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