When I Went To Paris

I went to Paris in September towards the end of the month and I don’t think there’s any better time to have gone! I had great weather most of the time, it was pretty empty, but there was still enough going on for it to be a lively experience.

At this time of year you’ve got cooler weather but it’s still more than warm enough to enjoy walks around the city without getting cold. Highs are around 22/23°C and lows are around 13°C with only a few days of rain here and there! Plus, as I said, you’ll be avoiding massive queues, huge crowds, and frustrating foot traffic.

Why September Is The Best Month To Visit Paris

• Weather that’s not too hot, or too cold
• Low chance of rainfall
• After the holidays so there’ll be less people and kids about
• With autumn on its way at this time of year, the leaves are starting to drop and change colour
• It’s cheaper – tickets for getting there and back are cheaper, as well as activities in the city
• Disneyland will be much more bearable without the summer queues – in fact when I went, I barely even queued for most of the rides!

What Should You See And Do In Paris?

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel tower is pretty much a no-discussion-needed spot when you visit Paris. It’s almost definitely on your list already right? I’d recommend going up in the afternoon as you’ll get the best weather and views of the city. Then, once it gets dark you can grab a picnic blanket, some wine and snacks ,and enjoy the tower’s lights from the Champ de Mars! 

The Louvre

Now I never actually made it into the museum when I went – there wasn’t quite enough time! But I did spend some time above it by the famous pyramid and walking around the old surrounding buildings. I couldn’t leave it off the list though as a) even if you just do what I did, it’s still worth it to see this fascinating building and b) if you do have a little more time, the full art gallery is meant to be good…although I have heard the Mona Lisa experience is fairly underwhelming!

The Catacombs 

Paris’s catacombs are certainly a unique sight and definitely and interesting one worth adding to your list. Twenty metres beneath the city are the bones of millions of Parisians with creative artwork displays and incredible history of what happened in Paris and why the millions of skeletons are all there! I can’t say what it’s like in terms of busy-ness most of the time, but when I went in the morning it was extremely quiet!

Disneyland Paris

This is one for you if you’re a fan of anything Disney, or theme parks in general. I’m definitely more into the latter, and it was a great day exploring both parks. Again, in September during the week it was virtually empty and I barely queued! If you manage to go out of season when it’ll be relatively quiet, get the 2 parks pass and do them both in one day. 

The Seine

The famous river that runs all through the city is great for strolls and will lead you to loads of cool spots along the way. If you’ve got the weather for it (which in September you should do), take some walks along the Seine and enjoy the bridges, parks, and sights on the way! Look out for the Louvre, the Notre Dame, Pont Neuf, Jardin des Tuileries, and the Eiffel Tower.

Arc de triomphe

Another must-see if you’re in Paris! It’s almost always busy from what I gathered, but you can still easily get a great view of this stunning architecture. It’s a bit out of the way of other spots so I’d recommend getting the metro there and back. When I was there it was  covered as a commemorative art piece, check it out:

Notre Dame

Another sight that’s worth a quick visit, especially at the moment with it under repair. Whilst it doesn’t look as spectacular, in my opinion it’s even more fascinating to visit the Notre Dame now since it nearly burnt down in 2019 as it really shows you the huge extent of the blaze. There’s also some interesting back story to read about the building if you walk along its side! 

The Luxembourg Gardens

An unexpected and spontaneous trip to the Luxembourg Gardens actually turned out to be my number one spot! This huge garden area in the middle of the city is amazing on a warm sunny day. It’s a beautiful area, with grass for sitting on, chairs to enjoy the sun in and an amazing view. I can definitely recommend spending a late afternoon here with a few bottles of beer and wine!

The Promenade Plantée

The Promenade plantée is a walkway that goes above the city, filled with cool plants. It’s a great way to spend your time walking through Paris, especially if you’d like to be surrounded by a bit more nature. Lots of spots along the way give you a great lookout over the Parisian streets! 

