Why Choose To Rent Holiday Homes, Holiday Villas And Vacation Rental Properties In Florida?

Could there be a more exciting and pleasure filled family holiday destination in the world than Florida?

Located in the South Eastern part of the United States, Florida, also known as the “Sunshine State” has developed a reputation over the last 40 years or so as the number one tourist destination on the planet.

Without doubt, the best way to see this fabled state is by basing yourself in one of the many holiday homes, villas or holiday vacation rental properties, which can be found all over the state.

One of the main reasons behind Florida’s popularity is of course due to the fact that during the late 1950′s, Walt Disney chose to build the now iconic Disney World entertainment theme park complex in Orlando and the surrounding areas.

This has given Orlando the well earned tag of “entertainment capital” of the world and as anyone who has been there will tell you, there is simply no other place like it for the sheer scale and variety of entertainment and things to do for people of all ages, size and background, for children, teenagers, young couples and, of course, families.

Whilst Orlando may be the “epicentre” of the entertainment action, there are now several areas where you can find superbly appointed luxury holiday homes to rent including holiday villas and holiday apartments to rent as well as all manner of self catering accommodation and vaction rental properties in new and fast growing communities such as Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista and International Drive.

These vacation rental properties are an ideal place from which you can go out and see all of what this area has to offer. There are holiday villas to rent with their own private pools set in beautifully manicured and gated communities as well as holiday homes and vacation rental properties which back onto superb championship quality golf courses. Did I mention that there are more golf courses in Florida than there are days in the year?

But Florida is not only about Disney World and its numerous theme parks, water parks, movie studios, designer and themed hotels,far from it. Florida covers a land mass of over 58,000 square miles and offers an amazing range of attractions to explore and enjoy.

Drive west down one of the many Interstates and you will arrive at the Gulf coast resorts of St Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater. There are literally hundreds of beautiful holiday villas, holiday condominiums, and all manner of self catering accommodation to rent in these resorts.

Continue a little further South and you will happen upon Naples with its pristine beaches and warm seas and the Everglades National Park which is where you will find the natural habitat of the oldest of Florida residents -the manatee, alligator and crocodile.

At the very bottom of the state, just 50 miles off the coast of Cuba, are the fabled Florida Keys. Adopted home of the author Ernest Hemmingway, the Keys are more reminiscent of the Caribbean in style, culture and feel as the atmosphere is very relaxing and laid back.

Compare this with the largest city in the State, Miami, where Spanish is spoken almost as widely as English. Miami is full of art deco tradition and heavily influenced by the Spanish and Latin American cultures.As a party town and place to let your hair down and experience “la vida loca”,then Miami is a city with no equal.

If you should ever tire of the central belt of Florida which is Orlando, take a day out to visit the Atlantic coast on the East side of the State. The waves here are great for body surfing and you can also visit the NASA Kenedy Space Centre. For a taste of real,down to earth coastal America, head for Coco Beach where you can drink Budweiser eat delicious key lime pie on the pier which juts out into the tempestuous Atlantic surf!

Truly, Florida is an amazing “must ‘go-to” place. But avoid staying in hotels and motels if you can. Renting a new and well appointed spacious holiday home or villa or vacation rental property or for that matter any other form of self -catering accommodation will give you and the family the freedom to come and go as you please which will allow you to make the most of what the “Sunshine State” has to offer.

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The Author, Paul Mitchell, is an independent consultant to the travel industry . He is co-owner of the holiday property rental website – letsbookaholiday.com
To see a fantastic range of holiday homes, holiday villas and vacation rentals throughout Florida, or if you own a holiday villa or vacation rental property and would like to advertise your property, please take a look at his website- letsbookaholiday.com

Tags: florida, short breaks US, USA cheap vacations

Charming La Conner is picture-postcard NW destination

Venture into the northwest part of Washington State and it’s like vacationing on the National Geographic Channel. Without question, you’ll find more picture-postcard settings in this part of the state than any other – which is really saying something, considering the rave reviews about Seattle and other parts of what is arguably one of the union’s most scenic states.

In Northwest Washington, the mountains, the sea, the farmlands, the islands all come together in a breathtaking mosaic of colors and terrain, a feast for the senses that is evident in every direction you look. It’s no wonder that many people who live up here are actually part of the Puget Sound workforce, shuttling back and forth from their Seattle-area jobs but figuring it’s well worth the hours spent in the car each day if they can live where every time they look out their window or walk down the street, the scenery is as spectacular as a painting.

About half way between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. is the little village of La Conner, a town just a bit off the beaten path because you have to take a left here and a right there, and travel a few miles from the freeway on country roads to reach the town’s idyllic setting. If you’re driving straight through to Seattle or Vancouver, this is one of those gems you will miss unless you know it’s there.

