Altamonte Springs is located in Orange County
just north of Orlando between Orlando and Lake Mary along Interstate 4 near
Lake Apopka.
If there is a desirable place in all of the Orlando
metropolitan area, Altamonte Springs is it! Positioned in the geographic heart
of Central Florida, Altamonte Springs provides a solid base of white-collar
personnel and support services with the convenience of a location that virtually
eliminates the daily challenge of commuting to work.
With communications in place to sustain more
than four million square feet of development, Altamonte Springs offers the bold
vision of a city that has planned well for its future.
Cranes Roost in Altamonte Springs is the core
of an accurately planned, 1,375-acre Central Business District that allows you
to work, play and even live in the same well-designed community. It is centered
on the sparkling waters of Cranes Roost Lake, is located off Interstate 4 and
adjacent to the 1.2 million square foot Altamonte Mall.
There is a balanced mix of office, commercial,
residential, restaurant and hotel development, an affluent well-educated community
of 40,308 people; it is only 15 minutes from downtown Orlando and the Orlando
Sanford Airport and 35 minutes from Orlando International Airport.
Ten parks
spread throughout the City's 9.5 square miles including Cranes Roost Park.
The beautifully landscaped park features a one-mile
boardwalk, pedestrian plazas and a floating concert stage.
Your plans can become a reality at Cranes Roost
Altamonte Springs where all essential services are ready and waiting.
For recreation, visit the Eastmonte Park and
recreation Center. This complex maintains 3 lighted tennis courts as well
as four air-conditioned handball/racquetball courts; in addition there are 2-lighted
3 wall outdoor courts for racket sports enthusiasts. Two youth courts offer
basketball fans the opportunity to perfect their favorite moves, while springtime
sees extensive use of Eastmonte's six baseball fields.
The city of Altamonte Springs plans many events
and festivities and is a fun place to visit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the northeastern tip of the state, located in Nassau
County, is the beautiful Amelia Island. It is 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville
and 192 miles northeast of Orlando. This quaint Victorian town has 13
miles of exquisite beach. Amelia Island's southern charm and extensive
history make it so tempting as a vacation destination.
It was first discovered by French explorer Jean Ribault
in 1562. Over the centuries, it has been under eight different flags of
domination, and is considered to be a Historic Honor. The Amelia Island
Museum of History will give you an enlightening tour. You will also want
to visit all the historical landmarks in the area.
Outdoor water sports include boating, cruising, windward
sailing, scuba diving and kayaking. For land sports, you can choose from
world-class golf, tennis or horseback riding.
For more recreation, there are 200 acres of unspoiled
beaches along the Atlantic Ocean, which are ideal for swimming and coastal fishing.
At the Amelia Island State Recreation Area, you can enjoy hiking and picnicking.
Camping is available at Fort Clinch State Park, and it's considered to be one
of the best campgrounds.
If you enjoy shopping, stroll down Centre Street to find
many quality antique shops, vintage stores and lovely boutiques. The Island
Art Association Gallery has great works by some of the local artists. If
you head south to Amelia Plantation you will also discover Palmetto Walk and
the Village Shops.
For accommodations, the island has more than two dozen
charming Victorian Bed and Breakfasts, several inns and the most famous Ritz-Carlton.
Dining is superb and your choices are plenty.
For a memorable vacation, come to Amelia Island.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anna Maria is located in Manatee County, nestled between
the tropical blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and Tampa Bay to
the north.
Sugar white beaches and a kick back and relax style are
what brings visitors to this area. This destination is a natural choice for
tropical vacationers.
At the northern tip, which lies between the Gulf of Mexico
and the Intercostal Waterway, is a long stretch of beaches, dunes, sea oats
and Australian Pines. If you're looking for a beautiful beach, try Bean
Point, located north of the island.
Recreation includes golf, tennis, fishing, tours and cruises.
Take the Barrier Island Tour through coastal dunes and lush native gardens,
which are abundant with birds and butterflies.
Anna Maria has many relaxing beach resorts, with many
outstanding restaurants. A varied selection includes Café on the Beach, The
Beach Bristo, a winner of the prestigious “Golden Spoon Award,” Bristo at Islands
End, and the Sandbar, with a tradition of entertainment and relaxation that
dates back as far as 1913. In those days, Anna Maria was only accessible
by boat. People came from Tampa by ferry, landing on the bay side and
making a short trek to The Pavilion, where the Sandbar restaurant
now sits. The Sandbar offers the freshest seafood and great Southern hospitality.
On the northern tip of Anna Maria Island is the Rod ’n
Reel Pier, a 330 foot fishing pier that was originally built in 1947. The Rod
‘n Reel Restaurant located on the end of the pier has been a favorite for area
fishermen for years.
For one of the most relaxing vacations you'll ever enjoy,
come visit Anna Maria.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apalachicola is Franklin County’s finest place to visit.
This area is filled with an abundance of history and southern charm. With
a variety of things to do and places to explore, you'll experience both the
fine and natural sides of life.
Located in the Panhandle, Apalachicola is separated from
the Gulf of Mexico by Apalachicola Bay and St. George Island. Tallahassee
is about 75 miles northeast.
You can visit many museums and historical sites, see restored
old Victorian homes, and shop at wonderful antique and gift stores.
A must-see is the John Gorrie State Museum, where you
will find a display of Dr. John Gorrie’s cooling machine, dated 1851, which
is a prototype of today’s air conditioning system.
Look forward to exploring costal eco-systems, bird watching,
shell collecting, or any other nature-based activities. There are nine
miles of beaches, which are known as some of America’s best.
Come to the Eden State Gardens and Grayton Beach State
Recreation Area for a day's outing. A visit to the St. Vincent Island
National Refuge and Apalachicola National Forest will bring you back to nature.
So, if it's camping, hiking, boating, and fishing you like, you will be
delighted. There are also nature cruises, canoe and kayak trips. You may
want rent your own houseboat for that special trip along the Apalachicola River.
Seafood is the primary industry, so you will definitely
want to attend the annual Seafood Festival early in November. The atmosphere
is like that of an old fashioned carnival.
There are quite a few very fine restaurants and grills,
which serve seafood and steak, so bring your appetite to enjoy some of the greatest
cuisine Florida has to offer.
You will find a number of quaint guesthouses and inns,
some dating back from the mid to late 1800’s and early 1900’s. All have
been fully restored, so you can experience the romance of earlier times, with
all our modern conveniences.
A visit to Apalachicola will be a truly memorable one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arcadia, which is located in DeSoto County,
is a charming town known as Florida's Cow Country.
In March and July, you can bet on finding the Arcadia All-Florida Championship
Rodeo. You will be thrilled with the excitement of this festivity. Wandering
through back roads and cow pastures, you will find yourself in the midst of
beautiful orange groves and oak trees covered with Spanish moss. Along these
back roads you can surely see “Solomon’s Castle.” The artist, Howard Solomon,
created this sculpture with recycled materials discarded by a local newspaper
company. In the historic downtown area there is a quaint little shopping
district, where visitors can purchase cowboy boots or taste luscious
country-fried steak at the local café.
For
recreation you can enjoy paddling your
own canoe. The Peace River State Canoe Trail is a fine place to relax. There are
several trips to choose from, and Canoe Outpost offers supplies and quick
service. Arcadia is a great place to go for a day of natural beauty and down
home fun.
-------------------------------------------
Welcome to Bartow a friendly Southern community that has preserved much of its rich history and heritage. It is located alongside the
Peace River, about 44 miles southwest of
Orlando,
and only 12 miles south of
Lakeland
Incorporated in 1882, Bartow is Polk County's second oldest city, and serves as
the county seat. With a population of 15,000, this small city is a mixture of
the traditional and urban.
Bartow features hundreds of large brick or frame
houses lining shaded streets. Spanish moss festooning grandfather oaks completes
the picture of a sleepy Deep South town. Whether you're visiting for business or
pleasure, Bartow welcomes you.
Experience the history and visit several homes on the National Registry of
Historic Places. Bartow features a municipal
golf
course, two swimming pools, and several recreation centers and parks. The Mary
Holland Park is on 116 acres, and has 18 picnic pavilions with grills, 69 picnic
tables, three soccer fields, two restroom buildings and a state-of-the-art
playground. Heron, Cardinal and Purple Martin lakes are connected and fishing is
allowed from shore, piers and boats (no gasoline engines permitted). Paddleboats
and canoes may be rented for $2 per hour from the boathouse. The Bartow Golf
Course is an 18-hole municipal golf course with driving range, putting green,
and enclosed pavilion with a barbecue pit, Pro shop, cart shop and sandwich
shop. It is home to the annual invitational Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa
Classic. For a delightful afternoon, the Bartow Park offers three girls'
softball fields, two men's softball fields, one Pony League field, one Colt
League field, one football/soccer field, three concession stands, two restroom
buildings, a picnic pavilion with 12 picnic tables and a barbecue grill, a small
playground, remote control car race track and two basketball courts. The Art
Guild and Imperial Symphony Orchestra provide cultural activities on a
year-round basis. For shopping, the Bartow Center, Downtown, and Bartow Village
are available. There are a number of major food chains, as well as locally owned
establishments that provide nice dining. Bartow is a town you will enjoy and
remember.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Between Destin and Panama City you will undoubtedly find the most beautiful uncrowded beaches. Beaches
of South Walton twenty-six miles of nature's treasures
remain unspoiled, and the joys of simple living are still easy to find. The sugar white powdered sand beaches along the crystal clear emerald
waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide the beach vacation you've always dreamed of, with world-class resorts.
There is a great amount of
shopping and dining, and plenty of activities for the sports enthusiast. Beaches
of South Walton offers 126 championship holes of the most enjoyable golf
anywhere. There is plenty of tennis available for everyone, whether you're a serious competitor or playing just for fun. There are water sports for
all to enjoy, including scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing, canoeing, boating and sailing, or just relaxing on the beach.
South Walton's Nature Areas are owned by the state and are therefore prevented from further development. This creates a unique environment where nature's beauty
is well preserved. You can easily find your way to the most quiet and serene hiking and biking trails. If it’s camping you enjoy, you can find six
area campgrounds and RV resorts.
South Walton has a great selection of other activities, such as health clubs, historic areas, out of the way
places and artist colonies. There are seven antique stores to shop at, or you can tour some of the local area mansions.
And don't overlook the
historic city of DeFuniak Springs, which boasts over 150 buildings on the National Register, including the beautiful Victorian homes circling
Lake DeFuniak. Come and find the hidden beauty that awaits you at the Beaches of South Walton.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History, culture and environment are what distinguish this region from the rest of the world. Not long after Christopher Columbus reached the New World in 1492, adventurer Ponce de Leon set sail toward Florida in search of the illusive Fountain of Youth. He never found the Fountain, but he did find the Florida Keys.
Big Pine Key is located 128 miles southwest of Miami, at mile marker 33. It is the main shopping hub of the Lower Keys.
If you prefer solitude, you can explore the National Key Deer Refuge, a large stretch of mostly undeveloped pinelands where the miniature Key Deer lives.
If you’re looking for an offshore adventure, Big Pine is the jumping off point for numerous snorkeling and diving charters. Experience the beauty of rare living reefs on Looe Key. With moderate temperatures year round, it is the perfect climate for favorite visitor activities, like water skiing, sailing and offshore swimming.
