While Florida has become particularly well known for its theme parks, there is so much more to this diverse, vibrant and beautiful region than roller coasters and dancing seals. Boasting a year round tropical to sub-tropical climate, Florida is the warmest state in the U.S. and an extremely popular destination for tourists the world over. After all, they don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing!

Check out our list of Florida’s best beaches and look online for a great deal on Florida holidays.

Daytona Beach

Situated on the east coast, Daytona Beach is home to a 23 mile stretch of soft white sands lapped by the turquoise waters of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a family friendly resort, however during Spring Break hundreds of American university students descend on Daytona Beach to take a break from their studies and to party by the beach. Throughout the rest of the year, visitors can enjoy a more relaxed pace and the bars and restaurants along the seafront are far less crowded.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

While Daytona may be the “in” place to be among Spring Breakers, this title once belonged to Fort Lauderdale. Now that the students have migrated north, Fort Lauderdale has blossomed into a stylish and sophisticated city with a gorgeous shoreline. Fringed by swaying palm trees and hemmed by waters perfect for surfing, Fort Lauderdale Beach offers visitors an ideal spot to relax, unwind and soak up the laid back lifestyle.

Jacksonville Beach

Tucked into the corner of Florida’s northeast, Jacksonville Beach has evolved into a bustling beachside community with a fantastic cultural scene. Along the twenty mile stretch of shimmering sands you’ll find great opportunities for a selection of watersports, including surfing, windsurfing and waterskiing. The seafront is also home to a 1000 foot long pier; perfect for a spot of fishing or people watching.

Fort De Soto Beach

Over on Florida’s west coast lies Fort De Soto, a beautiful island in Pinellas County and home to arguably America’s best beach. The park plays host to a range of recreational activities including swimming, biking, hiking and kayaking, but if your idea of a good time involves copious amounts of relaxation, you’ll be pleased to hear that there the entire islands is lined by pristine sands, so you’re never too far from beach bliss.

Photo credit:  From the personal collection of Mary Jo Manzanares

Author:  Ian Williams is a travel writer who left the corporate grind and set off to see the world.  As a solo traveler. Ian now enjoys sharing his travel experiences, writing about independent, free spirited travel.

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Orlando is a city of theme parks, tourists, and is frequently plastic and sterile. One year it was named the angriest city in America – I guess that fake smile starts to grate after awhile.  When you’re ready to take a break from the theme parks and angry mobs, chances are you’ll be looking for a restaurant that is nearby everything, has good food that’s fairly priced, and has an enjoyable atmosphere.  And if you’re traveling with the family, you want something that’s kid friendly but offers up more than hot dogs and fries.

In Orlando, one of the restaurants that may just fit this description is Tu Tu Tango, a concept chain restaurant with locations in several states and in Canada.  The restaurants are all themed around Spain’s bohemian artist culture – it’s like being in an artist’s loft.  If that were all there was to it, it would be one more blasé chain restaurant.  But, each Tu Tu Tango restaurant features local area artists who have a small studio area set up within the restaurant.  With completed artwork hanging on the walls (it’s all for sale), and works in progress on easels, you actually feel like your gathering in someone’s studio for food, drink, and conversation. Upbeat music plays throughout the restaurant, and you will occasionally see a musician wandering among the tables or getting set up to play in the corner. It’s the uniqueness of the artists and the musicians that help move the restaurant from a predictable chain to a charming local watering hole.

The Orlando Tu Tu Tango opened in 1990. The menu, as at all the other locations, focuses on appetizer size share plates, with food and flavors from around the world. Prices range from $3 to $12.50, and are priced and sized reasonably enough for you try a variety without exceeding your food budget. After a few visits to Tu Tu Tango, I’ve developed a few reliable favorite combinations, although I still have a list of items I’ve yet to try. Here are a couple of menu combinations that I think work particularly well for sharing.

