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