31. May 2011
| by
John
Florida is famous for its beaches. Some, like Miami Beach, are bustling places where you’ll find plenty of people for a game of volleyball. Others are quiet and secluded. So the first thing to decide when planning your vacation to a Florida beach is whether you desire a beach with a Margarita Hut every 300 yards or one with long open, lonely stretches of sand.
The weather in most of south Florida is always warm. There’s not much of a winter there. The summers can be brutal though, with temps upwards of 100+ degrees. If you aren’t into extreme heat, then avoid the months of June, July and August.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a big hit with surfers because of the incredible waves in Smyrna Inlet. This sunny beach is located on the eastern coast of Florida just north of Orlando. The famous Daytona Beach is right down the way from it where you’ll find the Daytona International Speedway.
At New Smyrna Beach, you’ll find excellent water sports activities like paddle boarding and hang gliding, plus some amazing inland activities like golf and shopping. There’s always a celebration going on such as the Pirate Festival. The weather here isn’t near as hot since it is located in the northern portion of Florida.
West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is a favorite destination among the rich and famous. It offers 47 miles of white sandy beach and amazing night life. There are over 100 miles of freshwater canals, rivers and lakes where tourists can dive, swim, surf, snorkel, fish, go boating…the list of water activities is endless here. The Palm Beaches area offers the best restaurants, hotels and shopping in the whole state.
If you get tired of lying on the beach enjoying the warm Florida sunshine, then inland you will find the Flagler Museum, an old-world castle built by Henry Flagler in 1902 and given to his new bride as a wedding present. The Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens feature many unique and elegant sculptures by the artist, surrounded by lush tropical plants and quaint ponds. West Palm Beach offers a little something for everyone.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a snorkeler’s or diver’s paradise. From the north to south (or the east to the west), the Keys are as follows Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Lower Keys and Key West. The Keys are most famous for deep sea fishing and for diving because of the crystal blue ocean waters, as well as their underwater plant life and reefs.
Each of the keys has spectacular attractions such as the Long Key State Park and the Diving Museum. Be sure to visit the Theater of the Sea Mammal Park where you can swim with dolphins and other creatures. The Florida Keys offer so many exciting ocean and inland activities that you’ll want to stay a whole month just to take it all in. But don’t forget the sunscreen.
