The Gulf Coast Of Florida Is Still A Magnet For Winter Sun Seekers

Well it looks very much like the worst of this winter has been postponed until after Christmas and

, assuming that seasonal cold weather hits the UK within the next few weeks, we can expect the usual last minute rush for breaks where the sun shines all the year round.

The Canaries, Barbados and other Caribbean locations are always hot spots for winter sun holidays but Florida is a particular favorite at the moment not least because the price of branded goods compares so much more favorably vis a vis the UK.

For some reason, the Gulf of Mexico coast seems more popular with Brits than the Atlantic shoreline and many head for the less publicized destinations where they can find either comfortable hotel accommodation or good quality rental properties. Reasonably priced flights to Tampa make the tri-city area a favored hunting ground for sunshine starved Britons and other North Europeans.

Apart from the obvious benefits like predictable, benign weather and safe bathing, this stretch of coastline is a magnet for sea ""fishing enthusiasts as the water is generally calm and ideal for all year round deep sea sport. There are plenty of boats to charter complete with locally knowledgeable skippers and, depending on the time of year, anglers can expect catches to include grouper, snapper, king fish, cobia, tuna, amber jack, Spanish mackerel, shark, barracuda, tarpon, permit, mahi and giant red fish.

If fishing is not your bag, this part of the Gulf is renowned for dolphin spotting and the bay area alone contains over 400 bottle nose dolphins. There are several boats offering cruises for visitors interested in viewing the delightful creatures and other local wildlife in their natural habitat. One of the best operates under the auspices of the Florida Aquarium in Tampa and offers an excellent 90 minute outing for around 14 or 15 Euros.

Another great option is Anna Maria Island which is located on Florida"s glorious west coast, only 40 miles south of Tampa International Airport. There are 15 miles of spectacular Gulf of Mexico beaches, inland bay shoreline, as well as charming towns full of restaurants and shopping. These include the town of Anna Maria at the far north end of the island, Holmes Beach in the center and Bradenton Beach on the southern end of the island. There are three main bridges to the island, all with draw bridges for the passing of sailboats and yachts.

by: Brendan Wilde

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