Map of Beaches in Florida

Florida Geography

Florida is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama and Georgia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

The state has a diverse geography, with several distinct regions. The northern part of Florida is characterized by rolling hills, forests, and freshwater springs, while the southern part of the state is relatively flat, with marshes and swamps in the Everglades.

Florida also has a long coastline, with numerous beaches and barrier islands. The Florida Keys, a chain of islands off the southern coast of Florida, are a popular tourist destination and known for their coral reefs and clear waters.

The state is also home to several large lakes, including Lake Okeechobee, which is the largest lake in Florida and the second-largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States.

Overall, Florida's geography plays a significant role in its economy and culture, with tourism, agriculture, and fishing being major industries.

Florida has several major cities, each with its unique character and attractions. Some of the largest cities in Florida include:

• Miami: Known for its beaches, nightlife, and cultural diversity, Miami is a popular tourist destination and a hub for international business.
• Orlando: Home to several theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando attracts millions of visitors every year.
• Tampa: Located on the west coast of Florida, Tampa is a cultural center with a thriving arts scene, museums, and a bustling downtown area.
• Jacksonville: Located in the northeast part of Florida, Jacksonville is the largest city in the state by land area and has a vibrant waterfront area and numerous parks.
• St. Petersburg: Known for its beautiful beaches and lively downtown area, St. Petersburg is a popular destination for tourists and retirees.
• Tallahassee: As the capital of Florida, Tallahassee is home to numerous government buildings and has a rich history and cultural heritage.

Other notable cities in Florida include Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, Naples, and Key West. Each of these cities has its unique character, attractions, and industries that contribute to Florida's overall economy and culture.

Florida has a subtropical climate, which means it is typically warm and humid throughout the year, with a rainy season in the summer and a drier season in the winter.

Summers in Florida are hot and humid, with temperatures typically ranging from the mid-80s to mid-90s Fahrenheit (29-35 degrees Celsius) and high levels of humidity. Thunderstorms are common during the summer months, and some areas of the state may experience hurricanes or tropical storms.

Winters in Florida are mild, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to mid-70s Fahrenheit (12-24 degrees Celsius). The state rarely sees snow or freezing temperatures, although some areas in the northern part of the state may experience frost or occasional freezes.

Overall, Florida's climate is ideal for outdoor activities, including water sports and beach activities, and the mild winters make it a popular destination for "snowbirds" - people who live in the state during the winter months to escape colder climates elsewhere.

The Florida geology map is a map that shows the geological features and formations of the state of Florida in the United States. It is used by geologists, engineers, and other professionals to understand the underlying geological conditions of the state, including the location of aquifers, sinkholes, and other natural features.

The geology of Florida is relatively young, with much of the state's landmass formed during the last few million years. The state is characterized by its extensive limestone formations, which have been shaped over time by water erosion, creating unique features such as caves, sinkholes, and springs.

The Florida geology map shows the various geological formations and structures of the state, such as the Ocala limestone, the Avon Park Formation, the Tamiami Formation, and the Hawthorn Group. These formations have different physical properties, such as permeability and porosity, which are important for understanding the groundwater resources of the state.

The map also shows the location of major rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, as well as major cities and transportation infrastructure. It is an important tool for understanding the geological context of land use and development, as well as for assessing potential risks from natural hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, and sinkhole collapses.

Overall, the Florida geology map is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the geological features and history of this unique and dynamic state.

Traveling on a Cruise

There are many cruise lines that sail out of Florida. Each cruise line has a whole fleet of cruise ships so there will always be something for everyone on every cruise. You pick where you want to go and for how long and the cruise lines or companies that do third party booking will find the right ship for you at the right price! Cruises from Florida usually has the options of going to the Bahamas, the Eastern Caribbean, the Western Caribbean and Mexico. You can even catch a Transatlantic cruise out of Florida if you like. Ports of call in Florida are in: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville & Tampa.

Cruises can be tons of fun but there is a way to get cruises cheaper than they already are. Last minute cruises are the way to go. If a cruise ship is not full they will offer last minute cruises at a very low rate just to fill the rooms; I’ve seen them for like $140 (sometimes less) for a three day cruise! Call different cruise lines two or three days before a cruise is suppose to set sail and they will usually give you a great “last minute” rate! Most rates are all inclusive with the exception of the casinos, alcohol and port taxes.

Most cruise lines also allow you to book a year in advance. You may not save a lot of money but most of them will allow you to put a down payment on a cruise and then make payments for the rest of it at your leisure. You can book an awsome cruise and pay a little here and a little there so your pocket book doesn’t feel a big hit from it all at once. Bon Voyage!

Traveling to Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is world famous for spring break. The beaches there are so beautiful and you can drive on them! There is a boardwalk with an amusement park that has lots of rides, games and LOTS of fair food…….gotta love that!

They have a very nice water park called Daytona Lagoon. There are huge water slides, a lazy river, an arcade, laser tag, miniature golf, a rock wall and go carts; the prices are pretty reasonable too.

