel Lite
In this day and age of traveling cephalalgia, there are a few packing
tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the
arriving airport, start with packing small luggage. Since carry-ons can not
exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the
baggage terminal by simply packing and traveling light. To learn how to pack
all your needs into one suitcase, read more.
Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light:
Make a list. Compose a pack list. Be sure to coordinate shirts and blouses
with bottoms. To maximize your traveling wardrobe fashion savoir faire,
stick with solids and versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not
match other items.
Roll ‘em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants
and shirts. First fold each item in half. Then simply roll. To try to
maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the article of clothing.
Gear up. How to make an awe-inspiring impression out of a basic or mundane
outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him)
or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about
any attire.
Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits – ruthlessly. Try to
pack microfibers with wrinkle and stain free comfort. With most of your
attire, stay in the same color scheme – in case you have to layer up for
warmth.
Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes can make the day
and night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals
and comfy wedges can serve all casual – chic dressing needs.
Put under garments on the top. To reduce the embarrassment of under garments
becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all
panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other
questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the
transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag
without ruining your efficient packing method.
Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home. Duplicate
important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most
hotels and resorts provide irons and blow-dryers --leave yours at home for
light travel.
Leave restricted items at home. If you want to make it through security
extra fast, avoid any firearms, weapons, box-cutters, scissors, razors,
lighters and any other item that may be used in a terrorist situation.
About the Author
Freelance writer, Holly Bentz is
the owner of a media boutique,
www.fruitionMedia.net. From subliminal e-sales letters, informative
articles to powerfully persuasive web content, Bentz takes pride in
providing awe-inspiring copy. |
