Really Florida!

I made a post on upcoming Florida weather some months back, and I thought it might be interesting to revisit that post, to see if what I predicted came true.

Here’s the original post on my upcoming weather in Florida predictions.  I made it back in July of last year, and it was regarding the Fall and Winter weather.

Take a moment to read the post, then come right back — I’ll wait.

Florida Fall 2008 - Winter 2009

I have to say, the furry prognosticators of temperatures were right on the money.  We did indeed have a much cooler than normal Fall, Winter and even into March we had a near-freeze.  The vegetable garden I keep suffered greatly from multiple freezes, and I lost most of my plants.

When March rolled along, I figured we were OK, back to normal with temperatures in the upper 70’s and low 80’s.  Hah!  We had another front move through and the nighttime termperatures plunged into the upper 30’s again.

It’s mid-April now, and I think we’re done with nights in the 30’s and 40’s here in South Florida.  At least. my kitties say so.  They have mostly dropped their winter coats and are sliding into their summer fur.

But is it going to be a really hot Summer here?  Looking at the cats, I’d call it average.  But it sure will be interesting to see what what predictions they come up with again, come late Summer!

Orlando vacation resorts are like mushrooms — they sprouted up everywhere.  What this means to you is that you have a wide range of prices and locations to choose from.

Choosing a Resort - Location

First off — do you want to be close to the attractions, or would you prefer to be further away? 

If Disney World is your primary destination, the obvious choice is to stay at a Disney resort.  With three types (value, moderate, luxury) and 4 pricing seasons, you’d be surprised at how little you can pay.  And you cannot beat the convenience.

If you’d like to visit some non-Disney attractions, too, then you’ll likely want to stay in the Kissimmee resort area.  Kissimmee is right next to Orlando, and the two kind of merge, so I include them in my list of Orlando vacation resorts.

Not into the attractions?  While some of the best vacation resorts are in the “attractions” area, there are also some closer to Orlando proper.

Resort Pricing

As you might imagine, Orlando vacation resorts are priced all over the map.  As a general rule of thumb, I usually say stay away from the really low prices and the really high prices.

One exception is the Gaylord Palms Orlando resort — it’s flat-out gorgeous.  And also very large, so if walking is an issue, this Orlando resort might pose problems.

Orlando Vacation Resorts List

Other Orlando area vacation resorts to consider include:

• Caribe Cove Resort Orlando, located in the Kissimmee area.
• Floridays Orlando Resort, closer to Orlando proper.
• Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, it’s expensive, but then again, it’s the Ritz.
• Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld, it’s snuggled up against SeaWorld (thus the name).

So those are a few of the Orlando vacation resorts that are good bets.  If you’d like to explore other options, here are some more hotels and resorts in Orlando and Kissimmee.

Enjoy!

Hotels in Cocoal Beach, Florida run the gamut of high-rise chains to low-key villas.  What’s your best pick for a great Florida vacation in Cocoa?

The Closest Beach to Orlando

Cocoa is the closest beach to the Orlando vacation playground of attractions.  And after you are done with the glitter, fireworks and crowds, it’s time to relax and unwind.

Cocoa is on the Central Florida Atlantic coast, just south of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center complex.  And while some people spell it “Coco”, the proper spelling has an a at the end — “Cocoa”.

Hotels for a Cocoa Beach Florida Vacation

So, how you know where you’re going…but where are you going to stay when you get there? This is where a list of Cocoa Beach hotels comes in handy.

Here are a few to get your ideas flowing, regarding hotels in Cocoa Beach.

If you’d prefer a smaller hotel or large inn, you may enjoy the Inn at Cocoa Beach. The advantage here is more personal service in a relaxed atmosphere, while enjoying the nearby beach and other amenities.

If you prefer the idea of a large resort, think about checking into the Doubletree Cocoa Beach Oceanfront Hotel. This is more in the northern part of Cocoa, close to the pier and the cruise port. It’s not right on the beach, though, so you won’t walk out your door onto sand.

What if you want to stay right on the beach? Then consider the Resort on Cocoa Beach. This is a popular hotel for families taking a Cocoa Beach Florida vacation, but it’s also suitable for singles and couples as well.

So these are a few of the hotels in Cocoa Beach, Florida to think about. In the above links you’ll also find what I call “dollar deals” — special low prices. They are worth investgating, because prices can fluctuate.
Have a great Cocoa Beach Florida vacation!

