Vacation Silvanaparedes

I’ve lived on the east coast of Florida for many years but it wasn’t until recently that I spent a few days in the Panhandle. I was so surprised at how different it was from all the other places I had been in Florida, and I have been all over Florida. For one thing the water is a beautiful shade of emerald green and the beaches are white sand where as the water along the east coast are a beautiful clear blue and the beaches are a lovely oatmeal color, quite a contrast. One of the other things I noticed was how the area, especially around Destin, was so beautiful and peaceful. There were tree lined streets, small pastel painted houses, outdoor malls that were cleverly disguised as quaint wood framed buildings which held all the designer brands and labels and at least a dozen well manicured golf courses. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Florida Panhandle Beaches like Pensacola and Panama City Beach, but let me tell you about these great spots in between.

Dotted along the road between Destin and Panama City Beach are the picturesque, beachfront towns of Seaside, Watercolor, Sandestin and Miramar. These towns are small and homey, with tree lined streets and pastel painted houses; they look like something out of a movie. Hollywood thought so too, and so they decided to film the movie “The Truman Show”, starring Jim Carey, in the town of Seaside. If you’ve ever been to Hilton Head, South Carolina, Sandestin is a lot like it; very understated and classy. Sandestin is known for its fabulous Golf courses and the Village of Baytowne Warf, which consists of 50 boutiques and specialty merchants which overlook Choctawhatchee Bay. Watercolor is small, approximately 500 acres, but packed with many resort and residential areas all just waiting to be rented for your perfect Florida vacation. Grayton Beach State Park has a fishing pier and hiking trails. Miramar is the place shop. Home of the Silver Sands Factory Stores, it is called the largest designer outlet center in the U.S.; they have over 100 designer outlet shops.

Navarre Beach has soft white sand, emerald green water and is one more place to stretch out and just relax. It’s a great place to kayak along the shore or sail out and see what fish are biting today. Navarre Beach is the fastest growing community in Santa Rosa County, partly due to a new and scenic road that connects it to Pensacola Beach. While you can hit the greens for a round of golf at one of the many area courses, Navarre Beach is all about nature. Eight of the 12 miles of beach here are part of the Gulf Islands Natural Seashore and are federally protected. You can hike, picnic, bike along one of the trails, snorkel, fish and go boating. Try horseback riding or bird watching with the family; Navarre Beach is a great place to be still and get back to nature. They have many hotels, resorts and vacation rentals should you choose to vacation on the beach.

Destin is also known to be a big resort town and one of the most spectacular examples is the new Emerald Grande at Harbor Walk Village; this 5-star resort is located oceanfront and is available for weekly rentals. Even with an estimated 4.5 million people visiting the area, there are people who live in Destin year round, and according to a 2004 census, that number was reported to be just over 12,000 people

The East Pass, which is also called Destin Pass, is at the western tip of the peninsula and is the only outlet of Choctawhatchee Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. The claim has been made that this pass was dug by hand but it appears on early maps of the French, Spanish and English surveyors, so this is likely not true. The East Pass must be dredged on a regular basis in order for it to remain navigable, the first known map of the East Pass was drawn by Don Francisco Tapia, who was commissioned to survey the coast of Florida and draw the map.

The community of Destin has existed for over one hundred and fifty years and started as a humble fishing village. The city of Destin can trace it’s roots back to the 7th century A.D. when it is believed that the American Indians lived in the area. Destin is named for Captain Leonard Destin, who settled in Northwest Florida around 1845; he moved here from Connecticut and was a pioneer in the fishing industry. Today Destin is touted as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” and claims the largest, best equipped fishing fleet in Florida docks are in Destin Harbor. When you visit, you can play golf, tennis and of course do anything you can think of on the water, including snorkeling and diving. If you’d like to charter a boat to do some fishing in the Gulf, you’ll appreciate the fact that the 100 Fathom Curve is closer to Destin than any other spot in Florida, making it the fastest way to get to the deep waters in the Gulf.

No matter where you are in the Panhandle when the day is done, do yourself a favor pick a beach and make it a point to stop and just sit and watch the sunset, it’s a memory you’ll take with you and cherish for the rest of your life.

Florida is a year round well-loved vacation destination in the US, Aside from its long stretch of beaches; Florida has theme parks nestled in its Orlando-Kissimmee region. Hence, there are a lot of hotels near Disney World you can choose from.

Kissimmee Florida is a well loved tourist destination in the US. It is not just popular because of Florida’s stretch of fascinating beaches; it also has a lot of theme parks and natural landscapes to boast of. Popular attractions in Florida include Disney World, EPCOT, Sea World and Universal Studios among others.

When planning on a trip to either Orlando or Kissimmee in Florida, it is best to prepare months in advance and to make the necessary arrangements in the hotel. This is because hotels get fully booked during holiday seasons. Here are some of the finest hotels in Kissimmee Florida that are near the famous Disney World Theme Park:

Vacation Village at Parkway

Known as Oprah favorite resort-hotel, Vacation Village at Parkway is located at 2949 Arabian Nights Boulevard Kissimmee, Florida. Aside from a Disney ticketing booth, this is just a few minutes away from Disney World. The hotel offers handicap facilities, free parking and a 24hr frond desk.