If you want to fish, you can cast a rod out on the Daytona pier; the ocean is there for the taking! You can always rent rods if you don’t have your own and buy bait there as well. There is wind surfing, wind sailing and even surfing lessons if you like real excitement.

Another thing Daytona is famous for is the Daytona International Speedway. Races are only certain times of the year and if you’re lucky enough to be in town during one, you’ll have a blast and may even run into someone famous! For the rest of the year, they have the Richard Petty Driving Experience that allows you to drive like a NASCAR driver and they always have tours.

There are many museums to see and the night life is just fun, fun, fun. Bike week is held in Daytona every year and is held a week before spring break. Thousand’s of bikers gather there every year and just like spring break, its one big party.

If you are trying to plan a vacation to Daytona and want to save money, I recommend you NOT go during spring break or bike week. You still get all the fun but just with less people; A LOT less people!

January, February and September are the best months for saving money here.

Disney World

Disney World is made up of four parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, golf courses and lots of resorts. The four parks are: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom. The two water parks are: Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Disney World tickets run around $105 for a single day ticket. They do have a deal where the more days you buy the less each day costs so check that out!

Things to do at Disney World

The Magic Kingdom is where all little (and big) kids dreams come true! There are so many wonderful rides, parades, shows, shops and great food everywhere. Right in Cinderellas castle there is a restaurant called “Cinderellas Royal Table” that is a character dining experience and you will be looking over Fantasyland through beautiful stained glass windows while eating. The park is made up of: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland; each ‘land’ has it’s own unique rides, restaurants and shops. There are a few restaurants that offer character dining so just the check the map that you can pick up for free right after you enter the park; reservations are recommend. It is very kid friendly so no alcoholic beverages are served in this park. Park hours change throughout the year so make sure you check the schedule before you go.

Epcot is my favorite! There are some AMAZING rides there in the front of the park (my favorite is Sorin’) then when you walk in the back of the park you’ll see the World Showcase. This is made up of many countries around the world. You go to each country and you get to experience the culture of it through their delicious foods, arts, music, beers, architect and wares that are imported from that country, etc. You can literally eat and drink around the world; its a very good time for all! Check out the Disney dining plan, it will save you money and most of the restaurants are included. If you want to make dining reservations you can do that up to 180 days in advance and it is recommended. There are two great festivals that Epcot has: The Flower and Garden festival (in the Spring) and The Food and Wine festival (in the Fall). Both festivals are great and offers lots of wonderful foods, drinks and concerts (famous artists) and all is included in your ticket. Epcot-orlando

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all about the movies. There is the Aerosmith roller coaster that goes from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds (you have to be 4 foot tall to ride this one) then just a rock throw from that is the Tower of Terror. This ride drops right out from under you so make sure you like to be ‘thrilled’ before you get on it. There are all sorts of other rides there and interesting things to see, bands to listen to, food to eat and lets not forget about the new Star Wars area, its awsome! The Star Wars ride is a simulated ride that makes you feel like you’re on a roller coaster and that your’re flying but all you have to do is close your eyes and that feeling goes away if you get on it and decide that you don’t like it. It is simulate though so that means that it jerks a lot but it is TONS of fun; I’ve rode it many times and love it every time I ride it!

Animal Kingdom is a wonderful park. They have a very scenic and fun safari ride that gets you close to animals just like if you were on a safari in Africa; the theme to this park is Africa and Asia. They have a rapid water ride that is a blast to ride! It’s not scary but it sure will get you soaked and this is not a bad thing in the Florida heat, trust me. Just make sure you put your electronics and watches in the compartment in the middle of the raft. You’ll want to ride this one five times in a row if you can! Mount Everest is the BIG roller coaster at Animal Kingdom, my kids love it and even if you don’t ride it yourself, you have GOT to get a picture in front of it! The Tree of Life is the center attraction of the park. It has a 3D show in it called “A Bugs Life” which depicts the life of lots of animated and cartoon insects; it’s really cute and great for the kids. The Lion King is a live show with lots of colors, singing and acrobats in an air conditioned auditorium that will excite everyone. If you get hungry, there are lots of neat little restaurants in the park and at the front gate sits The Rainforest Cafe which is amazing in itself. You can eat right next to an animated gorilla, elephant, tiger, etc. or have a cocktail underneath a giant mushroom; this restaurant is worth checking out!

Disney Springs is the shopping and nightlife part of Disney; it offers a lot! There are restaurants owned by world renowned chefs like Wolfgang Puck, lots of shops, a bowling alley, movie theater, candy stores, live entertainment; more than 150 venues. Coming next year (2017) they will be adding the NBA experience which is going to be a hands on attraction that will allow you to get right in the middle of the NBA game action. Its free to go to Disney Springs; its an open air facility and you can make an entire day and evening just walking around eating, seeing things and just enjoying life; that’s what it’s all about anyway!

Lazy River Blizzard BeachTyphoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach (my favorite) are tons of fun. Prices are a little bit more than other water parks but it is Disney and that being said, you will get the Disney experience. There are lots of slides for everyone and they both have a kids area. Life vests are available for all sizes and inner tubes are everywhere. They both have a lazy river and many other relaxing areas as well. Make sure you wear sunscreen and put it on more than once because the Florida sun will cook you if you don’t, even if it’s cloudy; that’s even worse because you don’t realize you’re getting cooked. Lockers are available for rental and you can bring in coolers to save money on food and drinks. I suggest you wear water shoes because the concrete will get very hot and will burn your feet if you don’t.