Average daytime temperatures of 81.9 degrees Fahrenheit make Big Pine Key very comfortable. During the late evening, when the temperature reaches its average low of 73 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather creates a climate for late-night partying in the city's streets.
If you’ve had enough of an overcrowded and weary world, the island of Big Pine Key is the perfect place for you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can trade stories with friends and locals at a tiki bar, or relax and
enjoy the warm sun and tropical breezes. It is a quiet region of small resorts,
quaint and charming bed and breakfast inns, nice restaurants, untouched wilderness
and rich history.
Today's Boca Raton is the product of a strong and intriguing history
of courage and vision. It all began with Addison Mizner, the founding
father of Boca Raton, who envisioned a fantasyland where the rich and famous
could escape. Since then, visitors from around the globe have come to regard
Boca Raton as one of the prime vacation destinations in the world, a place where
palm trees sway in the breeze, vibrant hibiscus blooms, and the water is turquoise
and clear.
The opportunities for culture and the arts at Boca Raton run the gamut. The
Harid Conservatory, the Museum of Art, the Boca Pops, Florida Atlantic University's
fine theater department, the Caldwell Theatre Company and the Boca Ballet are
among the many cultural resources available.
Whether you're a sports enthusiast or spectator, Boca Raton offers a wide
range of ways to have fun as you bask in the outdoor experience. Play a great
game of golf, in-line skate along A1A, play a round of tennis, go fishing, boating
or bicycling. Boca has it all.
The oldest existing club is Boca Raton's 60-year-old Royal Palm Polo Club,
known as the sport's winter capital. The season runs January through April.
Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. In March, the Polo
Club hosts the $100,000 International Gold Cup Tournament.
The Spanish River Municipal Park, located on A1A, has 3,460 feet of coast.
Three tunnels under A1A link a natural hammock and wooded preserve with a beach.
Ten covered shelters, picnic tables, grills, a 40-foot observation tower, boat
dock, campsite and nature trails are all provided.
Boca Raton continues to be a haven for outstanding accommodations, with choices
ranging from modest to magnificent. Fine dining is available and always at its
best! Come and experience Boca Raton!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beautiful Bonita Springs is a community that combines unparalleled natural amenities with a dynamic business environment
The blend of a historical past, with the upscale lifestyle, rich in cultural and educational opportunities.
This tropical paradise offers sparkling white sugar sand beaches, which stretch as far as the eye can see. The pristine charm and delightful year-round climate allows for spectacular sunsets over the sparkling waters. The unspoiled natural beauty of tropical wildlife, allows you to explore the hundreds of islands nearby.
There are three marinas, the Back Bay Marina, the Fish Trap Marina, and the Bonita Bay Marina, which offers Bait, Fuel, Pump Out, Showers, Charters, Overnight Dock, Restaurant, Fishing Equipment, Shore Power.
In Bonita springs, you can tee off at your choice of three top-notch golf courses.
There are several nice parks with hiking trails. At the Crew Marsh Trail System, the trails encompass 5 miles of mowed trails through pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and along the 5,000-acre sawgrass Corkscrew Marsh. The area offers a large diversity of plant and animal life. Tracks of animals such as deer, bobcat, turkey, hog, panther, and the Florida black bear are easily spotted along the trails.
The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, which is managed by the National Audubon Society, is an 11,000-acre remnant wilderness area that contains the country's largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress - the oldest trees in eastern North America. Some trees tower 130 feet into the sky and have girth measuring over 25 feet. A boardwalk leads through pinelands, wet prairies, hammocks, and cypress ponds.
The Koreshan State Historic Site is a nationally recognized site and was a utopian community in the late 1800s. Fishing, camping,nature study, picnicking and canoeing are popular activities.
The Lover's Key State Recreation area is a blend of recreational and educational experiences, which you can enjoy year-round. Natural canals and tidal lagoons are fringed with mangroves, which support an array of fish and diverse aquatic animals. Accessible by foot or boat, the park has modern bathhouses, picnic shelters, hiking trails and beautiful remote beaches.
For wonderful shopping, visit the Promenade at Bonita Bay. There are many fine shops and restaurants.
A variety of stores including Chico's, Mettler's and Debruyne Fine Art offer everything from apparel, art, home furnishings and unique accessories.
After you have enjoyed all this, you may feel the need for some real pampering. The Danielle Spa for Beauty & Wellness is a retreat for body, mind and spirit. It provides a synergistic approach to health and beauty and offers the finest amenities and treatments for men and women. Guests are welcomed into an environment of serenity and lush gardens, which promote harmony and well being, where they will relax, refresh and renew.
Fine dining and accommodations are readily available and thoroughly enjoyed here in Bonita Springs. Come and experience the finer things in life.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boynton Beach is located 13 miles south of Palm Beach and 30 miles north of Fort Lauderdale. With beautiful weather, magnificent beaches, pleasure boating and other recreational activities, it is a great place to visit any time of the year. You can relax and enjoy a romantic weekend, a family vacation or a surprisingly relaxing business trip. Unwind, kick off your shoes, feel the sand in your feet and the warm ocean breeze on your face.
Thanks to its central location, a multitude of museums, theaters, art galleries and cultural events are within easy reach. Ballet and modern dance, operas and symphonies, rock concerts and piano bars, Shakespearean theater and Broadway musicals, art galleries and historical exhibits, it's all here. In addition, you can enjoy a full calendar of street festivals, open-air concerts, educational lectures and other cultural events.
Boynton Beach has a multitude of private, semi-private, and public golf courses that appeal to all golfers, from the novice to the professional.
If you're the adventurous type, you can go scuba diving, deep-sea fishing or rent a jet ski. Other popular outdoor activities include tennis, roller-blading, horseback riding or sunbathing.
Boynton Beach Oceanfront Park offers swimming, barbeque and picnic areas, concessions and restrooms; this facility has certified lifeguards all year around.
The Gulfstream Park offers guarded beach frontage, fishing, children's play area, and a picnic area with grills, restroom facilities, and outdoor showers. Last, but not least, visit Ocean Inlet Park, which offers Intercostals Waterway frontage, guarded beach frontage, fishing, water skiing, jetty, marina with boat slips, children's play area, ocean overlook seating pavilion, snack bar, family picnic shelters, volleyball area, restroom facilities, outdoor showers and parking.
When it comes to local accommodations, for a weekend retreat or a place for out-of-town guests or clients, Boynton Beach offers excellent hotels and motels in any price category.
When it comes to restaurants, Boynton Beach has a truly international flavor. Freshly caught local seafood, Maine lobsters and Midwest beef are just the starting points for a culinary tour of the world. You can sample spicy foods from Cuba and Mexico, tangy flavors of dishes from China and Thailand, fresh sushi or continental cuisine from France and Italy. Fine wines, a fresh-brewed beer at a local microbrewery or an exciting evening at a sports bar is all on the Boynton Beach menu.
Visit Boynton Beach, you will be pleased!
----------------------------------
In Manatee County, Bradenton and Florida’s Gulf Island Beaches are located on the West Coast. Nestled between the tropical blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay are 27 miles of sugar white sand beaches.
This destination is a natural choice for tropical vacationers looking for golf tennis,
water sports, shopping plus many cultural and historic attractions. Close to all major
attractions, yet far from the crowds. Bradenton and Gulf Island Beaches are a refreshing
discovery for a vacation or business getaway.
Bradenton, offers small town charm, plenty of museums, historical sites and cultural events. Located in downtown Bradenton, families can enjoy a whole day of exploration and adventure at the amazing South Florida Museum, which tells the Florida
Story from prehistoric times to the space age.
The Parker Manatee Aquarium who houses Manatee County’s favorite citizen “Snooty” the worlds oldest born in captivity
Manatee. The Bishop Planetarium features astronomical fantasies and also laser light shows.
For recreation, Bradenton and the surrounding areas include 22 public and semi-private
golf courses and 34 area tennis courts. Water sports include cruises from Port Manatee, fishing, Airboat Adventure Tours and the Miss Cortez fishing charters that runs daily wildlife adventure trips to the remote Egmont Key.
Visit McKechnie Field, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates pre-season games and the DeSoto Speedway for action packed motor drag races and street stock racing.
In search of unspoiled tropics and relaxed beach community, vacationers don’t have to look any further than Bradenton and the Florida Gulf Island Beaches.
----------------------------------
The town of Brandon is just 12 miles east of Tampa. This perfect location allows its residents and visitors to be close enough to the city, yet far away from the busy roads and highways.
The calm lifestyle and friendly atmosphere is what people admire most.
The pleasant temperatures and natural surroundings makes it perfect, to attend the many events and celebrations they hold.
The “Brandon Balloon Classic” annual event held every April is a two-day hot air balloon celebration. With over 50 balloons from all over the country, you can enjoy a splendid day of fun and activities.
If you are an enthusiastic sports fan, you will be pleased to know you are minutes away from professional football’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, baseball spring training sites and professional hockey’s Tampa Bay Lightning.
The closest tourist attraction is the very famous Busch Gardens, where you can thrill to the adventure of roller coaster rides.
The Hillsborough River State Park is a lovely 3000-acre park where history and nature blends. There are 8 miles of great nature trails bordering the Hillsborough River and is also home for Fort Foster, dating back to the Second Seminole War. There are over 100 camping sites available with electricity. Activities include swimming, boating, fishing, canoeing and bike riding.
So, if you are wanting a great vacation, come to Brandon.
----------------------------------
Known for an abundance of history and nature, Branford is the place to visit, a spot where one comes to get away from all the crowds and be taken back to a natural way of living.
Located in Suwannee County, Branford has lots of opportunities to meet any anyone’s interest.
Called the Cave Diving Capital of the World, Branford is visited by certified cave divers from around the globe, who come to dive in the crystal clear springs. For the diving enthusiast, local shops provide guided tours, equipment and instruction. The numerous sparkling freshwater springs, lakes and a network of five rivers create a natural environment for water sports.
The rivers are excellent for fishing, with many types of game fish, such as bass, panfish, brim, catfish, and an occasional sturgeon.
Several organized bicycling events are held annually, including the annual Suwannee Bicycle Festival, which takes place every spring.
Camping, whether in trailers or tents, is also a popular activity. Hiking along the county’s many nature trails gives one the opportunity to observe, at close hand, native wildlife such as deer, otters, alligators and beavers in their natural habitat.
With an abundance of community activities, visitors are invited to experience Southern hospitality at its finest, during Branford’s many festivals and events, including Live Oak’s Christmas on the Square and Branford’s Fourth of July River Reunion.
Come to Branford, where relaxation and fun are always available for our visitors, and their friends.
----------------------------------
Brooksville is located in Hernando County, about an hour north of Tampa.
This lovely city has lots of southern charm and interesting history, which dates back to the Civil War era. Brooksville was an important location for supplying food and cattle to Confederate Troops.
In downtown Brooksville you will want to tour the Heritage Museum, where on this 21-acre lot you can walk through the county’s oldest existing structure. Tour guides dressed as pioneers will walk you through family homes, the one-room schoolhouse, the railroad depot and the blacksmith shop.
