Do islands sound like great spring break ideas to you? If so, you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean for some tropical beach spring break destinations. There are some great islands right in our own “back yard,” in the beautiful state of Florida! And they’re not just in South Florida, either. In fact, the Sunshine State is loaded with islands in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic Ocean. Join me in a quick tour of island spring break destinations.
Amelia Island is located in northwest Florida, just north of Jacksonville. This is a pretty quiet spot, with nice beaches and great restaurants and shopping. If you want thrilling nightlife, Jacksonville is just a short trek down Interstate 95.
Anastasia Island is located at St. Augustine. Here, you’ll have all the benefits of a quiet island with wide beaches while being close to all that St. Augustine has to offer – history, museums, restaurants, outlet malls, and shopping centers. You’ll definitely want to tour the Old City and check out the ancient fort.
Anna Maria Island is located just south of Tampa and is absolutely stunning! The water here is crystal blue-green, and the beaches are clean and white. The island has several beaches, ranging from kid-safe to exciting. There’s not much nightlife on Anna Maria, but Sarasota is just a short drive away.
St. George Island is located in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of the Panhandle. The atmosphere is upscale, and the beaches are gorgeous. St. George Island would be better suited to family vacations than it would be for a rowdy spring break for college students.
The Florida Keys are a long chain of islands, connected by bridges. Each key has its own personality. If you’re looking for a wild party atmosphere for your spring break, you can’t go wrong with Key West.
It doesn’t come as a surprise to find islands claiming at so many of the top spots on the recently released U.S. World and News Report’s “Best Honeymoon Destinations” list. Secluded and surrounded by soothing waters certainly sounds like a sensuous way to begin a life together.
And, knowing Kauai intimately, finding it at the very top of that list doesn’t surprise, either. What’s so special about Kauai? Here is an abbreviated list:
#1 – It comes by its nickname – The Garden Isle – quite honestly. Plants absolutely thrive here, especially on the rainy North Shore and the island’s verdant East Side. You will see trees, plants and flowers that just about knock your eyes out.
#2 – There’s incredible natural diversity on its mere 562 square miles. In contrast to the North Shore’s rain forest, you simply need to drive a couple of hours to the island’s West Side to find dry, almost desert-like weather. (While you’re there, be sure to check out beautiful Waimea Canyon – dubbed “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” by Mark Twain.)
#3 – Last, but certainly not least, the edges of this little garden-oasis in the middle of the Pacific Ocean make up Kauai’s incredible beaches. Wherever you go on the island, you are absolutely assured to find a beautiful beach nearby.
What’s not so easy to find, however, is a Kauai beachfront condo to rent. While many rental units afford an ocean view, there’s a difference between “oceanfront” and “beachfront.” The former simply means you can see the ocean from the property – often from high atop a rocky cliff – while the latter means the property abuts a beach you can walk on.
For our money, the best Kauai beach condo resort is Kaha Lani – Hawaiian for “heavenly place” – located on the East Side of the island. Not only is it a beachfront location, it’s about a five-minute walk to the rock-enclosed ocean pool at Lydgate Park:
Kaha Lani is secluded, surrounded by soothing waters – not to mention stunning scenery – and most certainly a lovely place to spend a honeymoon or any other kind of Kauai vacation or holiday.
When you travel to the Paradise Coast, you’ll find lots of things to do in Naples, FL. Naples has great beaches, world-class shopping, prestigious golf courses, posh resorts, restaurants of every type, and exciting night life. Naples also boasts plenty of outdoor adventures, including swamp buggy rides and airboat tours of the Everglades and wildlife sanctuaries.
If you’re into saltwater angling, you’ll find Naples fishing to be a rewarding experience. You can fish from the Naples pier, or if you’re so inclined, you can cast a line right from the beach and do some surf fishing. For the more adventurous angler, kayaking into the backwater and sneaking up on big reds or snook is entirely possible. If you’re really serious about catching big fish, check out Naples fishing charters. Naples fishing charters take guest anglers on several different types of fishing trips, including backwater fishing, nearshore fishing, and offshore fishing.
Another great thing about Naples is its unique location. When you’re visiting or vacationing in Naples, you’ll be near numerous islands that lie just off the coast of Florida. Some of the larger islands have bridges that connect to the mainland, so you might want to round up the family and spend a few hours on Sanibel or Captiva, both famous for their variety of beautiful seashells. You might also like to visit Marco Island.
There are also many, many tiny islands – hundreds, in fact – many of which are completely uninhabited. Ever heard of the 10,000 Islands of Florida? They stretch from the southern tip of Marco Island to Lostmans River, in the Everglades. This is a real wilderness area, with a myriad of sloughs, mangroves, oyster bars, and shallows that support a wide range of birds, wildlife, marine life, and fish. It’s a true “back to nature” adventure. Remember, though, that it’s easy to get lost here. You might want to hire a guide, just to be safe. Why not hire a knowledgeable guide for fishing or for wildlife viewing? In fact, many guides will be able to include both fishing and wildlife into your 10,000 Islands and Everglades adventure.
If you are planning on a trip to Thailand you may be trying to choose between Koh Samui vs Phuket . I’ve been to both recently and pretty much the choice comes down to two things: flight connections and weather.
Weather in Phuket and Koh Samui
Thailand has two monsoons – Phuket’s driest weather is from October to April, while that time is the wettest for Koh Samui. Both islands are primarily beach destinations, so although its not cold in the wet season – who wants to spend a holiday on the beach in the rain?
Flight Connections to Koh Samui and Phuket
Phuket is in the south of Thailand while Koh Samui is closer to Bangkok. If you are flying from Australia or New Zealand Phuket is a cheaper, quicker and more convenient location.
Flying to Koh Samui- will invariably require a change of flights, customs and probably a stop over in Bangkok. There are very limited airlines flying to Koh Samui, so the conenction is also quite a lot more expensive than most internal flights in Thailand.
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, and has a long history- its wealth grew from tin mining and the spice trade long before the trade in vacationers took off. Koh Samui, on the other hand was a remote rural backwater before the first backpackers arrived in the 1970′s.
If history and local culture is your thing – than Phuket will have more to offer you than Koh Samui.
Either island though will offer you that genuine Thai smile, fantastic food, and warm clear waters.
That’s not to like about Thailand – whether you choose Phuket or Koh Samui – its a winning choice either way!