When you get to La Conner, don’t expect to find a bustling seaport or a lot of hub-bub – it’s a town in the true sense of the word, a tiny enclave built along the Swinomish Slough – or rather Swinomish Channel as it was later renamed. The channel gives La Conner much of its color and atmosphere, a distinct seaside ambiance that comes from watching the fishing boats and pleasure craft navigating the channel toward Anacortes and then out to the world-famous San Juan Islands. The Rainbow Bridge is the Golden Gate of La Conner, standing like a sentinel over the town and a must-inclusion in any respectable photograph of the city.

With its historic buildings, a colorful downtown assortment of channel-front restaurants and intriguing shops, La Conner is a prime destination for the stroller – i.e. the person who just likes to stroll casually through town, soaking up the saltwater scents and sounds as seabirds sweep overhead or visitors enjoy good conversation and a drink out by the channel. It also will come as no surprise that the local aesthetics are a big attraction for artists of every type including famous residents such as author Tom Robbins.

The best way to savor the town is to spend a little time in La Conner – day trips are nice, but an overnight lets you unwind and start doing things on “La Conner time.” Things just seem to move a little slower in the village, and we found the La Conner Channel Lodge to be tailor-made for this kind of outing. As the name implies, the lodge is right on the channel and offers great views of the Rainbow Bridge and the frequent boat traffic on the channel.

When they designed the La Conner Channel Lodge, they went with a Cape Code type of shingle exterior that fits the location perfectly. Inside, the units are quite unique and unusual in the way that they are not just rectangular but of varying lengths and widths with distinct rooms and angles. In our room a fireplace with two stuffed chairs and a table were positioned at an angle, while across the room a bench seat was built into the wall. There was plenty of room for a king bed and a window nearby that looked out onto the channel. A small lanai allowed us to sit outside and watch the slow-cruising boats that seemed only a few yards away.

Another big plus at the La Conner Channel Lodge was the bathroom area which offered a Jacuzzi style tub stylishly situated in a room that used dark and gray marble and tiles, as well as dark wood accents to give the room a luxurious look and feel that helped make this getaway seem extra-special.

La Conner’s history is evident in the buildings downtown and the historic homes that are located throughout the residential areas. With just 900 residents, the town is small and visitors can walk the neighborhoods and, because of the town’s hills, get some good exercise doing it. At the top of one hill is the Skagit County Historical Museum, which has many reminders of the city’s past including American baskets, Shirley Temple dolls and a rich collection of historical documents and photographs.

One of La Conner’s most historic buildings is the Gaches Mansion, which was constructed in 1891 by George and Louisa Gaches as their residence. Over the years, the mansion changed hands several times until it was opened to the public as the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum in 1997. The first floor of the museum is decorated in Victorian era furnishings, while you’ll find the main exhibition space on the second and third floors. The museum offers new exhibits about every eight weeks, and features quilts and quilters from around the world – in fact this is one of only 12 such museums in the world.

La Conner also is a good base of operations for short drives to many scenic locations in the general area. For example, about 15 miles to the west is Deception Pass State Park, a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with considerable shoreline, both freshwater and saltwater. Deception Pass is a popular destination for locals because it’s so picturesque with the rugged cliffs and churning waters below. The old-growth forest and shoreline offer spectacular views.

Just to the southeast of La Conner is the 13,000-acre Skagit Wildlife Area, which is primarily tidelands and intertidal marsh habitat. Visitors can view 180 species of birds, including bald eagles, golden eagles, and osprey. Also seen in the area are coyote, raccoon, opossum, skunk, beaver and muskrat in addition to many other species. Local residents use the Wildlife area for hiking, birdwatching, photography and canoeing. There are six developed access sites and 12 footbridges in this low-lying area.

Larrabee State Park, in the Bellingham area, is an easy drive north from La Conner and features 2,683 acres with a scenice saltwater shoreline on Samish Bay. The park features two freshwater lakes as well as tidelands and coves.

La Conner is a fun and picturesque destination any time of year, but perhaps the most beautiful time to visit is in April when the area comes alive with the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Acres and acres of daffodils, tulips, irises, and lilies are on display at this special time of the year. The flower-viewing season begins with daffodils in mid- to late-March, followed by tulips in April with irises and lilies continuing into mid-May. Events include a big street fair, parade, quilt walk and many other festivities both in La Conner and in nearby Mount Vernon.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: La Conner is about 65 miles north of Seattle and is easily reached by taking the Conway exit off Interstate 5 and following the signs for La Conner.

