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FLORIDA VACATION RENTALS, U.S.A. |
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Outdoor Recreation in Florida |
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Florida is a dream for outdoor enthusiasts and naturalists who can enjoy the rich natural resources of the state and enjoy a date with nature with a well-chosen Florida vacation rental home. With state parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and pristine stretches of beaches waiting to be explored, who would want to miss a single moment enjoying a tranquil communion with nature? |
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| Best Florida Beaches |
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Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys
Miami Beach
St. Andrews State Park
Fort DeSoto Park's North Beach
Caladesi Island State Park
Lover's Key State Park
Sanibel Island |
| Diving and Snorkeling |
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Dry Tortogas National Park
Crystal River
Devil's Den and Blue Grotto
West Palm Beach
Miami and Fort Lauderdale
Looe Key and Key Largo
Pensacola and Panama City
Panama City |
| Fishing |
| Hiking |
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Ocala National Forest
North Florida
Central and South Florida |
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FEATURED VACATION RENTALS - FLORIDA, U.S.A. |
| Welaka |
Beautiful Miami Beach studio, located at 4000 Collins Avenue, 1 block from the water
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| West Palm Beach |
"The Bungalows Pool Villa" One of the largest vacation rentals in West Palm Beach's
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| Tequesta |
Enjoy this Tropical Paradise with its ever changing clear blue waters
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| Best Florida Beaches |
Fringed by 1,200 miles of sugary white beaches and lapped by clear blue seas, the Gulf Coast of Florida offers a unique blend of tropical sunshine, innumerable outdoor activities and warm Southern hospitality which can be best enjoyed with a stay in a beachfront Florida condo.
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Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys |
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Considered as the best tropical beach, the gorgeous beaches of Bahia Honda State Park are fringed by palm trees and are an ideal retreat for topping up your tan or indulging in a host of exciting beach activities such as boating, bird watching, fishing and canoeing and kayaking. With a location in the Big Pine Key, this state park can be easily accessed from a Florida Key vacation rental. |
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Miami Beach |
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The incredible 35 mile stretch of dazzling white sand and emerald waters needs no introduction as this gorgeous shoreline is the pulse of Miami. Glamorous, serene and eclectic – the beach is where all the action takes place. Whether you are there to get that gorgeous tan of yours or satiate your adventure spirit with all kinds of water sports or just to have a one big blast on the beach – well Miami Beach is the place to be in. |
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St. Andrews State Park |
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Awarded the title of ‘The World’s Best Beach’ by Travel Magazine, the 1.5 mile of sugary white sands and emerald-green waters of St. Andrews State Park is a popular spot for all kinds of beach activities including swimming, fishing, surfing, scuba-diving and snorkeling. Besides water sports, the park also has nature trails for those interested in taking a hike or marveling at nature’s bounty from close quarters. The admission to the park is $5 per vehicle and for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in vehicles with an Annual Individual Entrance Permit; the admission fee is $1. The timings of the park are from 8 AM to sunset. |
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Fort DeSoto Park's North Beach |
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Miles of sugary sand beaches and natural dunes had earned Fort DeSoto Park’s North Beach the title of North America’s best beach by ‘Dr. Beach’ in 2005. Situated in the southern tip of the Pinellas peninsula, the For DeSoto Park even features a 105 year old fort and is a perfect playground for a wide range of activities including swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, bird-watching, biking, and walking trails. There is even a dog park where you can enjoy some fun-filled moments with your pet while vacationing in a pet-friendly Florida vacation rental in Tampa or nearby areas. |
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Caladesi Island State Park |
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If you are looking for a serene spot to spend some quiet moments of solitude then Caladesi Island State Park is the ideal place as it is blessed with a secluded sandy beach and if you are lucky you may even be able to spot dolphins capering in offshore waters. Besides the beach there’s also a nature trail where you might get to see rattlesnakes, black racers, raccoons, armadillos or rabbits. To get to the park you would need to take a ferry from Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area. |
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Lover's Key State Park |