All four of the main parks have a fantastic fireworks show around the end of the night before the park closes. Sometimes if you’re sitting at the right spot at Disney Springs, you can see more than one show simultaneously.

Disney World Facts:

• Disney World has closed it’s doors four times now since the October 1, 1971 opening and every time was because of Hurricanes. The first time was Sept. 15, 1999, for Hurricane Floyd which was a category 5 hurricane and ended up just grazing the coast of Florida. The second time was Sept. 4 and 5, 1999, for Hurricane Frances which hit Florida at a category 2. The third time was Sept. 26, 2004, for Hurricane Jeanne which hit Florida at a category 3. The fourth and most recent time was for Hurricane Matthew which hit Florida at a category 4. The park was closed Oct. 6 – Oct 7, 2016. The park was also evacuated on 9/11 and it only took them only 30 minutes to do so with a very unique technique; all the cast members in each ‘land’ and on Main Street got together and held hands while walking towards the exits; this forced all the guests to exit the parks quickly.
• An imagineer named George was killed during the building of Pirates of the Caribbean. Every night the cast member tells George goodnight in hopes the ride won’t break down the next day. I have actually been on that ride when it stopped working briefly.
• Disney Hollywood Studios was originally built as a working studio, not a theme park. The Mickey Mouse Club was filmed there with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ryan Gosling and Christina Aquilera.

Tips:

• Disney has a special deal that they offer to Disney resort guests only, its called Extra Magic Hours. If you are staying in a Disney resort you get to get into a park (Disney’s choice) either one hour before or three hours after regular park hours. This makes it special for Disney guests because they get to do a lot of things before the park gets busy or after the park thins out. They also have a lot of meet and greet characters during these times for the little ones. This alone makes it worth staying at a Disney hotel.
• If you are staying at a Disney hotel and you buy something at a park, you can have them ship the item right to your room or hotel for free so you don’t have to carry it around all day.
• Disney World is so much fun but can be very expensive; where they get you is with the food and drinks. Everybody has to eat so for a family of four to eat three meals a day can easily add up to 120+ and that’s just if you’re eating at walk-up quick dining. A great way to save money is to get the kids meals. They all come with an entree plus fruit and milk or juice; they actually give a nice portion as well. You can always substitute french fries at no extra cost and substitute a soda for the milk or juice; its not on the menu that way but they will do it for you if you ask them. There are many places that have condiment bars so this is where you can make a kids burger or sandwich more filling. If you want to experience the sit down dining, having a meal at lunch time is a much cheaper choice. Price sometimes doubles just because its dinner time and the experience is usually the same whatever time you choose to eat.
• Something really fun to do at Epcot is to eat around the world. You can do this at a fair price if you and your friends/family split meals at the walk up restaurants or get an appetizers at the sit down restaurants and go to a few different countries eating this way; you’ll get to experience a lot more cultures doing this.
• Bottle drinks are around $3 which is a lot to me; that includes water. A great tip is to just go up to the walk-up restaurants and order ice water and its FREE. Doing this two or three times a day can save a family of four $36-$48; that’s A LOT of money to pay for water!
• Disney World lets you bring in coolers so you can save a lot bringing your own sandwiches and drinks. The only problem with doing this (if you don’t have small children) is that you’re stuck lugging around that cooler all day. If you have young children, a cooler with a strap will hang nicely on the stroller.
• Bringing a stroller of your own will save you a bunch of money because the rental fee for strollers per day is almost $20 for a single and over $30 for a double.
• Disney World It gets VERY hot here in Florida and it rains A LOT here too. Disney World sells misting fans which really helps keep you cool but they want around $22 for one; that’s mad! I suggest you hit a dollar store before you go into a park. You can get those fans from Dollar General, Family Dollar, WalMart, etc. for around $6; you’ll be very happy you did if you go to a park in the summer and the fans have a strap so you can wear them around your neck for convenience.
• You can get rain coats at a dollar store for $2-$3; Disney sells them for $8-$15. You’ll most likely need a rain coat at some point because Florida has daily storms in the summer.
• Disney hotels can be very expensive! They do have the All Star hotels and Pop Century that are very modest in price; this is where I usually stay. The great thing about staying on property is that you don’t have to drive anywhere if you don’t want to; you park your car if you drove and take their buses everywhere for free. If you stay off property, the parking fee at the parks per day is around $14 for a regular car or truck. The hotels have food but its expensive there too so once again, I recommend getting kids meals. They do come with a mini fridge so driving to a store off Disney property is well worth it to fill your fridge; it can save you a lot of money.
• Download the Disney World App! There is an App that tells all the wait times for each ride at each park. It really can save you A LOT of time and A LOT of wear on your feet using this app. Its FREE so make sure you use it!
• If you book your Disney World vacation in advance and are staying at a Disney resort, you can customize your arm bands with each family member having a different color. These arm bands are your room key card, your fast pass and can even have your credit card attached if you like so you don’t have to lug around a wallet or purse. They are also water proof so you can take them in the pools and Disney will mail them right to your door as well.