The closest and most famous tourist attraction is Weeki Wachee, where you can be entertained by the underwater mermaid show. Other shows include exotic birds, a river cruise and a petting zoo for the youngsters. Inside Weeki Wachee is the Buccaneer Bay water theme park, which offers river swimming, a beach, tubing, bumper boats and the Pirates Revenge and Thunderbolt.
Visit the Withlacoochee State Forest. On 120,000 acres there are three main campgrounds and various recreation areas. It offers picnic areas, a boat ramp, nature trails, canoeing, swimming and snorkeling. If you love nature, this is the place to come.
If you want to golf, you have a choice of nine area golf courses, five public and four private. With all these activities, why wait. Plan your next vacation in Brooksville.
------------------------------
Caladesi Island lies due west of Dunedin, separated from the mainland by St. Joseph Sound. This uninhabited island is only reachable by private boat or passenger ferry.
A bayside marina on the island contains 99 slips, and near the ferry landing are a concession stand, wooden bathhouses, shaded picnic areas, boardwalk nature trails and a playground.
Boardwalks cross the island from the marina to the gulf, where the sand is as fluffy, white and fine as flour. With 3.5 miles of beach, it’s possible to find your own sandy strip to spend a perfect day at Caladesi Island State Park. Take an unforgettable walk to the end of the island and back with only shorebirds for company. Solitude is easily found at Caladesi’s white sand coasts and emerald gulf waters, which regularly win high marks.
Recreation includes a two-mile sand spit along a roadless, gulf-facing beach, where you can walk your way to splendid isolation. There are hiking trails on the arm of the island, where you can bird watch and study the abundant plant life, including the dorminant
Florida slash pine, the regal-looking sabal palm, the saw palmetto and over 200 other
plant species. Picnicking and play areas are found in the nicest setting.
For unblemished nature and uninterrupted seclusion, Caladesi Island is just what you’re looking for.
------------------------
What was once a sleepy town where city dwellers escaped has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, Cape Canaveral is where technology and nature meet.
Just 46 miles southeast of Orlando, and 65 miles south of Daytona, Cape Canaveral gives you all the space you need to have a super vacation. Within an hour's drive you can be at the Disney Attractions or exploring history up along the northeast coastline.
Cape Canaveral itself has a lot to offer the vacationer. This “Space Coast” area has twenty-five miles of beautiful seashore, perfect for swimming and surfing.
Three great parks in the vicinity will offer you days of fun. Cherie Down Park is open from 7 a.m. until dusk, and provides picnic tables, restrooms and showers. Cape Canaveral Park has no park facilities, but does allow for some fine surfing. Last but not least is Jetty Park. This park is open 24 hours and provides camping, a jetty, a pier, volleyball and lots of fun. There is a playground for the children, concessions and restrooms with showers and lots of parking. This is also a great place to watch the ships coming and going from the port. The pier offers great fishing, and there is a bait and tackle shop located on it. Beach rentals are also available.
There are numerous attractions to visit in Cape Canaveral. The Kennedy Space Center has outstanding tours of NASA’s most fascinating space exploration programs and space launches. One can easily spend a whole day touring and enjoying all the many exhibits.
Other sites related to space are the Astronaut Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory.
For more activity, the Andretti Thrill Park, Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Brevard Zoo, Grasshopper Airboat Rides, Inlet Explorer, and Jungle Adventures Inc. are lots of fun.
For accommodations, the Radisson hotel is located close to Port Canaveral. If you choose to be on the beach, Cape Winds Resort comes complete with tennis and basketball courts and a free breakfast.
To experience nice dining, slip on over to Lloyd’s Canaveral Feast. This restaurant is a spot where you can savor a delicious meal and enjoy the indoor casino or the outdoor deck. Rusty’s Seafood and Oyster Bar is casual and inexpensive, and the food is superb.
Cape Canaveral is a great vacation spot!
------------------------
A piece of paradise awaits you! This community on the West Coast is a beautiful city with hundreds of miles of gorgeous canals flowing to the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf of Mexico. The citizens of Cape Coral are charming and friendly with a strong sense of community.
Although it's more of a residential village than a resort, Cape Coral has several amusing parks and attractions.
Visit the Children’s Science Center, where science and technology are fun! It features hands-on exploration using exhibits on electricity, optical illusions and fossils, plus live reptiles on display, and so much more. The Cape Coral Historical Museum has pictures and displays of the way things were in Cape Coral during its early days.
Mike Greenwell's Bat-A-Ball and Family Fun Park and Amusement Center features bumper cars, remote control boats, miniature golf, batting cages, go-cart tracks and an arcade.
Slide into a million gallons of fun at the Sun Splash Family Waterpark. Located on 12-acres, it features more than two dozen wet and dry attractions, including Cape Fear, the park's newest and fastest tube slide. Enjoy the popular lazy river, cable drop and tot spot kiddie area, featuring interactive squirt works, sand volleyball and more.
If fishing is your game, you have many options. You can cruise aboard a yacht or rent your own boat. At Palmland Tours you can discover the unique adventure of sport fishing. Enjoy three or six day vacations cruising the Southwest Florida waters. We offer superb guided fishing and a wide variety of activities for the non-angler. Custom business or private trips are also available.
This water lover's paradise has hundreds of places to rent a canoe, sea kayak, sailboat or powerboat. For those who own a boat, there is easy access to the water, with many launch ramps throughout the area.
An afternoon on the golf course or an hour's worth of tennis will be relaxing. Enjoy them at any of five clubs and resorts.
For a relaxing vacation and leisurely fun, come to Cape Coral!
------------------------
Where can you find a secluded island paradise, where spectacular natural beauty surrounds you? At Captiva Island you will discover tranquil beaches as the surf gently rolls in from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing in some of the most beautiful seashells found anywhere.
Captiva Island has been ranked as one of the country's most romantic beaches. Thousands succumb to the charms of Captiva every year, irresistibly drawn to this tropical paradise of many of pleasures.
Beautiful, romantic, tranquil . . . it's the ideal spot for couples to pledge their love forever or reconnect with each other. Visit romantic destinations where you can relax in the sun on a shell-strewn beach, savor seafood over a candlelit dinner, or watch dolphins frolick while enjoying a sunset cruise with your sweetheart.
Fairy tale honeymoons and Captiva Island go together naturally.
Water lovers can canoe or kayak through the back bays, and encounter the natural beauty of the area. Whether you enjoy back bay, deep-sea or fly-fishing, you will discover it all right here. Take a swamp buggy tour of a 90,000-acre working ranch, and see wildlife up close with a trained guide. Other activities include shelling or sailboat charters, customized trips, or a lunch or dinner cruise.
For arts and culture, visit the Aboriginals, a gallery featuring tribal art that attracts collectors and those who are interested in the exhibited arts from across the country and overseas.
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum illustrates the role shells have played in ecology, medicine, literature, religion, art, architecture, and as a source of food. The Old Schoolhouse Theatre, built in 1896, features community theater and cabaret performances year-round. The Pirate Playhouse is a professional, well-designed, comfortable theater that offers a variety of comedy, musicals and drama. The Sanibel Historical Village & Museum displays and exhibits the history of Sanibel Island from the days of the Calusa Indians.
The Useppa Museum tells the story of man on Useppa Island for 11,000 years. The signature piece of the museum is a forensic restoration of the Useppa Man, taken from a skeleton unearthed during an archeological dig in 1989. Useppa Island is accessible only by boat.
Accommodations, fine dining and wonderful shopping are also a part of Captiva Island.
Come and be captivated!
------------------------
Cedar Key is located in Levy County, 60 miles southwest of Gainesville and 169 miles northwest of Orlando, on the Gulf Coast.
Known as the “gem of the nature coast,” Cedar Key is a cross between Downeast Maine and Greenwich Village. The small grouping of islands offers history and archeology, an artist colony and a fishing community. The romantic atmosphere of Cedar Key is also what attracts visitors year round. It offers many art galleries, festivals, shops and casual seafood restaurants, and everything is within walking distance. You can rent bikes or golf carts to get around.
There are two museums to visit. Cedar Key Historical Society Museum has artifacts and photos, which tell the story of how Cedar Key has grown through eras of pencil making, sponging, fishing and turtling. Cedar Key State Museum documents the island’s history as a naval base, shipbuilding center, fishing port and lumber town.
That’s the beauty of Cedar Key. So, leave the crowds and come back to a natural state.
------------------------
Clearwater Beach is located directly north of Sand Key and 20 miles west of Tampa. It brags of being ranked among the top beaches in the country and the liveliest along Pinellas County's coast.
With an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, Clearwater is not only the sunniest place, but also it has 28 miles of some of the cleanest and safest white sandy beaches. Clearwater Beach is known as the busiest beach with the liveliest nightlife.
Recreation includes swimming, beach volleyball, boating, pier fishing, cruising and many other water activities. Also, enjoy golf and tennis nearby.
As for things to see
and do, visiting the Belleview Biltmore Hotel is a must. This hotel
dates back to 1897, and has become a major tourist resort. The 365-room hotel is still the largest occupied wooden structure in the world. In the 1940s, the U.S. Army used the entire hotel as a barracks. However, the building has now been completely restored.
The Clearwater Aquarium and Marine Science Center has sea turtle and dolphin tanks as well as the touch tanks. The Center, one of only eight in the nation, is committed to the rescue, treatment and release of sea turtles and marine mammals.
For a change of scene and an outdoor adventure, visit Moccasin Lake Nature Center and Park. The Energy and Environmental Education Center has nature trails through the wetlands and hardwood, perfect for an afternoon hike. The Center serves as a refuge for permanently injured birds that are native to Florida.
Clearwater offers visiting vacationers lots of fun and sun!
------------------------
Florida's Space Coast offers the perfect blend of enviable climate, miles of sandy beaches, a rich history, and the tower of high technology.
Visitors come from around the world to learn about man's exploration of the universe at Kennedy Space Center and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Others enjoy activities on the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, such as deep-sea fishing, sailing, surfing, windsurfing, water-skiing and Jet Skiing, as well as a variety of fun cruises out of Port Canaveral.
Kennedy Space Center co-exists with an endangered wildlife preserve, where you can see many endangered species such as the American Bald Eagle, alligators, armadillos, land crabs and other indigenous inhabitants of our land and waters.
The annual average temperature is 73 degrees. During the winter months, the temperature usually reaches the low 70s, while in the summer the highs average in the mid 80s, making Cocoa Beach an ideal vacation spot.
You will want to visit the world-famous Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, which offers an enormous collection of beach and surf gear. This amazing three-story building is an attraction in itself. Everyone enjoys the décor, great sales and fantastic buys. Ron Jon's is open 24 hours a day, everyday.
Landlubbers will find championship golf courses, family mini-golf, tennis, racquetball and shuffleboard. For arts and entertainment there are concerts, theatrical performances and art galleries, and lots of festivals.
If you love to shop, come to the nostalgic Cocoa Village and quaint Cottage Row in Cocoa Beach. There are a considerable amount of interesting shops to help you find the little treasures you’ve always wanted.
Cocoa Beach's accommodations range from luxurious resorts to affordable family establishments, which offer weekday and weekend packages.
When your appetite craves attention, you can find many places to dine. Fresh seafood caught in local waters, gourmet dining with candlelight, and quick lunches or snacks are available to suit any mood and pocketbook.
Experience Cocoa Beach at its finest!