La Petite Ceinture

The petite ceinture is one of the more unique spots in Paris – it’s an abandoned railway track that’s been turned into a beautiful walkway surrounded by loads of plant life. If you enjoy walks in a more peaceful setting then this is the place for you! The track runs for a fairly long way so if you’d like you can spend a decent amount of time strolling through the various sections.

Have you got plans to visit Paris any time soon? If you’ve got any questions or want some more recommendations, feel free to send me a DM on Instagram!

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Yosemite is a fantastic place to explore; lying in the Western Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, the National Park offers stunning views, awesome yet challenging hikes and vast lakes to enjoy a day on the water. There’s no danger of being bored when travelling to Yosemite.

If you’re the hiking type then definitely visit the Half Dome and explore the trails to the top. With a 14 mile round trip its sure to make for an awesome adventure, and some great snaps when you reach the top! Oh and maybe wear something other than just flip-flops, I can tell you from personal experience that they’re not ideal for the mountains of Yosemite.

Once you reach the top it’s time to relax, soak in the awesome views and grab those well-deserved photos. You know all of Apple’s mac backgrounds? Yeah, that’s what you’ll see in real life, and it’s definitely worthwhile. I suppose it depends on the weather and the time of year, but I also found it to be relatively quiet and peaceful which was great to enjoy the natural environment around you, so all-in-all it made for a great trip that everyone should definitely experience at some point.

Bass Lake, located further towards the edge of the National Park, is another amazing way to spend your summer days. Just one tip if you’re going to visit, and much the same with any lake you may visit – do NOT jump in at first sight, without considering all of the bank cards still inside your pockets…it makes for slight inconveniences when you’re in a foreign country with no easy access to cash.

But once you’ve checked that nothing remains in your shorts, go ahead and make the most of the day. Boat rentals are relatively cheap (I mean a small boat for max. five people, nothing over the top) so you can spend the entire day on the water and given that Bass Lake is fairly large, it gives you more freedom to check out the different sides.

There’s a wide range of activities, varying from just relaxing, swimming to fishing to jet skiing, so there’s something for everyone. Just be prepared to pay more for the more extravagant activities – although they’re often well worth it!

As a travel destination, Yosemite rocks! Literally. There’s so much to do, see and explore that any nature lovers and even those who aren’t will be taken aback by the beauties of the place. Situated just over 4 hours from San Francisco and 8 hours from Las Vegas by car, it also makes for a great stop over if you’re visiting either of the two. So definitely visit at some point, let your inner explorer run wild, enjoy and take in all that is to be seen in Yosemite.

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Home to the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Prison, San Francisco is a great place to explore and visit some of the US’s most iconic sights. With city meeting beach, it offers a good mixture of adventures and places to visit, making it a definite worthwhile travel destination.

It might be weird to start this off with somewhere that isn’t actually San Fran, but Sausalito has to receive a mention for its beauty and small town vibe. Having stayed in Sausalito as opposed to the city itself, I can vouch for its serene coastal walkways and trendy local shops.

Although a bit further out from the city, its easily reachable by car and only a 45 minute bike ride which takes you across the Golden Gate Bridge. And trust me, its worth it just for the views! Having then reached the city’s waterfront, there are tons of cool shops, restaurants and cafes to explore. If you’re not from California I can strongly recommend a trip to In-N-Out. Easily one of my favourite fast food chains in America by the way!

Also along the beach is where you can catch the ferry either to Sausalito or to Alcatraz Island. Its surprisingly interesting to see what it was like to be held there and really get to view the ins and outs of the prison. I mean I don’t really know what any other prisons are like so there’s no real comparison I can make, I’ll just say I wouldn’t want to end up there.

So as I was saying, definitely go and check it out for an interesting day. For an additional price you can even take a night tour for extra creepy experiences! And although our day was brought to a disappointing end with a stolen bike (don’t tie the lock around the saddle, it makes for easy theft…), it was still awesome to check out the beaches and the prison for an adventure filled day, with things you won’t see anywhere else!

