Best Florida Beach Vacations

Why choose a beach vacation in Florida? One good reason is because wherever you go in Florida, you're never more than 60 miles from the beach!

Florida is also easy to get to, the temperature is pleasurable year round, it offers good value for your money and that's just for starters. So whether you are looking for a family vacation, a romantic vacation, a relaxing vacation or getting in some golf time, there is a Florida beach vacation area for you.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Families

Siesta Public Beach

Siesta Public Beach in Sarasota makes a great family beach because of its gradual slopes, shallow waters, lifeguards on duty, fine white sand and tranquil waters. It has won awards for best beach based on sand, water quality and facilities. The beach facilities include picnic areas, rest rooms, concession stands, playground, trails, and tennis and volleyball courts. If you enjoy collecting shells, try Turtle Beach, at the south end of the island.

Tampa Bay Area - St. Petes/Clearwater

Located on the West Coast of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico, the Tampa Bay area is a waterfront heaven! Miles and miles of white sandy beaches along the Gulf Coast offer unlimited options for a fun and relaxing vacation. When you need a break from the surf and sand, there are plenty of nearby activities to keep the kids amused including the Florida Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Lowry Park Zoo.

Daytona

With twenty-three miles of sparkling white sandy beaches and beautiful blue-green waters there is no shortage of beach fun for whole family. The beach is up to 500 feet wide at low tide and is perfect for castle building, cycling, jogging, fishing or just relaxing in the sun. The Atlantic Ocean is great for swimming, especially during the spring and summer when water temperatures range from 74 to 80 degrees. And you are only an hour's drive from Orlando if you are so inclined.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Romance

Miami Beach

A Miami romantic vacation has everything from relaxing on the beach by day and dancing by night. There are lots of art deco and interesting hotels on South Beach. A short drive west will bring you to the Everglades, where you can take a Scenic Boat Tour and see plenty of wildlife, including alligators. You can shop at the ritzy Bal Harbor shops, and at night choose from plenty of dance clubs or mellow jazz bars and restaurants.

Marco Island

Marco Island is located at the southern tip of Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast at the western entrance to Everglades National Park. The island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and natural wilderness on the other. There are miles of white-sand beaches, lavish real estate, shopping, dining, nightlife, attractions and lots of outdoor activities. Your recreation choices include swimming, sunbathing fishing, golf, tennis, and more. Enjoy the subtropical ambience that exists in Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast.

Cocoa Beach
Cocoa Beach has beautiful sandy beaches and a great pier that is available for fishing, dining & dancing. There is a large promenade leading to the beach with an observation deck overlooking the ocean, perfect for romantic walks. While you're on the Space Coast you can visit the Kennedy Space Center, go deep-sea fishing, surf, windsurf, rent a jet ski, golf our take a take a river tour. At night there is lots of nightlife and great dining for you to enjoy.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Relaxing

New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach is a laid-back beach town without the crowds, noise or pollution, which gives visitors a relaxing beach experience. Although the northern beach is accessible to cars, the majority is traffic free, allowing for peaceful sunbathing and strolls along the beach. New Smyrna has a small town feel in its architecture and atmosphere. There are no high-rises along the beach, only low-rise buildings and these accommodations range from bed and breakfast inns, family-size condominiums or oceanfront motels.

Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island is one of the unique barrier islands of the world, having an east-west orientation when most islands are north south. This gives the island great sandy beaches with plenty of shells. Check out Bowman's Beach for peach and quiet, you won't find any hotels here. You can park and walk over a bridge to secluded white beach. There are barbecue grills in the area so it is a great spot to have a picnic and enjoy the beach.

Punta Gorda

Punta Gorda is located about 30 miles north of Fort Myers. There is plenty of waterfront in this town, and a very nice riverfront beach area. Here you can enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking and walking in the woods, it is a great place to get away from the crowds. The town of Punta Gorda has street art, water views and interesting murals that enrich the historic downtown district that also has cobblestone streets and gaslights, and many fine shops and restaurants.

Best Florida Beach Areas for Golf

Sarasota

Sarasota is a sophisticated resort town near the Gulf of Mexico. For beach lovers there is Sarasota's 35 miles of fine, pure, sparkling white sand beach to enjoy. As far as golf is concerned there are 32 golf courses in the Sarasota area and almost 20 more if you include the surrounding cities of Bradenton and Venice. You will find one for every level of ability available for your golfing pleasure.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville has twenty miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches and lots of nearby state parks to explore. You will find lots of things to do and lots of beaches to explore in Jacksonville. For golfers there are over 25 golf courses in the area. Several championship golf courses are located nearby; many of which are ranked among the top in the country offering challenges for players of every skill level, ranging from top ocean side resorts to popular public courses.

Naples

Naples, located on a stretch of southwest Florida that is not bordered by barrier islands, has seven miles of silky, white sand beach that overlooks the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is plenty of shopping and dining in the area once the sun goes down beachfront. There are also dozens of excellent golf courses in the area. From May through October, the golf courses are not as crowded and you can pick your tee time and be assured of a leisurely round. Also, many private courses are open to the public during these months.

Article Source:  Ezine Articles

Highlights of the Emerald Coast - Fort Walton Beach

Unfolding along Florida's panhandle is a beautiful region called the Emerald Coast. Its name comes from the sparkling green waters of the Gulf of Mexico that abut its sandy shores. The Emerald Coast begins in Pensacola to the west, and stretches 100 miles east to Panama City. Midway between them lies the real heart of the Emerald Coast: the sister cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. Flanking the outlet where the wide, beautiful Choctawhatchee Bay flows into the Gulf, these cities provide a prime vacation destination. Although Destin is fast becoming quite popular and upscale, if you enjoy a more down-to-earth atmosphere, you should check out Fort Walton Beach. If you're looking for a remarkable beach vacation in a town with a laid-back attitude, you'll enjoy your time here, and you'll never run out of things to do. Start your planning with the fine Fort Walton Beach vacation rentals.

