One of my husband's favourite places is Florida, since he is an avid golfer and likes to get away from the cold Canadian winter for his birthday in early December.

For a while now we had planned to visit Orlando, but neither one of us are into theme parks. So there was the challenge for me: would we be able to visit Orlando without setting foot into Disney or Universal Studios? For someone as curious as me this was a suitable challenge and I had been doing weeks of searches on the Internet and communicating with the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau to find out about interesting destinations off the beaten path.

Well, I am happy to say, we arrived back safely yesterday from our trip, and the trip itself was quite an adventure since we decided to drive from Toronto to Orlando, about 2100 km each way! Actually, the drive was not as painful as I expected. The drive through Pennsylvania and West Virginia was nice and hilly, and I particularly enjoyed coming over the ridge of the Appalachians, right where Virginia and North Carolina meet, where you get a beautiful view of the piedmont area around Winston-Salem that spreads out towards the Atlantic in front of the mountain chain.

And I am even happier to say that in the 14 or so days that we spent in Orlando, not only did we get to play a lot of golf (to make my husband really happy...;) - including Mystic Dunes, Champions Gate, Royal St. Cloud Links, Hawk's Landing and Timacuan Golf and Country Club, not to mention the Walking Hall of Fame experience of the PGA Father Son Challenge at Champions Gate, but I also got to explore some really interesting places, destinations I would not have expected in Orlando and its surrounding region. I also had a chance to do an interview with GolfOrlando to get a much better idea of why Orlando is called "The Ultimate Golf Theme Park".

We started off our first week with a visit to the Orange Country Regional History Center, which gave us a suitable historic background of Orlando and Central Florida. Then, for some sociological and cultural insights, we visited the Well's Built Museum for African American History and Culture in Orlando. To top off our first day of exploration we enjoyed a walk around picturesque Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.

The next item on my off-the-beaten path agenda was a discovery of the City of Winter Park, a beautiful suburb of Orlando, reminiscent of Old European towns. I also went on the Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour, which was an entertaining, informative and visually appealing excursion.

The adrenaline revved up significantly on our next outing: a very high-speed airboat ride at Boggy Creek, that was followed up by a much lower speed swamp buggy ride in a custom-built monster truck that took us through authentic Florida landscape.

After our golf outing at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links we enjoyed a wonderful picnic by the waterfront in sunny downtown Kissimmee. Then, on a beautiful Sunday morning we drove about an hour outside of Orlando to reach the quaint town of Mt. Dora, where I hopped on the "Herbie Express", part of the Mt. Dora - Lake Eustis Scenic Railway.

From midweek in the second week onwards the weather took a turn for the worse. While planes were sliding off runways in Chicago and record temperatures were registered in the mid-western states, we were freezing in Florida where the mercury hovered around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (around +20 degrees Celsius). So I bought a rain jacket, and determined not to let the freezing cold interfere with our plans, we headed out to continue our explorations.

On a day that was forecast to be rainy, but just ended up being a bit grey and clammy, we went out to discover Loch Haven Park, Orlando's center of science, art and culture. We then continued our explorations further south to discover some of Orlando's historic neighbourhoods and parks such as Lake Cherokee and Lake Lucerne.

As the drizzly weather continued, we went on to visit Florida's Natural Visitor Center in Lake Wales, about an hours drive south of Orlando, where I got a really good understanding of Central Florida's citrus industry. I spent the afternoon in another famous attraction in Lake Wales which holds two National Historic Landmarks: the Historic Bok Sanctuary, where I got to see the beauty of the Bok estate and its historic carillon tower, combined with a tour through the historic Pinewood Estate, which was decked out in full Christmas decorations.

During these 2 weeks in Florida, we got exposed to a lot of its plants, flowers and wildlife, much of which you run into casually even while playing golf or picknicking by the waterfront. Florida has a surprising amount of natural diversity and I enjoyed watching the various types of birds, lizards, and squirrels. The only thing we didn't get to see was a live alligator (with the exception of the well-hidden rear end of a small alligator during our swamp buggy tour - unfortunately I couldn't even get a good picture of that one..). Apparently winter time is too cold for these creatures to come out of the water...

On our drive home, on a bright sunny day (of course...), we stopped off in St. Augustine, a historic town founded by the Spaniards in the 1500s, and the oldest continuously inhabited town in the United States - a mighty photogenic place, I should add.

So, you ask, is it possible to spend 2 weeks in Orlando without even setting foot inside a theme park and still have a good time? Well, based on the above itinerary I'd say that my plans to explore Orlando off the beaten path came to full fruition.

Mission accomplished.