WHAT: La Conner is a charming historical village with a population of only about 900 people, but with an excellent selection of shops and restaurants as well as some good choices for quality lodging. It has the feel of a fishing village and features picture-postcard scenery. WHEN: This is a year-round destination, but will be much quieter mid-week and in the winter months. Conversely, it may be harder to get lodging in summer and on peak summer weekends, especially around the time of the Tulip Festival in April.

WHY: La Conner offers just the right combination of ambience and solitude with sights and sounds that are bound to stir your passions.

HOW: For more information on La Conner, call the La Conner Chamber of Commerce at 360-466-4778 or visit laconnerchamber.com. For information on the LaConner Channel Lodge, call 360-466-1500 or visit laconnerlodging.com.

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Cary Ordway is a syndicated travel writer and president of Getaway Media Corp, which publishes websites focused on regional getaway travel. Among the sites currently offered by GMC are californiaweekend.com , covering California travel destinations, and northwesttraveladvisor.com , covering Pacific Northwest travel destinations.

Tags: short breaks US, USA cheap vacations

If you’re seeking to explore more than just the ski slopes on your next winter getaway to Breckenridge, Colorado, consider booking a snowmobile tour. Breckenridge snowmobiling provides an adventurous escape into the heart of the Rocky Mountain wilderness, treating guests to dazzling views and non-stop opportunities to play in the area’s deepest powder-filled bowls and high alpine meadows.

Local snowmobile tours travel as high as 12,500 feet atop of the Continental Divide, offering guests a new perspective on the spectacular mountain scenery that surrounds them. Each tour begins with a brief overview of your snowmobile’s operation and handling, followed by a short ride down a trail system that connects with an open practice area. Here, guests are invited to better acquaint themselves with driving their snowmobiles before tackling the more challenging terrain that lies ahead.

Following the practice session, guides divide snowmobiling parties into smaller groups depending on the level of adventure their members are seeking. The tour then begins climbing and weaving through the forest on trails that eventually connect to the open terrain of the Continental Divide. Upon leaving the timberline below, adventurous guests are invited to open up their throttles and bank turns off of the surrounding mountainsides, while those seeking a more relaxed ride can take it easy and appreciate the amphitheatre of 14,000 foot peaks towering above them.

As riding parties reach Chicago Ridge, located 12,500 feet above sea level on the Continental Divide, snowmobilers are invited to break for pictures with postcard-like scenery providing the backdrop. The tour then descends back into high alpine terrain below the ridge for some powder riding before re-connecting with a trail system that takes guests through towering spruce and lodgepole forests. Along the way, guides may offer the opportunity to break for hot chocolate at one of the historic miners’ cabins that remain intact along the lower elevations of Fremont Pass.

Snowmobile tours are an ideal non-ski activity for individual, families, friends and corporate retreats because unlike skiing and snowboarding, they require no previous experience for everyone to remain a part of the group. Tour guests will find complimentary transportation available from their Breckenridge lodging property to and from local snowmobile base camps. Local snowmobile outfitters provide helmets, snowsuits and boots free of charge. Guests are advised to bring their ski goggles and sunglasses with them for eye protection and a warm pair of mittens or gloves.

Whether you’ve never ridden a snowmobile before, or you’re an experience rider looking to ride some of the highest terrain the Colorado Rockies have to offer, snowmobiling in Breckenridge is sure to be the highlight of any winter vacation to the area.

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Ben Kelly is the owner of Breckenridge Snowmobiling and Summit Vacation Concierge and can provide expert advice on vacationing in Breckenridge, including snowmobiling, lodging, vacation packages, activities and travel services. He is a resident of Breckenridge, Colorado and enjoys snowmobiling, snowboarding, mountain biking and the Colorado backcountry.
breckenridgesnowmobiling.com

Tags: skiing holidays cheap, USA cheap vacations

How to Choose Breckenridge, Colorado Lodging by Neighborhood

Breckenridge, Colorado is home to a vast selection of over 500 lodging properties including resorts, condominiums, townhouses, private homes and bed and breakfasts. With such an astounding number of accommodations to choose from, choosing the ideal property for your next Breckenridge getaway can seem a bit overwhelming. There are a number of options to weigh when selecting your accommodations, such as property type, amenities, price and location.

For many visitors, location trumps other property attributes as the most important component in selecting a lodging property. Breckenridge accommodations exist in variety of neighborhoods including the Historic District, Four Seasons, Four O’clock, Peaks 8 & 9 and several other outlying areas. With a more thorough understanding of these neighborhoods, the amenities they offer and their proximity to the town and ski resort, selecting the ideal property for your Breckenridge vacation needs should be a much easier experience.