Traveling to Florida Springs

There are hundred’s of fresh water springs in Florida. If you’ve never been to a spring before you really need to go visit one while you’re in Florida.

The water in these springs are crystal clear and being in one is really an experience of a lifetime. Tubing is so much fun! If you’re not familiar with tubing, its like a natural lazy river. There are companies that set up outside these springs that offer tube rentals very cheap; between $3-$8 each.

Usually the fee to get into a park is by the carload and isn’t usually more than $5 per car. You take your coolers, have a picnic and just make a whole day of it. Its wonderful.

The best tubing spring in my opinion is Ichetucknee Springs State Park, its in Fort White, Fl. which is up by Gainsville. If you’re in the Orlando area, there is another park called Kelly Park or Rock Springs (same place) that has tubing as well. Its very nice but not as big as Ichetuckneee Springs. In the same area is Wekiwa Springs that will provide a family day of fun. Over around the Ocala area there are a lot of springs. Fanning Springs is wonderful, one of my favorites and they have cabins you can rent for around $100-$120 a night; these cabins have internet too.Fanning Springs

Tips:

The only real advise I have if you’re planning on going to a spring is to check the weather to make sure it’s not going to thunder storm. Other than that, the prices are so cheap to rent the tubes and to get into these parks you really can’t go wrong. It will be a wonderful vacation you will never forget and you’ll want to come back again and again.

Traveling to Jacksonville

Jacksonville is Home Sweet Home for me! Jacksonville is a super great city and there is always something going on there. There is a lot of culture, family fun and night life!

Things to do in Jacksonville

The Beaches are a beautiful blue and they are clean and nice. The Jacksonville Boardwalk at Jacksonville Beach has lots of shops and restaurants to get you out of the heat and make your beach trip even more special. There are many beaches to go to, each one different from the other. Fishing can be done at the Jacksonville Pier and they rent rods and have fresh bait for purchase if you need it.

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a wonderful place to take your kids, there are a lot of interaction attractions that everyone will love. This zoo dates back to 1914 so there is much history here as well.

If you like concerts, Jacksonville has a top of the notch venue for that; the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena hosts concerts for big acts all the time. There are also FREE concerts a lot of the time, usually around a holiday, at Memorial Park which is over by the stadium.

Jacksonville has a restaurant for almost every taste out there; think of an ethnic food and most likely you will find it in Jacksonville. There usually is a food festival, art festival or music festival of some sort going on every weekend too. Some of my favorite place to eat are: La Nopalera; the best Mexican food outside of Mexico, European Street Cafe; they have THE BEST gourmet sandwiches, soups and over 100 beers, the Shiek; its fast food Arabic food, The PIG; the best BBQ you’ve ever tasted and you can only get this sauce in Jacksonville and Famous Amos; down home made from scratch country food.

The Cummers Museum of Art and Gardens is a wonderful and very old museum that houses many paintings and art and they get a lot of famous art on loan often. They have a magnificent garden and just around the corner are the best unique little restaurants in the city in a place called Avondale/Riverside. You can spend an entire day in this area. This area is historic and very beautiful. There is 5-Points in this area that has lots of neat little shops and boutiques as well as neat and unique restaurants and cafes. It is my favorite area in the entire city personally. You can see downtown from this area because it edges right on the river; at night its beautiful seeing all the city lit up.

Not far from Avondale is an area called Ortega, it is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Jacksonville and is totally worth the drive. The houses there are mostly historic and the beauty is indescribable.

If you’re planning a trip during football season, you have to check the schedule to see when the Jacksonville Jaguars are playing in Jacksonville’s state of the art stadium. Even if you don’t care much for football, going to a live NFL event is just fun! You can drive straight to the stadium or park across the river and take a water taxi. They are pretty cheap and it is really a neat experience to be dropped off right at the stadium by boat. Traffic will be horrible to drive in after a game but not for the people that take the fairy back across the river; then, traffic will have thinned out.

The water taxi makes other stops too. You can get to the Jacksonville Landing by water taxi as well. The Jacksonville Landing is a beautiful, great place to go hang out. Its full of nice restaurants and shops right on the St. John’s River and just next door to beautiful skyscrapers.

Key West

Key West is the very last key out of 1,700 beautiful islands and it is the most USA tropical paradise! It is as far South as you can drive in this country and only 90 miles away from Cuba. There are so many things to do on this beautiful island from tours and fishing to dining and nightlife you will surely want to come back again and again.

Things to do in Key West

Much of the fun in Key West involves interacting with the crystal blue water there. Snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, fishing and scuba diving are all offered in Key West. If you’ve never taken a Sunset Cruise then you really need to do it while you’re there. Cruising the turquoise blue waters and watching the sun go down will live in your memories forever. There are a few companies that offer sunset cruises: The Sunset Sail-Booze Cruise is around a two hour cruise that offers beer, wine and champagne while you’re enjoying the show. Tickets are around $45 for adults. Sunset Sails-Schooners & Tall Ships is around a two hour sail and offers hors d’oeuvres, premium beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks as part of the package.

