holidays in florida
Travel to Florida
Miami is a major international hub for American Airlines, and is used by lots of US and international carriers. If you’re flying in from overseas you’ll most likely be arriving here.
Travelling to Florida is easy from just about anywhere! There’s a good selection of airports with flights to cities all over.
Florida teems with places to go, things to do – and in such vast variety that nobody’s passion is denied.
The Best Time to Go on a Florida Vacation
You’ll notice the humidity much more in the summer, especially in the south. That’s also when it will rain more. Florida has a pleasant climate all-year-round with warm to very warm summers, and slightly cooler winters. The coastal areas will be a bit more extreme. Hurricane season in Florida runs from June to November, with the severe period being July through September.
Theme Parks
Especially if it’s the first time to Florida, you really should check out what Disneyworld is all about. Of course, if you purchase a Disneyworld vacation package, accommodation at Disneyworld resorts and theme park passes are often included.
There’s actually 4 separate parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney MGM Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom. Multi-day/multi-park passes are available, and are the smart option for seeing more.
But that’s not the end of theme park-ville in central Florida! There’s Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Splendid China, Sea World, the Holy Land Experience, and Busch Gardens in Tampa. All of these are easy driving distance from Orlando
If you’re looking for the ultimate romantic vacation in the sunshine state, nothing compares to a Florida Beach Front Vacation Rental! Convenience, privacy, amenities, the beach, sunshine…
If you prefer to have a morning coffee watching the sun rise over the Atlantic, check out some of the properties on the east coast. Or if you want a romantic dinner on your balcony watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, there’s a nice choice of vacation rentals in the St.Petersburg area, and between Sarasota and Naples.
Miami: Ocean Point Resort & Club
Naples: Marco Beach Ocean Resort
St. Petersburg: TradeWinds Sandpiper Beach Resort
Ft. Lauderdale: Ocean Manor Resort
Miami Beach Attractions
Miami Beach is a must-see part of Miami, and it’s here where you find South Beach. You won’t get this mix of architecture, flamboyance, culture and prime location anywhere else in Florida, America, or even the world!
Miami South Beach is the place for great Cuban restaurants and shops, the Art Deco district, and some outstanding beach hotels!
What to do in South Beach
Ocean Drive- THE place to been seen, walking, driving with the roof down, sipping a cocktail or sunning on the sand! There’s walking tours of the area which start at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive (Thursdays and Saturdays only, $15). Or, you can do your own, by starting on 5th street and walk north till 15th. When you see everyone stopping to stare no.1114, you might as well too- it’s the Versace Mansion.
South Beach also has some great people-watching locations, like the News Café on Ocean Drive (get a sidewalk table if you can for a true Miami experience!) or any of the beach area between 5th and 12th Streets.
Holocaust Memorial- a sobering interlude from all the glitz. On Meridian Ave, open 9AM to 9PM daily.
South Point Park- great place for a picnic under the palms with the cool ocean breeze. There’s live music here too in the evening on Fridays
Best Places to Shop in Miami Beach
The Lincoln Road Mall is a complete mix of fashion/food/crafts and other goods, along with movies, galleries and other assorted types of entertainment. Collins Ave has lots of designer clothing stores.
If you like markets, the Espanola Way Market is open weekends with an interesting mix of Latin food, music and handcrafted merchandise.
South Beach Restaurants
If you’re searching for the best places to eat in South Beach, that’s a tough one – there’s so many to choose from! There are lots of great South Beach restaurants right along Ocean Drive, but because of the ocean front location, many of them can get very crowded after 5 PM.
While in South Florida, you should try at least one Cuban meal. A couple of good possibilities: David’s Coffee Shop on Collins Ave, or venture over to Versailles on SW 8th Street in Little Havana.
Other Miami Beach Attractions
Miami Beach – is a long, wide, fine stretch of white sand that is the place to be on a sunny day! Excellent for sunbathing, jogging, or just throwing a towel down on the sand and relaxing. Swimming is best in the summer. The best areas are of course around South Beach, with its shops, promenade, park areas, and entertainment.
Little Havana
a really interesting section of Miami packed full of Cuban restaurants, markets, and street performers. We recommend coming down here for lunch – it’s a vibrant time of day, shops are buzzing, you can find some great food here, and the whole experience is very memorable. Very close to Miami Beach attractions; you can walk over to 8th Street (“Calle Ocho”) between 12th and 27th Avenue.
Everglades National Park
a nice day trip from Miami, and a chance to meet the Florida alligator! Check around hotel brochure stands for tours that include airboat rides through the sawgrass to see the unique eco system and it’s wildlife. Tour time is about 6 to 7 hours return from Miami.
Key Biscayne
Miami Beach attractions can be a bit overwhelming, so it’s nice to find a quieter, romantic place to slow down. Crandon Park is the place – a beautiful area with a gorgeous white sand beach. Crowds are fewer, the water is calm and warm for swimming, and it’s a great area for a relaxing and enjoying a picnic under the palms…