• Light & healthy:  Start off sharing Roasted Pears on Pecan Crisps ($7, these are delicious and work well as dessert, too), have a bowl of black bean soup ($3) each, and share a Spinach Salad ($9). Total for two people: $22, not including beverages, tax and tip.
• Meat Loving:  Share a Duck Confit Salad ($9), then add Oriental Marinated Steak Skewers $9), and some Cajun Chicken Egg Rolls ($10, and consistently the most popular menu choice). Total dinner price: $28.
• Ethnic Variety:  Share some Tango Hummus ($4), a couple of orders of Sopa de Leon ($4), and share a smoked chicken Quesadilla ($7), then add some spiced Alligator Bites ($8).  Total dinner price $19.

A child’s menu is also available and features more traditional “kid food.”  A full bar is available, although I’d recommend trying the Tango Sangria or one of the specialty margaritas or mojitos.  And if it’s hot weather outside, you can’t go wrong with an ice cold beer.  Stop in for Tu Tu Tuesday specials, every Tuesday 9 pm-1 am.  The bar features live music, drink and food specials, including $3 mojitos, margaritas, martinis, and draft beer.

As you’re enjoying your time at Tu Tu Tango, look around at the art on the wall.  The restaurant is proud of its “Starving Artist Program” which offers artists a place to paint, draw or sculpt in exchange for food. The art on the wall is sold, with all proceeds going to the artist, a true “will work for food” arrangement.

Location:  8625 International Drive, Orlando, Florida.

Hours:  11:30 am-11 pm, Sunday-Thursday, open till 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.  Reservations not required, but are available through Open Table.

Dress:  Casual

Photo credit:  Author’s personal collection

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The southern United States may be known for seceding from the Union and its checkered civil rights history, but with those issues long in the past (hopefully), the South is now carving out a name for itself with signature cuisine, tourism, and don’t forget those charming accents.

Part of the culture of the South has always been its love of sports and all things sports related.  It’s not surprising then, that sports museums have cropped up around the area, drawing visitors from across the country and around the world.  Here are a few that you might not be familiar with:

PGA Museum of Golf – Recently renamed (it was formerly known as the PGA Historical Center), this museum showcases the history of the PGA, with interactive exhibits, and a variety exhibits of golf artifacts and memorabilia.

The PGA Museum of Golf is located at 8565 Commerce Center Pkwy., in Port St. Lucie, Florida.  Hours are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm.  Admission is free.

International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum – This non profit organization focuses on the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices, and its 4,700 square foot Hall of Fame is sure to appeal to fishermen.  The museum has seven galleries where visitors can see life-size replicas of word record catches, virtual fishing, indoor and outdoor demonstrations, and a chance to go alligator spotting on a boardwalk through four acres of wetlands.

The International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum if located at 300 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach, Florida.  Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm and Sunday noon-6 pm.  Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (62+) and children (ages 3-16).

NASCAR Hall of Fame – This celebration of the history and heritage of stock car racing opened last year and has been a big hit, educating and entertaining visitors with interactive exhibits, racing artifacts, theater, broadcast studio, and restaurant.  A visitor favorite is Glory Road, a banked ramp that simulates and highlights 40 current and historic racetracks.  It simulates banking up to 33 degrees so you’ll have a chance to get a feel for what’s it’s like to walk on a banked track.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame (in top photo) is located at 400 East Martin Luther King Blvd., in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Hours are 10 am-6 pm daily.  Admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors (60+) and military, and $12.95 for children (ages5-12).

International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum – This three building complex is located adjacent to the Talladega Superspeedway and showcases the history of motorsports.  Popular exhibits include the Budweiser Rocket car, the first car to break the speed of sound on land (it can accelerate from 0 to 140 mph in one second!) and Richard Petty’s famous STP Dodge Charger, in which he had 31 wins.  This is also the setting for the Hall of Fame Inductions each year.

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is located at on Speedway Boulevard, next to Talladega Superspeedway, in Talladega, Alabama.  Hours are 9 am-5 pm daily during racing season; check for hours during other times of the year.  Admission is $12 for adults, $5 students (ages 5-12).  Combine with a speedway tour for a combo admission tickets of $16 adults and $8 students.  Discounts for seniors (55+), AAA, AARP, military, police, and firefighters.

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame – Opened in 1999, this venue celebrat3es the past, present, and future of women’s basketball, from the struggles of sports in the schools to the triumphs of the WNBA.

