Plan Your Florida Vacation
The aim of this blog is to provide as much information about things to see and do whilst you are on the holiday of a lifetime in the vacation capital of the world - The Sunshine State of Florida.
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Manatees Fort Myers
Posted on January 30th, 2010 No commentsWritten by: Derek Birchenough
Authors WebsiteIf you are visiting South West Florida in the winter months and if you are like us and into wild life you must visit Manatee Park in Fort Myers, to see the manatees which had come from the cold waters of the gulf into the warm waters by the Hydro Electric power plant. As the gulf temperatures cool down say in December, January and February it is really amazing that Manatees come into the park when it is cold in Gulf of Mexico and it is some sight to see Manatees and their calves enjoying the warm water produced by the plant. Apparently this has been going on for years and in effect generations of Manatees return to this area every year and on occasions some 100 manatees have been seen, we have seen about 15 when we visited but it was still amazing. The day we went a school bus rolled up with 40 kids but they were quiet and well behaved and in awe just as much as we were.
There is no food as such in this inlet but the manatees are drawn by the warm water, and it is only when the water in the gulf is cold that they will venture into this inlet. One can imagine that in the summer months when the gulf is 85 degrees or so the water around the power plant would be unbearably hot for the Manatees.
The best time of day to visit is in the morning or around noon when the sun is behind you or overhead, it is much easier to see them rather than later in the day.
The volunteers are helpful and informative, and pleased to educate the tourists.
Best of all apart from a $1 car park fee, its free.
Funnily enough it’s called Manatee Park and is located right off interstate 75 on State Road 80 in Fort Myers. It is a small park with a playground and picnic benches but Manatees are the main attraction. There is a small gift shop and drink machines.
Manatee Park
5761 Palm Beach Bvld
Fort MyersTelephone Number 239 432 2004
We have often been strolling along a beach on the gulf coast and seen a glimpse of what we believed to be manatees, so it was nice to go somewhere and see them in all there glory in their natural environment
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The Gulf Coast South West Florida
Posted on November 16th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Derek Birchenough
Authors WebsiteMuch has been written about Orlando Florida being the entertainment capital of the world, and it is true that everybody should experience the magic of Disneyworld, the fascination of Epcot Centre and the wonderful sights of Seaworld. But many people return to the UK having spent an exhilarating time in Orlando without visiting the Gulf Coast.
Many years ago we made the discovery of the joys and untold pleasure to be gained by visiting the Gulf Coast and in particular the beaches of South West Florida, There is something unique about still being able in this busy world to walk along an empty beach of clear white sand with the occasional appearance of a dolphin freely swimming close to the shore line looking a for meal, the only company.
We have encountered this scenario many times along South beach Boca Grande and and Stumps Pass Englewood to name a few, the locals do not bat an eyelid when the dolphins meander past, they are just used to it. Whilst the visitor myself included will alert to the wife in excited way that dolphins are off shore, I can just visualised the locals muttering to themselves, typical tourists. You can see dolphins along any beach on the gulf coast but there is no doubt they like quiet areas and when they come close to shore to feed.
The peak Gulf coast vacation rental season on the gulf coast is the winter months December to April when the North Americans and Canadians flood into South West Florida especially to escape the cold temperatures and snow in the Northern States. The months of May and June are considered the off season which has always amazed me, I have been sat on a sun chair on a quiet beach in hot and sunny weather with the temperatures in the 90s and reading the local papers which talk about the busy season being over. When on some of the beaches in Europe in similar conditions you would be climbing over people to get to the sea.
Yes some of the beaches will still be busy, the likes of Fort Myers and Sarasota but there are still plenty of beaches to explore which offer the type of experience I have described above.
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FORT MYERS & JUNKANOOS
Posted on September 19th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Julie Hart
Authors WebsiteA few years ago we had a long holiday in Florida and decided to spend some time on the Gulf Coast, as somewhere we hadn’t visited before. We are now used to having our own place and didn’t want a hotel so we used a homeowners forum to find a lovely 2 bed 2 bath condo at Fort Myers. Our daughter was staying with friends at the Longboat Key Club so we collected her on the way. That is a really lovely resort, right on the beach near Sarasota. We spent the day there in glorious sunshine and set off after dinner at Tommy Bahamas restaurant.
A storm blew up just as soon as we set off and it was quite scary driving in the dark, on unfamiliar roads with the pounding rain and thunder and lightning but eventually we arrived unscathed. The next day brought beautiful sunshine and our neighbours suggested a place on the beach called Junkanoos. This turned out to be a good recommendation, there was parking, a restaurant, toilets, jet ski hire, sun loungers and a beautiful clean sandy beach. Everything we needed for a family day out.
In the afternoon my daughter and I decided to walk into Fort Myers, about a half hour stroll down the beach. This is a typical seaside town, busy and bustling with lots of shops and cafe’s. As we were ready to walk back the sky turned black and we set off quickly but with no chance of avoiding the impending storm. We decided to stick to the road instead of the beach and within minutes were absolutely soaked to the skin, at one point the water was flowing so fast down the kerbside it took our flip flops with it and we had to chase after them.
We came to a motel block and took shelter under a balcony for a while but the air conditioning blowing out from the rooms made us so cold we moved on. A car drove past and thought it would be hilarious to drive as close as possible thus soaking us from head to foot, at least the water was warm! We arrived back to find the rest of the family dry and enjoying a drink in Junkanoos, much to their amusement. We were amazed to see people not only on the beach but still in the sea with lightning flashing around them.
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A Trip to Key West
Posted on September 4th, 2009 No commentsWritten by: Andy Brownlie
Authors WebsiteIf you fancy two or three days away from the Orlando area you must consider a trip to the southernmost point on continental USA. – Key West.
Now if you want to drink at Sloppy Joe’s and soak up the Hemingway experience, you have a choice. You can take a road trip down the east side of Florida via the Florida Turnpike. This is a 390 mile trip (one way) and will take the best part of seven hours if you don’t want a break. You will, however, have the opportunity of having a look at such places as Palm Beach and Miami. After Miami you take US 1 down the Keys starting with Key Largo, (a good place to break your journey overnight), and taking in Islamadora, Long Key, Marathon, and Seven Mile Bridge to name only a few, before you get to Key West,the home of Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
If you do fancy the road trip through the Keys on US 1 (sometimes called “The Overseas Highway”), you should go during the week and avoid the very busy weekends. The road is only two lanes in places, and being stuck in a traffic jam is not the best way to see the Keys.
Some people love the long car ride down the Keys, and across all the bridges, but there are those who do find it all a bit “samey”, and tiring.
There is, of course, an alternative which will allow you to combine a shorter road trip down the Gulf coast with a trip to Key West.
200 miles from Orlando, and a much shorter three and a quarter hours away, at Fort Myers Beach, just south of Sanibel Island, you can take the “Key West Express” – a high speed ferry which will get you there in a leisurely three hours. You can go just for the day, and spend from 11:30am to 5pm in Key West, or spend a night or two drinking in the atmosphere.
The ferry, with air conditioned interiors and outdoor sun decks, will cost around $145 return. You will have to leave your car in Fort Myers (car parking is free) but you can well do without a car in Key West anyway.
So, go on - Join the nightly sunset celebrations at Mallory Square, and choose which way you would like to get there.
Andy Brownlie