By: Susanne Pacher
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of http://www.travelandtransitions.com, a web portal for unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. Check out our brand new FREE ebooks about travel.

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St. Augustine, Florida may not be a place where all the tourists flock; it’s no Orlando and no Daytona Beach. But, having been around since the beginning, St. Augustine is one of the most history-filled cities in the US (read between the lines people, I’m giving you a trivia answer). It’s a city that is worth visiting, and worth knowing. Take our quiz to see how much St. Augustine trivia you know, and how much you have yet to learn.

1. St. Augustine has the honorable distinction of being what?

a. The Smallest City in the USA
b. The Oldest City in the USA
c. The Richest City in the USA
d. The city with the most Cadillac’s

2. In 1763, the conclusion of what war gave St. Augustine to the British?

a. The French Revolution
b. The American Revolution
c. The French and Indian War
d. World War II

3. Between 1784 and 1821, St. Augustine, and all of Florida, was under whose control?

a. Spanish control
b. French control
c. British control
d. Canadian control

4. In 1821, St. Augustine was turned over to the United States because of what treaty?

a. The Treaty of Paris
b. The Adams-Onis Treaty
c. The Thomson-Urrutia Treaty
d. The Treaty of 1818

5. What opened in 1938 in St. Augustine, becoming one of the patriarchal theme parks of Florida?

a. Knot’s Berry Farm
b. Disney World
c. Marineland
d. An outdoor playground

6. St. Augustine was once a pivotal site for what 1960’s movement?

a. Women’s Liberation
b. The Civil Right’s Movement
c. The Protests of Vietnam
d. The French Revolution

7. What NASCAR racer was born in St. Augustine?

a. Scott Lagasse Jr.
b. Kevin Harvick
c. David Andrew Stremme
d. Ricky Bobby

8. What city is one of the sister cities of St. Augustine?

a. Moscow, Russia
b. Aviles, Spain
c. Oslo, Norway
d. Beverly Hills, 90210

9. What beloved musician was once a resident of St. Augustine?

a. Ray Charles
b. Louis Armstrong
c. Elvis Presley
d. William Hung

10. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of the oldest attractions in the state of Florida. When did it first open?

a. 1850
b. 1915
c. 1893
d. Just a few minutes ago

Answers: 1. b. The Oldest City in the USA; 2. c. The French and Indian War; 3. a. Spanish control; 4. b. The Adams-Onis Treaty; 5. c. Marineland; 6. b. The Civil Right’s Movement; 7. a. Scott Lagasse Jr.; 8. b. Aviles, Spain; 9. a. Ray Charles; 10. c. 1893.

See how you did:

9-10 Correct: Terrific. When it comes to trivia, you are a Saint.

6-8 Correct: Maybe not saint-like, but you still did pretty darn good.

3-5 Correct: Nothing horrible, but nothing to proudly tell others about. Seriously, we don’t want to hear you bragging at the office water cooler come Monday morning.

Less than 3 Correct: St. Augustine just might ban you from the city. Sorry, talk to them about it.

By: Jennifer Jordan
Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://www.milleniumlimo.com. An avid sports fan, she likes the Miami Dolphins but her heart belongs to the Denver Broncos.

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Vero Beach Florida is more than just a beach city. Though well-known for its beach hot spots and tourist attractions, the city also values art. Indeed, Vero Beach can be considered as an artist's haven. Vero Beach's fame for offering the good life is owed greatly to the integration of a tropical atmosphere and the cosmopolitanism of a cultured city. Hence, it was named as one of the premier art towns of America.

The city exudes cultural wealth. The arts center which costs over $2 million dollars is declared the largest teaching facility and art museum in Florida. Vero Beach Florida's 630-seat Riverside Theater is located on Treasure Coast. Aside from being Treasure Coast's signature professional theater, the venue is also known for staging expensive and world class productions. The art culture started in Vero Beach since the early 20th century when artists, poets, artisans, and actors found their place and settled in the city. The botanical jungle garden was considered as a landmark in landscaping and was built and opened to the public in the 1930's by Waldo Sexton and Arthur McKee.

Vero Beach's theater guild held their first presentation in 1958 and Riverside Theater followed suit in 1974. But don't get the impression that Vero beach caters only to theater or design artists, because in 1966, Vero Beach formed its own concert association. As mark of the citizens commitment to art, they raised and built a children's theater named after Anne Morton. As further proof to their value for art, most of these institutions were built by private donations with assistance from Vero Beach's local government.

