Beach Life in Sunny Florida

If the cold winter days make you dream of sun, why not take a trip to ‘the sunshine state’ of Florida and enjoy balmy temperatures and sunny weather, perfect for soaking up some beach action. Florida is home to many of the most beautiful and famous beaches in the world, with clear ocean waters and exciting wildlife. If you fancy the idea of a tropical Florida holiday take a pick from one of these five top beaches and get started on topping up your tan and hitting the waves:

Key West

Located just off the mainland of Florida, Key West is one of Florida’s most beautiful areas, with plenty of beaches that are perfect for snorkelling, kayaking, biking, fishing or just kicking back and soaking up the sun. There are numerous coral reefs and wrecks to explore and fantastic fresh, local seafood on offer at the local eateries.  For a secluded day try paying a visit to South Beach, with its shallow waters and concrete pier. If you prefer to have amenities on hand, try Higg’s Beach with its great facilities, wide sandy beach and long wooden pier.

Clearwater Beach

Home to immaculate white sand, clear seas and a variety of watersports and entertainment options, beautiful Clearwater Beach is a popular, family-friendly beach on the west coast of Florida. It holds a well-deserved reputation as one of America’s best beaches, perhaps due to its location along a narrow, three mile Peninsula, surrounded on one side by the Gulf of Mexico and peaceful Tampa Bay to the east. The town’s Clearwater Marine Aquarium is also located nearby, so consider popping in to pay a visit to Winter the dolphin, star of recent movie ‘Dolphin Tale’.

Daytona

This world famous 23-mile long sandy, white beach is hugely popular with car and beach lovers alike, thanks to its history of motorsports, with the old Daytona Beach Road Course having hosted races for over 50 years. If you’ve dreamed of driving on this iconic stretch of beach, the hard-packed sand means that cars are still permitted on an 18 mile stretch from sunrise to sunset. There are fireworks displays and live music in Daytona every Saturday night throughout summer.

Fort Lauderdale

The beautiful, clean beaches of Fort Lauderdale offer something for everyone, whether you’re on your own, in a couple or visiting as a family. There are long stretches of sand, warm tropical water, showers, picnic tables and plenty of great fishing, sailing and watersports on offer. Enjoy spending your day on the beach and eat at some of the great local restaurants by the water in the evening. Parking can be tough to find, but the area is known as the “Venice of America” because of its extensive canal system of more than 300 miles of navigable inland waterways that stretch all the way south to Miami. The Fort Lauderdale Sun Trolly is a fun and great value way to get to and from the beach each day.

South Beach, Miami

No trip to Florida would be complete without paying a visit to iconic Miami and South Beach offers many fantastic opportunities for people watching, eating, drinking, shopping, sunbathing, body surfing and plenty of great nightlife for partying into the small hours. The waters here are warm and the beaches are safe and clean. South Beach stretches for miles, with beautiful art deco architecture, colourful lifeguard towers and plenty of beautiful people strolling along the boardwalk, swimming and topping up their tans.

Getting to Florida

Organising a trip to Florida is easier than you’d think, and lowcostholidays.com offers a range of great value holidays to Florida, with flights and accommodation packages to suit every budget and taste.

Attractive Attractions In The Sunshine State

Balancing the needs of the whole family when it comes to holiday time can be a challenge – to say the least.  Should it be action-packed or relaxing?  How to keep the children entertained and find space for a little ‘us time’?  Holidays to Orlando, Florida, can offer just the right mix of all of the above – and some surprising extras.  While Walt Disney World holidays may conjure up images of hyperactive children and some hyperactive adults too, this is not always the case!  Disney holidays can offer more than you might expect.  Taking the whole family to the States may seem like the expensive option, but cheap Florida holidays are widely available.  The recession has been challenging for all industries – and for Florida the tourist trade is essential.  Welcoming as many as 70 million visitors a year, the State has been working hard to ensure that the availability of cheap Florida holidays is widespread.  With its sub-tropical climate and temperatures that can beat Skegness at any time of year – holidays to Orlando remain very popular with the British.

The Main Attraction?