Snorkeling is something a lot of people love to do while they are in Key West because the water is so clear it makes it easy to see all the beautiful marine life. There are a couple of companies that will take you out on a big catamaran boat and these trips are usually three hours long. Fury Catamaran cost anywhere between $41-$48 and Sebago Catamaran cost around $55. Make sure you take an underwater camera to capture the underwater beauty because these views is not something that you will see everyday.

Parasailing gives you a thrilling panoramic view of this beautiful paradise. There is no special training needed for parasailing you just put on a harness and then you will be lifted up anywhere from 300-600 feet above the ocean and sail away taking in all the views. If you don’t want to do it alone, they offer tandem rides that allow you to go up with a pro. The sail last for about 15 minutes then they bring you back down to the boat.

If you want to stay dry but still see whats under the ocean in Key West you can always take a Glass Bottom Boat tour. Key West Glass Bottom Boat with Sunset Option will take you out for a two hour tour on a glass bottom catamaran boat to a living coral barrier reef so you can see lots of beautiful sea life. Tickets average around $47.

You can choose to do everything separately or you can get an all in one trip with the Ultimate Adventure. This is a 6 hour adventure that has sailing, snorkeling, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, a water trampoline, rock wall climbing, lunch included and on the way back, adult beverages. This ultimate trip is really the ultimate!

Duval Street is home to all the best restaurants and nightlife in Key West.

Jimmy Buffets world famous original Margaritaville is is on Duval Street. If you want the best margarita you are in the right place. This is a family friendly place with an island atmosphere and island music on all the time with lots of live music and delicious food on the menu. You have got to visit this place or your trip won’t seem complete. Open daily 11am-12pm.

Sloppy Joe’s is also a world famous restaurant made famous by Ernest Hemingway; it was his favorite place to go have a drink. Although not the original place Mr. Hemingway drank it is still a great place to go with great food and drinks. If you want to sit where Hemingway actually sat, go to Captain Tony’s; its the original Sloppy Joe’s and has a place on the map all its own.

If you want to relax and just enjoy being in the tropics, go to one of the beaches and sit right under a palm tree and soak up the sun and views. You can take a picnic and just enjoy doing nothing, sometimes that’s the best thing in the world!

Tips:

• Make sure you check the websites of the places you want to visit because a lot of them offer coupons and/or offer a early bird special price.
• Buy all your beach items: sunscreen, hats, bathing suits, etc. before you leave the mainland because these items will be marked up on the island.
• Plan your trip on the off season for cheaper hotel rates.
• Duval Street is a very ‘adult’ atmosphere so I don’t recommend taking children there at night. You never know what you might see at some of the places, including nudity so go at your own risk, just fore-warning you.
• Renting a mow-ped will make getting around easier, everybody rides them down there.

Traveling to Miami

Miami is a stunning city. A lot of famous people like Oprah, Julia Roberts and Matt Damon vacation and own homes in Miami because of the atmosphere and weather. If you go down to South Beach, you may run into some stars there; that seems to be their hang out. This big city has lots to offer and there is lots of fun to have. I hope my Miami vacation guide helps when planning your trip.

Things to do in Miami

The beaches are turquoise/green blue and there are many to chose from. Most are family friendly and some are dog friendly as well. If you want to experience the water a bit more, you can always take a great boat tour. They offer them as long as the weather permits it and there are a few different companies that offer tours. Taking a air boat ride in the Everglades is a pretty exciting thing. You really get to be one with nature as you see the many alligators, turtles, frogs and much more wildlife on this tour. Island Queen Cruises is a great tour option that gives you a front row seat to see downtown, other beautiful parts of Miami plus they take you down Millionaires Row!

If you haven’t got enough of the water yet, you can always head over to Grapeland Water Park. This water park has lots of thrilling twisting slides, pools and a huge lazy river. Admission is fairly cheap so this day of water fun won’t break the bank! Miami Seaquarium is a wonderful marine life park. You can get close to bottle nose dolphins and interact with some of the marine life. The tickets aren’t cheap but it is is full day of fun and you can find coupons in the travel books. If you want to be dry but one with nature, go visit Jungle Island. There are many exotic animals there and they offer hands on interaction with certain animals as well. They DO have their own private beach there so if you decide to cool off that option is always available; take your swim suit just in case.

Miami is home to the Miami Dolphins NFL team and the Miami Marlins MLB team. If you’re into sports going to see one of these teams play live is pretty neat. Stadium hot dogs and beer are always on the menu and you never know, you could just end up on TV!

There is lots and lots of Nightlife in Miami and one of the best nightlife areas in the entire world is in the Art Deco area of Southbeach. If you’re going to see anyone famous this is where you will do it. Stars have been hanging out in these restaurants and lounges for many decades. Its a bit of history as well. Most of the buildings date back from the 1920’s and this area has been booming ever since with Hollywood stars you may have seen in black and white movies and singers and other artist from that decade and every decade since. It is the biggest collection of Art Deco architect in the world. You can sit in one of the many restaurants or lounges drinking your cocktails and discuss what and who you think those walls have seen and heard!