Perhaps, it is the beauty of their own land that inspire Vero Beach's residents to create so much beauty of their own. After all, Vero Beach Florida is blessed with semi-tropical weather. This makes Vero Beach a suitable place for a variety of flora including tropical trees and even pines which normally thrive on colder regions. There are also extensive citrus orchards and national parks in and around Vero Beach. Flowers rage in Vero Beach, and since this is a beach place, towering palms dot the landscape. Surely, natural beauties such as these are enough to inspire anybody. However, if you're not the artsy type of person, there are still lots of things to do and appreciate in Vero Beach. It is after all, the Dodgers' home, and considered as one of the top diving and surfing spots in Florida.

By: Todd Lange
For more valuable information on vero beach florida, please visit http://www.verobeachfloridas.com.

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Florida can be a lot to handle sometimes; there’s so much to see and do and so many fantastic beaches that it can all add up to be a delightfully overwhelming flurry of sun, sand and fun. If you’re not afraid to tackle this peninsula of perpetual amusements, your next vacation should definitely center around one of its shining stars. Fort Walton Beach definitely falls into this category, so if you need a break and suspect that some time spent on the Emerald Coast would do you good, pay attention.

Fort Walton Beach is located on the Florida panhandle between Pensacola and Destin. The remarkably white soft sand and jade-tinted water have helped to propel this region to the top of many publications’ “best beach” lists, as well as the vacation itineraries of thousands of travelers each year. When it comes to gorgeous scenery and enchanting diversions, Fort Walton is the cream of the crop.

For fun, check out the Gulfarium, the second oldest marine park in the country. Dolphin shows will amaze you and make you laugh, as will the sea lions, penguins, and turtles. Also worth a look is the Indian Temple Mound and Museum. Six thousand artifacts are exhibited for your viewing pleasure and educational benefit, so take a little while to understand Florida’s first inhabitants. The Emerald Coast Science Center is yet another brain-nourishing opportunity, as it’s an interactive wonderland for kids of all ages. These tourist hotspots should keep you busy for a while, but don’t stop here…

The beach will of course call you forth each day to worship its charms, and if you’re smart, you’ll willingly succumb to its siren song. You can either keep it laid-back by rolling out a beach towel and positioning your striped umbrella so as to keep the sun’s rays perfectly filtered, or you can establish a steady pace of activity. Rent a boogie board or wave runner, go parasailing, explore the shore from the seat of a canoe, or charter a fishing boat. The choices are as limitless as the miles of wide open space that spread before you, so scan the impressive seascape and breathe a deep sigh of contentment.

If you want to keep things between you and the Gulf, skip the boating options altogether and go snorkeling instead. Underwater sightseeing and shelling are both tops on the Emerald Coast thanks to coral reefs, abundant species of colorful and inquisitive fish, and Timber Hole, a submerged petrified forest. You’ll be so astonished at these unusual sights that you might just forget to come up for air.

After all this outdoor adventure you might want to freshen yourself up and hit the town. Shopping is a favorite past time in Florida, so don’t worry about there being a shortage of souvenir obtaining possibilities. Dining and entertainment will loosen you up at the end of a sun-filled day and help to create that elusive feeling of utter relaxation.

If you’ve become convinced that a trip to Fort Walton Beach would be good for you, go ahead and start planning your escape today. The sooner you begin the process, the sooner you’ll be hanging out on one of the country’s finest natural playgrounds, so get started. By the way, if you’ve had one too many mediocre hotel experiences, consider renting a vacation property this time. Awesome amenities plus plenty of space equals a good time had by all, so do yourself and your family a favor and book a condo, beach house, or bungalow. They tend to exhibit more charm and personality than the average accommodations, and will surely add a little spice to an already appetizing getaway.

By: Caitlin Moore
The Emerald Coast awaits you, so pick out a keeper from among all the Fort Walton Beach FL Vacation Rentals, hop on a flight, and let the healing begin.
Visit CyberRentals.com to find out more about vacation rentals here and all over the world.

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The white sands welcome you to join the party of pure fun and to engulf you in the joy of oneness with the beautiful nature. Welcome to Daytona Beach Florida, the world’s most famous beach and one of the most sought after holiday destinations in the world. The Daytona is a 23 mile of white sand spread across covering the complete beach and complimenting the sparkling sea water which plays a vital role in making it a popular tourist destination from the early 1900’s.

Another interesting fact associated with the Dayton beach is its connection with automobiles. There are many wheel buffs who like to be on the white sands of Daytona. The automobile racing was one of the factors which were crucial increasing in Daytona’s popularity. The first incredible speed record on this beach was set in 1902 which was 52 miles per hour. It was in the year 1935 when the last land speed record was set on the beach when Sir Malcolm Campbell drove the world famous "Bluebird" at 276 miles per hour on the beach! In today’s scenario the racing on the hard packed white sand of the Daytona Beach is restricted only for a 18 mile stretch so that the visitors who do not wish cars in the company can relax and enjoy activities other than driving. And there are many not all who enjoy surfing more than driving.

