| The following guide has been written for | | | | Biking is a must on Sanibel. The Ding Darling |
| those who are interested in going on holiday | | | | National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel is a 5000 |
| to Florida. Whether you seek the fun and | | | | acre preservation area which can be enjoyed |
| fantasy of Walt Disney World, great shopping | | | | via a scenic biking, walking or driving |
| and dining, or recreation and relaxation on | | | | route. Two public golf courses, tennis, boat |
| fantastic beaches, Florida, the Sunshine | | | | rentals and charters are readily available. |
| State, has it all! | | | | At the south end of Periwinkle Way are |
| | | | clusters of shops and boutiques tucked |
| Kissimmee & Orlando | | | | unobtrusively among tropical landscaping and |
| | | | offering a most delightful melange of |
| The Kissimmee resort area lies at the heart | | | | clothing, souvenirs, arts and crafts. |
| of the Sunshine State, with the highest | | | | |
| concentration anywhere of theme parks and | | | | Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island is 7 miles |
| attractions. The choice of entertainment is | | | | of sugar sand beach-front along the inviting |
| practically endless. Walt Disney Worlds four | | | | Gulf of Mexico. The gentle sloping shoreline, |
| parks - The Magic Kingdom, Epcot , Disney-MGM | | | | calm waters and relaxed atmosphere make Fort |
| Studios and Disneys Animal Kingdom - as well | | | | Myers Beach a favourite with families. The |
| as Universal Studios and Universals Islands | | | | location is also ideal for a day trip to the |
| of Adventure and Sea World are all fabulous | | | | Everglades or a visit to the secluded islands |
| theme parks you wont want to miss. Each park | | | | of nearby Sanibel and Captiva. The town of |
| is wonderfully unique, providing fun and | | | | Fort Myers is a short drive away and offers |
| adventure which is sure to delight visitors | | | | many golf courses, shopping malls and |
| of every age! | | | | attractions including the winter homes of |
| | | | Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Back on the |
| The action is virtually non-stop, with the | | | | beach enjoy sporting activities such as |
| parks open late and a nightlife that is | | | | cycling, tennis or boating, or take a |
| equally unique and entertaining. In the | | | | leisurely stroll at sunset on the |
| Summer months you can even spend a balmy | | | | crystal-white sandy beach. Dine at |
| evening at a water fun park like Wet nWild or | | | | restaurants right on the beach, where fresh |
| Typhoon Lagoon. There is a wide choice of | | | | local seafood awaits you or enjoy the casual |
| good quality restaurants often with an all | | | | atmosphere of the many eateries and bars. |
| you can eat buffet, as well as a full range | | | | |
| of fast food places. You can combine dinner | | | | Naples and Marco Island |
| with entertainment at one of the themed | | | | |
| dinner attractions in the area. In case you | | | | Naples is a great aprs-theme-park escape for |
| find free time on your hands, you can shop | | | | the discerning visitor to Florida. Just 3 1/2 |
| till you drop in one of the enormous malls or | | | | hours drive from Orlando and 11⁄2 hours |
| factory outlets. The bargains are great! | | | | drive from Miami, its sweeping Gulf beaches |
| | | | are just a stones throw from the Everglades. |
| The Florida Suncoast | | | | The superb Naples lifestyle is still |
| | | | relatively unknown to visitors, but a visit |
| Central to the Suncoast are the communities | | | | here will reveal why so many people want to |
| of St Pete Beach, Madeira Beach, Indian | | | | return again and again. Every corner of |
| Shores and Indian Rocks Beach. These are | | | | Naples holds an image of tropical bliss, from |
| uncrowded beach resorts close to a host of | | | | swaying palm trees and technicolour sunsets |
| activities that make for a perfect beach | | | | to landscaped communities and sparkling |
| holiday. The beach and sea are the areas | | | | waterways. Naples is known for its upmarket |
| greatest attractions, but tourist attractions | | | | shopping. Both 3rd Street South and the |
| are plentiful, giving you the opportunity to | | | | Village of Venetian Bay offer a unique |
| do as little or as much as you please. For | | | | cluster of speciality shops, open air cafes |
| years visitors from all over the world have | | | | and restaurants. Cultural pursuits include a |
| enjoyed Busch Gardens, the Salvador Dali | | | | resident Philharmonic orchestra, theatres and |
| Museum and Sunken Gardens, among the many fun | | | | first-rate art galleries and museums. Other |
| and interesting places within easy reach. | | | | entertainment includes the Pier, Jungle |
| Sports enthusiasts will delight in the range | | | | Larrys Zoological Gardens, Collier Automotive |
| of activities whether you are a participator | | | | Museum, and even a Teddy Bear Museum! For |
| or a spectator: fishing, boating, golf, | | | | those who are passionate about golf, youll |
| tennis and baseball to name just a few. The | | | | find paradise on a par with the unparalleled |
| proximity of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and | | | | lifestyle. |
| Tampa offers an even wider choice of places | | | | |
| to explore, restaurants to enjoy and shops to | | | | Situated at the corner of the Sunshine State |
| discover. The restaurants range from the | | | | is Marco Island, the largest of the Ten |
| deliciously sophisticated to the irresistibly | | | | Thousand Islands and a gateway to the |
| informal, from fresh lobster to pizza and | | | | Everglades. Just six miles long and four |
| beer! Madeira Beach has outstanding fishing | | | | miles wide, the island has over three miles |
| and is particularly famous for Johns Pass | | | | of beautiful white sandy beach and waterways |
| Village and Boardwalk - a unique collection | | | | reaching into every corner of its inland |
