Great Florida Vacation Ideas!

Often when tourists think of Florida vacation destinations while planning their coming vacation they automatically think of Disney World, Miami, Panama City Beach, and a few other sites.  They generally focus on the large tourist trap areas and in turn have a cookie cutter vacation, rarely experiencing all of what Florida has to offer.

First off, Florida has a great system of State Parks that are cheap to enjoy and offer experiences from the Florida Keys to the western tip of the panhandle.  One of these you would want to visit are the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park located just off the southern end of HWY 1.  This facility offers snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boats, fishing, camping and more and has some of the most beautiful underwater views in the United States.

The next spot to not miss is one of the oldest cities in the United States.  St. Augustine is one of the most beautiful southern cities and includes southern charm, Spanish architecture and history, and is located next to some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida.  Historical sites, a dolphin conservation center, beaches, shopping and more will make any visit a memorable one.

These locations, along with some of the more secluded parks and getaways in the Panhandle make Florida more than just the tourist traps of Disney World, Busch Gardens, Miami Beach and more.

Panama City Beach: Not Just Spring Break Anymore

I recently went on a family vacation to Panama City Beach.  I was somewhat reluctant to stay there over some of the other Panhandle beaches that I saw as much more quiet and family friendly.  I was a little surprised.

 Panama City Beach has been slowly reinventing itself over the past 10 years.  After seeing the success of its neighbors in Destin, Seaside, and Fort Walton Beach, Panama City realized that they did not necessarily have to cater to teens and college students to keep up their tourism revenue.  The other beaches have geared their tourism more toward families and retirees and have found that those two demographics have brought more money and fewer headaches than Panama City Beach’s annual party crowd.

 While we were at PC Beach we enjoyed a 2 hour cruise on the “Pirate Ship” where the crew plays games and tells pirate stories to all of the children.  On the trip they enjoyed a plastic sword fight, a water gun fight, dancing, stories and even following some dolphins around the tip of Shell Island.

 One afternoon we made it to St. Andrews State Park, home of the #2 State Park beach in the US.  The entrance fee of $8 per vehicle was inexpensive when compared to the great beach, excellent facilities, and the other opportunities inside the park such as a shuttle to Shell Island, nature walks and more.

Panama City Beach also has some great golf courses, nature exibits like Gulf World, along with older attractions such as Shipwreck Island.  Although some of the old "spring break" attractions can still be found, a simple drive from Thomas Drive down Front Beach Rd reveals a large amount of upgrading and change of "direction".

The rest of our trip included charter fishing for 5 hours, seafood dinners, and time on the great beach of Panama City Beach.  If you have not checked out Panama City Beach in a while, I encourage you to keep it in mind for your next family vacation!

See The “Mermaids” at Homosassa Springs

A visitor attraction since the 1940’s, Homosassa Springs is a natural wonder and home to manatees and fish alike.  In the springs, you can see manatees, Mangrove Snapper, Sheepshead, Crevalle Jacks, and Redfish.  At the springs, visitors can venture into an underwater observation area that will give them a up close view of the manatees and fish that call the springs home.

A couple hundred years ago, when sailors and explorers were mapping and exploring the Florida Peninsula, folk lore holds that they often mistook the large mammals as mermaids.  The rum from their stops at Tortuga and other islands must have been strong, because I do not see a resemblance.  Either way, the manatees are wonderful creatures to watch and as one of the state of Florida’s symbols and an animal that has been at the brink of extinction, they are a great sight to see.

The park is also home to many other Florida natives such as Alligators, Turtles, Snakes, Bobcats, Panthers, Black Bear, and many native birds.  Each of these native animals is in a fenced exhibit that the family can walk up to and read about.  Another exhibit in the park is that of “Lou” or “Lucifer” the Hippopotamus.  Lou is the only “naturalized” hippo; he was given resident status by Gov. Chiles after the park could not find a home for him when they made the park home for native species.

This park has gift shops, food vending, great park rangers, and entrance includes either a tram ride or a boat ride.  With small entrance fees and free admission for children 6 and under, the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is an excellent stop for families vacationing in the state of Florida.

The park can be reached at (352) 628-5343 and is located at 4150 S. Suncoast Boulevard
Homosassa, Florida 34446.  Homosassa is just a short drive from the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, so for any vacation to Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Ybor City, or to get on a cruise ship in the Port ofTampa, make this a fun stop to begin or end your trip.

Great Family Fun In Atlanta, GA!

When most people think of Atlanta, GA, they think of a large city, a huge airport, some great nightlife, and maybe some pro sports teams.  There are some excellent places for family fun both in and around the Atlanta area that everyone should experience.  Keep reading and find out why your next Southern Vacation should include Atlanta, GA.

First off, there are some wonderful spots downtown.  The Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest aquarium, has more than 10 million gallons of water with more animals than any other aquarium.  This aquarium offers hours of learning and fun with a 3D movie theater, multiple themed areas, and even a dining area, all with a modest price.

Next door to the Georgia Aquarium you will find the World of Coca Cola at Pemberton Place.  Here you can learn about the beginning of the company, see Coke memorabilia, and do a walk through that includes a "4D" movie theater.

Some of the other attractions in the Atlanta area include Six Flags Over Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, and Six Flags White Water: Atlanta.  Six Flags Over Georgia is one of the best amusement parks in the U.S. and has plenty of fun for the whole family for a full day.  Also, the nearby water park, Six Flags White Water, often offers combo deals with your Six Flags tickets for a discount.