Daytona Beach is full of activities all the time around the year. So it is ideally a 23 mile stretch full of fun and colorful people. There are many activities on the beach where the tourists can enjoy everything to the hilt like sunbathing, surfing, parasailing, fishing, beach volleyball, jet skiing and having a gala time the whole time. And to add to it the visitors can have many special treats like beach-dogs, sonwcones etc. on the beach itself. And for the racing champs who still miss racing on the beach can watch NASCAR racing at Daytona International Speedway. That’s not all this location provides easy access to Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Church Street Station, MGM Studios and the historical St. Augustine and Kennedy Space Station.

The number of visitors in Daytona Beach is increasing every year and that is why the hotels in this area have increased. Now finding a good stay at Daytona is not a problem unless you are here in the peak season without prior reservations. The hotels in Daytona are suitable for almost every budget and it is hardly a problem if you are on a tight one. Moreover the restaurants in this region guarantee full satisfaction of the taste buds with the delicacies they serve. From whichever continent you are you will find the food appealing. Some of the regular facilities offered by the hotels in Daytona include air conditioned rooms, car rentals, airport pick and drop facilities, swimming pools, health clubs, spas, restaurants etc. Also the nightlife in the city is a wonderful experience to have. So why are you waiting, pack your bags and set out for the white sands of the Daytona Beach.

By: Shagufta Khan
Looking for more information on Daytona Beach Hotels check out daytonabeach-hotels.net your guide to Daytona Beach Hotels.

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For those that enjoy nature's beauty, Colorado is a place that you must see to believe. The distinctive fun of traveling in Colorado is the fabulous views of the Rocky Mountains. You'll think of the word, gigantic, in a new way after witnessing such colossal mountains. These great mountains are a source of fun activities for any season.

Colorado is widely known for ski season. Kids, as young as 3 years old, can learn to ski, so this can be a fun activity for the whole family. I have fond memories of teaching our 12 year old how to ski and hoping that we wouldn't end up paying for someone's car repairs as he practiced his stopping on the "bunny hill" while eventually slowing in the parking lot. But besides the actual skiing or snowboarding, few relaxing moments compare to being at a ski resort with a warm fireplace after an exhilarating day on the slopes. And actually being on top of an enormous mountain is simply awe-inspiring. With the massive amounts of snow, ski season can last until June depending on conditions for the year. Snow tubing and snowmobiling are also popular activities for those that want to "conquer the mountain."

Soak in the hot springs. Naturally made and full of warm, mineral-rich water, the hot springs is like sitting in the largest hot tub you've ever seen. Pool temperatures range from 83 - 114 degrees. Many have traveled here to find the healing power in these waters, which were considered a sacred healing spot by the Ute Indians prior to our discovery of it. Nature-made relaxation and quaint mountain towns assure your pleasure.

For the more adventurous, a white-water rafting trip, down the Arkansas or Colorado River, is sure to excite. There are a variety of rapids to choose from, but in general, early spring provides the more challenging rapids and by late summer, the ride is much calmer. This can be a great event to expand your personal fear boundaries. Don't be afraid, I've been told that it wasn't as wild as the imagination thought it would be.

With numerous state and national parks throughout the state, hiking is a favorite, giving the opportunity to spot wildlife and breath-taking waterfalls along the way. A must-see is Hanging Lake near Glenwood Springs. The crystal clear waters and ascending cliffs provide awesome views. Fishing enthusiasts cannot find a better view to "reel one in." Numerous trails, paved and unpaved, are available for mountain biking. Catching the mountain bike chair lifts elevate riders up the mountain giving them a jump start to begin the challenge. Spectacular views abound.

As autumn comes in, the mountain drives turn to spectacular scenes of gold, orange and red as the aspen trees make their annual change. This is a favorite even for the locals. The scenery is just amazing; the colors riveting. The difficulty is predicting exactly when the change of color will begin. Focus on the month of September and then find where the changes are taking place.

One thing remains true of all these activities, when traveling throughout Colorado, it's important to be prepared for a quick weather change and be packed accordingly.

By: Bobbi Jo Frazier
Bobbi Jo Frazier is a travel agent and markets vacation packages which allow deeply discounted travel. A whole world awaits our curiosity and exhilation. For any comments or questions, visit http://www.vacationoften.com.

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