Florida has been developing its theme parks for many decades – Disney holidays have been around for many years and they are still hugely popular with children – and a lot of adults too!  Orlando is the location for some of the best-known parks – which in addition to Disney include the Universal Orlando Resort  and SeaWorld Orlando.  Universal’s latest offering includes the ‘Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ which will be a sure hit with the children.  SeaWorld Orlando should appeal to most family members, whatever their age – but it’s a great park for those with the youngest of youngsters.  The park’s range of sea creatures is almost out of this world and the attractions are world-class.

The Wilder Side of Life

Florida was christened ‘La Florida’ meaning ‘Flowery Land’ by the early Spanish settlers, it’s also well known as the ‘Sunshine State’ – one of the main reasons so many British tourists love it. The local wildlife and landscapes offer a change from theme parks.  Florida is home to a number of National Parks – Everglades is probably the best known amongst foreign tourists.  Airboat rides through its swamps and glades offer some big thrills that can compete with the Theme Parks.  The wildlife here can get truly wild – and includes basking alligators and crocodiles guaranteed to keep the adrenalin levels in the children high!  In addition to Everglades there are a number of other National and State Parks.  The State Parks are less well known with non-US tourists – and offer a great alternative to Theme Park days out.  Designed to protect the landscape and allow access to it, they feature coastal parks with fishing, surfing and diving opportunities, along with walking, kayaking and cycling trails.  Camping facilities are available at the parks allowing you to get truly close to some Floridian nature.

Flexible and Fun

Although best known for the Walt Disney World holidays there are many other alternative options to fill your days with and these can offer some incredibly affordable days and nights out – making holidays to Orlando and the surrounding area a truly affordable and highly entertaining choice for your family holidays in 2012.

Three More Great Ideas For Fun in Key West

There is so much to do and see in the laid back and welcoming Keys – here are a few further ideas to consider, further to our blog last week.

Join the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square – Key West

The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square is where street performers, colourful entertainers and mouth-watering food stalls, come out onto the streets as the sun begins to descend. The square faces the Gulf of Mexico and the sun sets directly into the ocean to the west, running through a spectrum of colours as it sinks below the horizon. Each night, jugglers, artists, acrobats and vendors sell locally-produced goods. The whole area fills up and masses of people come to watch, enjoy and sample the excellent street food. Once the sunset is complete the square empties and the bars along Duval Street start to fill up, making for a fun and atmospheric evening’s entertainment.

Tip: Try to get to the Square at least an hour before sunset, so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the festival’s entertainment before the sunset.

Make a sea voyage on the famous Key West Catamaran, Key West

Grab your sea hat and hop on the pride of Key West – the magnificent Key West Fury Catamaran. The glass bottom of the boat means that you can appreciate the fascinating marine life of Key West, without having to get your hair wet. The seated outdoor deck is perfect for sun-worshippers, whilst the air-conditioned viewing area is ideal for cooling down. The Captain and crew will keep you informed about all the colourful reef and wildlife to be seen, so keep your eye out for a variety of fish, sea turtles, rays and bottle-nosed dolphins.

Tip: Romantics should consider the Fury Sunset Cruise, the perfect option for enjoying the tropical waters with the magnificent sunset as a backdrop. You can even enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne!

An Educational Visit To Hemingway House – Key West

Drop into Hemingway House, to see where Ernest Hemingway, one of America’s most respected authors, lived, worked and played. The grounds are now home to about 60 cats – many of which are descendants of the writer’s own moggies from the 1930s. The Spanish Colonial-style house still contains the original furniture used by Hemingway and his family. Visitors are free to explore the airy rooms, filled with his collection of antiques and oddities, and stroll through to the lush gardens.

Tip: Keep a close eye on the distinctive cats – many of them are rumoured to be ancestors of a six-toed feline gifted to Hemingway by a sea captain. You’ll see that some of the kittens playing in the garden have an extra “finger” on their paws!

It’s great fun to visit the Keys in Florida.  American Holidays offers a range of reasonably-priced flights and packages to the area . All the islands have a different feel to them, but they have a few things in common – they are sunny, inviting places , where the locals are relaxed and happy to help you have a great break in beautiful surroundings.

Island Life At Its Best

With its stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, warm weather and varied activities, the Florida Keys offer something for every individual. This mile-long group of islands is located on the southern tip of Florida, is connected by roads, bridges and causeways and encompasses more than 1,700 islands in an arch-like shape across the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

With relaxing beaches,  superb shopping and natural and educational sightseeing, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy for all ages and interests.

The Dolphin Research Centre – Grassy Key

A must for animal lovers is The Dolphin Research Centre located in Grassy Key. This  is a small peaceful Key just minutes from the heart of Marathon. The the facility provides a safe and nurturing environment for Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. As one of the oldest facilities in Florida dedicated to looking after dolphins, the Dolphin Research Centre cares for animals  that are injured or unable to care for themselves in the wild. Here you can get close to the dolphins at the centre, swim with them, or even become a trainer for a day to learn about the techniques used to teach these incredible, intelligent animals.

Tip: If you’re a devoted dolphin lover, then The Dolphin Research Centre offers four week volunteer programs, allowing you to spend time helping with the care of all the animals in the facility.

Scuba Dive at Spiegel Grove, Key Largo 

Spiegel Grove offers a unique sea adventure – 134-feet beneath the ocean, near Dixie Shoals in Key Largo, lies the largest ship in the world to be intentionally sunk! At 510-foot vessel is equivalent in length to a couple of  football fields.  The ship dock was sunk in 2002 to create an artificial reef. Algae, sponges and coral provide foot and shelter for some 130 species of fish and it also  provides a  fascinating sight for sea bed explorers.

Tip: Spiegel Grove is a dive centre, suited to intermediate and advanced divers.

Coco Plum Beach, Marathon

If you’re looking for a quieter spot to get away from it all,  the lesser known Coco Plum Beach is perfect for you. Here you can take a stroll along the long, narrow shoreline or enjoy a romantic picnic on this beautiful stretch of beach. The clear blue waters and white sand make this the perfect place for tropical relaxation in the Florida Key.

Tip: Coco Plum is also a turtle nesting beach, so keep an eye out in nesting season (between May and October) for any signs and be careful not to disturb any you may find.

The Turtle Hospital, Marathon

Five species of sea turtles inhabit Florida’s waters during various times of the year and the beaches are home to 80% of Loggerhead turtles in the U.S.  As the most important nesting area in the United States, there are thought to be 50,000 sea turtles inhabiting the area in the summer months! Sadly, many of these majestic animals are injured or killed by boats, fishing lines and human interventions. The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, in the heart of the Keys, works hard to rehabilitate injured or sick turtles and return them to their natural sea environment. Visitors to the centre can learn about the important work that goes on at the Hospital and can even feed some of the permanent residents.

Tip: If you spot a sick or injured turtle when visiting the Keys, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as they have a wide network of resources to aid in their rescue.  Sea turtles are endangered so, as much as you may want to help, don’t try to touch or handle them yourself.

You can access the Florida Keys by plane, road and sea so its really easy to get to. There are plenty of holiday firms who offer a wide range of  affordable, quality holiday packages.  Try and spend a few days in the Upper Keys, Middle Keys and Lower Keys – each area is so diverse,  it would be a shame to miss out!

Which area should we stay in on a visit to Miami?

We tend to prefer older, historic parts of cities, and somewhere not too touristy.

You should definitely make for Miami Beach, the eight-mile-long spit of land just across Biscayne Bay from Downtown. Tourists have been coming here since the 1940s, and you can’t avoid them, but they flock here for good reason —­ the beaches are outstanding and the buzz electric, especially in the two-square-mile section called South Beach.

There is plenty to explore in the South Beach region but most visitors will pick up car hire in Florida and venture further afield.

Miami Art Deco Buildings

The biggest collection of art-deco buildings in the world is here, too ­— about 1,000 of them ­— and it’s the USA’s fulcrum of glamour. There’s a huge range of hotels — from the mammoth Fontainebleau resort  fontainebleau.com; doubles from £248, B&B and the minimalist Delano delano-hotel.com; doubles from £304, room-only to smaller boutique properties such as the Shelborne Beach Resort shelborne.com; doubles from £165, room-only) and the Ocean Surf theoceansurf.com; doubles from £64, B&B).

For more inspiration, visit the excellent miamiboutiquehotels.com.

If you really do have an aversion to the beach, though, try the Design District, inland across the Julia Tuttle Causeway. It’s in the vicinity of edgy areas such as Little Haiti and Little Havana, but is a hip neighbourhood akin to New York’s Meatpacking District or London’s Shoreditch a few years back.

Go to miamidesigndistrict.net for hundreds of galleries and bars.

Top reasons to visit Florida

For year-round holiday entertainment, it’s hard to beat Florida – and in 2010 there are lots of old and new reasons to visit America’s sunshine state.

Wonder at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Set to open in Spring 2010, this new 20-acre Harry Potter land transports visitors into J K Rowling’s wizarding world, bringing the books and films to life. Complete with a life-sized Hogwarts Castle, the village of Hogsmeade, and many other attractions including rollercoasters, it’s an adventure for Potter fans.

Go on safari with Sesame Street

Also set for a Spring 2010 opening is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new child-friendly Sesame Street-themed play land, ‘Sesame Street Safari of Fun’. Celebrating the spirit of Africa and featuring all-time favourite characters such as Big Bird and Elmo, the playland will offer children’s rides, 4-D theatre, musical performances, and water play areas such as ‘Bert & Ernie’s Water Hole’, a splashing adventure complete with geysers and water jets.

See weird white Crocodiles

Visitors to Gatorland in Orlando can now see a colony of rare and spooky-looking white crocodiles, of which just 12 are believed to be in existence in the USA. The creatures were reintroduced there towards the end of 2009, and are housed in lowly-lit enclosures to protect them from harmful sun exposure.

Getting around Florida

To enjoy many of the following events it helps to be able to drive and hire a car in Florida.  Advanced booking through online car hire brokers such as easyCar let you arrange to pick up a car the moment you arrive and clear customs and immigration at the main airports in Florida

Go Golfing

Orlando has been named 2010′s ‘Golf Destination of the Year’ for North America by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators thanks to its 177 courses and 23 golf academies – catering for all levels. Before you book or travel, you can research the various golfing options online at

Celebrate 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, and to celebrate a large-scale fan event, ‘Star Wars Celebration V‘, has been organised for 12-15 August 2010 in Orlando. Promising to be one of the largest official Star Wars fan events ever, there will be fan-run events, members of the cast and crew, screenings, live entertainment and collectibles.

For more up to date things to do and see in Florida visit http://www.uptake.com/florida.html

Florida Holiday Ideas

There is no better summer holiday for the family than traveling throughout the state of Florida. There is so much variety in what you can do in the Sunshine State that you would not run out of activities and attractions no matter how much time you spend.

The beaches, of course, are world-known and can be enjoyed all along the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other side. Daytona Beach is one of the most popular. The Gulf Coast with its long stretches of sandy beach encourages swimming, boating, fishing, diving, and more. Panama City beach is another favorite.

Disney World Florida

Disney World in Orlando is the most popular destination along with Epcot and Universal Studios, and there are many discount packages being offered, some even including food as well as accommodations. Disney World has a total of four theme parks, two water parks, thousands of hotel rooms, golf courses, and shopping.

St. Augustine, the oldest city, offers many historical memorials covering 500 years of Florida’s history and unusual attractions such as a preserved fort and the Spanish Quarter Living Museum where the day-to-day life of settlers from the 18th century is acted out with craftsmen from the past.

The Florida Keys are popular with fishermen, scuba divers, snorkelers, jet skiers, and tourists who can enjoy the historical offerings of this southernmost tip of Florida.

The Tampa Bay area is a busy cruise port with nearby Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium, and more.

In St. Petersburg the Salvador Dali Museum will permit you to see the world’s most exclusive collection of Dali’s works.

Amelia Island, the northernmost barrier island, has natural beauty and a gorgeous resort.

NASA Kennedy Space Center

The NASA Kennedy Space Center is extra popular right now as the 40th anniversary of the first man on the moon is being celebrated. You and your children can enjoy a simulated launch, see space exhibits and the launch pad (and sometimes a shuttle), visit the astronaut training center, and learn a tremendous amount about space travel.

There is Sea World, Wet n” Wild, Parrot Jungle, and other animal attractions as well as many amusement parks.

The Miami area offers a Latin vibe, art deco architecture, South Beach has been renovated and is “party central”, or you can take an airboat ride in the Everglades.

Natural attractions are abundant throughout the 8,426 miles of coastline. The summer weather is quite hot and humid, so remember your light-weight cotton clothing, sun screen, and hats.

You can get great deals on Florida holidays this summer as well as package holidays from a wide range of different online tour operators.