The main attraction near Fort Walton Beach hotels is the spectacular shoreline. The beaches here are clean, soft, and white. They've been named the "safest in the country," as well as making "most beautiful beaches" lists. They're so addicting that you may find yourself simply unwinding each day with the sun on your face and your toes in sand, enjoying a light breeze and the sound of waves rolling in to shore. Maybe you'll rouse yourself to do some shelling or build a sand castle. The length of the shoreline near your Fort Walton Beach vacation rental is lined with coastal dunes. Ranging up to 50 feet high, these the dunes are particularly susceptible to human encroachment. Thus, more than 60 percent of them are protected by law, so you can stroll along them in their pristine, natural state right in front of your cozy inn.

The warm emerald waters of the Gulf may invite you in. With so much water all around your hotel, you'll find plenty of water recreation to enjoy. Although this area of the Gulf of Mexico is too far north for coral reefs, there are numerous artificial reefs and shipwrecks, even airplanes, to explore, so scuba diving or snorkeling in the clear water is a delight. You may be joined by manta rays, dolphins, or large loggerhead sea turtles. If you prefer to remain on top of the water, you can still view the sea life in a glass-bottom boat tour. Perhaps you'll spend a day away from your Fort Walton Beach lodging on a deep sea fishing cruise.

Freshwater fishing is abundant here, as well, with some bayous and various area rivers providing many choices. The Blackwater River is popular for canoeing, tubing or kayaking. You'll find beautiful areas on land as well. You might visit nearby Eden State Gardens, a hundred-year-old estate overlooking Choctawhatchee Bay. The moss-draped oak trees and picturesque gardens of azaleas and camellias transport to an earlier time. There's even sightseeing underground. You can head to Marianna from your Fort Walton Beach vacation rental to tour the Florida Caverns, the only limestone caverns in the state.

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Florida Beaches - Swimming - Boating - Fishing - Night Life

When many people think of Florida the first thoughts they have are sunshine and beaches. That's because Florida has gorgeous sunshine year round and breathtaking white sandy beaches that attract residents and visitors year round. Some beaches are more well-known such as The Florida Keys, Miami's South Beach. The east coast has Daytona and Cocoa Beach and on the west coast there is St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach. Panama City has also become a popular spring break and summer getaway for younger beach goers who are looking for a great place to unwind and enjoy the sun. No matter which location you choose, you can't go wrong. Most locations have taken great care in preserving their shorelines, placing boardwalks or piers to sight see from, and offer low priced and upscale hotels and condominiums to enjoy. Whether you are looking for a seasonal getaway or want to call one of these seaside locations home, you will not be disappointed. Florida is blessed with warm weather almost year round which makes it a great place to stroll in the sand, splash in the water, enjoy a sunset or take advantage of the beach side restaurants that provide lively entertainment and night life.

Florida is surrounded by great waterways to enjoy. You can charter a boat or Jet Ski to play on the water. A good captain will be able to help you catch snook, grouper or the many other types of fish in these waters! You can take sight seeing cruises where you can see dolphins, sea turtles or go to many small or remote islands off these coasts. The Florida Keys is an ocean lovers paradise and popular for lobster catching, snorkeling or scuba diving. It has great live coral and the scenery is breathtaking.

Recently, many beaches have started to expand to not just offer daytime activities but to really spice up their night life. Visitors were coming to this area and spending their days at the shore and their nights in larger cities nearby. These cities decided they wanted their visitors to stay nearby and have taken an interest in offering beach side entertainment such as bands, magicians, and street vendors. Local restaurants and hotels have begun serving appetizers and drinks out on the patio areas and people have started to enjoy sitting by the ocean at night listing to the crashing waves. Now these beach side locations are some of the most popular in town!

Florida Real Estate has always been very popular on the water. Hotels are remodeling to attract more guests. Condominiums and town homes are undergoing renovations to update their facilities and offer more amenities to their owners. Waterfront property has never been more popular. If you are looking for a great place to vacation or live, don't miss the Florida Beaches. These white sand beaches overlook some of the best water and sea life. View dolphins splashing in the water or go for a day of fishing and you will see why so many people come to Florida year round.

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Florida Vacation Rentals For Spring Break

Everyone enjoys a nice vacation once in awhile, especially when the sun starts to come out. Spring break is one of the most popular times of the year to hit the beach. If you haven't started planning your next spring break yet, then consider taking it down to Florida and renting a vacation home for the weekend.

Have you ever tried booking a hotel for break? Not only are you put on hold longer but there is a chance you may not even get a room in the hotel you wanted. Plus what family is going to want to vacation at a hotel that is booked with wild partying highschoolers all week? Panama City and Miami are some of the top places kids go to party for break. The smart thing to do is rent one of the many vacation homes found in Florida. Not only will you have all the amenities from home, but you have all sorts of condos, beach huts, cottages, and more to choose from.

For families going on spring break in Florida, is it definitely encouraged to rent a beach home for your stay. Think about all the money you will save on getting more than one hotel room or by going out to eat. When you rent a home you can stock the fridgerator, cook at the house, and keep the spending to a minimal. Plus, who can turn down a home right on one of the Florida beaches? The hotel beaches during spring break will be crowded and rental homes give you the luxury of having your own private beach.

Planning a vacation for your spring break should be fun. Avoid the long waits and crowded beaches and enjoy Florida at your own beach house for the week.

Article Source: Ezine Articles