And that’s what’s so cool about travel! You can go just about anywhere at any time and discover something new, that you wouldn’t in any other place. For that reason I can only suggest visiting everywhere possible, but in this case, San Francisco offers some awesome constructions, sights and  locations to check out, that I guarantee you can’t find anywhere else. And situated in California, you can’t go wrong!

I loved my adventures through the US and having only seen a small part, I can’t wait to go back, and I hope you share the same experiences.

If you want to find great private accommodation that’s cheaper than a hotel then check it out here:
Great Vacation Rentals under $75

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One of my favourite things about the time I spent in LA was the sheer diversity of the place and its surrounding areas. Beaches, the big city, theme parks or mountains; it seems LA has everything to offer. Kind of makes sense given that it’s the second largest city in the US…

If you’ve never been there then I’d definitely recommend a visit as I can guarantee it’s not like anywhere else you will have been. Carry on reading this Los Angeles travel guide to find out more on the best things to do and places to stay!

➔ Santa Monica: Located by the Santa Monica Pier, this is a great place to stay if you’re looking to be close to the beach! There are many hotels and apartments available in this area, so finding accommodation should be easy – great if you’re the hassle-free type. Public transport is available from Ocean Avenue so getting around from Santa Monica is no problem.

➔ Venice: Also situated behind Venice Beach and neighbour to Santa Monica, Venice provides quick access to the beach and is closer to Marina Del Rey. Much alike to Santa Monica there is good public transport available, however on the whole, hotels and apartments tend to be cheaper here than in Santa Monica, so if budget is a factor then I’d definitely advise looking into staying here!

➔ Hollywood: If you’re looking to stay closer to the iconic Hollywood Sign and the Hollywood Hills then there are plenty of hotels located on Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard. Although a little more expensive, this area provides great access to the hills, ideal for walks and hiking and is a great deal closer to the Universal Studios park – somewhere I’d definitely recommend visiting whilst you’re there.

➔ Beverly Hills: A great place to stay if you want to be close to the Hollywood Hills, and closer to the City Centre than any of the beachy locations. Also more expensive to the alternative options but if you’re going to see the city then this offers the best access!

Prices

➔ 3Km Taxi Ride – $12.00-$16.00

➔ Metro/City Bus – Single $1.75
– Day Pass $7.00

➔ Meals – Breakfast $4.00-$8.00
– Lunch $5.00-$10.00
– Dinner $9.00-$15.00
(prices can obviously vary but these
are average prices for standard meals)

➔ Pint of Beer – $3.00-$6.00

➔ DisneyLand – Value $97.00
– Regular $110.00
– Peak $124.00

➔ Universal Studios – Value $105.00
– Regular $110.00
– Peak $116.00

If you want to find great private accommodation that’s cheaper than a hotel then check it out here:
Great Vacation Rentals under $75

Check out more Travel Guides and Blog posts here!

For a Top 10 Sites and Things To Do Guide on LA, Click Here!

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Beaches, booze and breathtaking views.

Lloret De Mar is THE city of underage drinking comas and wild party nights, but once you sober up a little bit and take a stroll to cure last night’s hangover, you’ll realise how much more this awesome town has to offer.

Everyone loves cheap alcohol and making drunk friends, especially if all the pubs, clubs and food are located centrally on one street. That’s what makes Lloret so great. Everything is so easy to access, so chilled, so much fast food, so much alcohol. It’s really a week to let yourself go from your normal routine (unless you’re a Uni student). And trust me, it’s a lot of fun! Some advice if you’re looking to get sloshed on a regular basis: Take advantage of All Inclusive Hotels and grab as many free cocktails as you can before they kick you out. Also supermarket alcohol was remarkably cheap; we got a bottle of Absolut, a pack of beers plus mixers for 20 Euros! So go and stock up big at the start of the week and you’d be surprised as to how cheap your week can be.

