Florida Vacation Rentals and Travel Guide
Florida is the place people think about when they’re supposed to be working. When you dream about where you’ll spend those precious vacation days, you picture a Florida vacation rental. When you imagine yourself in retirement, you see idyllic scenes from the Sunshine State.
For many people, Florida is synonymous with Disney World. Orlando vacation rentals provide access to dozens of theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios Florida,Gatorland, Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, The Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center, and Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa. This centrally located city has also taken a cue from towns like Las Vegas and Branson, offering shows such as Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil. If you think the area has lots of amusement parks, you should see the list of golf courses – more than 100 can be found in the surrounding area!
Of course, Florida is so much more than roller coasters and waterslides.
The Panhandle of Florida, that northwestern arm along the top of the Gulf of Mexico, offers several great resort towns and some of the state’s best nature attractions. The jewel of these preserved coastal lands, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, consists of 160 miles of barrier islands. Nature trails wind through forests of pine and live oak and spill out upon white sand beaches. For a different kind of wild life, try the Destin vacation rentals and the Panama City condos and resorts, which have been popular with generations of spring-breakers and snowbirds.
Farther down the Gulf Coast are a string of beach towns along U.S. Highway 19 and the St. Petersburg-Tampa metropolitan area. Because North Gulf Coast vacation rentals face west, they typically offer the best sunsets in the states, with fiery orange skies set above the vast Gulf of Mexico. They also offer the best of the beach and the urban amenities of the Tampa Bay. The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg features the intriguing works of this famous surrealist painter and is located near the docks where fishermen and yachtsmen rub elbows. Afterward, enjoy the breeze from the deck on ChaCha Coconuts, one of the restaurants on The Pier.
For a quiet spot on Gulf, try the luxury vacation rentals on the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. This charming stretch of the coast has grown at its own pace, making it a much more exclusive and laid back destination. Families are often seen stooped over the sands, bucket and shovel in hand, searching for seashells. Lighthouse Beach has a historic and functioning lighthouse. Players at Captiva Island Golf Club often spot dolphins playing in the water. Go to Kayak Voyagers to rent some sea kayaks.
The South Gulf Coast was one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation during the recent real estate boom. Drawn by the classy towns of Ft. Meyers and Naples, as well as St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay, many people have come here to live the Good Life. They enjoy a profusion of golf courses, beaches and warm weather. The historic downtown waterfront of Ft. Meyers, located along the Caloosahatchee River, has become the coolest place to be in the area. After watching the sunset from the rooftop of the Sky Bar, patrons can head down below to dance the night away. Or they can head to the Cigar Bar – sorry, no Cubans for sale.
The southernmost tip of paradise consists of a string of islands called the Florida Keys. At these beachfront vacation rentals, a beach-bum ethos collides with the jet-set lifestyle. Take the Rain Barrel Artists Village in Islamorada, an artists colony founded 35 years ago by a vacationer who never went home. More than 100 exhibitors show and sell their work on the property. Then there’s the Key West Pops, an orchestra that will make any metropolitan socialite feel right at home. This all happens on islands surrounded by bright blue and turquoise waters that teems with scuba divers and snorkelers, anglers and deep sea fishermen, local yachts and sailboats that have been around the world.
Then there’s that whole stretch of coast on the Atlantic Ocean. From Miami to Daytona Beach, each community has its own flavor, making it easy to find vacation home rentals of every type. Miami has become an international symbol of beautiful people and luxurious lifestyles, with the Art Deco community of Miami Beach drawing the most visitors. After spending the day on the public beaches, stroll the boutiques for a new wardrobe. Just to the north, Fort Lauderdale poses some serious competition, with equally great beaches complemented by shopping on the Downtown Riverwalk and thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park. And let’s not forget Cape Canaveral, home of the country’s space program.
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Florida’s Top Ten Things to Do or See
1- Gulf Islands National Seashore2- Salvador Dali Museum
3- Captiva Beach
4- Miami Beach
5- Key West Aquarium
6- Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
7- Castillo de San Marcos
8- Disneyworld
9- Daytona International Speedway
10- Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk
