Sun, Sea and Sand in Florida
Florida, ‘The Sunshine State’, is located in the southeast of the United States, flanked by the Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. Take advantage of cheap car hire and you’ll soon discover that the best way to experience many of the amazing attractions Florida has to offer, is by driving. Here is a little about each of the places that are well worth a stop on your road trip around Florida.
Key West, and the surrounding Florida Keys, offers many options for those holidaying here. Popular destinations include the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the Harry S. Truman Little White House Museum, and Mallory Square. The latter is host to some spectacular sunsets, and the street entertainment is remarkable. Not to be missed is the notorious ‘Catman’ show!
If theme parks are your thing, then head to Orlando. Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and of course Walt Disney World are among the favourites. Discovery Cove is also highly recommended and a very relaxing resort – the kids will love swimming with the dolphins too! If all this rushing around the parks takes its toll, then head to Bob’s Balloons and experience Orlando from a different perspective, hundreds of feet up in the air.
Miami really has it all. The beaches are incredible, the Everglade National Park is famous the world over, and downtown Miami is a metropolis of trendy bars, clubs and restaurants. Here art deco architecture and golden sands lie side by side. Health and fitness is also incredibly popular; Tropical Park has over 10 kilometres of paved running tracks and Eden Roc Resort sports a monstrous indoor climbing wall, with routes suitable for all skill levels.
Fort Lauderdale is another popular tourist destination and has many canals or ‘scenic inland waterways’, which give it the feeling of Venice in America. Yachting is a trendy pastime here, but more accessible to the visitor is deep-sea fishing. Great fun for all ages and, whether or not you’ve spun a line before, you’ll soon be landing tuna and sailfish by the dozen! Take the catch back to shore and enjoy freshly barbecued fish on the beach that very evening, watching the stunning sunsets that Florida does so well.
Daytona Beach is famous for speed, originating back to when motor races took place down on the wide long beaches. Nowadays it is still possible to drive on some areas of the beach, however a speed limit is firmly in place so don’t get carried away! To satisfy the craving for speed, instead head to Daytona International Speedway to witness NASCAR and motorbike races year round. Daytona also has a credible range of golf courses including The Club at Pelican Bay. This fast course used to be private but is now open to the public and will suit golfers of a moderate standard.
Well, that’s more than enough for any driving holiday around Florida, all that’s left to do is decide the dates, and choose the car.