Another great tip to save some ever-needed cash is to hit up the clubs early. I know, I know, they’re always dead at that time but grab yourself a wristband, head back to the pubs and club afterwards until the early hours of the morning without paying those overpriced entry fees. The chances are that if you book with a tour operator or travel agency, your reps will secure you free entry to most clubs anyway. On the note of saving, if you reside in mainland Europe travel by coach. The journeys are long and can become a tad boring, but it’ll save you heaps compared to flying!

Ok so now we’ve talked about the booze, time for the beaches and breathtaking views. Like I was saying before, Lloret de Mar surprisingly has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and places to explore other the floor of your favourite club. Towards the waterfront you’ll find loads of cool shops and markets selling anything from food to cheap clothes to the classic fake Ray Bans that everyone loves so dearly. Is it even a holiday to Southern Europe if you don’t buy a Charles Keeper belt and a “”Gucci”” t-shirt to match? You can spend hours searching for unnecessary clothes, cool souvenirs and awesome beach inflatables that you’ll struggle to bring back home. It’s good fun whilst you’re there though. If you keep walking further you’ll reach the beach and although often packed there’s always a spot free to set up your sleeping station and relax to the max. If you’re the sunbathing type, the Spanish sun will have you covered all day. If you’re the swim in the sea type, be prepared for a chilled but pleasant experience. The water is clear and clean and definitely provides a good opportunity for some snorkelling if you’re not too hungover. Even more scenic though are the footpaths that run alongside the coast up into the hills, providing awesome views and some great shots for those photographers out there.

Any adrenaline junkies out there? You’ll be pleased to hear that there’s a huge range of activities from Paintballing to Watersports. Take a Jetski for a spin, get dragged on a Banana Boat or fly high in the sky when Para-sailing. There are also options to go and visit Barcelona for the day, and if the partying at night wasn’t quite enough then take a Catamaran Tour during the day to keep the vibe going 24/7.

So it seems that a trip to Lloret de Mar has something for everyone. Party hard all night, sleep in the fresh air at the beach for ultimate hangover reduction, be thrilled by intense watersports in the day and repeat the process all over again! It doesn’t matter whats your aaage come oooon with me! (Props to anyone who understands the reference, you’re my favourites)

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‘Türkçe bilmiyorum,’ I offered apologetically to the lady at the dock. I didn’t even know if I’d got it right as I fumbled the words out. What an irony.

She grimaced then, laughing, said, ‘Ingilizce bilmiyorum!’

Enigmatic and unfamiliar words, but the meaning was clear as day: neither of us spoke the other’s language. This was going to be fun.

Mention Turkey and you could be forgiven for conjuring an image of tourist-jammed beaches packed with red-fleshed Brits abroad. A deluge of beer-swilling Brits in tourist hotspots like Marmaris and Bodrum, where shops like Nexst, Azda and Selfridgez slot in among the burger bars, fish and chip restaurants and inevitable Irish pubs – why would you?

Of course, you wouldn’t.

But hold on a minute. In the real Turkey they speak…Turkish. Your faltering French and stuttering Spanish won’t get you a restaurant table. And forget about booking that boat excursion.

Welcome to Akyaka, a hillside town in western Turkey tucked into the crook of the Bay of Gökova. Its two beaches, set at right angles to each other, are lapped by the glassy turquoise waters where the Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet. Above the water brightly coloured canopies loop and soar from morning to dusk, tugging beneath them the kite surfers who throng to Akyaka’s perfect conditions. There’s kayaking too if you fancy exploring craggy coves where clear water rocks gently beneath aromatic pines.

You can manage all this without having to converse too much. In any case a few well-acted gestures ought to get you back on the straight and narrow if you lose your bearings, right?

Well, true. But you’d be missing the real charm of Akyaka and its environs. Back to my willing but hapless conversation with the boat tour lady. I’d made the effort and she didn’t want to ignore me, eventually conveying that there was no loud music on board, that the trip would be peaceful and quiet. And, somehow, that there would be snorkeling.

