Exploring Florida from your own home from home

Florida has been a holiday destination for Europeans since the Renaissance; well holiday perhaps wasn’t quite the word in those days, but it was certainly popular. It’s not entirely certain why early travellers were drawn to this peninsula jutting out from the deep south of America into the warm, sub-tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. It almost certainly had something to do with those warm waters and pleasant sub-tropical climate. Not much has changed in that respect in the last five hundred years – welcoming up to 70 million visitors a year Florida remains hugely popular with Europeans – and particularly us Brits, seeking relief from our less-than-kindly climate. For family holidays Florida is a great location; the climate all but guarantees perfect weather, while accommodation is excellent; from resort hotels to Florida villas there is a full range of options to choose from and the prices vary to suit most budgets.

The main attractions

The big pull for those looking to book holidays in 2012 when it comes to Florida is the theme parks. These parks are perfect solutions to the age-old question of how to keep the kids entertained on holiday. Villas in Florida allow you to create a home from home and with a vast range of attractions being centred in and around Orlando, this area is a great place to make your base. Florida holidays don’t need to be all about theme parks and there is much more to explore in the State.

Some historical sites

For the historically minded, St Augustine, in the north of the State is the oldest still inhabited city on the US mainland. Founded in the 1560s by the earliest Spanish settlers, the city is still going strong. It boasts a well-preserved castle, cathedrals and is a good place to find some interesting shops and worth visiting as an alternative to the usual theme park day out!

Natural Attractions

You are never far from nature in Florida. With a range of State and National Parks, the great outdoors can seem uncomfortably close when viewed from an airboat in the Everglades National Park. Alligators are common throughout the State, but are best viewed at Everglades, basking in the tropical sun and eyeing up the tourists! The local State Parks are designed for the more active amongst us and those on the coast are great places to try snorkelling, surfing, fishing, camping and hiking. Choosing villas in Florida allows you to combine all the different types of activities that you can find in Florida – without being tied to one resort.

Beach life

The coastline is certainly not to be missed in Florida – you’d be hard pressed to miss it in fact. Florida has more coastline than any other US mainland State, with an Atlantic Coast, one on the Gulf of Mexico and another on the Straits of Florida, close to the Caribbean. The waters are warm and the beaches plentiful and varied. The rich and famous are fond of the Miami beaches, while the beaches close to Orlando are considered to offer the best surfing on the US east coast. Palm-fringed, sun-kissed and ranging from the trendy to the little known, beach life in Florida has something for everyone.

If you have still to book your holidays in 2012, Florida is certainly worth considering. With so much to offer a Florida villa holidays will be a choice that all the family will thank you for.