------------------------
“The Grove” is located in Miami's southwestern city limits, near Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic seacoast. Built in 1834 by Bahamian seamen, this charming, lush tropical village is considered one of Florida’s oldest and most important settlements.
Coconut Grove was once home to a famous pioneer, Commodore Ralph Munroe, whose main thrill in life was designing yachts and boats. In 1887 he constructed his estate, which he named The Barnacle, now a State Historic Site open to visitors. As you tour The Barnacle, you find yourself surrounded by a special forest called a tropical hardwood hammock, thoughtfully preserved by the Commodore, who cut out only a narrow trail just wide enough for one buggy. The barnacle is a lovely attraction and shouldn't be missed.
While vacationing at The Grove, you must visit Viscaya, John Deere’s mansion, which was built in 1916 to resemble a 16th-century Italian country villa. It has 34 decorated rooms surrounding a central courtyard. Deere traveled Europe collecting fine furniture, art and tapestries, which still embellish this graceful home. Outdoors, you can view exquisitely sculptured gardens.
You won’t want to miss the Grand Bay Hotel Sunday brunch. Prepared by the much-acclaimed Chef Pascal Oudin, the spread features a dazzling array of scrumptious entrees to tempt even the most experienced cruise ship trained palate. The Grand Cafe, with its beautifully detailed dining rooms, floral arrangements and antiquities, complements this thoroughly modern hotel. It is one of the most relaxing, delightful places to enjoy a meal.
For the finest shopping, visit the famous Mayfair Shops and CocoWalk Mall.
Come to Coconut Grove and find out what we have to offer!
------------------------
Coral Gables stands out as a rare pearl in South Florida. It is a community built in the grand Mediterranean Revival architectural style, which creates an overall harmony with the environment, and was inspired by the works of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York's Central Park, encouraged the use of wide tree-lined avenues, monumental buildings, winding roadways, green space, ornate plazas and fountains galore.
Coral Gables is an art lover’s paradise. This vibrant city offers the best in Hispanic, Latin American and domestic theater, fine art, music and dance. With many museums and centers, one can hardly run out of things to do.
The Biltmore Hotel, located in the heart of Coral Gables, was inspired by the Giralda Cathedral of Seville, Spain, and is an enchanting example of the Coral Gables trademark. The Biltmore is a Four-Star, Four Diamond premier hotel with golf resort. golf and tennis are favorite pastimes for those who want to pursue these challenges.
For those who want to get fit in a spectacular setting, The Venetian Pool is an excellent choice. This Coral Gables landmark is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The 820,000-gallon swimming pool was built in 1923 from a coral rock quarry. It’s fed with cool spring water, and is surrounded by two waterfalls, coral caves and grottos.
The War Memorial Youth Center is a sports mecca that includes football, baseball, softball and soccer. The new outdoor basketball courts also double as a roller hockey arena. The facility includes a full-sized gymnasium, a dance room, a fitness center and a gymnastics room.
There are also programs in arts and crafts, ceramics, drama and cooking. Aerobics and dance are offered for adults and seniors.
Coral Gables is the restaurant capital of South Florida. With more than 120 restaurants, it has been known for its fine dining and entertainment for decades.
Accommodations of your choice are unlimited. With many selections each holding its own charactistics, your stay in Coral Gables will be extremely comfortable.
Come to Coral Gables, and see what we’re all about!
----------------------
Located in the Northeast about an hour’s drive from Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando, you will find the beautiful small town of Crescent City.
Crescent City’s old Southern charm and history are what visitors and residents admire most about it. Rich Northern vacationers settled here in the mid 19th century, and the affluence of the North became apparent in their elegant architecture, which was preserved and is still present.
Putnam County offers visitors an abundance of opportunities to experience the real Florida vacation. The St. Johns River, Rodman Reservoir, Ocklawaha River and hundreds of lakes are ideal for all types of water recreation. Sailing and water skiing are both exciting water sports for everyone.
Crescent City is known as the Bass Capital of the World. You will enjoy fishing and boating here. Several small fish camps and motels sit on the shoreline of Crescent Lake, where visitors can book rooms that overlook the lake, or arrange for fishing guides and receive touring information.
The Ravine State Gardens is a natural spring that feeds into the St. Johns River. It features a 189-acre ravine that drops as much as 100 feet.
In February and March the park is filled with thousands of blooming Azaleas and Camellias. The Ravine State Gardens is a beautiful place to enjoy your day.
Visitors come to attend Crescent City’s numerous seasonal festivals and events, which include the Azalea Festival, Catfish Festival, Blue Crab Festival, Blueberry Festival and the Grape Festival.
In the heart of town there are antique stores and many shops to explore. The quaint restaurants and inns are enjoyable places to relax and spend some leisure time.
Plan your next visit to Crescent City!
--------------
Located two hours north of Clearwater Beach is Crystal River. For the perfect vacation, you will enjoy the beautiful waterways and wildlife of this natural wonderland, where you can snorkel and swim with the Manatees.
These friendly creatures will welcome you into their world, and you will truly enjoy their closeness.
There are a number of dive centers that offer complete diving packages. If you consider yourself a spectator, glass-bottom boat tours are also available.
In mid-February catch the Florida Manatee Festival, which includes concerts, art shows, a golf tournament and a seafood festival. Lots of fun awaits you in this friendly town.
While you are in Crystal River you will want to visit the State Archaeological Park, where you can explore six towering burial mounds, some reaching as high as 30 feet tall, as well as artifacts left behind by ancient civilizations. The museum and grounds will make an exciting afternoon of exploration.
The selection of accommodations and lodging at Crystal River are as follows: the Plantation Inn and Golf Resort, Paradise Found Island Resort, Best Western and Days Inn.
If you like camping, the Crystal Isles RV Resort is a good choice.
Crystal River does not offer fancy restaurants or amusement parks. Visitors are drawn solely to the natural beauty of its spring waters and the winter home for Manatees. So if unblemished nature is what you’re looking for, come and experience the beauty and splendor Crystal River has to offer!
----------------
Located just 20 minutes north of Tampa, Dade City is the perfect place to visit for an afternoon or weekend.
While you’re in Florida, take some time to see what Dade City is known for: down home, old Southern charm.
As you stroll through the downtown district, you will find many antique shops, all of which are easy to walk to. So, if you’re into antiquing, you will be pleased with some of the wonderful finds here.
If you like touring historical sites, Dade City has lots to see. The numerous 20th century architectural buildings, all within blocks of each other, will give you a feel of reminiscing a time gone by. There are some 20 homes, six churches, two hotels, two schools, a jail, courthouse and a railroad depot. Other buildings include banks, shops and commercial office sites.
Don’t miss touring the Pioneer Florida Museum, which tells the stories of earlier pioneer lives.
The Pioneer Florida Day Festival, held every September, draws lots of crowds for days of fun and festivities.
For recreation there is golf and tennis. Lake Jovita, Links of Lake Bernadette, Saddlebrook Resorts and Scotland Yards Golf Club are choice spots to play at.
There are two great parks to enjoy, the John S. Burkes Memorial Park and Withlacoochee River Park. Both offer many activities, such as swimming, boating and camping.
For accommodations, there are several bed and breakfasts. The Azalea House and
The Douglas House are lovely, will make you stay very comfortable and add Southern charm to your vacation.
For your next destination, choose Dade City!
--------
Daytona Beach is one of Florida’s best vacation
destinations. With 23 miles of white sandy beaches, family attractions, museums,
entertainment, outdoor sports, shopping and dining, Daytona Beach is synonymous
with fun.
Pack light when you head for the beach-you can
rent just about everything you need. At Daytona Beach, you can enjoy all
your favorite water sports like swimming, surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving,
fishing, jet skiing, boating and cruising.
For land sports, the variety is endless. If
golf is your game, there are more than two-dozen championship courses at your
fingertips. With moderate year round weather and value packed rates, you'll
enjoy golf as never before. In addition, there are at least eight tennis
and racquet clubs, and most that stay open until 10 p.m. You can also
enjoy skating, roller blading, skateboarding and motorcycle racing.
Daytona Beach is known as the home of NASCAR
stock car racing, but motorcycles also make their way around the world-famous
Daytona International Speedway. Even when there isn't a race, you can
satisfy the need for speed at DAYTONA USA, or go from 0-75 mph in less than
four seconds on the dragsters at Speed Park Motorsports.
At Daytona, you’ll find Greyhound racing, safari
river tours, coastal and casino cruises, hot-air balloon rides and even Teauila's
Hawaiian Luau Fest.
Daytona Beach features more than 400 restaurants,
from small cafes to gourmet dining establishments; there is a culinary experience
to fit every taste and budget. Of course, seafood straight from the Atlantic
Ocean is one of the best bargains around, and the tastiest. Many of the area’s
restaurants catch their fish daily.
If it's nightlife you're looking for, Daytona
Beach puts you in the thick of it. You can listen to the area's best reggae
bands at outdoor cafes and hotel pool decks, or dance the night away at one
of the area's nightclubs. Daytona Beach features an impressive range of country,
jazz, blues, pop, rock, soul and acoustic live music.
Accommodations vary from hotel and motel packages,
honeymoon and romance packages to small lodging and camping.
Come and live it up at Daytona Beach, the Spring
Break capitol of the world!
-------------------------------
In the heart of Florida's magnificent Gold Coast, Deerfield Beach is your
perfect vacation getaway. With an essence of hometown charm and a year-round
calendar of special events, Deerfield Beach will be sure to dazzle you by day
and enchant you by night! Experience one of Florida’s most breathtaking
beaches, by soaking up the sun or strolling in the moonlight along the enchanting
East coast.
If history is what you're looking for, you can choose from the Butler House,
Train Station, South Florida Railway Museum or the Old School Houses.
With entertainment and the arts just minutes away, visit The Royal Palm Dinner
Theatre or Caldwell Theatre.
Enjoy chic shopping and an wonderful dining experience at beautiful Mizner
Park, or shop ‘til you drop at the Town Center Mall, the Festival Flea Market
or the world famous Sawgrass Mills Mall. At Deerfield Beach, you're sure
to satisfy your shopping needs!
For recreation, there are many activities to take part in, whether you are
a real enthusiast or a spectator. You can cruise with Rockmore Company
Cruises, located at Pal's Charley's Crab. Lunch cruises, sightseeing and private
charters are available. The Loxahatchee
Everglades Airboat Tours make for a delightful outing.
There are four great parks and top rated beaches
that
provide all the activities your family will enjoy, such as boating, basketball,
baseball, tennis and picnicking.
Come to Deerfield Beach for the vacation you will definitely enjoy!
---------------
This small town is recognized for its old Southern charm, friendly hospitality, and quiet but important history.
Back in 1881, DeFuniak Springs was discovered and named after Mr. DeFuniak, who was then a prominent official of the L and N Railroad. The town grew quickly and was formed in 1901. Since its early days, farming has been DeFuniak Spring’s main industry, due to its natural resources and rich soil.
Walton County hosts a number of historical events and activities here in DeFuniak. Its population numbers around 7,000 residents, and is still growing. For visitors, DeFuniak Springs can a place to relax and escape the pressures of big city living, by delving into some small Southern town charm, where people still enjoy the simple life.
You can find history, nature, culture and luxurious beaches all within a short proximity.
