Clearwater Beach is a vacationer's paradise. Wiggle sugary sand between your toes ... let a breeze propel you through the water on a sailboard or catamaran or reel in the catch of a lifetime. In addition to some of the most beautiful, broad beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast, you'll find all the water-oriented recreation you can imagine and lots of outdoor activities in the Clearwater area. Besides jetskis, water bikes and parasails, at the Clearwater Beach Marina you can rent boats for everything from a relaxing sail to a deep sea fishing adventure. More than 300 species of fish populate the waters, making the area one of Florida's premier fishing locales.

The area is gaining national and international recognition as a leader in eco-tourism and environmental management. Diverse ecosystems can be found in local parks, providing ample opportunities for hiking, biking, birding and other nature-based activities. The Pinellas Trail, a wonderful place for walkers, bikers, joggers and skaters, stretches 47 beautiful miles (76 km) from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.

At the Clearwater Marine Aquarium you can enjoy seeing dolphin, otters and sea turtles and learn ways to help protect them. The Aquarium's Marine Life Adventures lets you play, explore and relax on the area's beautiful beaches, bays and barrier islands as you help preserve the precious marine environment. There are golf courses aplenty in Clearwater and shopping opportunities so numerous that you will be tempted to take home more than you can carry! At mealtimes you will discover great variety in the cuisine. Try a Gulf-fresh grouper sandwich at a quaint outdoor café or fine dining accompanied by a breathtaking waterfront view. In the evening, visit one of the area's hottest nightclubs or tiki bars to dance and enjoy your favorite music.

Take in an outdoor concert or local festival in downtown Clearwater. Clearwater's Jazz Holiday, held in October each year, is one of Florida's premier jazz festivals. This free, four-day event is held at Clearwater's Coachman Park. For year round fun, Sunset Celebrations at Pier 60 is a nightly street festival featuring local artists, crafters and performers.

An added bonus is the area's proximity to many other Florida attractions. Just a few minutes away are the wonderful museums of St. Petersburg, professional sporting events and Tampa's Busch Gardens theme park. Orlando's attractions are about a 90 minute drive east.

Kick back on the sandy white beaches of St. Pete Beach as the gentle balmy waters of the Gulf of Mexico lap at your toes. With an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, this strip of beach is guaranteed to please throughout the year. Warm in summertime and temperate during the winter, close to attractions in Orlando and even closer to the cultural and cosmopolitan attractions of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, St. Pete Beach strikes the perfect balance for the casual, laid-back beach bum and the active attraction seeker alike.

St. Pete Beach as we know it today was formed in 1957 when the four tiny towns of Pass-A-Grille Beach, Don CeSar Place, Belle Vista Beach and St. Pete Beach voted to consolidate. Today visitors can relive some of the area's rich heritage at the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, which traces the history of Pinellas County's barrier islands all the way back to when Ponce de Leon first encountered them in the 14th century. Minutes from St. Pete Beach is Ft. DeSoto Park, where Ponce de Leon once anchored in search of the Fountain of Youth. This 900-acre park, once an outpost during the Spanish-American War, is now a peaceful refuge where visitors can walk, swim, or picnic amidst Florida's unspoiled natural beauty.

Thrill-seekers will never find a dull moment on St. Pete Beach, whether they are gliding through the air on a parasail or bouncing over the water on a Wave Runner. Charter boats offer the excitement of deep-sea fishing and a chance to wrestle with enormous tarpon. Likewise, relaxation is as close as the sandy shoreline or a casual afternoon of fishing from a sea wall. Golf courses speckled throughout the area provide opportunities for a friendly game in the afternoon breeze.

St. Pete Beach plays host to many activities that the entire family can enjoy. Art festivals, dance performances and musical events are sure to keep spirits high, while tropical boutiques, seafood restaurants and nightclubs offer a taste of Florida's fun-loving beach town lifestyle.

Visitors can watch awe-inspiring sunsets, enjoy perfect weather and pristine white sands, all within a short drive of world-famous attractions. Conveniently located just a few miles away from St. Petersburg's restaurants and entertainment, a quick drive away from Tampa's professional sporting events and Busch Gardens, and less than 100 miles away from the Orlando attractions, St. Pete Beach is truly the best of both worlds. Whether you're young or old, cosmopolitan or nature-lover, you're sure to enjoy the powdery sands of St. Pete Beach.

Miles of white sand beach provide a backdrop for fun in the sun and glorious sunsets. Nighttime activities are abundant as well, from fine dining to live theater and concerts. The arts and culture flourish with 100 art galleries, including those at the renowned Naples Museum of Art and Philharmonic Center for the Arts.

