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The F to A of Florida for Families!

A Fly-drive Florida holiday is a great way to explore the Sunshine state.

Author: James Pearce
Date: Dec 22, 2009 - 9:32:43 AM

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From the adrenaline-filled Orlando, to the crystal clear waters along far south Key West or to Pensacole in the North, the wide open roads can make exploring this stunning coastline a lifelong memory.

The state can be divided into four distinct areas; Central with its themeparks, South Florida which is home to Miami, the subtropical Evaglades and cluster of 1,700 islands known as the Florida Keys. Ask most to name the biggest city in Florida and you’ll likely to be told Miami or Orlando, when in fact Jacksonville in the North East of the state has a population bigger then both combined!

More then 1.5million Brits visit Florida each year and thousands opt to hire a car and make the most of their time discovering the lesser known attractions and beautiful beaches away from the heaving Disney and Universal themeparks. If you are on a budget a great low-cost accommodation option is to hire a Florida villa and use your American-home as a central base to explore from. Motels are easy, can usually sleep a family of four in one room and  are ideal for overnight stays as you explore further away from your private villa.

The F to A guide of Florida is a handy keepsake and provides seven suggestions of things to do and places to visit which the children will love during your Florida holiday:

F – Fantasy of Flight aviation museum boasts the world’s largest private collection of aircraft and brings flight to life with balloon and biplane rides. It is located in Polk City, just outside Tampa and Orlando

L – Lion Country Safari in South Florida boasts a four-mile drive-through safari experience and the chance to see over 800 animals. The best time to visit is during the 10:30am lion feeding and with an adjoining camp site this can be a real ‘outback’ experience

O – Ocala National Forest, North-west of Orlando is an ideal spot for camping and during the summer families can enjoy relaxing canoe trips along palm-fringed streams. Restaurants specialise in chargrilled food served in a laid-back atmosphere.  

R – Rollercoaster fans should head to Islands of Adventure at Universal in Orlando to experience The Incredible Hulk ride. You’ll accelerate from 0 – 40mph in 2 seconds and experience zero g-force in a weightless roll.

I – International drive in Orlando can boast to have six of the worlds best-loved themeparks, 485 shops and 150 restaurants. Many villas are located a short drive from here and the free shuttle busses are a convenient way to get around

D – Disney is a must and no family holiday to Florida is complete without a picture with Mickey! Four magical theme parks offer fun filled attractions. Holiday homes are usually within a 20 minute drive to the Disney World Resort   

A – Arabian Nights dinner theatre in Kissimee, central Florida is a fun-filled night out. Forty performers and 65-prized horses create a memorable show of dance and horsemanship that will amaze children and adults alike  

With satnav included with your hire car you need not worry about getting lost! Driving in Florida is something to be enjoyed but there are a few rules and regulations to be aware of:

-           Do not be surprised if you see fellow drivers turning right at a red light. This is perfectly legal as long as there is no oncoming traffic or a sign to tell you otherwise

-           Like in the UK, seatbelts must be worn

-           If you have children under 5 they must have a child seat

-           Florida has some of the toughest laws regarding drink driving. Do not drink and drive! Also if you are carrying alcohol this must be stored in the boot, unopened

-           A new law was passed that requires drivers to ‘move over’ to the next lane or slow to at leats 20 miles below the speed limit when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped on a highway

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View all articles by James Pearce

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