You can spot the Hall of Fame by the world’s largest basketball, weighing in at 10 tons, that sits on top of a glass basketball net.  Inside you’ll find multimedia presentations, artifacts and memorabilia, and a locker room exhibit with recordings of pre-game and halftime chalk talks.  Then show off your skills on the indoor court.

The Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame is located at 700 Hall of Fame Drive, in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, and closed on Sunday and Monday during fall and winter hours.  Extended spring and summer hours are Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm.  Admission is $7.95 for adults, $5.95 for seniors (62+) and children (ages 6-15).

Kentucky Derby Museum – On the grounds of Churchill Downs, this 2-floor thoroughbred racing museum has exhibits ranging from the birth of champions, derby fashion, horse owners, jockeys, and the famous winner’s circle.  Visitors can try for their own Derby win with a race simulator and soak up the ambiance of the Sport of Kings. Admission also includes a walking tour of Churchill Downs and a high-definition movie.

The Kentucky Derby Museum is located at 704 Central Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky.  Hours are Monday-Saturday, 8 am-5 pm; Sunday 11 am-5 pm through November 30th.  Then, Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm; Sunday 11 am-5 pm through March 14th.  Admission is $13 for adults; $12 for Seniors (55+); $11 young adults (ages 13-18); $5 kids (ages 5-12). Discounts for military families, AAA, and CAA.

Photo credits:  Tabitha Kaylee Hawk (Churchill Downs); Tennessee Wanderer (Motorsports Hall of Fame); David Berkowitz (NASCAR)

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Shopping is one of the top activities for travelers.  That’s right, surveys show that millions of travelers want to spend a little time shopping on their holidays.  Whether it’s a major shopping expedition, or just picking up a few souvenirs, I’m not certain, but there’s no doubt that a lot of money is spent shopping while enjoying a little holiday time.  Being stuck inside shopping while traveling to a beautiful destination seems a real shame to me, but if you have holidays in Orlando planned, I can recommend stopping off at one of my favorite spots, Ron Jon Surf Shop.

Although there are several Ron Jon locations, my favorite is the one at Cocoa Beach, a short drive to the east of Orlando.  This store is huge!  It has over 52,000 square feet of shopping and displays, and a glass elevator to make it easy on customers.  They even have their own waterfall.  And at night it’s lit up like it was a Las Vegas casino.  Wandering around the Cocoa Beach area you’ll see plenty of Ron Jon label wear and shopping bags so you might as well stop off and see why it’s so popular.

In addition to a huge selection of surfboards, surfing accessories, and lots of beach and sun wear, you’ll find lots of fun (and often silly) touristy stuff in addition to supplies and gear for the serious water sports fan.  They have a great assortment of logo wear, part of the reason you see it everywhere.  Forgot a swimsuit or want a new one?  You can find it here.  Want some new board shorts or a beach towel?  You’ll find it here.  This store location is billed as the World’s Largest Surf Shop, so if you can’t find something to buy here, you’re just not trying hard enough!  And since its open 24/7/365, you can shop anytime the mood, or need, strikes.

In addition to retail sales, the adjacent Watersports shop also rents beach gear, including surfboards, beach bikes, paddleboards, beach chairs and umbrellas, and more.  While the main store is open 24 hours the Watersports shop is open 8 am-8 pm.

If you’re spending any time in the area on your Florida holidays, you’ll likely seen billboards and other advertising for Ron Jon’s.  If you’re in Cocoa Beach, just look for the gaudy, art deco-style castle at the corner of SR 520 and Highway A1A (Address:  4151 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach).  It’s only a block from the beach, so if you can find the ocean, you can find Ron Jon.  You can find other Florida Ron Jon locations in Ft. Lauderdale, Panama City, Key West, and Ft. Meyers.

It’s hard for me to get too excited about vacation shopping, but I have to admit that visiting Ron Jon was a lot of fun.

Photo credit: Kevin King via flickr (CC)

NOTE:  This post was sponsored by Low Cost Holidays; the opinions, shopping experience, and resulting expenditures are solely those of the author.

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Last year I had the opportunity to visit Daytona Speedway, and I’m remindsx of it today while the Daytona 500 is running.  To be honest, I’m not a NASCAR fan, nor really of racing in general – although I have plenty of friends and family members who are.  But I went to the speedway with an open mind to learn about a sport than fascinates millions of people.