Nestled between the glistening waters of the Gulf and the subtropical splendor of the Everglades, nature lovers can enjoy Naples' posh amenities and explore natural treasures, all in the same day. Golfers know of the 90 highly acclaimed courses that make this an undisputed haven for great golf. Some of the area's most exclusive private club courses are accessible to guests at affiliated hotels, and an excellent selection of public courses provides challenges for every level of golfer.

Many anglers flock to Naples for legendary fishing for tarpon, snook and redfish in the backcountry and grouper and snapper in the Gulf. Watersports enthusiasts find all kinds of exciting action along the coastline. Once you've tasted the charms of this beautiful and vibrant city, you'll be sure to visit Naples again and again.

Holidays in Marco Island

Marco Island is surely the closest thing to a Caribbean Island experience in the United States. Serenely tropical, its beautiful white sand beach stretches for four miles along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline.

Four beachfront resorts provide endless opportunities for island-style relaxation and fun. A unique selection of smaller hotels and inns, combined with hundreds of homes and condos in the area's vacation rental program, provide unlimited options for your Marco Island getaway.

Relax on the sun-kissed shores and you're likely to glimpse the sleek antics of dolphins in the sparkling Gulf. Colorful seashells are plentiful along the water's edge, offering irresistible souvenirs free for the taking. Boat to one of the numerous nearby outer islands and you'll find an astounding array of keepsake shells washed up daily by the Gulf currents. Sailing trips and rental boats are easily available to reach these shell-lined stretches of undisturbed island sand.

Aside from its natural wonders, Marco Island offers plenty of shopping, dining and recreational options. In Olde Marco, boutiques and restaurants mix with historic buildings. Restaurants specializing in every conceivable type of cuisine, from international dishes to Florida's signature fresh seafood, abound throughout the island. Golfers will delight in the many nearby courses, which can accommodate everyone from beginners to the seasoned pro. At Marco Island not only are you beachside, you are at the western gateway to the Everglades. Everglades day tours make a great side trip in nearby Everglades City or Chokoloskee, with stops at Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and Collier-Seminole State Park.

Arrive at sunset and you'll quickly understand why this lovely six-by-four-mile island is a vacation paradise. With alluring natural beauty and a toned-down sophistication, Marco Island is one of Florida's more relaxing topical vacation retreats.

Of the 100 coastal islands that make up Florida's Lee County, Sanibel and its neighbor Captiva are best known. Connected to the mainland by a dazzling three-mile-long scenic drive across a causeway from the mainland, Sanibel is known world-wide for its shelling and the associated posture referred to as the "Sanibel Stoop." More than 200 varieties of shells litter the beaches, particularly after an especially high or low tide. The annual Sanibel Shell Fair is attended by thousands of visitors from throughout the world. For most visitors, however, shelling is a delightful excuse to enjoy hours of sun-worshipping along some of the most beautiful shoreline in North America and to absorb the unspoiled island atmosphere the natives so effortlessly maintain.

Sanibel's main street is Periwinkle Way, a picturesque, lush thoroughfare framed by a canopy of Australian pines and tall, graceful palms. Interesting shops, galleries, and restaurants dot the road from the Sanibel Lighthouse to Tarpon Bay Road, making frequent stops a must. Located toward Sanibel's northwestern tip, the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is home to exotic species of birds and plants. Naturalists and sightseers get opportunities to witness a variety of wildlife as well, including the ubiquitous alligator, in their natural settings. You can drive, bike or hike through this sanctuary, or take a narrated tour by tram or canoe. In all, the refuge occupies 6,000 acres, over 65% of the island. More natural beauty can be found across Pine Island Sound in Pineland.

Holidays on Captiva Island

Captiva Island, Sanibel Island's northern neighbor, is one of the most beautifully preserved and well-known areas on the Gulf Coast. The nation's foremost authority on beaches, Dr. Stephen Leatherman (also known as Dr. Beach) has recognized Captiva's beaches as the country's most romantic two years in a row, noting its key features of abundant shells and its overall tranquility.

The main attraction on Captiva is that there are no attractions, only the pristine white sand, the calm water and the warm fresh air. Visitors can sit back and let the hours fly by, sunning, walking the beach, fishing, or just doing nothing. Anne Morrow Lindbergh was so inspired by Captiva's surroundings that she wrote her best-selling love letter, "A Gift From the Sea" while a guest on the island.

Although this tiny barrier island has changed in many ways since the causeway to the mainland was opened in 1963, it remains among Florida's most beautifully preserved destinations. It offers top-rated resorts with an abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, biking, swimming or boating. Captiva Island will captivate the senses and soothe the soul.

Sarasota exudes an air of relaxed sophistication. Long considered the cultural capital of Florida, the Ringlings and other wealthy families made Sarasota their winter playground, imparting the legacy of the arts early on. This fair city soon became a haven for artists, thespians and musicians. The powder white sands of the keys attracted more visitors and they soon developed into rustic, laid-back beach communities.