Food in Miami is some of the best you’ll eat in the world! Many world renowned chefs create dishes at some of the best restaurants on earth. Cuban food is abundant here and you can find A LOT of Cuban restaurants in the Little Havana area of the city. If you want ethnic food, you can find it all over Miami. There are more than 6,000 restaurants (yes I said 6,000) in Miami so any flavor you are craving can be satisfied in this city!

I could write a book about this city but my site is a blog so I’ll keep it short but I suggest that while you are in Florida hop way down South and stay a few nights exploring this beautiful, fun place; you won’t regret it!

Tips to save money in Miami:

• Grab one of the areas free coupon books, they can found at most restaurants and hotels.
• You’ll get great savings also if you invest in a pass called the GoMiamiCard. This is a card that you can purchase for just about as many days as you would like and a lot of area attractions will be free; the Miami Seaquarium, Jungle Island and Everglades tours mentioned above are included and they offer instant digital delivery now as well.
• Using the Miami Trolley is a great option for free transportation. These trolleys are very neat looking and the inside of them are wood with wood benches.

Traveling to Orlando

Orlando! Home of Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World! I LOVE going to theme parks and Orlando has all you need in one great spot!

Universal Studios has two different parks that you can enjoy; Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Islands of Adventure is right next door to Universal so it is a easy short walk to walk back and forth between the two. These two parks have a lot of roller coasters but there a plenty of rides that won’t make your stomach drop as well. City Walk is Universals area that has all the restaurants and nightlife. A great expectation of fun is what you need to bring with you when you come to this theme park! In the year 2017 they will be opening a tropical paradise water park called Volcano Bay; I can’t wait to check this one out. Universal Studio tickets are around $105 for a single day.

Sea World is the most famous marine life theme park in the world. You can pet dolphins, pet manta ray’s, watch killer whale shows, watch walrus and seal shows; they let you feed the seals as well. You buy fish and these seals will talk and clap for them; they are amazingly cute! There are lots of exhibits, roller coasters, kids rides, animal interactions and shows at Sea World; something for everyone. Sea World tickets are around $70 for a single day.

They have a water park as well called Aquatica that has lots of thrilling slides, pools and a lazy river. Aquatica tickets are roughly around $40 but it’s a full day of fun that will create great memories for you and your family.Sea world

Disney World has its own page on Travel In Style: Florida so just scroll up and click on the tab that says Disney World or click here.

The Holy Land Experience is a Christian theme park that replicates Jerusalem. They have all sorts of Biblical exhibits and characters that walk around from the Bible. There are many live shows that show the things that Jesus and his people went through.

LEGOLAND is an interaction theme park that is located right outside Orlando in Winter Haven. This park is designed for young children and pre-teens and has over 50 rides and lots of shows and attractions; they also have their own water park . Children can drive cars and boats and the family can wonder around carefree through lego cities and everyone can build their own creations.

Madame Tussauds is the most famous wax museum in the world and one is right here in Orlando. Spend the day taking pictures with the A-List stars like Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Albert Einstein, Serena Williams and many more. All of them look so real everyone will really think you met them.

Not far from Orlando (about 50 miles) is the Kennedy Space Center, home of NASA. Its almost a straight shot east on the expressway in Florida’s Space Coast; Brevard County. There is an entire day of fun for exploration and learning at the KSC. There’s tours, hands on experiences, a real shuttle that was up in space that you can tour, an IMAX theater, astronauts that you can meet, a launch pad tour and if you’re lucky a real rocket launch may be scheduled.

There are wonderful restaurants of all cultures in Orlando, the nightlife is great with places to go like Church Street Station, The Pointe Orlando, International Drive and much much more. It is one of the vacation destinations of the world and you will not regret a vacation here.

• Plan your vacation to Orlando during NON-PEAK times of the year so that hotels are at their lowest prices.
• Orlando always has coupon book that are FREE in most restaurants, hotels, gas stations. Almost everywhere you go you can find one or more coupon books; Use them.
• Take sandwiches and drinks to the theme parks with you because food and drinks are always expensive there.
• If you stay at hotels on International Drive, they provide shuttle services to the parks for free.
• There is a trolley that goes up and down I-Drive and for about $5 it will take you unlimited times per day.

Traveling to Panama City Beach

Panama City is located on Florida’s panhandle. It has miles and miles of beautiful beaches and is a spring break destination for students all over the country.

Things to do in Panama City Beach

Something that is really neat that most cities don’t offer is the Gran Maze; this is located at the Coconut Creek Family Fun Park. It is a big white maze that you and your family or friends can get lost in. There are four different colored towers and you must get to the tower of your color choice first. You can have hours and hours of fun doing this. This maze is as big as a football field and is the first one in the US like it! This fun park also offers two different 18 hole mini golf courses that is jungle themed with waterfalls.