| of shops, boutiques and restaurants built on | | | | landscape. Marco Island simply surrounds you |
| the water. From here you can hire boats for | | | | with opportunities: over thirty golf courses |
| the day (or forever!). Indian Shores and | | | | conveniently closeby, close to seventy |
| Indian Rocks Beach are the friendly island | | | | restaurants, the Everglades National Park, a |
| towns with a welcoming and laid back Florida | | | | historic trail with charming boutiques, |
| lifestyle. | | | | factory outlet shopping and an endless range |
| | | | of watersports. |
| Sarasota Area | | | | |
| | | | Florida Keys and Key West |
| The Sarasota/Bradenton area is easily | | | | |
| accessible from Orlando. The area contains | | | | The Florida Keys, Highway 1 The Overseas |
| some lovely beaches, local shops and good | | | | Highway and forty-two bridges connect this |
| family restaurants. The Sarasota area offers | | | | string of coral rock islands. Bounded on the |
| botanical gardens, fine museums, performing | | | | east by the clear blue waters of the Atlantic |
| arts, world class golf courses, upmarket | | | | Gulf Stream and on the west by the tranquil |
| shopping, boating and other watersports - | | | | Florida Bay and the outlying fringes of the |
| there is something for everyone! | | | | Everglades, the Keys enjoy the second largest |
| | | | coral reef system in the world. The reef |
| Anna Maria Island is a peaceful seaside | | | | protects the Keys and is the reason why there |
| community with no high rise hotels, lovely | | | | are no sandy beaches on these islands. |
| sandy beaches and turquoise-blue Gulf waters. | | | | Americas foremost underwater parks - John |
| You can even enjoy the serene beauty from the | | | | Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the |
| islands delightful beachfront dining | | | | adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary |
| facilities. A perfect year round location for | | | | - cover approximately 178 nautical square |
| families and couples. | | | | miles and are the areas star attractions. You |
| | | | must see and experience the wondrous |
| At the southern end of the Sarasota area is | | | | enchantment of the ancient coral landscape, |
| the island of Siesta Key. Siesta Keys award | | | | home to an extensive variety of fish and |
| winning beaches are officially recognised as | | | | undersea life, either as a shallow water |
| having the most pristine, powdery white sands | | | | snorkeller or a deep-water scuba diver. Dive |
| in the world. No sand is quite like it; even | | | | shops, guides, charters and equipment in the |
| under the burning subtropical sun, it feels | | | | Upper Keys are abundant. |
| cool to the touch! To the visitors who flock | | | | |
| here each year, the enchantment is many-fold: | | | | 133 miles from the southernmost tip of the |
| miles of wide white walking beach, elegant | | | | Florida mainland is Key West an island where |
| gourmet restaurants, a quaint village with | | | | the famous and infamous alike come to enjoy a |
| resident artists and interesting shops, and | | | | lifestyle with a European flavour and an |
| an island ambience all of its own. | | | | all-American flair. Key West is home to |
| | | | poets, writers, artists and craftsmen all |
| South of Sarasota lies unspoilt Manasota Key. | | | | lured by its special way of life. Stay in Key |
| With an average year-round temperature of 75F | | | | West and leave your car parked. Key West is a |
| and the sea nearly always in the 80s, it is | | | | town that never seems to sleep, but instead |
| not surprising that those who have discovered | | | | seems to come alive as the sun goes down. |
| one of Floridas best kept secrets have not | | | | Each evening jugglers, musicians and street |
| been in a hurry to tell others! You will | | | | artists convene on the Mallory Dock for the |
| often see dolphins at play just off the beach | | | | Sunset Celebration. The streets are filled |
| and logger-head turtles in the sand. Collect | | | | with sidewalk cafes, open-air bars, legendary |
| shells, take a relaxed dip in the sea and | | | | pubs and world-class restaurants. Discover |
| watch the sun go down. The small charming | | | | Duval Street, the longest street in America |
| seaside town of Venice is just minutes away. | | | | because it stretches from the Atlantic Ocean |
| | | | to the Gulf of Mexico! Here you will find the |
| The Englewood area offers a choice of | | | | world famous Sloppy Joes, Ricks Cafe and the |
| restaurants and shopping. Fabulous Boca | | | | home of the Pina Colada. The nightlife is |
| Grande Island with its excellent beaches and | | | | exceptional with theatre, cabaret, and so |
| quaint village is closeby. The areas smaller | | | | many dining experiences from fresh seafood to |
| keys such as Palm Island and Little | | | | Cuban cuisine. |
| Gasparilla have regular ferry services and | | | | |
| tempt you to try a real desert island day | | | | South East Florida |
| out. | | | | |
| | | | Palm Beach offers a rich variety of water |
| Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach | | | | pleasures, which include boating, fishing, |
| | | | snorkelling and deep-sea diving, and features |
| Sanibel and Captiva islands are a vacationers | | | | more than 150 golf courses. On the western |
| paradise, enjoying an average yearly | | | | border lies the Everglades, a truly unique |
| temperature of 82F. The area is surrounded by | | | | ecosystem. Enjoy a quiet al fresco lunch in |
| the Gulf of Mexico to the south and west. | | | | Palm Beach itself and watch the rich and |
| This unique position makes the area a mecca | | | | famous go by. Palm Beach, charming and |
| for seashell collectors. The only main road | | | | elegant, is located entirely on a barrier |
| on Sanibel is Periwinkle Way which winds its | | | | island and is home to the historical mansions |
| way through the centre of the crescent shaped | | | | of some of the worlds best-known families. |
| island lined with trees and bike paths. | | | | |