travel destinations Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Top Florida Hotspots Chosen by Canadian Travel Bloggers

Paula — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 14:08:29 +0000

This week I am in Florida again. Just passing through on our way to a cruise. But I am always thrilled to visit Florida, even when it’s a short stay, or a conference. Florida is a dependable travel destination. And there’s always something new and exciting to discover. This year, I thought I’d ask several of my favourite Canadian travel bloggers what their picks are for Top Florida Hotspots in 2018. As a tourist destination, despite the ups and downs of the Canadian dollar, and the political climate, Florida is still a tourist mecca with much to offer. It’s still very popular with Canadians, who are the biggest international market for this state. Oh, we all know the pull of Orlando area amusement parks. But there’s so more to Florida than Mickey Mouse. Here’s what several Canadian travel bloggers have to say and why they chose each of these Florida hotspots. Top Travel Bloggers Favourite Florida Hotspots: Mary Chong of Calculated Traveller: On The Pull of Miami When asked what my favourite destination is in Florida I have to say Miami. There are a million things to do in this vibrant city. You can find culture and community in Little Havana, outdoor art in Wynwood, nightlife and art deco architecture in South Beach, and history at the Wolfonsian and Villa Vizcaya Museum. Miami is also the gateway to the Florida Keys — offering opportunities for all kinds of adventures! We travel to Miami and Florida a few times each year, usually to hop on a cruise ship to the Caribbean. If we aren’t cruising, and are planning on spending time in the city, we always make a trip to spectacular Miami beach to play in the sand and watch the ships sail out into the sunset. 11 Things to do in Miami Florida https://www.calculatedtraveller.com/blog/11-things-to-do-in-miami-florida/ Paula Schuck of Thrifty Mommas Tips Don’t Discount Daytona Beach So much more than a spring break party destination, Daytona Beach is one of my favourite Florida Hotspots and Travel Destinations because of how much there is to do. And the accessibility here is excellent. That makes it a good choice for people of all ages and abilities. The oceanfront beach strip is accessible on foot or by car in many areas. And accessible also by wheelchair in most spots. In fact, this is one thing that jumped out at me almost everywhere we went in Daytona Beach. The accessible signage was clear in many places. That matters to me. It matters to seniors too and sandwich generation parents caring for their Moms and Dads who need help travelling sometimes. If you start the day relaxing on the beach and the weather is gorgeous you might never want to leave. But there’s a lot to see so try to pace yourself. Tammy Mitchell of In R Dream: Magic of Melbourne The one Florida destination that feels like home to our family is Melbourne Beach. The untouched beaches, serenity, tropical feeling you feel when you’re watching your children jump the waves with a boogie board or dig deep into the sand is exactly what I crave when we road trip to Florida from Canada. It’s a quiet beach and not overly crowded like some of the neighboring beaches. Right in front of Crowne Plaza Melbourne-Oceanfront is where our family has made many memories and will continue to enjoy this beach for many more years to come. Melbourne is very close to many tourist attractions such as Ron Jon’s, Kennedy Space Center and a short drive to Disney World but far enough away you don’t need to feel like a tourist 100% of the time. – Tammy http://inrdream.com/ Kerrie Mendoza of Family Food and Travel Kid Friendly Cape Coral/Fort Myers Every year we head to Cape Coral/Ft Myers for a family vacation. We love travelling to the area for its beautiful beaches. Warm Gulf air and lots of great kid friendly restaurants and attractions. With day trips to Sannibel Island, Ft Myers Beach, Naples or Captiva Island you have some of the best beaches around combined with great shopping too! We recommend visiting The Shell Factory, Sky Zone and have enjoyed searching for seashells and a dolphin cruise. Don’t forget to get a meal at Rum Runners at Cape Harbour and Pinchers Crab Shack. Read more here – > https://familyfoodandtravel.com/2015/03/pinchers-crab-shack-cape-coral-florida.html Sandi Allen – Canadian Blog House Feel The Embrace of St. Pete Beach/Clearwater St. Pete Beach/Clearwater is a destination that will welcome you with open arms and never let you go. And that’s okay – you won’t want to leave! With an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, white sand beaches, endless shells for beachcombing, world-class shopping and attractions, fabulous resorts, fun water activities, pristine state parks, and a huge variety of tantalizing restaurant options, St. Pete Beach/Clearwater offers an incredible vacation experience for the whole family. “Feel It” once…and you’ll want to feel it again! https://canadianbloghouse.com/category/florida/ Ann Baccaglia of Kickass Living A Slice of Paradise in Key West A couple years ago I visited Key West and it was a dream come true. Key West is a slice of paradise and I can see why so many people vacation there each year. The food is delicious, and the sunsets are legendary. There is a reason why thousands of people flock to attend the nightly sunset ceremony at Mallory Square. The atmosphere in Key West is friendly and relaxed. Many people ride bicycles or scooters to get around the small town. No one is in a hurry.There are also plenty of stray cats and chickens wandering around. TIp – rent a convertible for the drive from the mainland through the Keys. You will not regret driving along the legendary Seven Mile bridge with the roof down. http://www.kickass-living.com/ http://www.kickass-living.com/10-places-i-want-to-visit-in-the-florida-keys/ Christy Laverty – A Little Brightspot Siesta Key – Best Beach In Florida When it comes to best place to visit in Florida I would have to put Siesta Key top of the list. We visit Siesta Key a few times a year. It is about an hour from Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico. The area is home to a beautiful white sand beach. In recent years, Siesta Key Beach was named number on beach in United States. And it deserves the honour! Definitely a must stop destination in Florida! There are great resorts in the area and there is a great variety of restaurants, especially down in Siesta Key Village, which is in walking distance to many of the area resorts and hotels. Christy A Laverty www.ALittleBrightSpot.com http://alittlebrightspot.com/2017/06/24/number-one-beach/ And Last BUT definitely NOT Least EVER Margarita Ibbott of DownshiftingPro A Nod to the Gilded Age in St Augustine The beauty of travel is that you not only go to a new place, you can go back in time. To be able to visit a Colonial city like St. Augustine was thrilling. I love culture and history and the story that a place holds in time. The way a building is morphs from one use to another without losing the essence of the place. That was what it was like to go to the iconic Lightner Museum and Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. The Lightner Museum was once a glorious (and very luxurious) seasonal retreat. The Hotel Alcazar was a playground for wealthy north-easterners. Across the street, in what is now Flagler College, was the competing Hotel Ponce de Leon. These two buildings have found new life and continue to grace the Old City with a rich heritage which charmed me. The architecture is stunning and a nod to the gilded age. I did not see enough of Florida’s Historic coast but I know I will return without a doubt. Read more on DownshiftingPro There are so many beautiful beaches throughout this sunny state, you could spend a lifetime of Canadian winters visiting each one. And you’d still want to return. Many thanks to all the travel writers who contributed a paragraph or two about their favourite Florida hotspots. [tweetthis]Top Canadian Travel Bloggers Weigh in On Favourite Florida Hotspots #travel #IFWTWA[/tweetthis] What are your favourite Florida hotspots and when was the last time you visited?