Sold.

Sure, that was her job. But the few other non-Turkish-speaking foreigners walked on by, unable to comprehend the nature of the tour and unwilling to try. Later we would pass them as they sailed back to the bay, glum-faced on a crowded vessel with throbbing music banging out across the water.

Speaking of sold, some perspective. The equivalent of £40 got the four of us on a day-long excursion and included lunch. Imagine: reclining on cushions on the shaded deck, revelling in the epitome of relaxation as the boat stopped at various isolated swimming spots. Paradise. We cooled off by leaping from the top of the boat into the clear water, diving to underwater caves, watching bright fish flit around us. Another stab of Turkish and our Captain sat next to us and – what do you know – in near-flawless English advised me to steer clear of Cleopatra’s Beach when we docked at the fabled Sedir Island, and instead make for the benevolently shaded and serene amphitheatre. Let the masses fight for a square of sand on the beach.

By now you probably have this impression that I’ve developed Turkish linguistic skills bordering on the semi-fluent. This would be an illusion. I’m talking about no more than ten or twelve sentences plus the usual scattering of greeting words, pleases and thankyous. So little effort, but such rewards. A quick, ‘Good evening, do you have a table for four?’ immediately procured us a window seat, while at least one other Brit family stood queueing for twenty minutes. Waiters took the time to correct my clumsy pronunciations, and such conversations expanded to include more important phrases. And by important, I mean financially beneficial. Because the best rate of exchange is in Turkey itself, and that’s no mean feat in a little place like Akyaka which isn’t exactly replete with bureau des changes. What you need is the local post office, and I mean local with a capital L. For that, you’re going to need some Turkish. My attempt the previous day had not gone well, but after a quick lesson from my waiter I managed, Iki yüz sterlin bozdurmak istiyorum.

And this time I even got a smile with my lira.

I’m not suggesting you need to learn Turkish and then go to Turkey, but if are planning a trip there don’t expect them to throw English at you with all the enthusiasm of an ex-pat eating a fry-up. They won’t. Not in the parts of Turkey worth visiting anyway. But if you make an effort, they’ll reciprocate it. By and large.

Come to think of it though, isn’t that a mantra that applies to all non-English speaking destinations? Make even a scintilla of effort and the locals will embrace you. Oh, just don’t be afraid of being laughed at. Now, where’s my Italian phrasebook…

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I often forget about Southern Europe. It’s so close to home that I kind of think “meh, not so exciting”, but in reality some of the best beach holidays I’ve ever had have been to the south of the Continent. Although I’ve only ever travelled to Italy once, it was an awesome trip with so many cool places to explore!

One thing to note if you’re from the UK, Italians drive very differently to us – lots of thin, narrow and winding roads at high speeds and little to no respect for another driver. I warned you, now be prepared. Cogoleto, located to the North West of Italy is a small coastal town not far from the City centre of Genoa. Now if you’re into beach relaxing, this place is for you. If you’re into clear water perfect for exploring and snorkelling then this place is for you too! What I’m trying to say is that Cogoleto is awesome for everything; beautiful beach bars, brilliant beaches and superb snorkelling. Also, since its located near to Genoa its extremely accessible by plane, so it really is a perfect destination!

My favourite thing about a chilled out beach break is when there are great places to relax in the sun next to the sea. Even better is when you can combine this with alcohol, and there are definitely enough beach bars in Cogoleto to refresh the vibe each and every day! We even found one with jacuzzis, so in case the sea gets too cold for you, go have a relaxing warm-up! How awesome is that?

Now, in my opinion beaches are one of those things that should be free. Being a natural and beautiful place that makes everyone’s day better, I feel that there’s no need to have to pay for access…Italians on the other hand have a different outlook on this, and don’t ask me why but for a lot of the beaches, you have to pay to just be there! I know it’s not right to “break the rules” and whatnot, but we found a way to avoid this.