So come and visit us for a truly memorable time!
---------------
Deland is a charming town located in St. Johns River County, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, which offers visitors a lovely welcome to the area.
The community of DeLand was founded in 1876, by Henry A. DeLand, the baking powder manufacturer. In 1884, Stetson University was established by John Stetson, the famous hat magnate. Visitors are welcome to walk the campus and view the beauty of the oldest college in Florida.
A self-guided tour through the Gillespie Museum of Minerals is a fine choice. The Gillespie Museum contains the second largest private collection of minerals in the world, including a 130 pound Topaz on display.
Off of Main Street you can tour the Henry Addison DeLand House. This beautiful property dates back to the 1890s. Also, you can take a stroll on Main Street and find many antique shops, specialty stores and outdoor cafes.
This quaint town also hosts homecoming parades, carnivals and art festivals with a splash of community spirit.
For recreation, DeLand offers great fishing and boating along the St. Johns River, Blue Springs and the DeLeon Springs State Park.
So come to DeLand, for a rewarding afternoon of family fun.
---------------
Known worldwide as a first-class resort town, Delray Beach is located in southern Palm Beach County, directly on the Atlantic Ocean. It offers the visitor a full range of amenities and incomparable beauty of nearly two miles of a well-groomed beach.
For those seeking relaxation, a beautiful sunrise, or a vigorous game of beach volleyball, you will find it right here.
The area supports an active surfing and sailing scene and is home to one of the area's premier diving spots. Delray Wreck, a state historical site, is located a few hundred yards offshore; divers can explore the wreck of the SS Inchulva, which sank in a storm off the coast of Delray in 1903.
The south end of the beach is known as Atlantic Dunes Park. It is meticulously maintained and features a boardwalk and nature trail. Sunrises and sunsets can be viewed at the beach pavilion, a wooden structure overlooking the ocean.
After a day in the sun, beach goers often find themselves strolling the promenade, a paved walkway that parallels the beautiful State Road A1A. Delray Beach's own charming Atlantic Avenue is made for walking, browsing and soaking up the ambiance of a street that has become a model within Palm Beach County. The downtown offers a mix of restaurants, antique shops, gift shops, galleries and clothiers.
Art and Jazz on the Avenue draws thousands to the shopping district. Art and Jazz nights feature live music, food, and fun. The downtown's warm and hospitable atmosphere belongs uniquely to Delray.
An abundance of gamefish swim in the waters of Delray Beach, thanks to the proximity of the warm Gulf Stream and the many offshore reefs. Sailfish, Marlin, kingfish, mackerel, dolphin, grouper, red snapper, wahoo and bonita are among the fish caught most often.
Delray Beach is a golfer's haven. From executive courses to championship links, golfers of all abilities will have no trouble finding a course to their liking. For the tennis enthusiast, Delray Beach is known as a mecca. It has a long tradition of hosting top professional and junior events and is home to several top junior tennis programs.
As you check out the restaurant guide, you will discover over 45 spots with selections such as Seafood, Continental, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, Shushi, All-American and Barbeque.
All in all... Delray is one hot ticket to fun! Come--enjoy it for yourself!
-------------
Destin resides 40 miles east of Pensacola and 160 miles west of Tallahassee. Its beautiful coast, friendly atmosphere, fine dining and of course, fishing in the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” are a first choice for many.
All types of saltwater gamefish are can be found in Destin’s waters, so that pier and surf fishermen and offshore anglers all have an equal chance at a great catch. Deep-sea bottom fishing is one of the specialties of Destin’s fleet. Red snapper, grouper, triggerfish, scamp and amberjack are all caught using this method, while Charter boats sail near the coast, finding cobia, blackfin tuna, king mackerel, bluefish, barracuda and Spanish mackerel.
There are a variety of other activities you can enjoy at Destin, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing and all types of boating.
For land lovers, there are golf, shopping and water parks, along with arts and entertainment attractions. Stroll through a scenic state park or go horseback riding, or for more adventure try whipping around in a go-cart or experiencing the thrill of a giant waterslide.
Dining in Destin is supreme, daytime or nighttime. Anything from a casual sitting to an elegant evening can be found in Destin.
A variety of accommodation choices are available. The view of the emerald surf sweeping a crystal white shoreline is breathtaking, outside the balcony of a luxurious suite.
Come and visit us at Destin, and see the beauty and pleasure we have to offer.
-------------------
This charming village of Dunedin has the distinction of being the oldest town south of Cedar Key, and is located only four miles north of Clearwater.
Early in its history, it became one of Florida's chief seaport and trading centers.
Dunedin is proud of all its firsts. Alligators were gathered in Dunedin and used in World War II to play a decisive role in the Pacific phase of the war. Frozen orange juice concentrate and the Pram sailboat racer both originated here, and this was the first home of the prestigious Professional Golfers Association. The A.C. Nielsen Company, located in Dunedin since 1972 and responsible for the Nielson ratings, is one of the town's largest employers. It can be said that Dunedin determines what television programs the whole country watches!
Aside from that, you will love the town for its picturesque harbor and the tidy cottage-style homes. Along Dunedin’s Main Street, you will find some artsy, upscale restaurants and quaint little antique shops. In the springtime, you must be sure to attend an exceptionally wonderful antique fair.
You will want to visit the Dunedin Historical Museum to view its collection of railroad memorabilia, photographs and artifacts.
Don’t miss The Highland Games, a Scottish Celebration held annually in April. Participants can compete in bag piping, drumming, hammer throwing and clachneart.
If you love boating, Dunedin’s calm waters are perfect. The T-shaped dock attracts area fisherman and others who wait to see a beautiful sunset upon the water.
For accommodations, The Inn on the Bay has lovely waterfront rooms and balconies with a romantic gulf view. For fine dining and the freshest seafood, Sea Sea Riders is indeed a great place to bring you hungry appetite. You will enjoy the atmosphere inside the Old Florida home, which dates back to 1916.
Come to Dunedin, we’re waiting for you!
----------------------
The small town atmosphere in Dunnellon offers you a restful break from the big cities and constant routine of everyday life. Whether it’s a great vacation, a new place to call home, or a business relocation you are interested in, Dunnellon has something to offer everyone.
You can feel comfortable and safe strolling around our nationally registered Historic District. There are shops that sell a wide variety of gifts and antiques. Along the way if you feel a little hungry, you can take a break and relax over a leisurely and delicious meal at one of our lovely local restaurants. In the heart of Dunnellon is the Railroad Depot, which houses a museum and country store.
For the more adventurous types of activity there are numerous opportunities to enjoy. The Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River are wonderful for freshwater fishing. These local rivers abound with largemouth bass, sunfish,
bream, longnose gar, shad and crappie. Indeed Dunnellon has long been called the bass capital of the world.
Nature buffs can hike as well as boat, through pristine forests
of oak, pine and habitats of some of the world's most rare and
abundant water and land life. There is also the state trail, part of the Florida Rails to Trails Program, for biking and hiking.
At the point where the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee Rivers converge is where the city beach is located. This park offers a small sandy beach as well as a playground and picnic tables.
Lovers of golf and tennis will discover excellent courses and courts on which to pursue their passions.
Fun on the water isn't all there is to life in Dunnellon.
History buffs can relive old Florida history with visits to the Archives and Museum of Dunnellon.
The city of Dunnellon holds many events and festivities that keep the town thriving, so come and encounter a day of enjoyment.
---------------
Englewood straddles both Charlotte and Sarasota counties, and is located on the white sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. Found at the north end of the Cape Haze Peninsula and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Englewood offers a wide range of recreational activities that come with miles of unspoiled beach, world class fishing, power boating, canoeing and sailing.
Additionally, Englewood offers numerous golf courses and tennis clubs, as well as arts and entertainment to suit any taste. In a very real sense, Englewood offers a quiet, wholesome way of life that its residents, seasonal neighbors and vacationers have come to cherish.
At Englewood, parks and beaches are plentiful. Behold untarnished nature, bountiful marine life, numerous native birds and plenty of other creatures!
Internationally known as a fishing haven, you'll find Englewood's waters a pleasure.
Accommodations and dining are abundant, so come to enjoy a day or weekend with us!
----
A paradise of untouched wilderness and wildlife nestled in Southwest Florida is welcoming you. Everglades City is located southeast of Naples and west of Miami.
The area provides a number of ways to experience the Everglades, including boat, airplane, van, airboat, bicycle and even walking tours.
Contrary to what the average visitor might expect, the Everglades is not a huge swamp inhabited only by large snakes and alligators, but is rather a masterpiece of nature's beauty in a mysterious forest containing many forms of wildlife and birds in their natural habitat.
Fishing is the dominant game in this Mangrove Jungle, which borders the 10,000 Islands and the Gulf of Mexico.
Visitors of all ages are sure to find a variety of intriguing activities in the Everglades. These might include, camping, boating, canoeing, kayaking, biking, any kind of excursions or tours, airboat rides and swamp buggy races. Must not forget alligator wrestling and fishing.
For more relaxed recreation, there are always annual festivals with music, entertainment, arts and crafts and food.
Everglades City area has many fine accommodations and activities to make your stay a most memorable one.
---------------
If you dream of finding a wonderful vacation spot, Fernandina Beach is it. At the heart of Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach is located 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville and 192 miles north of Orlando.
Fernandina Beach is the perfect place for a charming getaway, where you will find 13 miles of beautiful beaches, a 50-block area of Victorian homes, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and so much more.
There is an abundance of things to do and see here. Water activities include swimming, boating, fishing, skiing and sailing. On land, you can enjoy biking, hiking, trailing, horseback riding on the beach and nature tours. At the resorts, you will find the nation’s finest golf and tennis.
Children will enjoy a visit to the Plantation Nature Center, which has many hands-on educational programs, or they may like a boat tour to Cumberland Island to watch wild horses play.
At Fort Clinch State Park, you can see cannons, jail cells, a blacksmith and hospital, a small slice of Fernandina's rich history.
If romance is what you're looking for, experience a sunset cruise aboard the Voyager Ventures, which offers two-hour or all day cruises.
You can find accommodations at a number of Fernandina's resorts or quaint Bed and Breakfast inns. Stroll down historic Centre Street for lots of great shopping or antiquing.
You must visit The Palace Saloon, which dates back to 1878 and was once a favorite spot for the Vanderbilts, DuPonts and Carnegies. Drinks are still served from its 40-foot hand-carved mahogany bar.
Fernandina Beach is just the place to spend your next vacation.
----------------------------
Flagler Beach is located along the eastern coast, 23 miles south of St. Augustine and 23 miles north of Daytona. This small, peaceful town has a lot to offer the vacationer who is looking for a relaxed atmosphere.
Secluded Flagler Beach is six miles long and has an 844-foot fishing pier, where you can enjoy swimming, surfing, Jet Skiing, fishing and boating.
On land, enjoy Flagler’s ocean-side, nine-hole course at Ocean Palms, located south on A1A.
The Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area is a 145-acre park that offers coastal camping, a boat launch, picnicking, swimming, fishing, nature study and nature trails.
Nearby, you can spend the day at Marineland, which has dolphin shows and aquarium displays, where you can discover the mysteries of a tropical reef, a rainbow-colored world teeming with marine life and watch divers hand-feed sharks, turtles and eels.