Golf vacations in Florida can be the stuff dreams are made of.  Blue skies, sunshine, warm weather and the challenge of a new course.  Let’s look at some Florida golf resort vacation ideas.

 Where to Go Golfing?

What’s your pleasure?  The Florida Panhandle has some wonderful resort areas with exceptional golfing.  Cities like Destin, Ft. Walton Beach and Pensacola have loads of courses near to the ocean.  And for the non-golfers in your group (should there be any), there are plenty of other things to do in these locations as well.

One very popular golfing resort in the Florida Panhandle is Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  Located near Destin, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is just a bit outside of town, to the east.  It’s a very large resort, so do be prepared to do some walking (and I’m not just talking about ourside on the course).

 A Florida Golf Resort Vacation at the Ritz

If you’re heading down to Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast, you might consider staying at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.

Now I’m he first person to say that this will not be an inexpensive vacation, although if you time it right, it can be a lot less expensive than you think!  Here’s a hint — from November through March is the high (i.e. expensive) season.  Summer is the least expensive for a Florida golf resort vacation at the Ritz.

South Florida Golf Vacation

Southeast Florida, from Palm Beach to Miami, is a treasure-trove of golf vacations just waiting to happen.  From the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach County, to the Doral Golf Resort and Spa near Miami, you have many options.  Did you know that Palm Beach County alone has more golf courses than some entire states?

How Expensive are Golf Vacations in Florida?

The answer, as with most travel is, “it depends” — on time of year mostly.  Especially south of Orlando, late Fall through early Spring is prime time for a warm, sunny Florida vacation.  Unfortunately, with everyone thinking to get away from the cold, rooms are in short supply and cost more.

Summer is the least expensive time for golf vacations in Florida, but they are also very hot.  Think about golfing early in the morning or late in the afternoon, as opposed to the middle of the day,

The nicest times in Florida for golfing are generally Spring (after Easter) and Fall (after Labor Day).  The weather tends to be milder, with less chance that a thundershower will interrupt your game.

So check out some of the resorts listed to get an idea of prices, then have fun planning your perfect golf vacation in Florida!

Florida beach camping can be a wonderful experience, especially if you find the right campgound for your needs.  Here are some of the beautiful Florida State Park campgounds next to beaches.

Grayton Beach State Park

The first stop is in the Florida Panhandle and Grayton Beach State Park.  With a total of 37 sites plus 28 cabins, there are quite a few camping options here.  All sites have electricity and water, and the cabins have (ahhh) air conditioning.  (As well as a fireplace for the winter.)

The beach is a short walk over some dunes.  Facilities include hot showers, trails, fishing, a (small) grocery store and of course, the glorious beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

Anastasia State Park

Over in Northeast Florida Atlantic coast lies Anastasia State Park, just south of St. Augustine.  And seeing St. Augustine is known for both its tourism and history, it can make for a very fun trip!

Anastasia is a beachfront park, and the campgrounds in the park have names like Coquina, Sand Dollar and Sea Bean. There are 137 sites, all with water and electricity.  Both tents and RVs are welcome.

Amenities include grills, hot showers, hiking trails, swimming, fishing, boating, snack bar, canoe rentals, bike rentals and a dump station.  Whew!

Canaveral National Seashore

Not for the faint of heart, this is roughing it.  You’ll need a backcountry permit to camp, and there are no facilities — it’s primitive camping.  But the advantage is that you are very close to nature and the beach.  Since they only assign up to a certain number of permits (depending on time of year), you’re likely to have a quiet time of it.

Canaveral National Seashore is located in Central Florida, on the Atlantic Ocean.  It’s Florida beach camping at its most natural!

Cayo Costa State Park

Over on the Florida west central cost, on the Gulf of Mexico lies Cayo Costa State Park.  It’s somewhat primitive camping, as there is no electricity or hot showers.  There are cold-water showers and a restroom, though.

Cayo Costa is an island, so you either need to get to it with your own boat (dockage is included with your camping reservation), or you need to take the ferry over.  And that also means that you’ll have to haul your gear around, so pack light.  The trade-off is a glorious Florida island.

There are 25 tent sites available, as well as 12 rustic cabins.

More Florida Beach Camping

There’s a book that is my bible when I want to go camping on Florida beaches, and it’s called (originally enough) Beach and Coastal Camping in Florida.  It’s by Johnny Molloy, and he goes into amazing detail as to the sites in each park (and which sites in a park you might not care to have…). 

If you plan on doing any Florida beach camping, I highly recommend the book. Run out to your local bookstore or buy it here online.