Many of the beaches in this area in particular were surrounded by rocks and small cliffs, so we thought why not climb down them and avoid paying. I mean who loves saving money and having a great day at the same time? It felt so much better, so why not go for it…worst comes to worst and someone catches you and makes you leave or pay, which you would have done anyway, so I reckon no big deal. And due to most of the beaches being pebbly, it makes for some fantastically clear snorkelling. I don’t know about you but I think it’s so cool exploring underwater worlds of fish and plants.

However, easily the best part of the trip and my time in Italy was when we hired a speed boat for the day. It was only a small one, enough for 5 people which meant that it wasn’t too expensive, and easy to drive which is a major bonus when you have no boat licence! It’s definitely a worthwhile experience as it makes for an awesome day of freedom on the water. It’s also a good scare when you let the most irresponsible group member take it to full throttle.

Once your heart rate has slowed back down, you realise how amazing the views down the coastline are, and how far out to sea you can see. It makes for some great photography and the most peaceful relaxation possible! The other great part to having a boat is that you can access almost any snorkelling spots that you want, providing for the best snorkel adventures of the trip. The fact that the water is so clear makes it so much better just to park up, jump in, take a swim and explore…and still see the bottom which is always comforting.

So as I said at the beginning, and I’ll think you’ll agree now, although I’ve only been to Italy once, it’s a pretty great place to visit and definitely offers some awesome experiences. Whenever I think of travel at first I think of it to be action-packed, always on the move and exploring your surroundings. But there are definitely those moments you need that purely consist of relaxing, enjoying some sun and not having a care in the world, which I believe are fundamental to the travel lifestyle. And places like Cogoleto are prefect for just that! “Feel the sand between your toes, and find your place of relaxation”.

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The East Coast’s Sunshine State! Whether you’re the type for beaches and relaxing, adventure parks and thrills or exploring in the Everglades, Florida has something for everyone. If I had to recommend my top US places to visit, this would certainly make the list.

In particular the Western side of the peninsula receives a favourable mention for its luscious warm water, white sandy beaches and the awesome Rotonda West Canals. Now, in all honesty I didn’t experience so much of the Eastern Coast other than Miami, but let’s just say I can guarantee you can’t go wrong with the Western Coast. Sarasota was awesome.

I stayed on the waterfront of Siesta Key where there was an inlet from the sea, kayaks at the ready with dolphins and manatees being a daily sighting! I wish I could go back to kayaking with these gentle giants, it was the experience of a lifetime and one I thoroughly recommend having if possible.

If you’re at all like me, then the opportunity for a great view and unique experience is always to be taken…and waking up early to catch sunrise on the kayaks was definitely one of these moments! The sea was merely a few steps away after waking up; down the stairs, across the patio and down the jetty. At the end of the jetty were two kayaks and a ladder into the sea, coated in a healthy layer of nice sharp cockles.

With the sun on the horizon past the water and the woodlands that surrounded the inlet, it looked amazing every single day…definitely worth the couple of hours extra sleep we had forgone. Not only that, but due to it being so early in the morning, nobody else was up and about, leaving a completely calm and relaxing atmosphere out on the water. It’s things like this that I love travel for, that you don’t usually experience at home. Does that not sound like the perfect way to spend your mornings?

As if the morning wake-up routine wasn’t awesome enough, the kayaks provided an awesome and unique interaction with the local manatees – I guarantee you won’t experience this in many other places! The sea cows, although admittedly a bit grim looking, were curious enough to swim right up to the kayaks and eat leftover food we had available. When one of these massive creatures would swim right underneath you, it was a tad scary I won’t lie, but it was absolutely amazing to see them so close and witness them in their natural habitat, and was definitely an experience I will never forget.

This is another fantastic opportunity that travel brings you; a zoo or wildlife park at home doesn’t even come close to seeing animals in their true habitats! We also saw dolphins on several occasions, one time even swimming right up to the boat that we had hired…again, another fantastic experience that Florida provided that I would never have had, had I not travelled.

