At a Glance
The Gulf Coast has fabulous beaches with clean white sand sloping into calm blue waters. There is beautiful scenery, unusual wildlife, nature parks and a much more relaxed pace of life than Orlando. For a perfect combination of fun and holiday relaxation, why not spend a week in Orlando followed by a week unwinding on the Gulf Coast.




Consisting of a number of sand bars stretching from southwards to the Everglades, the Gulf Coast is linked to the mainland via bridges to the major cities of Tampa, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples. At Villastogo.com we have selected the homes offering the very best standards in accommodation and exceptional value. These are mainly to the south of the city of Sarasota, the cultural capital of Florida, where the weather in the winter is the warmest in the USA, the beaches stretch for miles and the pace of life is ideal for a relaxing villa holiday in the sun.

Out & About

Go… exploring

Almost every type of leisure activity is available here. There is a huge choice for golfers and sporting activities from sailing to cycling and horseriding. The renowned Everglades National Park is home to crocodiles and alligators but if this doesn’t appeal, take a boat trip or island tour and watch out for dolphins and pelicans following you on your journey.

Go… to the beaches

Here you will find long stretches of white sand perfect for sunbathing in the hot Florida sunshine as well as an excellent choice of beachside restaurants and facilities. The beaches are popular with swimmers and water sports enthusiasts alike, and you can try volleyball or take a boat trip to go fishing or diving off the coast.
For families with children, purpose-built picnic areas are a convenient place to enjoy lunch without the expense of eating out or the hassle of sand in the sandwiches.

Go…shopping

Florida’s Gulf Coast has shopping for everyone. Sarasota’s Armand Circle is a prestigious area filled with exclusive boutiques and an excellent array of cafes and restaurants for leisurely lunches and coffee breaks. There are plenty of outlets and shopping malls with discounted prices as well as some smaller local shops.

Take time to go…

Venice beach is the shark teeth capital of the world. Due to its geographical position millions of shark teeth can be found along the shoreline.


Sarasota has a children’s science museum for an entertaining and educational day out or learn about circus history at the Ringling Museum.


Take a sunset cruise from Sarasota’s harbour or enjoy an exhilarating power boat ride around the fabulous island waterways.


Visit the Everglades National Park where you may see a crocodile or two.


Explore a huge range of nature parks and wildlife centres from your base in Naples or Marco Island.


Take a trip to the Boca Grande nature reserve with its fabulous beaches, museum, state park and nature trails.





Useful Info

Getting there

Fly to Fort Myers or Tampa

Language

English

Currency

U.S. Dollars

Time Difference

Florida is 5 hours behind the UK