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When you hear about taking a vacation
in Florida, what places come to mind? Disney World? Universal
Studios? Sea World? These are pretty obvious. So are Miami and Key
West, depending on who you ask. But what if I told you that there
were places in Florida that aren't as well-known as the ones I
mentioned before, but are still great vacation spots? Places that
make perfect honeymoon destinations? I ask because it's true; Florida
has several places that are great for a getaway, but that a lot of
people don't know about.
One of my favorites is St. Augustine,
where my husband and I took our honeymoon. I wrote a more detailed
review in a previous post,
but it's a great place to explore if you just want to relax.
It's not that it doesn't have plenty of attractions-the Castillo de
San Marcos and the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum are in the 'must
see' category-, but you won't have to fight noisy crowds to have fun.
The best part for me was staying in a bed-and-breakfast across the
street from the bay; few things are more beautiful than a sunrise
reflecting off of the still, smooth water. This would be a perfect
place to go for a romantic getaway.
Although it is commonly known as a
spring-break destination, Daytona Beach has plenty of things for the
whole family. For people interested in NASCAR racing, there is the
Daytona International Speedway. If you're into cars but don't want
to watch races, you can visit the Klassix Auto Attraction. In
addition to seeing automobiles from shows like Grease or
The Munsters, car
enthusiasts can take advantage of one of America's best collections
of classic cars. As someone who likes to drive and restore cars, my
father would absolutely drool
over
this! For nature lovers, you can take a small cruise of the Halifax
river or explore Tomoka State Park. Of course, no trip to Daytona
would be complete without a stroll through its Historic District and
its many shops and restaurants. I'd personally love to visit the
Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory, but my waistline doesn't agree.
:)
When
you hear of Tampa Bay, you probably think that that's the name of the
city. Actually, the Tampa Bay region includes four cities-Tampa,
Clearwater, Bradenton and St. Petersburg. In addition to gorgeous
beaches, this area has no shortage of family-friendly activities.
For animal lovers, you can visit the Lowry Park Zoo and The Florida
Aquarium in Tampa. There is also Busch Gardens-Tampa Bay for those
who want to go on rides as well as see the animals. For history
buffs, St. Petersburg features the Florida International Museum and
the St. Petersburg Museum of History. If outdoor entertainment is
more your thing, Clearwater has the Sunset Celebration at Pier 60.
It's basically a free festival with local vendors, live entertainment
and lots of concessions. Instead of happening once or twice a year,
though, it happens every night! Assuming that it doesn't rain, of
course. It's a lot of fun for people who want to experience a variety
of family-friendly activities in one sitting.
As
you can see, Disney isn't the only place in Florida worth visiting!
It can be just as much fun to visit some of the lesser-known parts of
the Sunshine State, either as a couple or with the whole family.
Between beautiful beaches, museums and various tourist attractions,
here's literally something for everyone.
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