Florivida the travel podcast
Florivida the travel podcast #7 | Universal Orlando Resort: Tips, tricks & travel experiences
In this episode, Willem and Rick talk all about Universal Orlando Resort, with their own experiences tips and tricks!
Florida is home to great theme parks, think of the Orlando theme parks in Walt Disney World: EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Or the Universal parks in Universal Orlando Resort: Universal Studios Florida, Universal Epic Universe, Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Volcano Bay, as well as Busch Gardens in Tampa.
But Florida is much more than that, it is also home to beautiful beaches, atmospheric coastal towns and that combined with wonderful temperatures! You can enjoy delicious local cuisine, enchanting sunsets and crystal clear waters. In this blog you will read what the 5 beaches of Florida are, according to the travel experts at Florivida.
Just a 2-hour drive from Orlando you will find the art site Bradenton. You can taste the real Floridian culture here with the colored houses around you, the tropical climate and the welcoming charm. This little town has a return rate of 94% for a reason. That is, once people have been here, they keep visiting this fine place. With a vibrant atmosphere and some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, this is a true hidden gem! Also if you are a lover of fishing or seafood. There is a fishing village here called ‘Cortez,’ where they prepare your caught fish in restaurants or serve their own delicious fresh seafood!
Anna Maria Island is the place to be If you are a real beach goer. This island is located across Bradenton directly on the Gulf of Mexico, and has beaches from the north to the south of the island. For example, in the north is Bean Point Beach, this is a very quiet beach where you can enjoy a beautiful sunset in peace. Visitors regularly encounter dolphins here on a boat tour or even from the beach already! For something more crowded, you can also visit Manatee Public Beach. This beach has some more facilities like stores, restaurants and, for example, a volleyball court.
In short, Bradenton is perfect for say 2 nights during your tour of Florida a beach vacation or a combination with the theme parks in Orlando!
This coastal town distances itself from the other beaches in Florida by its tremendous calmness. You won't find a large promenade or high-rise buildings in Melbourne Beach but more natural areas, wide beaches and lots of sea creatures! The location of this place is between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, this provides the perfect contrast between beach and nature. Look for beautiful shells on the beach or take a romantic walk along the water. You can also surf here, so this is your chance to take a surfing lesson.
Melbourne Beach is one of the main areas in Florida for nesting sea turtles, between May and October several species of sea turtles come to lay eggs. During the same season, guided turtle walks are organized where you can go with a guide in search of the beautiful animals! In the same area you can also visit the beautiful nature reserve Sebastian Inlet Park where you can kayak and have a chance to see manatees and dolphins!
This is one of the most famous beach resorts on Florida's Space Coast. On these beaches, in fact, it is vibrant and lively. You will find here, for example, the Cocoa Beach Pier. On this pier there are several restaurants, stores, live music and fishing spots.
Cocoa Beach is also known as the surfing destination! There is a famous surf store called ‘Ron Jon Surf Shop’ where you can get everything related to surfing! Of course, you can also take surf lessons at many places, and rent boards or even ‘beach bikes’!
It was given the name Space Coast by the Kennedy Space Center, which is minutes away, perfect to combine with your beach visit to Cocoa Beach. You can even take a rocket launch see from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Base! So it really lives up to the name ‘Space Coast’ after all! At 1 hour drive you are also already in Orlando if you also like to combine the theme parks of Orlando!
Crystal Beach is a small coastal town on Florida's west coast about 45 minutes from Tampa. You encounter the Old Florida feel everywhere here and is far from a crowded tourist destination.
It is home to small beaches, palm trees, local restaurants and tranquility. Spectacular sunsets are also a definite highlight here. Because of its west coast location, you can really enjoy the colorful skies overhead! In short, if you want a romantic getaway, this is the place to enjoy together.
From romantic to iconic, South Beach Miami is the most famous beach in Miami and perhaps even of the United States! It is known for its white sandy beaches, beautifully colorful water, colorful houses combined with luxury and nightlife. The beaches have walking and cycling paths, a lively promenade and the real Miami experience.For some variety, there are numerous highlights in the neighborhood such as for example: the street ‘Ocean Drive’, the place that really comes alive in the evening. You will find luxury hotels, expensive cars, restaurants and bars, live music and an incredibly energetic atmosphere!
Architecture is also well known here due to the historic Miami Beach Architectural District. Everywhere here are colorful houses and buildings from the 1930s and 1940s that you can definitely visit. South Beach is a shopper's paradise, with trendy stores everywhere from luxury designer stores and international brands to souvenir stores and vintage shops. You are also in the right place for a drink, in the evening you will find clubs with DJs, rooftop bars and much more everywhere. In short, if you want to experience the real Miami experience, this is the place to visit sometime.
Want to discover the diversity of Florida? Then check out our trips to Florida or make an (online) appointment with one of our travel experts!
South Beach in Miami is often the busiest beach in Florida, but this also makes the atmosphere very vibrant and energetic, the real Miami experience!
Yes, you can, for example, while touring Florida, first visit the theme parks of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort and then visit the beaches of Florida! The most beautiful beaches can be found within a distance of up to 2 hours drive from Orlando. Therefore, it offers the perfect relaxation after long theme park days.
At many beaches you can encounter dolphins, turtles, manatees, rays and many more wild sea creatures!
Bradenton is located on the west coast of Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico.Â
Florida's weather is warm and sunny year-round. The state has a subtropical to tropical climate, so you often have pleasant temperatures even in winter. It is especially hot and humid in the summer months, with frequent short but strong afternoon rainstorms.
In this episode, Willem and Rick talk all about Universal Orlando Resort, with their own experiences tips and tricks!
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