This photo was taken in front of the stands (the ones you see, if you’re watching on television today).  It’s an iconic shot with the stands, pit row, and the finish line right at hand.

After some time to take photos, we were loaded up into a pace car for a few laps around the 2 1/2 mile tri-oval course. Although our speed was nothing like the race speeds, we did get up to 100 miles an hour.  It was exhilarating, and I found myself with a silly-assed grin plastered on my face, once again have the joy of an over-the-top experience to remember.

Photo credit:  personal collection

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At the US Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida, you’ll have an opportunity to experience both the technical side of space travel, as well as the very personal side of it, with exhibits tracing our race into space, not only historically, but also from the personal perspective of participating astronauts.

United States Astronaut Hall of Fame

The Science on a Sphere exhibit offers a wonderful 3-D view of what the earth and the solar system look like when seen from space.  You’ll see a season of hurricanes, watch the spectrum of commercial air traffic move across the world, and take a look at how space technology and meteorology intersect.

You’ll see spacecraft from the Mercury and Apollo days, and be fascinated by the personal memorabilia on display. These artifacts tell the personal stories of the astronauts, their thoughts and dreams and goals, and speak volumes about the individuals who soar so high above the earth.

But this isn’t a hands off visit!  There are plenty of interactive activities, including a G-Force Trainer that lets you feel the effects of 4-G’s, a space shuttle landing simulator, and riding a rover over Mars.  I tried the G-Force trainer (a little queasy after) and the space shuttle landing simulator, and both were fun and educational.

Inductees into the Astronaut Hall of Fame are selected by a panel after a review of individual contributions to space exploration. The inaugural inductees were the first American astronauts, the Mercury Seven, and included Alan Shepard (the first American in space), John Glenn (the first American to orbit the earth), and Gus Grissom (commander of Apollo I, his second space mission, tragically killed on the launch pad).

The Hall of Fame now includes all of the astronauts from the Gemini, Apollo, and Skylab program.  The 2010 honorees, inducted earlier this month, are:  Guion Bluford, Jr., Kenneth Bowersox, Frank Culbertson and Kathryn Thornton.  They join the names of all inductees into the Hall of Fame and are listed in a beautiful glass etching along the Hall of Heroes.

The US Astronaut Hall of Fame is a wonderful stop for anyone with a penchant for the space race, an provide a great look at where we’ve been and a chance to dream about where we can go.

Space fans who can’t get to Florida, may be interested in checking out the space exhibits at a number of other locations, including the Udvar Hazy Center in Washington DC (map).

Location:  6225 Vectorspace Boulevard, Titusville, Florida (map).  The Hall of Fame is part of the larger Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (map), and is about an hour drive from Orlando.

Hours:  9 am – 7 pm, daily.

Tickets:  Admission is included with Kennedy Space Center general admission, ($41 adult/$31 child (ages 3-11) plus tax), with ticket good for two day (must be used within 7 days of first use).  You can also purchase a single-day admission ticket for only the US Astronaut Hall of Fame for $20 adult/$16 child (ages 3-11), plus tax, purchased on site or by phone at 321-449-4400.

Photo credit:  Bernt Rostad @ flickr

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Since I’m on a crazy travel schedule and way behind in my travel blog reading, my usual round up weekly favorites will not appear today.  Instead, I’ll share with you a couple of favorite photos from yesterday’s trip to Kennedy Space Center, along with a question to ponder.

If we can go from this —

To this —

Space Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center

In a few decades.  Why can’t we use that same knowledge and determination to tackle and solve the other serious problems that we face?

Photo credit:  personal collection

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I’m in Orlando, Florida, for a week, attending the US Travel Association’s annual International Pow-Wow, the premiere opportunity for the United States to sell travel to the world.

Neither a trade show nor a conference, this remarkable event is a marketplace that matches up buyers and sellers of US travel.  And buy and sell they do!  At least $3.5 billion dollars worth of inbound travel business is expected to come out of this year’s event.

The event is being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, and I’ve got a busy week of activities, from tours to media events, press conferences to the media marketplace, and from business appointments to evening social events.  It’s a busy, exhausting week, one full of opportunities to be around the biggest, best, and brightest in the travel industry.