The Historic District consists primarily of quaint Victorian bed & breakfasts and private vacation homes that were built as early as the late 1800′s. These properties have been immaculately preserved for your enjoyment and are located on, or near Main Street and its hundreds of shops, restaurants and watering holes. Visitors staying in the Historic District enjoy easy access to the slopes of the Breckenridge Ski Resort via the new BreckConnect Gondola as well as the town’s complimentary FreeRide transportation system. Read more »

Tags: self catering, USA cheap vacations

Planning a Ski Vacation in Colorado

Colorado is home to the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Can you think of a better place to take a winter ski vacation? A few years ago, this destination was the province of the rich and famous, but now everyone can take a trip to the wonderful ski resorts of Colorado, and enjoy the great scenery and luxurious hotels.

Booking Online

There are lots of companies that can help you plan and book your ski vacation. These companies will help you arrange everything from your flights to hotel bookings and resort passes. If you are able to book well in advance then you will have the chance to take advantage of some great low cost deals, and there are some good off-peak offers too. Read more »

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Tips for Finding a Budget Hotel in Pattaya

One of the more difficult things for tourists, especially for tourists who love to travel overseas, is finding budget hotel rates, reliable travel agents and suitable accommodation. It isn’t difficult if you want to go to travel to any major city in the world, such as Vegas vacations, because there are plenty of websites that provide hotel booking services to these cities, as well as useful information resources. For the small city in Thailand, like Pattaya, it is a little bit more difficult. Read more »

Tags: USA cheap vacations

Find Time to Plan a Better Vacation With 5 Top Tips For Saving Time

Finding time for a vacation? Wonderful! Vacations can restore your energy and provide a fresh outlook. Now, how can advance planning enhance your time off? Read more »

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Family Summer: Things To Do In New York City

There are more than just a handful summer things to do in New York City. If you are looking for fun, exciting and energy-filled activities for a family vacation, then the Big Apple is perfect for you.

One thing you can do to start your summer vacation is to get a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island), its surrounding waters and the Statue of Liberty from the Empire State Building’s Observatory. In addition, within the Empire State Building is an interesting ride that will definitely be a hit to kids of all ages – the New York Skyride, which provides a three dimensional virtual tour of the entire city.

It is best to join tours and cruises in the beginning part of your New York City summer trip to have an idea of all the things to see and do that the city has to offer. The Liberty Cruise provides an interesting introduction of New York City with amazing views of the Manhattan skyline and Ellis Island. The cruise, of course, includes an up close look at the great American icon, the Statue of Liberty, that will sure give you a renewed sense of freedom.

If you are looking for something educational and interactive for your kids to do this summer, New York City has the world’s best museums that you can take them to. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan caters to the inquisitive minds of young children which houses exhibits that will challenge their creativity. The museum features themed displays, such as Nickelodeon’s Dora The Explorer and Go Diego Go, to catch the little kids’ attention and to entice them to participate in the activities. Older kids, on the other hand, will truly enjoy roaming around historic aircrafts, particularly those used in the second World War, in the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum.

Summer means lots of outdoor activities. Hit any of the New York City beaches and join all sorts of fun things to do. You can take this opportunity to teach the little ones how to swim, build sandcastles with them and look for shells that you can add to your collection. The older kids can learn how to surf and join beach games such as frisbee, volleyball and tennis. Some of the beaches hold events and festivals that you can also check out with your family to feel the New York City vibe.

One of the best things to do to enjoy the nice summer weather is spend an afternoon in Central Park. It is a great opportunity to be close to nature in the middle of a busy city. Your family can have quality time together for a little picnic. Kids (and parents) can have fun with a carousel ride and inline skating. You can also visit the Central Park Zoo for some wildlife encounter – lions, zebras, penguins, polar bears and over a hundred more different species of animals.

New York City is a shopping mecca. Whether you are looking for clothes, shoes, accessories or toys, New York City has a store waiting for you. Your kids can express their creativity by making their personal stuffed animal at the Build-A-Bear Workshop. A visit at the FAO Schwartz will definitely make your kids go wild. It is the ultimate toy store any kid could ask for. You can find everything at FAO Schwartz – from the regular Barbie dolls and Transformers collectibles to kid-sized Mercedes 500SL.

Hotel accommodations are aplenty in New York City. There are even those that are particularly family-friendly. Among the best places for your family to stay is at the Hilton Times Square. The hotel lobby holds an entertainment complex complete with restaurants, retail stores, a movie theater and even a wax museum. Hilton Times Square has programs especially made for kids and also offers babysitting services. The best thing about the hotel is that it is located right in the middle of Times Square, giving you an easy access to all the fascinating summer things to do in New York City.

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To learn of all the things to do in New York City and plan your summer vacation, please use our road trip planner. It leverages the collective wisdom of thousands of users worldwide and makes road trip planning interactive and enjoyable.
http://www.TripWiser.com

Tags: New york family vacation, USA cheap vacations