Florida vacations and florida travel, golf packages, beaches, florida resorts, hotels

North Florida

With great vacation activities and attractions all over Florida, you'd be hard pressed to find a better place to tour than Northeast Florida. It starts at the very northeast quadrant of Florida in Amelia Island with Fernandina Beach, an old Army fort at Fort Clinch State Park, the Talbot Islands State Parks and the Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island. The port city of Jacksonville is just inland from this area and cruises, sports events and tourism attractions can be found almost anywhere in this big city. Exploring and enjoying the activities and attractions of this area could easily take an entire week or more so don't plan to cut your time here short.

Orlando/Central Florida

With over 45 million tourists each year, the Greater Orlando area is one of the world's leading resort destinations. Most know for being the home of the Disney World Theme Park, the area also house the Universal Studios, MGM Studios, Sea World and much more. Apart from the many large-scale attractions that the area boasts, a short drive to the city of Winter Park reveals the Morse Museum of American Art, which houses the world's most comprehensive collection of Louis Tiffany glasswork. For outdoor recreation opportunities, the city of Kissimmee makes an excellent home base. Hiking, biking, camping, fishing and boating are activities that are practiced near Kissimmee on Lake Tohopekaliga, better known by Floridians as Lake Toho.

South Florida

Miami - Located on the coast of southeastern Florida, the tropical climate and landscape of Miami are only part of what makes it a major visitor destination. The city's cultural diversity is another incentive. Nearly half of Miami's two-million-plus population is Hispanic, accounting for the fact that Spanish is as prevalent as English. To sample some of Miami's Spanish offerings, visit Little Havana, the Latin American Art Museum or any of the many Latin nightclubs that liven the evening. Miami's array of live music clubs, which range from jazz to blues to Afro-Cuban and even rumba rap, are sure to satisfy a variety of tastes.

Fort Lauderdale - Although Fort Lauderdale is surrounded by water, the city is essentially residential rather than a beachfront resort community as many expect. An abundance of waterways account for the fact that Fort Lauderdale is the country's largest yacht basin. It is important for visitors to know that the city is divided into three parts: the mainland area of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the cruise port of Port Everglades, and the beach area. Although the beach spans for three miles and is the area's main attraction, drawing thousands of visitors each year, each area is unique. Boat tours and cruises are plentiful, and are a great way for first-time visitors to get acquainted with the area. Miles of beaches, waterways and lagoons make Fort Lauderdale, the Venice of America, a popular destination for tourists year round. For the culturally curious, the Museum of Art in Fort Lauderdale features a number of permanent exhibits as well as rotating displays and traveling shows.

West Palm Beach - This part of Florida is located on the eastern coast of the state and is a popular subtropical vacation destination. The outdoors figure highly in most travel itineraries, with everything from fishing, golf, tennis and more available to visitors year round. Singer Island is linked to the mainland by bridge and features diving and parasailing along with a trolley that transports visitors to the different attractions. Canoeing through a cypress forest is a popular attraction in Jupiter and allows guests to explore the terrain that leads out to the coast. The arts are also represented in the Palm Beach area, including the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the Norton Museum, and the Palm Beach Philharmonic. Several outdoor markets can be found in the area, complimenting the festivals and concerts that take place throughout the year. The Playmobile Fun Park is a family-oriented attraction that features a dollhouse, medieval village and more sights based on the popular toy.

Southwest Florida

Tampa - With a long held reputation as a vacation destination, mention of the Tampa Bay area elicits thoughts of dazzling beaches and waterfronts among some of Florida' s most well known resorts. Tampa is Florida's largest city, complete with all the amenities and services travelers could ask for. St. Petersburg and Clearwater further the area's acclaim as a get-away location, with fine dining, live entertainment and an abundance of leisure opportunities including boating, deep-sea fishing, water skiing, and golf all within easy reach. The Bush Gardens theme park and the magnificent Florida Aquarium are two Tampa Bay area attractions favored by families. The town of Tarpon Springs was named for the large fish native to the area that resemble prehistoric beasts and which are the cause of the well known saltwater fishing that is available today.

Sarasota Bay - Many travelers to the Sarasota Bay Area are captured by the beautiful scenery of the Gulf of Mexico. Nature provided this area with plenty of reefs, estuaries, bays and inlets, making it rich with fishing spots that feature fish like cobia, redfish, kingfish and tarpon. Parks such as Cayo Costa State Prak and Don Pedro Island Sate Park provide visitors with a secluded environment to enjoy various outdoor activities. Of course, the white sand beaches of the area should not be missed. Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Lido Key and Siesta Key offer perfect locations to sunbathe and view the sunset. Various museums in the Sarasota Bay Area provide a detailed look back into the history of South Florida, while aquariums, such as the Parker Manaree Aquarium, allow visitors to have some interaction with marine animals. The Pelican Man' s Bird Sanctuary in Sarasota provides an opportunity to see local birds, with over 55 different species represented.

(Source: www.florida.worldweb.com)