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