Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel...

Visiting Florida is Hot

Quite simply, Florida vacations are hot. Whether you’re driving or flying, a vacation in Florida is close, convenient, and comes with lots of options for all types of visitors. It’s simply the Southeast U.S. at it’s best and most varied.

A Florida vacation can mean practically anything to anyone. This includes: temperate weather year-round; miles of top-ranked beaches; superior shopping; all kinds of watersports; national parks and other natural areas; bustling cities; small towns; more golf and tennis facilities than any other state in the U.S.; lots of historical attractions; and a wide range of world-famous theme parks for all ages.

With such a choice of activities, it’s only natural that Florida also offers the accommodations, amenities, dining, nightlife, and more to fit any style or budget. Thus, whether it’s a child’s first visit to the Sunshine State or a veteran visitor’s 40th annual trip, Florida has it all!

FLORIDA’S HOT VACATION DEALS

Planning a Florida vacation is easier than ever. The state’s tourism website, www.flausa.com, offers lots of information about the state as well as the extremely popular section called ‘Florida’s Hot Vacation Deals.’ Here, website wanderers will find some of the world’s best and most varied vacation deals.

This service makes it easy to plan a hot Florida vacation--and save some serious money!. More than 800 Hot Vacation Deals are typically available on the site, including great specials from varied accommodations options, attractions, restaurants, golf courses, and many others. Vacationers can view deals by interest, destination, or planned visit dates, but Hot Vacation Deals will also show up in special website ‘call-outs’ as surfers search for their favorite activities and destinations in the Sunshine State. It’s easy, fast, and can save lots of money!

Once you’ve made you’re vacation plans, Florida is easy to reach. With a wide variety of convenient airports, you’re sure to find flights (and prices) to meet your needs. For those heading to Florida by car, any of the Official Florida Welcome Centers make for ideal resources. Here, visitors can get detailed information about their Florida vacation and toast their arrival with complimentary fresh Florida orange or grapefruit juice. Welcome Centers are located on I-10 near Pensacola, US 231 near Campbellton, I-75 near Jennings, and I-95 near Yulee.

So Many Options

Each area of Florida has its own draws, making it easy to enjoy varied pursuits throughout the state (and also making it imperative to visit Florida more than once!).

In the northeast, turn-of-the-century ambiance is combined with modern amenities. Amelia Island, Florida’s first beach resort, lures vacationers with its relaxed pace, resorts, and the island’s charming Victorian town of Fernandina Beach.

To the south, there is plenty to do in the shadows of modern Jacksonville’s soaring skyline--great shopping, museums, art, culture, and beaches are all nearby. Just a bit further south, history defines St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city.

Heading south along the Atlantic, visitors find Florida is the world’s ‘birthplace of speed.’ Drivers set automobile records on Ormond Beach in the 1900s and, today, driving is still permitted--but more slowly--along these hard-packed sands.

The thrills of modern auto racing await visitors at Daytona USA, where interactive high-tech exhibits convey hands-on excitement, as do shopping and cultural temptations. At the John F. Kennedy Space Center, IMAX theater presentations, tours, and more bring space travel to life. Nature lovers will enjoy the scenic St. Johns River, the Canaveral National Seashore, or the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

The center of the Sunshine State is where modern tourism was born. Here, kids and kids at heart can enjoy theme parks and so much more. This is where both first-time and veteran Florida vacationers have made the Sunshine State such a ‘hot’ vacation deal for decades. Other options abond during the day and night.

To the southeast, palatial homes and luxurious resorts in and around Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami inspired the name ‘Gold Coast.’ Shopping ‘gold’ is found on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue, rivaling the boutiques of Paris, Milan, or Rodeo Drive. Fort Lauderdale, the ‘Venice of America,’ has great beaches, shops, and museums.

Visitors enter another dazzling world in Miami and Miami Beach. South Beach boasts its art deco hotels, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and museums, while Key Biscayne and other parts of metro Miami offer miles of beaches and more. To the south, Florida Keys visitors can go island hopping along the Overseas Highway all the way to Key West.

The southwestern section of the state features long-time beach destinations like Sanibel and Captiva Islands, which are world-famous for collecting seashells. To the south, visitors will savor Naples and its glamorous resorts, fashion boutiques, and gourmet restaurants. Just a bit further south, Marco Island has beachfront resorts, watersports, and fine restaurants.

Heading north along the Gulf of Mexico, a wide variety of resorts combine with cities and towns to make this region a top tourist destination. Tampa’s Ybor City is the place to feast on Spanish paella and Cuban specialties, while nearby Busch Gardens offers another great theme park option. St. Petersburg, Bradention, and Sarasota offer further waterfront enjoyment.

Towering pines, ancient oaks, and rolling hills place a unique signature on the north central section of the Sunshine State. Gainesville’s many offerings include the Florida Museum of Natural History--one of the top ten in the nation. Antique lovers head to the nearby towns of Micanopy and High Springs, as well as Quincy and Havana. The state’s capital, Tallahassee, is steeped in history, including the DeSoto Site, where the first Christmas in the New World was celebrated in 1539.

Florida’s Panhandle is yet another unique Sunshine State section--southern hospitality and extraordinary beaches are common threads for the popular resort communities. Award-winning beaches include Grayton, Fort Walton, Panama City, Navarre, and Destin, which is also known as ‘the world’s luckiest fishing village.’ The town of Seaside replicates an old-fashioned beachfront village, with lodging, restaurants, shops, and galleries. The city of Pensacola is also a popular destination for golfers and their families.

To learn more about all the Hot Florida Vacation Deals, visit www.flausa.com or call toll-free 1-888-5-FLA-USA to request a free copy of the Florida Vacation Guide.