For arts and culture, visit the Flagler Auditorium. This state-of-the-art facility includes a main theatre, a black box theatre, seats 1,000 and is host to outstanding entertainment throughout the year.
Accommodations include charming Bed and Breakfast inns, a luxury resort hotel, family priced motels, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks and vacation condominiums.
At Flagler Beach, you can have fun and forget the crowds and noise.
--------------
The town of Fort Myers Beach has preserved significant examples of its native landscapes, ecosystems, historical and archaeological sites, and ethnic and cultural traditions that represent its diverse geography, history, and cultural life.
A multitude of resources form a wonderful offering of coastal and interior areas, including scenic wilderness and wildlife overlooks, Native American archaeological sites, botanical sites, beaches and water preserves, parks and open spaces, working landscapes, historical sites, museums and other cultural attractions.
An ideal spot for family vacationers, Fort Myers Beach is fun and energetic. Here you'll find a newly renovated casual beach village with shops and restaurants clustered along a tree-lined pedestrian walkway. There are also marinas where you'll find boating and fishing charters, including sailing, windsurfing and Jet Skiing.
At Holiday Water Sports you can enjoy sailing, wave running, parasailing and dolphin tours. The Seahorse Scuba operates morning charters, which have you back at the dock before lunch and with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of your vacation day. All dive sites are easy dives in 30 feet of water. You’ll see abundant marine life including barracuda, grouper and snapper.
Go fishing, shelling, have lunch, island hop and watch the dolphins play! Enjoy a spectacular sunset cruise and champagne toast with Island Personal Watercraft. Many rentals are available for a full or half day, and there are weekly and monthly rentals for boats, Wave Runners, guided tours and guided fishing charters.
With nine area golf and country clubs, an avid golfer could play 18 holes a day, seven days a week and not play the same holes twice for nearly two months! There's a course to match every player's skill level.
You will find a wide range of accommodations to fit any budget and lifestyle, from luxury resorts and seaside inns, to charming Bed and Breakfasts and everything in between.
With plenty to see and do, you will certainly enjoy Ft. Myers Beach!
-------------------------
With origins dating back to early Native Americans, Fort Pierce is one of the oldest communities on the East Coast. Incorporated in 1901, Fort Pierce’s railroad brought many people to the area and to South Florida. Since 1995, Fort Pierce, with help from residents and property owners, has prepared detailed redevelopment plans for the preservation of its historic core.
In the past few years, new attractions have opened in downtown Fort Pierce, such as the Manatee Observation and Education Center, Seven Gables Visitor Center, Farmers' Market and numerous art festivals and open air concerts in the amphitheater.
All year round, you’ll find lots to do and see. From the miles of unspoiled beaches, inland waterways and natural wonders to the man-made attractions, Fort Pierce has so much to offer.
You must visit Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, one of the world’s leading oceanographic facilities. It is spread on over 500 riverfront acres, where you are free to tour by land or by sea. Research vessels attract scientists from across the globe to study marine sciences and ocean engineering.
Water Lilly River Cruise also provides for a fun time. From the deck of this 19 passenger, covered pontoon boat, you will explore the backwaters of the “Real Florida.” Experience Bird Island within the mangroves, a remote nesting area with a wide variety of native birds, and maybe an occasional alligator.
Florida Dolphin Watch is one of Fort Pierce’s most beautiful, untouched eco-systems. Experience the beauty of wild dolphins and many other species of wildlife at Indian River Lagoon, where hundreds of dolphins have already been identified.
For lots of enjoyment there are many events and festivals that take place throughout the year, featuring everything from arts, music, culture, holiday, history and food.
For accommodations on the beach, the Radisson Resort at Hutchinson Island in lovely. The Dockside-Harbor Light Inn is a great choice for boating and fishing enthusiasts, offering two private fishing piers and 15 boat slips, located on the Intracoastal Waterway.
To satisfy your taste buds, fine dining is available at three upscale restaurants: The Harbortown Fish House, P.V. Martin’s and Theo Thudpucker’s Raw Bar and Seafood.
This is a place where people appreciate the quality of life in the relaxed atmosphere. So come to Fort Pierce for your next vacation.
--------------------------------------
Fort Walton Beach was originally known as Brooks Landing. In 1913, the name was changed to Camp Walton and then to Fort Walton in 1941. In 1953 the city was finally known by the name it bears today. It is located in Okaloosa County, about 40 miles east of Pensacola and 160 miles west of Tallahassee.
There are many things to do and see here, and the beaches are undeniably stunning, with sparkling white powdery sand.
Fort Walton Beach is unlike anything you can imagine, until you’re there.
Come check out Okaloosa Island, which is joined to the mainland by Brooks Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound. Here you will find The Boardwalk, a collection of beachside buildings that includes an arcade for the kids, a saloon, covered picnic areas, snack bars and the Crab Trap restaurant.
Our beaches have been voted the safest in the country, and are considered among the top five for shelling. Visit Sand Dollar City, a pure white sand bar rich with “sea money.”
To the east you will find Beasley Park, which has free facilities for beach bumming. The Gulf Islands National Seashore has picnic areas and sailboat rentals.
Recreation in and around Fort Walton Beach includes boating, fishing and many other water sports like Jet Skiing and boating, Wave Running and parasailing. There are also scuba diving and snorkeling. Whatever equipment you need, rentals are available.
Golf courses are plenty throughout Fort Walton Beach, and each course offers its own particular challenges on some of the best-groomed courses in the country. If you are a tennis nut you can even play after dark on our well-lit courts.
The amount of culture you will find is endless, with everything from theatre, fine arts and ballet to orchestra and choir.
Experience fine dining and nightly entertainment at many of our resorts. Whatever your pleasure may be, we guarantee you will find it here!
----------------------------------------
Although summer is cheaper, visitors to Ft. Lauderdale flock in all year
long. Winter (November-March) is an ideal time to visit the area,
especially if you're coming from chillier climates. However, keep in mind
that this is the season of snowbirds and things don't come too cheap (or
un-crowded).
Average weather
summer is hot, hot, hot. The breeze from the Atlantic slightly helps to
cool the air, but the humidity is enough to keep you indoors. This is a
great time of year for watersports, as the water temperature is rather
balmy. Winter in Ft. Lauderdale is perfect. The temperatures average in
the low to mid 70s, dropping to mid 60s at night. Summer is the rainy
season. Expect at least one tropical-style downpour per day, but it's not
usually enough to put a damper on your day.
Transportation
Your best bet is to drive in Ft. Lauderdale. Situated off Interstate 95,
there are a number of different exits you can take in this city. It's
rather sprawling and not conducive to walking--unless you're staying along
the Las Olas strip.
Except during rush hour, Ft. Lauderdale is a fairly easy place in which to
drive. East-west I-595 runs from westernmost Broward County and links I-75
with I-95 and U.S. 1.
If you're worried about drinking and driving or just want to spend time in
the water, hail a Water Taxi, which provides service along the
Intracoastal Waterway. These taxi boats stop at more than 30 restaurants,
hotels, shops, and nightclubs; the fare is $7 one-way, $12 round-trip, and
$15 for an all-day pass.
When it comes to the big yellow taxi, keep in mind this isn't New York.
You may be able to catch one at a major hotel, otherwise call ahead. Fares
are not cheap; meters run at a rate of $2.45 for the first mile and $1.75
for each additional mile; waiting time is 25¢ per minute.
In-season costs
prices skyrocket and reservations are a must when tourism peaks from
November through early April.
Day Trips
Enjoy your day in Hollywood. And don't forget to stroll along the scenic
Broadwalk or walk through the aviary at Flamingo Gardens, in Davie,
before relaxing in peaceful Hollywood North Beach Park.
South Beach, Bay Side, Art Deco District of Miami--these are only a
45-minute drive.
Head over to Coral Gables to take in the eye-popping display of 1920s.
Also keep in mind that, time permitting, you can continue your drive
south all the way to Key West (about 4 hours) and indulge in some
margaritas, snorkeling, parasailing and just plain (sometimes raunchy)
fun.
--------------------
Gainesville is located in Alachua County, 71 miles southwest Jacksonville, 109 miles north of Orlando.
Gainesville is the home of the University of Florida, the state's oldest and largest university. Like other college towns, it is described as an artsy, highbrow, radical party town.
But, the beauty of Gainesville is its history. You will find a fine historic district on the outskirts of town, with some very interesting natural features. In 1995, Money magazine rated Gainesville as “the best place to live in America.” Many restored houses have been reopened here, and there are now cafes, restaurants and boutiques, with a view of old-fashioned lampposts and brick sidewalks.
There are two museums to visit in Gainesville, such as The Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, which houses an extensive collection of 20th century American and Asian art, as well as African Tribal arts and crafts. Next is the Museum of Natural History, which is the southeast USA’s largest natural science exhibit, displaying ecosystems of coral reef, fossils and the jaw of the extinct great white shark.
Located not far from Gainesville is the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Site. On the 68 acres that compose the site, Rawlings wrote two famous novels, The Yearling and Cross Creek, which won her a Pulitzer Prize. The single-story home still looks the same as when she lived there.
Visit the Devil’s Millhopper State Geological Site for a look at a 20 million year-old sinkhole. There are many fun things to see and do in Gainesville, so come and have a good time. We welcome you!
----------------------------------------
The Gulf Beaches of Tampa Bay are Florida's finest, and rank consistently among the top ten in the world. Each town along the coast has its own unique character.
The Gulf Beaches has a lot to offer visitors of all ages. There are miles of the whitest beaches for any type of water sports you can imagine. Besides the swimming, shelling and sun bathing you might want to try deep-sea fishing, beach volleyball or para sailing! All types of boating adventures including, dinner cruises up the intracoastal, casino cruises, dolphin watches, snorkeling excursions and canoeing are offered. There are rentals for jet skis, powerboats, biking and roller blading. With 30 miles of sandy shoreline and seawalls it will provide the casual fisherman hours of enjoyment and relaxation.
Enjoy the ideal destination spot for the ultimate golf vacation experience. The area boasts a fine selection of golf courses.
The Gulf Beaches is the home of the Seabird Sanctuary and two county parks, both are located directly on the Gulf of Mexico. At Sand Key Park, you can lay on the beach and hear the soft whistle thru the many Florida pine trees, and notice the rock jetty, are lined with fisherman. There are public restrooms and showers. Fort Desoto Park consists of 900 acres and houses 2 fishing piers. There are picnic areas, nature trails, swimming, a boat ramp, and a 235 site camping area.
For those who enjoy arts and culture a visit to the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center, has an extensive collection of South Eastern fine crafts.
Great Explorations
A hands on children's museum dedicated to making learning fun.
Museum of Fine Arts
Features an excellent collection of European, American, Pre-Columbian
and Far Eastern art.
Salvador Dali Museum
The world's most comprehensive collection of works by the famous Spanish master.
Bayfront Center & Mahaffey Theater
Arena and performing arts theater featuring a multitude of entertainment.
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Musical, dance and educational programs in a state-of-the-art setting.
The Coliseum
One of the nation's largest dance floors, featuring a variety of live entertainment.
As for dining, the option is all yours. Choose from very fine dining to casual dining. There are unlimited choices for all types of menus.