WonderWorks is a experience for your mind. There are tons of things to do in this upside down building, it will surely take up a whole day. Ever wonder what us Floridians go through when there’s a hurricane? WonderWorks has a category 1 hurricane simulator. You can be a human lighting rod, have a bubble blowing contest in the Bubble Lab, land a space shuttle or play lazer tag; there is really to much to write in this blog so check out their website, this is something you will want to do while in Panama City Beach.

Shipwreck Island Water Park will surely cool you off in summer. This water park has lots of fast water slides, two big drop slides, a huge wave pool, a great lazy river, a raging rapid water ride and much more. Lots of fun to be had here. Tickets are around $35 and lower; depending on your height.

If camping is what you’re looking for, Camp Helen State Park is the place to go. They offer Rainbow cottages you can rent, the park is right on the ocean, fishing, hiking (there are trails everywhere), lots of wildlife to see and they have a historic site. If you can think of something you want to do outdoors, you’ll find it here.

If you’re just not quiet sure what to do, head over to Pier Park. There is a huge outdoor mall that has tons of shop and restaurants so you’ll be sure to find anything you’re looking for, and they also have their own amusement park and it is all right on the Gulf of Mexico so you can go to the beach as well. Rides cost per ride.

There are lots of restaurants and nightclubs in Panama City Beach, pretty much just about anything you can think of to eat, there is someplace that will have it. But just remember that you are in Florida and Florida is known for its seafood so if you’ve never had seafood you must try some; I would start with shrimp and crab legs, YUM!

Tips:

• There will be coupons for WonderWorks and most other attractions in the local coupon book that you can get at any restaurant or hotel.
• Planning your trip in January, Febuary or September will save you a lot of money on hotels.

Traveling to Pensacola

Pensacola is the Western most city in Florida, just a few miles from Alabama. It has beautiful beaches and a lot of history. Ruled by five different governments through its history, it gained the name “The City of Five Flags”. From museums, beaches, shopping, air shows and anything else you can think of, there’s lots of fun to have on the Emerald Coast!

Things to do in Pensacola

Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park is a really cool place to visit. It is a marine life and reptile park that has many hands on activities. You can pet sting rays, get in a pool and play with bottle nose dolphins, feed and touch African penguins, pet seals and sea lions, pet baby American alligators and much more.

If you’re into the outdoors, go visit Adventures Unlimited. This place has all sorts of things to do. In the River Adventures there is: kayaking, canoeing, tubing, paddle boarding and camping. The Zip Adventures offers different zip lining packages each with its own thrilling lines and beautiful scenery; there is even a doubles zip package. They also have group adventures and wedding packages. Cabins are available as well. Prices vary depending on what activity you wish to do.

If you hear the jets of a F/A 18 fly above you, its probably the Blue Angels. They are originally from Jacksonville but now call Pensacola home. They do air shows all over the country and world and these pilots are nothing less than amazing. They are some of the best in the world and you will certainly be entertained watching them. You have a great chance just being in Pensacola to catch a show and its free.

For dining and nightlife check out Downtown, there are lots of great restaurants and cozy bars. This little city can serve up some delicious steaks, seafood, pizza and lots of ethnic food. For some night time fun, head over to the Seville Quarter; this place has 7 rooms of food, drinks and entertainment!

Anything you chose to do in Pensacola is a stones throw from the beautiful aqua blue water that it is built by. So no matter what, you will surly have a blast in this laid back Southern little town in paradise.

Tips:

• If you’re going to one of the area beaches, make sure you buy your beach supplies before you get beach-side. Prices for sunblock and other beach accessories will be much higher there.
• Instead of buying souvenirs at the beach which can be pricey, take lots of pics and collect shells from the beach and make your own souvenir pics.
• Pic up a free coupon book at a hotel or restaurant, these books can save you a lot of money.
• If you truly want to know the best places to dine, ask the locals.

Traveling in St. Augustine

St. Augustine, the Oldest City in the United States! St. Augustine is rich with History, there are lots of things to do and see in this old city. Take a stroll back in time as you walk along the cobblestone roads through the Historic District wondering through the many shops, cafes, bars and seeing how blacksmiths, candle makers, etc. replicate the old way of life. You can’t go wrong taking a vacation here. You will will have so much fun you won’t even realize you’re learning.

Things to do in St. Augustine

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a Fort built in the 17th century (1600’s) and is made of a limestone called coquina. It has a mote just like you would vision any fort to have but this forts mote was only filled up one time with water. It was then that the Spanish inhibitors of this fort realized that coquina absorbs water and it flooded the whole fort so they never used the mote again. Fort Castillo de San Marcos is a ‘walk in’ park so you can view it at your leisure but there are people dressed in the eras costumes that walk around answering questions about the forts history.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not is on the same side as the fort just a few blocks down. This is the original Ripley’s, housed in a real castle built in 1887 as the winter home of William G. Warden. You will see some of the strangest things at Ripley’s, some of them so strange it will be hard to believe even with your own eyes seeing it. This is a three story castle filled with things like a replica of the worlds tallest man to shrunken heads. There are many exhibits, artifacts and replicated models that you can see and touch; you can even sit in a real electric chair! They also offer Red train tours and Ghost train tours.

