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 villaand 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
-
Prices for a fortnight break in 2010 are from
£1018pp and include flights and car hire. This is based on a 3-bedroom family
home sleeping up to eight and with a private pool. If a Florida Fly-drive is
for you visit specialist www.jetsave.com
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