Sarasota boasts several world-class museums and arts venues. A beautiful Italian Renaissance villa-turned-art-museum, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Baroque paintings, plus exquisite 17th-century tapestries. Next door, the Ringling residence, Ca'd'Zan (House of John), a 30-room mansion nestled on picturesque Sarasota Bay, is modeled after a Venetian palace. The Circus Museum on the grounds contains memorabilia from the Big Top, including parade wagons, photographs and costumes.

Sarasota is also rich in lush natural beauty. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, is set on Sarasota's sparkling bay. The Gulf Coast Heritage Trail is the state's first ecotourism trail, winds through Sarasota County.

For the more active visitor, Sarasota offers watersports, fishing and tennis galore, along with many excellent golf courses. A municipal baseball stadium is used for spring training by the Cincinnati Reds. Nearby Myakka River State Park, Florida's largest, offers sun-dappled rivers and cypress-studded paths for hikers and bicyclists.

So just kick back, relax and let your cares dissolve in Florida's premier west coast paradise.

Holidays in Bradenton

Bradenton is one of central west Florida's oldest cities. It was named for Joseph Braden, an early settler who grew sugar cane and operated a sugar mill. The county's largest city and the county seat, Bradenton is also its center of commerce, government, health and social services, and much of the area's cultural life. Increasingly cosmopolitan in character, the city retains its small-town charm. A number of new residential sections complement older established neighborhoods in both urban and suburban settings.

In Manatee County, art, music and theater have strong community support. An active force in developing that support is the Manatee County Cultural Alliance, which promotes the area's cultural resources and publishes an up-to-date calendar of events. The County Art League is a comprehensive center for the visual arts. With three galleries, several classrooms and annual programs offering a variety of exhibition and educational opportunities, the League encourages both enjoyment and participation in the arts. Opportunities to exhibit are shared by amateur and professional artists.

The best way to discover Manatee County is a trip to Bradenton's South Florida Museum. A comprehensive facility telling Florida's history from prehistoric times to the present. Outstanding features include: life-size dioramas; 19-ft high mastodon skeleton, medical wing, maritime exhibits; changing exhibits gallery; Spanish Plaza; and Snooty, the oldest living manatee born in captivity, playfully entertains visitors from his 60,000-gallon pool.

Bradenton and nearby Palmetto's easily accessible water makes boating and fishing popular pastimes. The county's boating public is served by 30 marinas and eight boat ramps. In bays, bayous, and along the shores of the Gulf, fishermen find trout, redfish, pompano and flounder. Offshore they go for kingfish, mackerel, grouper and tarpon. Among the public fishing piers are the Anna Maria City Pier at Pine Avenue; the Bradenton Beach Fishing Pier at Bridge Street; Manatee Beach Fishing Pier on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach; and the Rod 'n' Reel Pier on Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria.

The Bradenton area represents natural Florida because it has not suffered many of the negative effects of Florida's booming growth. The best example of the area's unspoiled nature is the broad sweeps of white sand beaches unmarred by high rise condominiums or hotels. The beaches feature the Gulf of Mexico's emerald waters bordered by tall, shady Australian Pines. Serene natural beauty and breathtaking Gulf views give Bradenton and the Gulf Islands a kick back and relax style all their own - the perfect setting for a rejuvenating, carefree vacation.

The island of Longboat Key lies between the Gulf and Sarasota Bay and is claimed by both Manatee and Sarasota counties. Twelve miles of white sand beaches have helped to make this a luxury resort community.

A large number of its nearly 6,000 residents are retirees, who enjoy the island's championship golf course and tennis club, and its fine dining and shopping.

Longboat Key is an elegant and scenic environment offering a rare combination of breathtaking beaches and cultural activities with a relaxed and elegant lifestyle.

Holidays on Siesta Key

Beautiful Siesta Key on the Gulf of Mexico is blessed with wonderful beaches, including Crescent Beach, rated "The World's Finest, Whitest Sand" in the Great International Sand Challenge.

Whether your visit is a few days or a few months, this 8-mile-long barrier island offers variety in accommodations, gourmet dining, shopping, fishing, boating and water sports. You can create the vacation of your dreams here. Siesta Key has something for everyone: it's a romantic getaway for lovers, family vacation destination and playground for active sports enthusiasts.

Wherever you stay, the beach and bay are always nearby. Accommodations range from spacious and luxurious to quaint and cozy, with spectacular sunset views of the Gulf or the privacy of a lush tropical garden setting.

Night life runs from hot to cool, including funky beach bars, live music, European-style pubs and intimate cafes. Siesta Key is home to a thriving colony of artists and writers, and don't be surprised if you run into a celebrity or two -- everybody enjoys the island's friendly and laid-back ambiance. Championship golf courses are just minutes away, along with theater, ballet, opera, symphony, museums and more.