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