The Gulf Beaches has the best variety of accommodations, from cozy Bed & Breakfasts to fully furnished apartments and modest rooms in small motels to luxury suites overlooking the Gulf.
Come to the Gulf beaches where you will find just what you've been looking for.
------------------------------------------
There is no location in South Florida as unique and convenient as Hallandale Beach. This oceanfront community is nestled between the two largest metropolitan cities, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Visitors as well as residents can enjoy beautiful sunny beaches and activities year round including swimming, boating, and saltwater fishing. On land, a wide choice of sporting activities includes tennis, golf, soccer, softball and baseball, volleyball, basketball and even bocce ball.
The city parks and recreation facilities are usually open from sunrise to sunset, offering a varied menu of entertainment opportunities for all ages. Young and old alike enjoy the playgrounds, activity rooms and swimming.
If you feel lucky, Hallandale offers visitors and residents two South Florida premiere racetracks. The Gulfstream Park is home of the world-class thoroughbred horse racing, and the Hollywood Greyhound Track features exciting dog racing action six months a year.
If you like arts and culture, The Hallandale Beach Symphonic Pops Orchestra, performs several concerts every year, and The Hallandale Beach Cultural Community Center offers state-of-the-art programs for the for the whole family, including theatrical and musical performances, visual arts, as well as entertainment and social events.
Shopping is as easy as walking out your door in Hallandale Beach. Merchandise of every kind can be found in shopping centers, individual boutiques and malls. The Diplomat Mall is an indoor mall with a number of quaint specialty stores and Fashion Row is a famous discount center with spectacular savings on designer handbags and accessories, jewelry and art designs. Shoppers will find plenty of boutiques and centers along Hallandale Beach Boulevard.
Evenings offer a choice of fine or casual dining and nightclub entertainment for all ages from ballroom dancing to rock'n roll.
Whether you’re operating a business, raising a family, or planning a sun and fun-filled vacation, Hallandale Beach – the City of Choice – offers the best of all worlds.
---------------------------------------------
High Springs is located in Alachua County, just 18 miles north of Gainesville. The beauty and charm of this small southern town are inviting to many visitors. The city of High Springs is filled with adventure, history, many outdoor activities and lots of family fun.
Explore the town’s antique shops, specialty stores and art studios. This historic railroad town offers many finds, rare and beautiful. For wonderful art, visit the High Springs Gallery. At the Great Outdoors Trading Company, you will find all kinds of really neat clothing, hats and books.
We suggest a lovely Bed and Breakfast to add quaintness and comfort to your stay. In town are some fine eateries and local theaters to add to a relaxing evening. You will also be tempted to take a walk along the tree-lined streets.
The nearby parks are a sight to see, with all of their natural wonder. The parks offer activities such as canoeing, boating, biking, hiking, picnicking and camping along the river and crystal-clear spring.
Make High Springs your vacation destination. Bring yourselves and High Springs will provide the rest, to make your stay a memorable one.
---------------
Hollywood Beach is rated Florida's best beach. Mile after mile of a glistening shoreline and crystal-clear, aquamarine ocean are the assets that make Hollywood one of the most desirable family vacation spots. It is a Mecca for the eco-tourist and those travelers who wish to experience Florida as it once was. On the North Beach, nature is nestled among the sand dunes and tall strands of sea grass that serve as a sea turtle hatchery.
Hollywood offers its visitors a multitude of recreation. More than 6 miles of sandy beaches are ready to absorb the footprints of sun worshippers. Championship golf courses are shaded by swaying palms that beckon Saturday duffers and seasoned professionals.
With an average temperature in the high 70s, our weather is ideal for year-round outdoor enthusiasts. You can learn to scuba dive, snorkel or charter a boat and try your hand at sport fishing. Or just savor a stroll along our famed beach boardwalk.
Visit the local, county or state parks, which offer picnicking, shuffleboard, fresh and saltwater fishing, boating, horseback riding, jogging, campgrounds and athletic fields. Many of the parks schedule regular events, including nature walks, children's programs and tournaments.
When you're ready to sit back and relax, take in a jai-alai game at Dania Jai-alai, or place a few bets at the nearby Hollywood Greyhound Track or the Gulfstream Horseracing Park.
This community is thriving with art and cultural opportunities. No matter when you visit, you're sure to find plenty of festivals, fairs, musical performances and other events to entertain all ages.
To add to your pleasure, stroll, shop and dine along Downtown Hollywood's beautiful tree-lined streets. Enjoy a unique blend of boutiques and one-of-a-kind galleries.
You will be certain to find the dining opportunities to be simply outstanding. Choices include fine dining and casual dining. From Thai to tacos, coffee to confections, Downtown Hollywood has a vast variety of eateries that are sure to satisfy any palette. You can dine at one of the trendy restaurants, bistros or sidewalk cafe's serving up sushi with live jazz and Blues, classic Italian fare, health foods and ethnic cuisine's from France, Greece, Romania, Mexico and more. The gourmet bakeries, coffee houses and ice cream shops offer tantalizing deserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Whether you're in search of an intimate beachfront motel or a full-service hotel, Hollywood offers families a complete choice of comfortable accommodations.
Choose beautiful Hollywood as your next vacation holiday!
--------
Holmes Beach is located on beautiful Anna Maria Island, four miles west of Bradenton.
Most people refer to this low-key, sandy paradise as a home away from home. This three-mile stretch of beach will lure anyone to visit.
With mild year-round temperatures, it truly is “The Island In The Sun,” not only for visitors but also for the residents.
There are many activities to amuse those who love water sports, including boating, swimming, surfing, fishing, Jet Skiing and parasailing. Or, you can soak up the beautiful sun or stroll barefoot on a lovely sandy beach.
For fishing, the Dolphin Dream or Riptide Charters can take you out into the deep waters of the gulf, where you can catch the largest cobia.
If you choose, the Lo-Seas II has boat cruises, which will highlight any of your afternoons or evenings.
The seven-block section in town offers some great shopping. There is a surf shop, a dive shop and ocean bound kayak shop, as well as other quaint little stores to add to your journey of finding little treasures.
For dining, you can be sure there is plenty available. With many fine restaurants to please even the most discerning palate, the choice is yours. For sophisticated and award-winning cuisine, try the Beach Bristo. Enjoy a bit of friendly nightlife at the Surfside Café.
The Harrington House Bed and Breakfast Inn offers lovely beachside accommodations. This three-story building, built in 1925, has been lavishly preserved, and offers the atmosphere of a time gone by.
For a wonderful relaxing vacation, come to Holmes Beach.
--------------------------
Homestead lies near the southern-most tip of Florida, where sunny days are the majority and the average temperature is 75 degrees. To the east and south are Biscayne Bay and its underwater national park, the Florida Keys and the Atlantic Ocean.
Homestead is a variety of family-oriented attractions and proximity to some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful natural lands and waters. The area has many things to see and do to provide lots of excitement or ultimate relaxation.
The Everglades National Park, is the largest subtropical wilderness in North America, and is a perfect choice for natural adventures. Biscayne National Park is one of the few aquatic parks to explore the bays, keys and reefs. Enter the fragile world of manatees, mangrove and coral. Fishing is excellent year-round. Visitors can rent canoes, schedule glass bottom boat tours or participate in guided scuba diving and snorkeling expeditions. Launch facilities, primitive campsites, nature trails, picnic areas and a harbor, are available at Homestead Bayfront Park and Black Point Marina.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a divers’ favorite since its creation in 1960. Here scuba divers and snorkelers can swim through tunnels of coral, around sunken ships, past stingrays, barracudas and the famous Christ of the Deep statue.
Besides our breathtaking natural wonders,
Homestead offers an abundance of fun attractions for the whole family. Be sure to visit, The Homestead Sports Complex, Coral Castle, The Everglades Alligator Farm, The Fruit and Spice Park, Monkey Jungle, Tropical Fun Center and the the Miami Metro Zoo. The Homestead Motorsports Complex is one of the finest auto-racing facilities in the world. This state-of-the-art racing facility currently features the new constant radius oval, an 8-degree banked turn track and a 2.21-mile road course.
For various arts and culture activities, the Homestead Center for the Arts features professional theater groups and artists, which produce shows of imagination and sophistication. The Homestead Community Concert Association sponsors a popular concert series bringing a variety of musical troupes to the area. Homestead has numerous museums, which preserve the area’s history. The Homestead Historic District is a great place to hunt for antiques or unique gifts. The Florida Keys Factory Shops is a manufacturer’s outlet center featuring fine merchandise at low prices. The atmosphere reflects Tropical South Florida’s Spanish heritage with Mediterranean architecture, water fountains, and mosaic and terra cotta tile accents. Homestead is the popular destination for vacationers. Visit soon and enjoy!
-----------------
Islamorada is the centerpiece of a group of islands called the purple isles. A playground for anyone interested in the environment, wildlife, and history. It is a gateway to one of the most varied watery wildernesses in America, and also prides itself as the Sportfishing Capital of the World.
Here, you can venture offshore on a charter boat for a chance at the beautiful, acrobatic sailfish or the magnificently colored dolphin fish, mahi-mahi. Hire a guide to take you to the shallow near-shore waters to catch the mysterious ghost of the flats, the bonefish, or venture into the backcountry to catch redfish and tarpon.
An array of marine life inhabits the patch coral reef alongside the island, making Islamorada a favorite for divers.
Landlubbers, on the other hand, may prefer viewing acrobatic dolphin and other deep sea stars at Windley Key's Theater of the Sea.
Islamorada and its surrounding areas also boast several state parks. At Long Key State Recreation Area, campers can kick back and roam the nature trails. Added trails are offered at Windley Key Quarry Fossil Reef State Geologic Site, where acres of fossilized coral and an environmental center are at-hand, and at Lignumvitae Key State Botanical Site is an island with the highest elevation in the Keys: a dizzying 18 feet.
The shops and galleries at Treasure Village and the Rain Barrel on Plantation Key offer a colorful collection of arts, crafts, and other creative island treasures.
Enjoy wonderful dining spots and cabana bars featuring live entertainment. For accommodations choose from cozy cottages on the ocean or secluded motels and efficiencies, to award winning ocean front resorts which provide you and your family with all the fun and excitement.
Visit Islamorada, the Peaceful...Paradise!
--------------------------------
Known as “Florida's River City by the Sea,” Jacksonville is located 36 miles south of Georgia and 134 miles north of Orlando.
Jacksonville's history dates back to 1822, when it was established. It was named after President Andrew Jackson. When Florida achieved statehood in 1845, Jacksonville was considered an important port in the cotton and timber trades. At one time, the city was known only for its paper mills. Today, it is a thriving metropolis of the South’s insurance and banking capitals.
In Duval County, there is an increasing development of attractions, hotels, restaurants and clubs.
For arts and culture, there are about 17 museums and several theatres, including the world class Florida Theatre, which hosts 200 events per year.
Many attractions include Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Zoological Gardens, river cruises and much more.
For outdoor activities, visit the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, where you can enjoy hiking, bird watching, picnicking and limited cycling and fishing. The University of North Florida Nature Preserve has twelve miles of nature trails, including a 21-station exercise course, a jogging path and a specially designed trail for the physically handicapped. BEAKS, the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary, raises and cares for thousands of injured wild birds.