Since I’m on the topic of ghosts, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is a beautiful historic building built in the late 1800’s replacing the original light tower from the 1500’s. Walking up the 219 steps will tire you but you won’t regret it when you get to the top and look way out over the beautiful blue Florida coastline and see the old city from a panoramic view that will surely be a memory that you will keep in your mind forever. They have their own ghost tour at night time as well. This lighthouse has been on a ghost hunting show on TV called Ghost Hunters. They say at night there is a spirit that runs up and down the stairs in that old building and that you can sometimes see it. They’ve actually caught it on camera. YouTube that!

Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is the oldest attraction in our nation. It is America’s First Colony ; the actual site of the first 1565 Menendez settlement! There are beautiful gardens, hands on exhibits, and much more on this water front 15 acre property. You can visit a living History Timucua Village and drink out of the Fountain of Youth that Ponce de Leon discovered back in 1513.

The list can go on and on for things to do in this old city. More places to visit include: The Old Jail (there is an actual gallow sitting outside of it that they used to use), The Potters Wax Museum, The Old School House, Flagler College, the Oldest House in America, the Lions Bridge, the Pirate and Treasure Museum, For Matanzas and the Lightner Museum are just some to mention.

This city is truly beautiful and is a history buffs dream come true. You will experience a one of a kind vacation here. You can walk freely down roads in the Historic District listening to the one man bands playing in the streets or explore all the great museums in the city and see how people lived in the 1400’s and 1500’s and relax on the beautiful beaches that are just a rock throw away. You will not go wrong spending some time in this great old city; there is something for everyone and every taste here.

Tips:

• Make sure you pick up a coupon book at any restaurant or hotel for great savings.
• Visit websites to places you plan to visit, a lot of them have printable coupons on their pages.
• Don’t forget to wear sunscreen and take plenty of water; you’re in Florida and it gets hot in Summer.

Traveling to Tampa

Tampa sits right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. It is home of the NFL team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and they have a very upscale football stadium that anyone would love to be in watching a live game. There is a ton of things to do in Florida’s largest city on the Gulf Coast!

Things to do in Tampa

Bush Gardens is located in Tampa. Its is a HUGE upscale theme park that has lots of big roller coasters, Congo River Rapids, plenty of rides for the kids, shows, hands on interactions and almost 3,000 animals; most are exotic. Bush Garden tickets are around $80 for a single day ticket.

If you don’t feel like going to a full blown theme park Tampa has a really nice water park. Adventure Island has lots of big slides, pools and an area just for kids. There is a lot to do for every age.

The Florida Aquarium in Downtown Tampa is a full day of fun any day. They have lots of exhibits and you can even swim with fish and sharks.

The Museum of Science and Industry is amazing and is a place that has over 450 interaction exhibits. If you want to learn something new, hands on is the best to help you understand how things work. They have an exhibit that is 3D printing. If you don’t know what that is you HAVE to go let them show you. The Saunders Planetarium is a spectacular in itself. They have shows that show you the night sky in any time in the past. An IMAX theater is home at the MOSI and they offer different shows all the time, most about space or nature; if you’ve never been to an IMAX theater then you’ve never truly experienced high-definition pictures.

Dinosaur World (in Plant City) is a place anyone would love to visit, especially little boys. There are over 200 life size dinosaurs here that are waiting for you to hop on and get a picture with and some of them are animatronics. There is a Fossil Dig area where you can sift through sand and try to find one, they have cave exploration and much more.

Tampa has some of the prettiest Beaches in the world. This area on the Gulf Coast is world renowned for its white powdery sand. The beaches in this area isn’t like most beaches where the sand feels all gritty, the sand on these beaches literally feels like soft powder between your toes; it’s amazing! Beaches to try in the Tampa Bay area are: Clearwater Beach, Fort de Soto Park & Caladesi Island State Park. All of these beaches have beautiful aqua blue water just like you would imagine a tropical paradise to be. Don’t forget your sunscreen and apply it every hour, the Florida sun is very powerful and you can burn in 20 minutes if you’re not use to it; some will even if they are.

Shopping is a breeze really because everywhere you look there are shops, malls, boutiques and super stores. You shouldn’t have a problem finding anything that you need or want in Tampa, its a very big city.

Ybor City at nightTampa has a wonderful Dining selection and a great Nightlife! It is a big city and they accommodate many ethnic cuisines so you shouldn’t have a problem finding anything that your taste buds desire. Ybor City is a historic area in Tampa that they turned into rows of restaurants, lounges, shops, hotels and Inn’s. There are special events and attractions, art and entertainment and tours offered all the time. You have to go down there and check it out, you won’t be disappointed. I have have personally seen a few of those restaurants on shows like Food Network and The Cooking Channel because of their unique delicious dishes.

Tips:

• For all the main attractions in Tampa there are usually coupons on the internet that can be printed out.
• Grab a coupon book from any hotel or most restaurants.
• The Florida Botanical Gardens is Free admission and you can spend hours there, take a picnic.
• There are actually 2 forts at Fort De Soto Park, that’s a lot to check out and its FREE.