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Florida Destinations – Five Lesser Known, Less Crowded Spots to Visit #TravelTuesday

Paula — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 04:42:05 +0000

Who doesn’t love Florida? I have been a few times and every single visit I see something new, or find some new city or spot that I would love to return to. We all know the popular spots and many of us have visited spaces like Orlando, Kissimmee, Tampa, but I wondered what other Florida destinations might be just off the beaten track, so I did a little hunting. Florida Destinations – 5 Lesser Known, Less Crowded Spots Florida is a wonderful state to enjoy a vacation. Its sunny, breezy weather and absolutely beautiful beaches make it one of the most pleasant places to relax with the family. Unfortunately, many Florida destinations are jam packed with all of the other families who also want to get away. Instead of competing with the crowds, why not think about one of these five Florida destinations that are off the vacation radar. Florida Destinations You can Enjoy in Peace I’ll be you had no idea that there were any Florida destinations left that weren’t filled to capacity with tourists vying for their slice of the sunny Florida pie, but there are still some places out there where the family can relax without rubbing elbows with their neighbors. 1: Boca Grande Boca Grande is a quite historic town on Gasparilla Island. No spring crowds or hustle bustle mobs are to be found on this island about an hour and a half west of Fort Meyers. Instead of tall buildings, stop lights, and crowds, you’ll enjoy seven miles of beaches. You’ll also be able to enjoy the state park in the areas as well as bicycle trails, fishing, sailing, and all the wildlife you could as for. All of this is rounded out by some excellent dining spots and art galleries for those like a little culture on their vacation. 2: Clewiston Another great pick in lesser known Florida destinations, Clewiston is about smack in between Fort Meyers and West Palm Beach. Situated on Lake Okeechobee, this town’s biggest draw is fishing. Lake Okeechobee is known for its largemouth bass, blue gill, speck, crappie, and bream fisihing. That’s not all Clewiston has to offer, though. It’s known as “Amerca’s Sweetest Town” because of its sugar cane production, and visitors can take tours to learn about the sugar production process. You can even take swamp and airboat tours to get out and see the wildlife. 3: Apalachicola Apalachicola is less than two hours from Tallahassee, and it’s one of the most lovely Florida destinations that hasn’t been overrun. Part of Florida’s “Forgotten Coast”, Apalachicola is a town rich in history. It was designated a National Trust for Historic Preservation Distinctive Destination in 2008 for its more than 900 historic homes and structures. When you visit this town, you’re visiting a piece of history. In addition to its historical properties, Apalachicola is known for its fresh oysters from the bay and Apalachicola National Forest, a preserve of more than 550,000 acres for any outdoor activity imaginable. 4: Stuart One of the more lively Florida destinations in this article and less than an hour from West Palm Beach, Stuart is known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World”. Sport fishing is one of the main attractions of Stuart, and there are more than 800 species to be found off its shores. If fishing isn’t your thing, you can sunbathe on its peaceful beaches, explore its nature preserves and parks, or just take in a round of golf in the Florida sun. In addition to all of that, Stuart boasts a robust cultural scene, with free live jazz and rock performances regularly downtown from October to May. They even have a Pirate Fest! 5: Crystal River One of the most exciting Florida destinations to me, Crystal river is a nature lovers dream. The biggest draw to this gorgeous town is manatees. The Crystal River – which gives the town its names – is always around 72 degrees, so the manatees come there when the gulf gets too cold. This is the ONLY place in the entire United States where it is legal to swim and snorkel with the manatees, and I think that’s pretty cool. You can choose from a wide variety of tour operators that can get you an up close, personal experience with the manatees or a birds eye view from a chopper. After you have basked in the some manatee wonderfulness, you can also enjoy kayaking, canoeing, birding, antiquing, and fishing. It’s a real relaxation destination. Florida Destinations for Rest Instead of Wrestling Wrestling crowds, that is. If you’re planning on visiting Florida, I’m sure it’s for a much needed break from your life’s hustle and bustle and not for more hustle and bustle. That’s what makes all of these lesser known areas so great. You can enjoy all of the wonderful things the Florida destinations have to offer without all the less appealing side effects of elbowing through crowded tourist destinations.

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