There are four major parks: Huguenot Memorial Park, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, Talbot Islands Geopark, and Theodore Roosevelt Area. They each offer activities of swimming, surfing, boardsailing, fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking and camping.
As for golf and tennis, there are 47 championship caliber courses to choose from. ATP Tour International Headquarters ranks Jacksonville as one of the finest tennis facilities in the world. And no doubt, Jacksonville is a sports town. You have the Gator Bowl Association, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Jacksonville Lizard Kings.
In Jacksonville, you cannot overlook the superb dining and accommodations. So treat yourselves to a wonderful vacation.
-----------------
To the east and to the south, the Suwannee River cradles Jasper. About 90 miles from Tallahassee or Jacksonville, you can be swept away by the beauty of its nature and history. Located in Hamilton County, the Central Gateway, Jasper offers a relaxed and peaceful stay, although there are many things to do and explore.
Nearby, along the banks of the Suwannee River, set inside of the moss covered oaks and tall pines is the Stephen Foster State Folk and Cultural Center. This beautiful park holds exhibits and special events within its natural picturesque setting. The culture and heritage of Florida are shown through its performing and cultural arts and craft shows.
The Old Jail Museum is worth exploring. Built in 1893, it displays the early history of North Central Florida, and it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Throughout Jasper and its surrounding areas, you will enjoy the great outdoors. For recreation, there are canoeing, biking, hiking and nature trails. You can view the varied wildlife in its natural habitat, or find a perfect spot amongst the beautiful wildflowers for an afternoon picnic.
A day spent in Jasper is truly a delight in this friendly town. So come and see what we have to offer you.
-----------------------------
Jensen Beach is located 15 miles south of Ft. Pierce on the southern tip of Hutchinson Island. A large historic district and centerpiece of a riverfront community best describes this lovely town.
Its early history and initial wealth was made solely from pineapples. Each July, one million boxes of prized fruit rolled out of Jensen Beach to be shipped to the rest of the world.
This beautiful town offers vacationers a lot of activities. Enjoy pleasure boating, freshwater, deep-sea, and brackish water fishing, scuba diving in natural shipwrecks and artificial reefs that offer divers breathtaking views of wonderful arrays of fish and seabed beauty.
Visit the many parks, which offer swimming, snorkeling and wind surfing. There are public boat ramps with paddleboat, canoe and rowboat rentals. Play volleyball, baseball, tennis, racquetball and basketball. For your convenience there is camping with cabin rental, picnicking bicycling and hiking trails.
Near Jensen Beach are several public and semi-private golf courses.
Spectator sports just north of Jensen Beach are the St. Lucie Sports Complex, the spring training home of the New York Mets and home to the St. Lucie Mets. Jai Alai in nearby Ft. Pierce is played with pari-mutuel betting to increase the excitement of the games.
Arts & Culture organizations offer community theatre, ballet, live literature, contemporary dance, performing arts, concerts, community orchestra, and many art- related events.
Accommodations are very comfortable and relaxing. There are a number of fine restaurants and friendly pubs in downtown old village and along the riverfront. Visit Jensen Beach Ale House for a bit of nightlife with live music and lots of fun.
Make Jensen Beach your next destination!
A driving
tour city
|
-------------------------------
A few hours in the Florida Keys need not take up your entire weekend. In
fact, you can indulge in just about everything the Conch Republic has to
offer in just a few hours - in Islamorada and Key Largo anyway.
Whatever you wish you do in the Keys-outdoor water sports, enjoy a good
meal, or simply bask in the sun and enjoy some rum runners-you'll only
have to drive 45 minutes away from Miami. And without the need for a
hotel, travelers can spend their money elsewhere.
The upper Keys have some of nature's most spectacular scenes-much of them
underwater. For scuba divers and snorkelers, The John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park allows the chance to swim along with more than 500 species of
fish, including angelfish and parrotfish, as well as 55 richly hued types
of coral. The park is combined with the adjacent Key Largo National Marine
Sanctuary, covering more than 100 nautical square miles of pristine
waters. One of the most popular diving spots is the area where the
duplicate nine-foot bronze statue of the Christ of the Deep sits 25 feet
under water. (The original statue lies off the coast of Italy.) Daily boat
departures for snorkelers start at $24, and $37 for scuba divers.
Experienced divers can explore the mysterious remnants of two Coast Guard
327-foot cutters, which sit 120 feet under water. For those who prefer to
stay dry, glass-bottom boat rides on the San Jose start at $15 for adults.
And for those who prefer to stay completely dry and on land, there are
nature trails that wind through native foliage, as well as a beach, picnic
and camping grounds.
For those who prefer to catch fish instead of merely watching them,
Islamorada, about 20 miles south of Key Largo, offers great fishing
opportunities, including fishing charter boats. Game fishing in the Keys
is among the most popular activities for anglers who wish to put up a
fight with a marlin that can last several hours. Fishermen who aren't out
to mount a prized fish on their wall back home can look forward to the
snook, grouper, and yellowtail snapper that frequent the coast of the
Keys.
Keep in mind that no matter what type of fish you're after, there are many
charter boat trips available, from the Key Largo-based Melo Fishing
Charter's 17 1/2-foot Mellow Fellow (whose rule is No fish, No Pay) to
the 50-foot Killer White custom Sport Fisherman vessel, stationed at the
Holiday Isle Marina on mile marker 83.5. Rates on the larger boat start at
about $475 for a half-day, four-hour trip, while an eight-hour trip starts
at $700. Split among several people, the cost is more than fair,
considering the high costs of owning a boat. In this case it's true what
they say: The best boat is someone else's.
If you didn't catch any fish then don't fret. There's plenty of nearby
restaurants, selling probably what you wanted to catch. For hearty
appetites, there's the Coral Grill, on mile marker 83.5, offering
all-you-can-eat buffet specials comprised of everything from seafood to
ribs. The Whale Harbor Inn, a mile south of the Coral Grill, is also known
for bountiful lunches and dinners. Up the road in Key Largo there's the
Fish House, somewhat rustic and small in size but big on seafood
selection. Making Forest Gump proud, the Fish House offers fish in many
ways, including Blackened, Jamaican style and smoked.
For sports fans there's Jammers Grill and Pub and Hog Heaven, both
establishments frequented by sports fans who during football season may
want to watch a Miami Dolphins game and possibly eat a dolphin
sandwich-one of Hog Heaven's specialties. (Just like other establishments
in the Keys, broadcasts of blacked-out Miami Dolphins football games can
be seen here.) Miami locals sometimes make the trip to the area just to
enjoy the best of both the sporting world and the Florida Keys.
Once the meal settles and you're done fantasizing about the setting sun
over water, it's time to get out and experience some of the nightlife the
upper Keys have to offer. It might not be as bubbling as that of Key
West's Duval Street, but there are still many places to let your hair
down.
Woody's, at mile marker 82, is a late-night restaurant and lounge that
serves up dancing and live music until the wee hours of the night. The
venue is known as the home of Big Dick and the Extenders, a blues/rock
band fronted by a tall Indian named Dick who insults almost everyone
within range. So for those who have a frail ego and can't take a joke,
sitting near the back of the bar is highly recommended.
Volcanoes is the area's more popular dance club. Looking like a hybrid of
a Miami high-energy establishment and a laid-back Keys setting, Volcanoes
is a popular draw for college-aged visitors in town for any given holiday,
or for older natives who wish to exchange their sandals for some dancing
shoes. Likewise, the Tiki Bar, the area's biggest draw, also offers
late-night dancing, evoked by both live bands and DJs playing everything
from reggae to classic rock to dance.
So whether it's dancing, dining, or discovering, the upper Keys have a
little of everything the entire Keys area has to offer. And for folks in
South Florida it means the chance to enter another world without embarking
on a long odyssey.
-------------------------------
According to one local, November is the best month in Key West. The crowd
is minimal and the weather is perfect. High season in the Keys is
mid-December through March, and traffic on the Overseas Highway (and
seven-mile bridge) is terribly heavy. From November to the middle of
December, crowds begin to wane, and the weather is out of this world.
However, summer, even though hot and humid, is becoming a second high
season, especially among families and Europeans.
Average Weather
During the summer, the average high reaches the upper 80s to low 90s.
During the summer months, you can also expect more rain in Key West,
mostly in the form of thunderstorms. Usually the storms pass rather
quickly, although driving in them is not recommended. During the winter,
Key West boasts a pleasant climate, with temperatures averaging 75
degrees. The humidity is no where near the summer levels and the water is
perfect for swimming.
Transportation
The recommended mode of transport around Key West is by scooter or bike.
Walking is even suggested over the use of your car. Parking is scarce in
Key West and you'll pay a pretty penny to do it. If you're flying in and
strictly plan to stay in Key West, you don't even need to rent a car.
However, if you're planning to peruse the other Keys, you'll definitely
need a car.
In-Season Costs
Avoid Key West in March, when spring breakers line Duval Street. Hotels,
motels and inns significantly drop rates during the summer months – by
nearly half the going rate. The high season is winter and costs are known
to nearly triple.
Day Trips
If you've got a few days to spare, head to Miami. Roughly four hours north
of Key West, Miami is home to the famous South Beach - a hotspot for
nightlife.
Key West isn't the only Key. There are several more. Take a drive up US
Highway 1 and you'll pass Duck Key, Cow Key, Big Pine Key, Islamorada and
Key Largo.
A Driving
Tour City
|
------------------------
The charming area of Lake Buena Vista is owned and operated by Walt Disney World. On the eastern edge of the Disney property, you will find a Hotel Village and Marketplace. The area is very well maintained, manicured and immaculately clean.
Once an agricultural area of citrus fruits, in 1971 Disney opened its gates to fairy-tale pleasures and dream-like fantasylands. You can find everything that your heart desires in this land of make believe.
An unlimited amount of attractions are here, waiting for you and your family. With theme parks by day and shopping and entertainment by night, you will definitely get your money’s worth. You will be amazed at the excitement of this true holiday vacation.
Resort accommodations cover all the bases. There are many hotels, motels and resorts. Fort Wilderness has wooded campgrounds, jogging and biking trails, horseback riding, swimming and a petting farm.
There is fine as well as casual dining. Disney is the place where every effort is aimed at pleasing you.
Lake Buena Vista and Walt Disney World, the ultimate vacation!
----------------------
Referred to as the “Gateway to Florida,” Lake City sits within Columbia County. Its great natural resources are the Osceola Natural Forest, which borders the Suwannee River, and the Okefenokee Swamp, which is near the county line.
About 42 miles north of the Gainesville Regional Airport, Lake City is home for businesses in mobile home manufacturing and sales, asphalt paving and mining. It is also home to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.
At Lake City, you will discover nature in some of its rarest forms. The most popular visitor stop is the Ichetucknee River. With three miles of flowing spring water, it's one of the world’s greatest tubing sites. It also offers fine swimming and canoeing activities.
While you are here, try not to miss the historical events and festivals. The Olustee Battle and Reenactment festival is especially one to note.
In this warm friendly town, you can find an uncrowded, seasonal climate and perfect lifestyle. You will enjoy the many fine dining establishments and great shopping. Lake City has all the conveniences that you would find in a large city, all in a small Southern community.
-----------------------------------------
Lake Wales is known as one of the most terrific little towns in the Sunshine State, and is located just 60 miles southwest of