In addition to all the wildlife, the reason that staying on the sea was so great was the freedom of doing what you want, whenever you want. It’s such an awesome experience to be able to relax on your dock, kayak with animals, kayak to a beach, go for a swim…or if you really want, just sleep in late and laze your day away with cocktails and a fresh sea breeze! There is always something to do and it’s all worthwhile. Don’t get me wrong, the odd chillax week by the pool is great and often much needed, but you can’t beat a place full of opportunity and the freedom for fun whenever you feel like it.

Although a short drive away by car, there was a nice town not too far away from where we were staying, so there was still some livelihood when you wanted it. Personally, I am totally fine going weeks on end without being in a town full of people, but it’s always helpful for getting cheaper food and petrol etc so it really helped to keep the budget down…something I am a big fan of given not everybody has the sort of money to travel without budgeting.

There were also some cool places to grab a meal out, and a unique ice cream shop (Sub Zero) that created your very own ice creams using liquid nitrogen! All-in-all this made Siesta Key an ideal travel destination for pretty much anybody, which is why I strongly recommend a visit, as I’m fairly sure everyone will have a great time, no matter what kind of travel-type you are (even the “I’ve got my Instagram story, so we can leave now” people will get some beautiful shots of the beaches here!)

The second location I stayed in was called Rotonda West, an area made up of canals and sizable houses with pools. This had the more “relax by the pool all day” vibe but still offered a range of awesome things to do! We stayed in a nice place with a BBQ and a pool…of course it was all enclosed by netting to keep out the alligators that were everywhere – there was even one swimming right out the back of our house in the lake every day!

If the alligators swimming out back weren’t enough though, which of course they weren’t, the Everglades national park was a relatively short drive away and makes for a great day trip which I would thoroughly recommend to anyone who has the opportunity. I mean how often do you get to speed on a boat through marshlands full of alligators and snakes? We went on an Airboat with another group as part of the tour, which gave it a nice sociable feel.

The tour guide was great too which added to the day, where we saw all the different landscapes and luckily a new group of baby alligators with their mother – having never seen one before, they looked totally different than I imagined and surprisingly cute. It was really interesting to find out more about a landform I had never seen before and even learnt about how humans affect it and can help or hinder the region. For these reasons I’d put it on the list for sure as it will help you learn a bit and see something you’d never (apart from rare cases) see at home – pretty much the definition of traveling right?

If the drive is a bit far though then there are still options closer to home. We rented a boat nearby so that we could cruise around and over to Don Pedro Island, which was beautiful! If you can though, try and book as a group as it’ll make the boat rental price a bit kinder on the wallet. Oh, and watch out for sand banks in the sea…although we were warned countless times, our “captain” managed to run us straight into one, meaning the rest of us had to jump out and push the boat back into deeper water; not part of the relaxing beach-fuelled day I previously had in mind.

Once we had established how to avoid them in future, the rest of the day was awesome, cruising from beach to beach, enjoying the summer sun and the dolphins that ventured up to our boat! Anyone who loves beaching, swimming, snorkelling or just cruising the seas then this is something you have to do…to be fair not only Florida offers this, and I love to get a boat wherever I go, but this was definitely one of the best summer beach destinations.

So as you can tell, Florida has a shedload of things to offer to people who are new there; brilliant beaches, awesome wildlife, great day trips and although I didn’t really visit properly, you can also go to Miami or Disney World. Florida is a great place to travel to at some point in my opinion because it really is beautiful and offers some stunning scenery and experiences.

Obviously everyone has a different opinion on what the ideal travel destination is, but I thought I’d share my thoughts on Florida when I went to maybe inspire some of you to give it a thought next time you’re booking as I think it offers a lot, that sometimes you might only get by flying out for crazy prices to distant islands.

And as we love here at Centravely, keeping the budget down is always a favourite! Let me know in the comments or submit any questions from the Contact Page if there is anything else you would like to know specifically, or any other posts you’d be interested in seeing in the future!

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