This is my third year attending the event, and each year I learn even more about this crazy industry that I am so passionate about.  I’m very glad to be in Orlando for the 2010 International Pow-Wow!

You can follow Pow-Wow news on twitter at #ipw2010

Photo credit: turtlemom-4bacon @flickr

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While I’m very much a big city gal, there is something special about getting away to a smaller beach community.  It forces you to slow down your pace, wander and explore a little bit, and it’s a great way to enjoy a vacation as part of a real community, instead of being part of a nameless group of tourists.

If that’s a vacation style that you could embrace, take a look at Rosemary Beach a charming little community located on on Florida’s gulf coast.

Located between Panama City and Destin, at the eastern end of scenic Route 30A, Rosemary Beach is easy drive from both the Panama City and Fort Walton Beach regional airports.  That makes it far enough away that you’ll be forced to getaway from everyday life and worries, but close enough to make it easy and convenient to get to.

The community, and that’s very much what Rosemary Beach is, believes in the traditional values of neighborhood, and wants visitors to feel what it’s like to spend a little time in their paradise.  You’ll find  long stretches of white sand beaches, cool breezes, surf, changing seasons, butterfly gardens, dunes, parks, small town amenities, and lots of recreational activities.  There are plenty of community activities to join in, from music and art, to dining, and shopping, to outdoor recreational activities.  Or if you prefer, just grab a book or your iPod and enjoy a little solitude.

Accommodations at Rosemary Beach include the 11 room Pensione Inn, located right downtown, to a variety of cottages available for rent.    Cottages range from studios to six bedrooms, and come fully equipped with all the supplies that you’ll need to have a perfect beach vacation, no matter the size of your group.  There are washer and dryers, DVD players (and movies), and complimentary access to the fitness club.  Both the Inn and cottage rentals offer a variety of promotional packages and special pricing.

It’s a quieter, gentler way of life, and one that the residents are quite proud of.  Don’t be surprised if you decide you want to join them on a more permanent basis!

NOTE:  This post is sponsored by, and photo credit goes to Florida vacation rentals.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

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When you hear the destination Miami Beach, what do you think of?  If you’re like me, you probably think about sun and sand, the beaches and swimming pools, lazy days and wild parties at night, and a pretty laid back, carefree attitude.  You aren’t far wrong if that’s what comes to mind.

Situated among all the frivolity, however, is the Holocaust Memorial, a dramatic tribute to the six million Jewish Victims of World War II.  The site was designed by architect and sculptor Kenneth Treister, who was charged with interpreting the events of the Holocaust into a memorial that would honor the dead, comfort the survivors, and inform the world of this dark period of history.

Sculpture of Love and Anguish at Miami Holocaust Museum

The Memorial opened to the public in February 1990, with a dedication by Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel.

It is hard to explain how something that is so very painful, can also be so very beautiful, but that is an apt description.  Constructed with contrasting elements of Jerusalem stone and black granite, and then set in the still waters of a reflecting pool, the site is one of those places that may just be everything to everyone.

On one of the granite wall panels is the history of the Holocaust, from 1933-1945, along with pictorial depictions of events and experiences from that time.  Other panels have become a Memorial Wall, with the names of victims inscribed in it, much like the Vietnam Memorial.  How very sad to see the names of entire families that were lost.

By far the most dramatic presentation of the Memorial is a 42-foot high bronze arm and hand, looking like it is coming out of the earth and grasping toward the sky.  Titled The Sculpture of Love and Anguish, it is composed of close to 100 figures, in different family groupings, struggling to climb up the arm.  It symbolizes the pain and despair of a man-made hell.  The hand at the top of the arm bears an identification number.

Although the immense tragedy and pain of the Holocaust can never be summed up in such a simple statement, I’d like to think that out of all evil shall come good, and that the Memorial provides visitors with a way out of their pain.

Location: 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue,  (Meridian Avenue & Dade Boulevard), Miami Beach (map)

Hours: 9 am-9 pm Daily

Admission: There is no admission charge; donations gratefully accepted.

Photo credit:  milan.boers @flickr

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