Watch a sunset in Key West
Key West, in the Florida Keys, is the southernmost point in the USA and is famous for water sports, a lively nightlife, beaches, its amazing historic sites and pastel conch-style architecture. Walking tours are a great way to see the island’s amazing homes and gardens. Key West is renowned for its world-famous sunsets, and there is no better place to view them from than the observation platform of the island city’s iconic lighthouse. There, you’ll experience 360-degree views of the historic district, Hemingway Home, the Southernmost Point and the sparkling ocean in the Florida Keys. For a real bucket-list moment, we suggest pre-booking the exclusive access Sunset experience, which includes a bottle of wine and a charcuterie board to help enjoy that special moment.
• To book, visit Kwahs.ticketspice.com/light-house
Salsa in Miami
Miami is a hugely popular place to holiday and explore. You will find the lively South Beach area within Miami Beach, and will recognise the Art Deco skyline from many postcards and TV shows. After dark is when this city really comes to life. Whether you’re looking for salsa, hip hop, house music or all of the above, the city’s nightclub scene fits just about every taste and age.
For a fun night or two, we recommend staying at the Eden Roc (Edenrochotelmiami.com), which costs from around £121 per night. It’s positioned directly on the beach and is a great location for shopping and restaurants in the city.
Ride a coaster in Orlando
Roller coasters aren’t just for the kids! Orlando is home to some of the best theme parks in the world and some of the biggest rides. One of our favourite theme parks, SeaWorld, is planning on launching Ice Breaker later this year. Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker will feature four launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond-vertical drop in Florida – a 93ft tall spike with a 100-degree angle. Are you brave enough to try?
• For more info, visit Seaworld.com
If you fancy spending a day at a slightly slower pace, how about booking a dolphin swim at SeaWorld’s Discovery Cove in Orlando? This all-inclusive day resort offers the chance to enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins, snorkel among thousands of tropical fish and rays, hand-feed exotic birds, and encounter playful otters. At the park, guests can relax and explore rocky lagoons surrounded by lush landscaping, tropical reefs, winding rivers and white, sandy beaches. Freshly prepared meals, snacks and beverages throughout the day and swim gear are included.
• For more information, visit Discoverycove.com
Drive in a NASCAR at Daytona
Made famous by its wide beach and smooth hard-packed sand, it’s no surprise that people flock to Daytona to enjoy the 23 miles of pristine coastline. Back in the early 1900s, it was used for high-speed car testing, and then in later years for racing. If you fancy trying it yourself, then check out the NASCAR Racing Experience at the Daytona Speedway Complex. You will be able to take a tour of the world-famous stadium and ride along as a passenger for a few high-speed laps of the track. A great day out for thrill-seekers and NASCAR fanatics.
• To book and for more info, visit Daytonainternational speedway.com
elax at Clearwater and St Pete beaches Relax at Clearwater and St Pete beaches
Just a short 30-minute drive from the city of Tampa and situated on the sun-drenched peninsula separating the Gulf Coast of Mexico and Tampa Bay, Clearwater and St Pete both offer some of the most stunning beaches in the US. St Pete Beach has just been voted number-one in America and fifth in the world by Tripadvisor! Combining the two places in one holiday makes it an enjoyable time for anyone who loves sunshine, white sand shores, warm waters and great food.
Head to Clearwater to watch the beautiful sunset at Pier 60, which has become so popular with people flocking to see it that it has a real festival vibe, and you can watch street performers and local musicians preforming most evenings. Lots of local artists tend to set up here, and it’s a lovely atmosphere as you wander around and view their work
To get a feel for what St Pete and Clearwater have to offer, check out the new Amazon Prime binge-worthy show Life’s Rewards. The series has been entirely produced and filmed around these fabulous shores and the big pink Don CeSar hotel, which sits directly on the beachfront at St Pete.
The Gulf Coast is the perfect year-round destination, but you do need to remember that May to September can be very hot, so the ideal time to visit with cooler, pleasant weather is from March to early May and mid-October to late November.
• For more information and ideas, take a look at Visitflorida.com
Please check Gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus for travelling advice following the outbreak of the coronavirus