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Endowed with miles of pristine beaches, wetland trails and mangrove lined estuaries; Lover’s Key State Park is undoubtedly one of Florida’s famed beachfront parks. Spend your day canoeing along the estuaries; enjoy a romantic stroll on the beaches; marvel at nature’s bounty or if you are lucky you can even spot a manatee, bottlenose dolphin or roseate spoonbills. The park is open 365 days a year from 8 AM to sundown and is a must visit for vacationers seeking a quiet retreat away from the crowds that usually throng the Florida beaches. |
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Sanibel Island |
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Sanibel is known world wide as the shelling destination as the island’s beaches are a treasure trove of more than 275 varieties of shells. If you are too fascinated by this unique hobby, then a visit to the Sanibel Island is a must, which is also considered as the third best shelling destination in the world and offers numerous beachfront Florida condos to enjoy a beach break. |
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| Diving and Snorkeling |
Florida is a major playing ground for all those intrigued and fascinated by what lies beneath the calm and serene surface of the ocean. Whether it is the marine life that holds your fascination or uncovering of age-old wrecks that captures your fancy, as a diver you are guaranteed an experience
that will make you return to the Florida vacation rentals dotting the shores of this state again and again. |
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Dry Tortogas National Park |
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Situated 70 miles west of Key West, Tortogas National Park is a cluster of seven coral reefs and is one of North America’s most famed snorkeling spots. Dive in to discover the fascinating world of colorful corals and myriad collection of tropical fish, starfish, queen conchs and may more other species of fishes. |
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Crystal River |
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Crystal River is a haven for manatees that make their home every year from November through April. You too can undergo the wonderful experience of swimming with the manatees and spot a variety of fish including tarpon, snapper, redfish, large mouth bass and garfish amid dozens of freshwater springs. You can enjoy snorkeling in the posted manatee areas, but be careful as harassing or chasing them is strictly prohibited. |
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Devil's Den and Blue Grotto |
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Situated near the town of Williston is a unique geological spot that has steam rising from the warm waters in winters. You can dive into this 60 feet underground basin to enjoy a warm dip and marvel at this extraordinary site. Another great place for diving is the Blue Grotto, which is the largest clear-water cavern in the state. This is ideal for divers of all skill levels and the maximum depth of this cavern is 100 feet. One of the most interesting features of this site is the compressed air-supplied bell at 30 feet which lets you take the regulator out of your mouth mid-dive to breathe normally and even converse with your friend. |
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West Palm Beach |
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The sunny shores of West Palm Beach are a vibrant kaleidoscope of beautiful corals and a myriad marine life. As a snorkeler you would be surprised to see different kinds of fish including sea turtles and if you are lucky even a sailfish or a shark crossing your path. However do remember you are on the migratory path of whales and other oceanic creatures. |
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Miami and Fort Lauderdale |
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Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale are perfect destinations for spotting wrecks including three retired oil platforms called Tenneco Towers. Due to an active artificial reef program, dozens of wrecks can be found most of them covered in corals and sponges and populated with schools of fish. Miami’s ‘Wreck Trek’ is a cluster of sites that includes a 65 foot steel tug, two M60 tank, the 110 foot Billy’s Barge, Ben’s Antennae Reef and dozens of 100 foot plus freighters. |
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Looe Key and Key Largo |
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A protected underwater ecosystem, this 5.5 square mile National Marine Sanctuary is an underwater haven of magnificent reefs and offers diving enthusiasts vacationing in the Florida Key vacation rentals many hours of pleasurable diving. You are sure to spot here an impressive collection of most types of corals including sponge and soft coral, which is abundantly found in Florida Keys.
Key Largo also offers plenty of opportunities to the divers as you are sure to stumble upon a colorful cornucopia of fish and coral reefs in Pennekamp Park. To experience the adventure of diving into the ocean’s depths and discover a wreck, you would need to head south to encounter some of the major wrecks such as the 510 foot Spiegel Grove and the former Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane. |
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Pensacola and Panama City |
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If you have not had your fill of historic wrecks, you need not worry as there are plenty of more interesting sites just waiting to be explored. The military town of Pensacola is particularly popular for its wrecks, which includes the 500 foot World War I battleship, USS Massachusetts, the Russian freighter San Pablo, a Navy barge and an A-7 Corsair. Besides this you will also come across various Vietnam-era tanks and naval ships.
