Florida has something for everyone, with plenty for couples
and groups of friends to enjoy and explore. Bursting with chic
shopping, world-class beaches, championship golf courses and
some extremely hip and happening nightlife.
At Virgin, we've got all angles covered, with a range of holidays in a variety
of destinations to suit your every need. So come on, if you haven't discovered
Florida yet, here are some ideas on what you can get up to!
Beaches and Water Sports
Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts have no shortage of beaches. There are
miles and miles of sun-kissed sand at Clearwater & St Pete,
Fort Lauderdale
and Sarasota.
The water sports are second to none with excellent snorkelling, diving, fishing
and boating in the Florida
Keys.
Shopping
Orlando is a shopper's
paradise with countless malls offering up to 75% discount on designer brands.
Or, get your walking shoes on to explore Sawgrass Mills at Fort
Lauderdale, one of America's largest outlet malls with more than 400 stores.
For sophisticated boutiques head to the shopping mecca of Naples
and Marco Island, where chic shops mingle with gourmet cafés and
bars on Naples' Fifth Avenue. For eclectic and vintage shops head for St Armands Circle in Sarasota.
Read more about shopping
in Florida
Nightlife
Party animals will love Key
West where sunset celebrations take place every night at Mallory Square. Afterwards do the pub crawl up Dural Street and enjoy live music in almost every bar.
Pier 60 on Clearwater
beach also hosts FREE entertainment from street performers, local craftsmen,
and more - just be sure to get there approx 2 hours before sunset. Miami
and South Beach are also very lively with clubs and cafés on legendary
Ocean Drive. It's the place to see and be seen! Keep your eyes peeled for the 'in-est' in crowd!!
Feed your passions
You can immerse yourself in the history of speed
at Daytona
with its world-famous speedway, interactive museums and go-kart tracks. If spectating isn't your style, ask our Resort Team about the driving packages at the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Orlando - its not for kids! The
thrill-seekers' paradise is of course
Orlando! Many park attractions have late opening hours which is the tip
to miss the family queues (restrictions apply, please see resort pages).
Golf is great all over Florida, but St
Augustine is a real mecca for the obsessed golfer with its World Golf Village.
Golf is also huge in Naples,
or, try Sanibel
Island to combine golf with spas and relaxation.
Culture and Heritage
Culture vultures will be kept more than satisfied in Florida. St
Augustine is known as the 'oldest city' in America and, at less than 2 hours'
drive from Orlando, is perfect
if you want to combine thrills and spills with history.
Circus heritage and sophisticated culture can be celebrated in Sarasota,
with antiquing, gallery-hopping and cafés cropping up at Main Street,
Herald Square and Southside districts.
Back to nature
Florida offers a wealth of wildlife in the numerous parks and gardens. An
airboat ride is the best way to explore the world-famous Everglades. And water
is the way to go in Fort
Lauderdale, known as the 'Venice of America', where you can also visit Bonnet
House Museum.
Dolphin watching is a popular pastime on the South Gulf coast, as is spying
on turtles as they come to nest on the beaches. Visit John Pennekamp Coral Reef
State Park at Key
Largo where awesome spectacles await the underwater sightseer.
Cruise
A luxurious cruise is the perfect way to explore both Florida and the Caribbean.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean offer short cruises that sail from Port Canaveral
or Miami to the eastern or western Caribbean – perfect to add on after
a week on the mainland! For 2008 we have also added Holland America Line around the eastern Caribbean and Panama. Guests can enjoy state-of-the-art amenities, award-winning entertainment and excellent value for money, making this an experience you'll want to repeat!
Read more about cruises on our
cruises site
Tailor-make Your Holiday
At Virgin Holidays it’s easy to custom-make the package you want without any hassle.
We can tailor-make your holiday to suit your needs – whatever you fancy.
With up to 5 flights a day, a wide range of accommodation, covering everything
from villas to 5V Platinum hotels, where you go and how long you stay is completely
up to you!
Read more about
tailor-making your holiday
Why not combine an exciting holiday in one of Florida’s famous resorts
with a relaxing week soaking up the sun on a Caribbean beach?
Read more about
Florida and Caribbean twin centres