Stone Mountain Park, just 16 miles outside Atlanta, is Georgia's most visited attraction.  It offers 5 square miles of camping, hiking, a "sky ride", and even offers a nighttime laser light show on the face of the world's largest piece of exposed granite.  Often throughout the year there are concerts and other special attractions at the park as well.

Visit Atlanta, Georgia and get a taste for all the South has to offer!

Another Great Florida Beach For Family Vacation

My first post on this blog was about my favorite beach, St. George Island.  Another great Florida beach to visit for a great family vacation or a personal getaway is Cape San Blas.  This beach has white sandy beaches, beautiful dunes, and soft Gulf of Mexico waves.  The Cape is also a peninsula that has a bay side which is perfect for serene getaways.

Cape San Blas is located a few miles to the southeast of Port St. Joe, Florida, and is a couple hours south west of Tallahassee, Fl.  The predominant way to get accommodations at this southern vacation spot is through booking a rental house or condo.  There are great local realtors that manage rentals, but most, including private party rentals, can be accessed by websites like VRBO.

There are multiple public beach access points on the Cape, including Salinas Park and Cape Palms Park.  You should also have an easy time finding accommodations on the beach or bay. 

For more scenery, visit the St. Joseph's State Park on the northern tip of the Cape.  This state park has 10 miles of beach and bay, a boat ramp and basin, picnic areas, along with camping access for tents, RV's or even cabins for rent. 

Across the St. Joseph's Bay from the Cape lies one of the best places to visit in FL: Port St. Joe.  Here you can experience some of the Gulf's best seafood.  At the marina, you can go on an inexpensive charter fishing trip, or go to the marina's restaurant for fresh fish and fresh oysters.

Tampa, The US Portal To The Caribbean

On Florida's "Emerald Coast", lies one of its best attractions.  The Tampa Bay area is packed with vacation opportunities for people of all ages.  From theme parks and night life to scenic views and historic sites, Tampa has something for everyone.

One of the most common vacation types for people visiting Tampa is that of cruising.  Tampa Bay is the embarkation spot for many cruises visiting the Caribbean.  These cruise ships visit places such as Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and more.

Tampa Bay is the embarkation location of choice for many people for a wide array of reasons.  First and foremost, Tampa is easier to access than the ports of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami, and is much less expensive as well.  For any person going on a cruise, travel costs will possibly include a hotel stay the night prior to embarkation or parking fees while on the cruise, and for these, Tampa is definitely the least expensive.

Another reason many people choose to take their cruise from Tampa is that there are many places to visit or take the family the day before leaving or the day after returning.  These sites include Ybor City and the Florida Aquarium, both of which are within sight of the Cruise Port Authority.  Other areas of interest include Busch Gardens, Sea World, and more.  There is also a great shopping area with outlet stores next door to the Florida Aquarium and the Port Authority where the cruises leave from.

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Wild Adventures, A Must Visit On The Way To Florida

For the millions of people who visit the state of Florida every year, one of the most common stops, if not main stop, is to one of the many amusement parks located mostly in Central Florida.  Even if they are headed to one of Florida's excellent beaches or to get on a huge cruise ship in one of Florida's ports, an amusement park is often a good stop for a day in transit.  Everyone wants to visit Disney World, Busch Gardens, or Sea World, but most do not realize until they begin planning just how much the entrance fees have gone up in the past 10 years.  The admission to these parks now averages around $70 for a day pass per person.  While there are some deals to be had in this area, there is another option that most visitors to the state do not take advantage of.

Just above the Florida state line, outside Valdosta, Georgia, is a relatively new amusement park named Wild Adventures.  This park has several roller coasters, many "midway-like" rides, a huge go-cart track, along with a growing "safari" area with alligators, lions, and more.  Wild Adventures has also added a water park that is attached to the main park and is included in admission.

This park is smaller than the "Magic Kingdom" but has more than enough fun for a day full of activity and has much less crowds.  At Wild Adventures you will find short lines to the best rides, easily accessible food vending, short walks to parking, and all within a short ride from I 75 as you either enter or exit the state of Florida.

Florida Panhandle Beaches

My first post will have to be about one of my favorite places to visit.  The Florida Panhandle is where I grew up, so the beaches here are very well known to me.  These beaches are as good as or better than their South and East Florida counterparts and offer lower prices and less crowding.  One of the best beachest to visit in this area, and not as well known to visitors from other states, is St. George Island.

St. George Island is about one and a half hours east of Panama City, and is about two hours southwest of Tallahassee.  The island can only be accessed by bridge from Eastpoint, FL.  St. George Island lies across from the Appalachicola Bay, a site well known by seafood lovers, and stretches 28 miles from Cape St. George Island to Dog Island.

The beach here is, by far, my favorite beach in the world.  Yes, I said the world.  I have been to beaches in Cozumel, Mexico, Waikiki, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, South Florida and others.  St. George Island has the finest powdery sand, and the most beautiful white beach in the world.

There are both free and pay access points at this beach which include a state park where there are pavilions, camping access, and beautiful sand dunes.  The options for accommodations on St. George Island include camping, small hotels and condos. Probably the most preferable way of staying here is renting through VRBO.com.  This is also a great place to visit for the day from several other places that are nearby.