Each room at this hotel is equipped with AM/FM alarm clocks, coffee makers, sofa sleepers, air conditioners and kitchenettes among others. Some rooms even have Jacuzzi tubs along with very large TVs, and furnishings. The hotel also has a pool, shuttle services to the major theme parks, restaurants, business center and exercise facilities as well as Wi-Fi, in-room washer and dryers.

Other facilities and amenities include a full-sized fridge, large bathroom, cleaning services, free local calls, hair dryers and safe deposit boxes; plus Cable TVs and parking areas.

Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club

This hotel is situated at 7900 Mystic Dunes Lane Kissimmee, Florida. It is located with more than 600 acres of amazing tropical Florida landscapes. The hotels features a game room, shuttle services to the airport and area attractions as well as bath amenities, banquet facilities, bike rentals, concierge services and Color TVs with VCRs. They also guarantee meeting facilities, parking areas, daily newspaper, express check-out and a fitness facility along with full kitchens, dining areas, whirlpools and game rooms among others.

Onsite restaurants include Clubhouse Bar & Grille, The Caddyshack Bar & Grille and Pizza Hut Express. This is the ideal place for social events, gatherings and wedding celebrations.

Best Western Lakeside

This hotel is situated at 7769 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway Kissimmee, Florida. It is just outside Walt Disney World, featuring Mediterranean-styled settings. Set up with 15 2-storey buildings along with 24 tropically landscaped areas, Best Western is really the ideal destination for those who want a taste of the real action in Kissimmee, Florida.

This very spacious landscaped hotel assures its guests with a relaxing stay. Aside from Walt Disney World, it is also near various other well-loved theme parks like Universal Studios and Sea World. For those who want to experience the beach, it is just 20-30 minutes away.

Amenities and facilities include free parking, a fitness center, babysitting services, 24hr front desk, lounge and bar as well as alarm clocks, coffee makers, a Business Center, express check out and free local calls. They also provide handicap accessible facilities, non-smoking rooms, onsite restaurants, safe deposit boxes and a pool. This is along with their banquet and meeting rooms, modems, hair dryers and very helpful staff.

Kissimmee is truly the heart of everything Florida can offer. It is not just a haven for kids but for couples as well. From its many theme parks to luxurious hotel accommodations, Kissimmee can promote lasting memories for the whole family.

So you have saved enough money for a Florida vacation. You are very excited. You want to go to the beach but still have access to other amenities. But you don’t where to go.

Well there’s no better place to go than to Florida. If your purpose is to have fun and relax, Florida is the perfect place to be.

Florida is known as the Sunshine State because of its long stretches of sandy beaches, larger-than-life theme parks and near perfect climate all year round. It is because of these attractions, Florida is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Florida is composed of 1,200 miles of sugary white beaches and surrounded by clear blue seas. Florida offers a unique blend of tropical sunshine, modern Miami culture and warm Southern hospitality. The best thing you will love about Florida is the weather. Florida’s average temperature is in the mid 80′s in the summer, and the mid 70′s in the winter.

To experience Florida as its best, it is highly advisable that you rent a vacation rental home or a beach front condo that would provide you with the perfect sand and sea holiday.

Aside from swimming and basking under the Florida sun, you can do other fun activities in the sunny state. You can enjoy a round of golf in the cosmopolitan city of Naples; you can do some canoeing through the waterways of Sarasota; you can fish at Fort Myers Beach or feast on the delicious seafood in Tarpon Springs. A Florida vacation would ensure you have a good time both indoors and outdoors.

Another fun activity to do in Florida, is shopping. Miami, in particular, is a very fashionable city. Miami is literally a melting pot of cultures.

To complete your Florida vacation you must visit Orlando, the homeland of Mickey. Orlando is a vibrant city brimming with extravagant theme parks, shopping malls, late-night bars, restaurants and family catered entertainment. This is the reason why Orlando earned the distinction of being America’s theme capital.

Exploring Florida will take time because Florida is a very long state. Be aware that you will spend a lot of time on the road. if you want to visit both the Florida Panhandle and also Key West. So it would be necessary to spend at least two weeks in Florida to see all the sights. One week is simply not enough to catch all the fun Florida can offer.

If you are planning to work while you’re on vacation and will tote along your laptop, it will not be a problem as most hotels offer wireless Internet service. But it is advisable to call ahead to the hotel and verify the connection you can expect.

If you don’t like running into crowds, then plan your Florida vacation for the cooler seasons. You tend to get a bit better service and often a break on hotel prices. February and October are the two best months, due to the really nice weather. Also take note of local Florida events, like the lobster mini-season in the Florida Keys, the seafood festival in Cedar Key and the Daytona 500 NASCAR Race at Daytona Beach. Whatever your preferred activiites, take lots of sun screen!