Florida Keys – Beaches, Culture, Education and More

The Florida Keys are famous for their coral reefs, which encompass various activities such as fishing, diving, snorkeling and boating. But there are numerous other surprisingly diverse activities at the Keys, which make this region more than a destination for beach lovers.

Museums at the Keys

Off of Hwy 833, the Ah-Tha-Thi-Ki Museum boasts proximity to the Big Cypress Reservation, which exhibits unique artifacts that demonstrate how the Seminole ancestors lived in the Florida region that is dense with swamps and Everglades. The film “We Seminoles” tells the story in first person by the Seminoles ancestors and offers dramatic insight into the endeavor to remain Florida. The reservation offers nature trails throughout the sixty-acre property and provides visitors a unique view into a living village complete with its European influences.

Dolphin Research Centre

The Dolphin Research Centre in the Southern region of the Florida Keys offers visitors a rare opportunity to learn about dolphins and sea lions in their natural habitat of the Florida Keys.

The Dolphin Research Center provides many presentations each day, which display the dolphins’ skills at flying acrobatics, an educational session, which will teach fun facts about dolphins, new research studies and behavior training plus much more. The centre is a fun destination for families to spend the day.

Florida Keys Beaches

Naples and Marco Island in the northwest Keys off of Highway 41 offer the best starting points for visitors looking to enjoy the beaches of the Keys. They also offer easy access to the Everglades National Park, which offers scenic hiking trails and beautiful campgrounds.

A manageable drive from Miami’s International Airport offers a panoramic view off of the seven-mile bridge. After crossing the bride, the beaches to choose from are numerous and the land topography begins to change into a more rugged and less developed area.

Underwater Coral Reefs

A popular destination just south of Key Largo, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers the opportunity to explore the underwater reefs and underwater reaches, which extend nearly three miles. For those that prefer to stay dry, visitors can rent canoes, dinghies and motorboats to explore the clear waters.

Pristine Beaches of Key West

After a thirty-seven mile drive from Key West, visitors converge on the five hundred and twenty-four acre Bahia Honda State Park, which boasts some of the most pristine beaches in Key West. The beaches display miles and miles of pristine white sand areas and the park is packed with a dense forest with hiking trails that allow visitors to see numerous unusual tree species.

For divers, there are daily trips to the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, which is a five-mile section of wild reef that is considered one of the most spectacular dive locations with unusual reef formations and bountiful marine life.

A trip to the Florida Keys can offer a diverse recreation schedule that includes culture, education as well as the pristine white beaches of which the Florida Keys have become justifiable famous.

Contact a Travel Agent or Plan Your Vacation Online

Many travelers prefer to organize their Florida Keys vacation through a reputable travel agency, but there are also groups of people that thrive off of the adventure of planning their own Florida Keys ultimate travel schedule with thorough research and planning.

Sales on Florida Beach Vacations

Hotel Profits Down, Vacationers Benefit

Because of the growing uncertainty in the financial markets, hotel companies' profits are going down, but the bright spot of this scenario is a new wave of sales on hotels and beach vacations across the United States exists, including at some of the most pristine beaches of Florida.

A recent report released stated that the hotel industry has suffered a seventy-six percent decline in sales during the first half of 2008 compared to the record sales levels of 2007. The highest drop of hotel sales was in North and South American, only to be followed by Asia, which has lost sixty-seven percent of their gross profit.

Even though the United States hotel industry remains more liquid and it accounts for more than a whopping six billion dollars in sales for the first half of 2008, hotel sales are down by all indications. However, the hotel industry as a whole in the United States is still raking in the cash from vacationers looking for a fun vacation or business travelers who need a place to rest their head in between meetings. What does this mean to people looking for a fun beach vacation on sandy-white beaches? Sales!

Sales Offered for Hotel Rooms in Florida, North Carolina and Texas

Hotel chains across the United States are offering sales to residents of their state in an effort to encourage people to vacation; even though gasoline prices are skyrocketing. The strategy is working and despite the weakened U.S. economy, people are vacationing more often in their states or taking advantage of the numerous hotel room sales to take that trip they have been waiting for.

People looking for a family-friendly beach in Florida, North Carolina and Texas can find deep discount sales on hotel rooms at almost every type of hotel. Even beach hotels, chic hotels and four or five star hotels are offering discounts.

Discount Hotel Rooms for In- State Vacationers

As with many deals that seem too good to be true, there are some restrictions. The discount hotel rooms are based, of course, on availability, and most require a minimum amount of nights that the vacationer must stay, plus the proper identification. Many hotel properties do not advertise the discount hotel rooms, but will provide them for those that call in advance and ask for discounts.

The majority of the beach hotel deals are available for travelers at individual hotels, instead of their entire chain. Marriott, for example, is rumored to be testing this idea by extending a fifteen to twenty-five percent discount for people who stay at least two days through the Labor day holiday at over twenty of their Florida hotels near wonderful stopping places that are fun such as Disney World as well as the clean, white-sand beaches of Florida. They are also offering additional discounts at Florida hotels for people who reside in the state of Florida. The marketing strategy is rumored to be offered at hotels within the Marriott's, Courtyards and other Marriott hotel brands. If the strategy increases business, indications are that Marriott intends to extend it and possibly widen the offers.

Florida Vacations

Contrary to popular stereotypes, Florida is not merely composed of white-sand beaches and theme parks. Many other popular destinations, such as the Palm Coast, Amelia Island and Flager Beach attract visitors with their vacation experiences unlike any others.

The lovely Amelia Island shows off its unique Victorian designs, which are suggestive of nineteenth century architecture. The Palm Coast is special for travelers who are looking for culture and adventure. There is something for everyone if you are looking for a beach vacation memory, but do not want to be lost in a crowd of travelers lined up on the beach. Flager Beach is just the place for solitude and beauty on the beaches of Florida.

Save on Your Florida Beach Hotel

The best practice for discount hunters who want to visit a Florida beach is to book your hotel room online. There are numerous travel web sites such as Rentalo.com or HomeAway.com, which are popular lodging forums. You can view pictures of the hotel room or rental, communicate with the owner or manager, negotiate and find something to your liking that is well within you budget.

If you are looking for a specific destination in Florida, there are many offers available for the budget conscious traveler. The sales of Florida beach vacations are there, you just need to do a little research.