Panama City Beach is also home to a number of historical wrecks; in fact it is the second most explored Florida dive destination. One of the most famous wrecks is the Empire Mica, a 465-foot British tanker that now rests in 110 feet of water, 20 miles off Cape San Blas. Panama City Beach is also a breeding ground for a variety of fish, corals and sea life thereby giving you enough reasons to dive in and explore some of nature’s unique creations. There are more than 25 artificial reef sites including the Fountainbleau, Well stream Sites and Bailey Ridge Rubble. From April through September is the best time of the year for diving. |
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Panama City |
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The marine institute has sent ships, Navy scrap metal, pontoons, towers, bridge spans, tanks, hovercraft and even a Quonset hut to the bottom of the Gulf since the 1970’s. Perhaps the most famous wreck is the Empire Mica, a 465-foot British tanker that was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1942. It now rests in 110 feet of water 20 miles off Cape San Blas. |
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| Fishing |
Anglers have plenty to rejoice in the sunshine state for it offers an angler the choice of catching a large variety of species. Islamorada in the Florida Keys is ideal for hooking trophy-size bonefish while the region from Naples to Cape Sable is particularly known for a large number of snook and rivers south of Everglades City are quite productive for linesiders. Tarpon or also called the ‘Silver King’ reach up to 200 pounds and during the full-moon phases, the crab flushes by the outgoing tide turns the tarpon into hunger mongrels. This is one of the best times to catch the tarpon which are available in quite a large quantity specifically in Homosassa, Boca Grande as well as off St. Petersburg.
The Indian River Lagoon system between Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Florida is famed for Redfish while the ‘green reef’ around Panama City is ideal for getting your hands on the spirited game fish Cobia. Though Kingfish can be found in many places in Florida, but Jacksonville seems to be their favorite spot because of the water temperatures. The trout goes after a school of fish as a cop chases a thief and they can be found in huge hoards in Flamingo, which has many cuts, bights and canals that are found to be ideal homes for them. In the nooks and crannies of wrecks and artificial reefs you will find hidden a cluster of yellowtail and mangrove snapper, which make for an ideal catch. To catch some of the finest bass, head to Lake Okeechobee, this offers a huge variety of habitats that congregate bass. In and around Orlando also you will find bream and bass in great quantities, which makes it easy for you to combine a Disney vacation with a fishing vacation. |
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FEATURED VACATION RENTALS - FLORIDA, U.S.A. |
| Ponce Inlet |
You will fall in love with this 2/2 condo overlooking sunsets on the intercoastal waterway
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| Tavernier |
You only have to bring your boat and tooth brush!! In quiet Blue Waters,
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| Umatilla |
Sherwood in the Forrest is surrounded by the Ocala National Forest and a Nature
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| Hiking |
Endowed with a wealth of natural treasures, Florida’s dense woodlands, rustic countryside and quaint fishing villages beckons you to step out of your comfortable Florida villa and explore the natural wilderness of Florida. The Florida National Scenic Trails, which has also been added to the national trails system covers more than 700 miles of certified scenic trails that are spread across some of the State’s most picturesque areas including Ocala National Forest, Apalachicola National Forest, Osceola National Forest, Withlacoochee State Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. |
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Ocala National Forest |
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Aptly called the ‘the crown jewel’, this 70 mile stretch of marked trail is the first section of the 1,400 mile Florida Trail and offers a perfect blend of challenge and adventure coupled with unmatched panoramic vistas. Ocala National Forest features four different kinds of hiking loops. Salt Springs Trail and Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail are 2.1 miles and 2.2 miles respectively; Lake Eaton Loop Hole is 1.84 miles and St. Francis Trail is 5.9 miles. Alexander, Juniper and Salt are three major springs, which offer the much needed respite and break from the strenuosity of the hikes. |
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North Florida |
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Overlooking the Apalachicola River are the trails through Torreya State Park, which is located 12 miles north of Bristol and can be easily tagged as one of the most extraordinary trails. Besides this particular trail, there are quite a few others that are also a part of the Florida trail such as the trail passing through St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the Apalachicola National Forest. The Apalachicola features three loops – the Wright Lake Trail measuring 4.5 miles, Trail of Lakes is 6 miles and Leon Sinks Geological Area Trail is 5.4 miles long. Osceola National Forest, which too is also part of the Florida Trail has 18 miles of well-marked trails that pass through scenic pine and hardwood forests cuts across many streams as well. |
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Central and South Florida |
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The Withlacoochee State Park has three trails – the Richloam, Croom and Citrus that are also part of the Florida Trails. Located 10 miles north of Dade City, Richloam Tract offers several 5 to 10 mile loops while the Croom Tract features three loops and Citrus Tract has a variety of trails that go up to 40 miles in length. The tracts pass through cypress floodplains, bayheads, pine-palmetto flatlands, hardwood hammocks and open pine prairies. Often during the hike, you may cross your path with deer, turkeys and eagles etc.
Encompassing more than 900 sq miles, the Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida offers some of the most challenging hiking trails. The hike can be divided into three sections with the first one starting from Loop Road to Highway 41. This particular trail has a moderate difficulty level and is 7 miles long. The second section is 28 mile stretch and is also for hikers of higher skill levels while the last section is 8 mile long and has limited access as it passes through Seminole Indian Land. |
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