The Colors of Florida Today!

Below is an aricle on Florida today that we read and loved in Coastal Living.

It was written by one of the foremost experts regarding Florida travel and the Florida beaches, visitflorida.com.

This is a must read to learn what each area of Florida is all about. It provides a different perspective on the different areas of this vast vacation destination.
Enjoy!!

Northwest Florida Today

They say you never have a second chance to make a first impression, and there is nothing more impressive thatn Florida's Emerald Coast.

From Pensacola, east to Apalachicola, this area is renowned for its miles of sugar-white beaches, emerald waters, lush hardwood forests, great fishing, quaint historic districts, and unprecedented military heritage.

Santa Rosa Island and Perdido Key, are great for a quiet beach hideaway, while still enjoying the numerous museums, historic sites, and tubing adventures in nearby Pensacola and Milton.

Emerald is not the only color that describes this stretch of coast. As in many coastal areas of Florida today, there is also plenty of red, white, and blue.

Pensacola is the birthplace of Naval Aviation, and home to the National Museum of Naval Aviation and Blue Angels precision flying team.

A series of bridges takes you east to Fort Walton Beach and Destin, where a picturesque harbor lends credence to this resort town's long-time bragging rights as "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village."

Always a favorite among guests, Destin's upscale accomodations include resorts with endless amenities including poolside cabanas, and the new Gulf-front beach towers and condos. Two spots mentioned in the article are The Gulf-front Silver Shells Beach Resort and Spa and Pelican Beach Resort.

Along the beaches of South Walton, the harmonious marriage of nature and development has allowed the birth of new coastal communities designed to enhance and protect the area's pristine surroundings.

The newest addition to the growing collection of chic "New Urbanism" communities along Scenic 30-A is WaterColor Inn and Resort. Check into Garrett Realty Services if you want to find affordable or luxurious accomodations (300+ to choose from).

Although the beaches and bright lights of MTV have long made Panama City Beach a colorful hot spot for Spring Breakers, the footprint along these beaches is changing, with mom and pop hotels giving way to upscale, family-friendly, luxury condos such as Sterling Resorts.

Northwest Central Florida Today

Known as the "Original Florida," North Central Florida is where you will find Florida's capital city, Tallahassee. A picturesque place, Tallahassee is full of history - much of which can be discovered on tours of the Old Capitol, New Capitol, Governor's Mansion, the Museum of Florida History, and The Black Archives Research Center and Museum.

Northeast Florida Today

Florida's First Coast is a combo of the old and the new - from St. Augustine, America's oldest European settlement, to Jacksonville, "Florida's River City by the Sea."

In the state's northeast corner, Fernandina Beach's infamous "Silk Stocking District" is a great discovery, as well as the blocks of old manions along the oceanfront of Amelia Island.

For a great getaway on Amelia Island, stay at the luxurious Summer Beach Resort where you will be surrounded by lush foliage, the majestic Atlantic Ocean, and an onsite golf course. A few other good choices to stay include the Ponte Verde Inn and Club - a AAA five-diamond ocean front resort is one of the finest stays in Florida today. For beach home rentals and a more individualized stay, try The Beach Cottages.

Central East Florida Today

To really brush Florida's coastline, head to the Daytona Beach area where you can drive along the 23-mile shoreline Ormond Beach to Ponce Inlet. If you are interested in travel with a little more speed, visit Daytona USA (for Nascar and Ricky Bobby fans).

Beyond the area's legendary beaches and famed speedway you will find plenty of green, with a myriad of golf courses to explore including homes to PGA events.

To get back up to speed, visit Florida's Space Coast. Stretching from Titusville to Palm Bay, here you will find the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the US Astronaut Hall of Fame, and a number of other fantastic museums and centers.

Central Florida Today

Welcome to the Mecca of world-famous, family-oriented theme parks, where color and magic is everywhere, creativity runs rampant, and animation is king! Walt Disney World Resort, with the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom, is just a touch of what this area of Florida today offers visitors.

Don't stop there - there's more fun outside of those gates. Sea World is home to Shamu the whale, Universal Studios Florida puts you in action of thrilling movies, and the famous Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven are other exciting adventures to enjoy.

Southwest Florida Today

"Old Florida" appeal meets Sarasota sophistication throughout the one million acres of beach, wildlife sanctuaries, and nature preserves along Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast.

Sarasota and the surrounding islands offer visitors variety, from the satin-soft sands of Siesta Key to the cultural indulgence of The Creators & Collectors Tour of Sarasota and Her Islands, an event held in March and April.

Guests of the area can choose accomodations ranging from the beachside bungalow to upscale resorts (such as Longboat Key Club Resort or Colony Beach Resort).

If you enjoy shell collecting, make plans to visit the Gulf-front Sanibel and Captiva Islands, where you will find more varieties of shells than any other beach in North America. And to experience another colorful side of Florida today, do a little island hopping along the Intercoastal Waterway for a peek at communities known as retreats for the rich and famous; or discover the history of Fort Myers- check out the newly renovated Pointe Estero Beach Resort. For family friendly vacations you might want to stay at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa located along Estero Bay.

Southeast Florida Today

A real find to the east is the Treasure Coast, named for the treasure-laden Spanish galleons that lie sunken 40 miles off-shore and long known to sports fisherman as the "Sailfish Capital of the World."

Martin County, which includes Stuart, Hutchinson Island, Port Selerno, and Indiantown, is a treasured part of this coast, extending from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Okeechobee.

Among the unusual gems of the area is Bathtub Beach on Hutchinson Island, named for the combination of an offshore reef and low tide that form a natural shallow pool.

You will find more treasure on the Gold Coast, where the palette for this playground covers it all - from the hot pinks and pulsating tones of Miami's South Beach to the rich green vastness of the Everglades, and the coral majesty of the Florida Keys.

While Palm Beach offers a glimpse of the rich and famous, Fort Lauderdale, with more than 300 miles of inland waterways and 40,000 resident yachts, is known as the "Venice of America." Bahia Mar, a Ft Lauderdale landmark with a 250-slip marina, is also home to the Bahia Mar Beach Resort.
The Lago Mar Resort provides a touch of European elegence and a premier ocean-front resort.

As you travel over the 113-mile Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys, you will forget about your other life. What better place to complete this masterpiece than in Key West, a one-of-a-kind place embedded in quaint, palm-studded streets, historic gingerbread mansions, and the relaxed citizenry of self-style "Conchs."

This vacation masterpiece is almost complete. The only thing missing from the picture is you. So plan to visit Florida today or very soon... where you can brush off your cares, draw on your passions, color outside the lines, canvass both natural and man-made wonders, and leave in a new frame of mind.

WoW! That was a huge article that detailed the beauty and regions of Florida today. Pack your bags, stick around with us, and plan your next dream vacation!

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