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