| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 29/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 42 |
| Copyright: Other |
Florida operator overview
Gulf Coast leaves room to go wild over sights and shopping
Be it theme parks or sunbathing, Florida just has it all
Denise Hibbert, marketingmanager long-haul for First Choice Holidays, pinpoints her favourite places on Florida’s Gulf CoastClearwater
I first visited the Gulf Coast about eight years ago when I spent a couple of days in Orlando and then 10 days touring by car. Clearwater is the perfect place to chill out after Orlando.
I discovered a nice little restaurant called Julie’s at Sunset which serves terrific seafood and salads. You can get a two-course meal for two from about £20. I returned to Clearwater last May to find the same restaurant there and fortunately the food was just as good as it always was.
Sarasota
My next favourite resort down this coast is Sarasota, which again has some excellent beaches stretching along Longboat Key plus a great downtown area.
St Armand’s Circle in Sarasota is a must for shopaholics and the area has some very chic pavement cafes.
Feathered friends: even the bird life takes it easy in Naples
Naples and the Everglades
Over the last decade the Naples area has become one of the top holiday and retirement places for wealthy Americans. It is a great place for a beach holiday and people who like to play golf.
Naples is also a good choice for couples looking for a sophisticated setting with a wide choice of restaurants and evening entertainment. It also gives easy access to the Everglades.
There is a selection of modern hotels on the edge of the Everglades but you can easily spend a day there and return to Naples later. The boat trip to see the wildlife, including dolphins and rare manatee mammals, was quite an experience.
Sanibel and Captiva Islands
My personal favourite for sheer relaxation is Sanibel Island. Whenever I arrive, I feel as though I am leaving the US and entering a private Caribbean retreat. I like to find a quiet beach for the day and then later browse around the boutique-style shops that also feature the works of local artists.
To get to the island, you drive across a causeway from the mainland and I recommend journeying the length of Sanibel and cross over to Captiva Island, where life is even slower and very tranquil. If you’re staying in nearby Fort Myers, this is an easy day out.
Tampa
Another advantage of staying in the Clearwater/St Pete’s area is the easy access to Tampa and attractions such as the Busch Gardens theme park. There’s also good shopping in Tampa’s malls.
From here you can drive further north to explore some less developed towns including fascinating Tarpon Springs. When I first visited in 1991, I was working on First Choice’s Greece programme and arriving in Tarpon Springs with its Greek sponge-fishing community was more like being on Kalymnos in Greece than on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
factfile
The everglades
What to do and see: bird watching – 350 species from the Caribbean and North America are settled in Everglades National Park. Adjacent, Big Cypress National Preserve is home to great blue herons, snowy egrets and whitepelicans. Canoeing – canoe tours from November-April, with camping equipment and guide. Houseboating – motorised vessels can be hired for cruising the shallow waterways. Also hiking and biking tours and guided safaris, including airboat rides. Visitors can also see the Everglades inflat-bottom boats or by car on mangrove-lined roads. Also available are tours of native American villages.
Sample product: Virgin Holidays is introducing inclusive packages at the luxury Miccosukee Everglades Reservations Resort and Casino for 2001. Seven nights start from £499 twin-share, including Virgin Atlantic flights, car and accommodation, between January and April. Two weeks cost from £659; the children’s price is from £249.
More information: Florida Tourism on 020-7630 6602 or the Marco Island and The Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau on 001 0800 891 411.
Take a glide: cruise on an airboat