OFTIG 2013 - (Page 21)

AHOY one of the “10 Greatest Places to Sail in the United States” by SAIL magazine, and rated by MONEY magazine as one of the “Best Places to Live in the South.” “Visiting the beach is one of the top things visitors do in Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands; it’s an important tourist attraction. However, compared to other well-known beach destinations we don’t receive the huge crowds, but our beaches are appreciated by beachgoers looking for that not-so-crowded beach experience,” says Jennifer Huber, tourism public relations manager, Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau. Charlotte Harbor is known for its quieter, less-crowded beaches and state parks. Recommend a day on Englewood Beach where your clients can rent kayaks and canoes or spend the day lounging on the sand. If they are interested in visiting a state park for snorkeling, fishing, boating or nature tours recommend Stump Pass Beach and Don Pedro Island state parks. Palm Island Resort (palmisland.com) offers 100 privately owned villas in Old Florida-style architecture on a 2-mile stretch of beachfront accessible only by boat or car ferry. Accommodations vary from Island Beach Villas to Mainland Marina Villas, ideal for boaters. THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS AND SANIBEL ISLAND The beaches of Southwest Florida are ideal for shelling and experiencing a natural touch of coastline that is well preserved and undisturbed. Whether your clients desire a beach environment full of action and activity or one where they can walk miles and miles on undeveloped shoreline, The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island situated along the Gulf of Mexico, are ideal for whatever kind of beach vacation your clients desire. BOAT LOVERS! It makes sense for Florida to host a bevy of boat and yacht shows during winter and spring when the sky is a crystal-clear blue and temperatures are just right. Here are a few of the state’s most prominent boat shows held every year for those clients who want to browse or buy yachts, boats and a slew of marine commodities. The 28th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show, held March 21-24, 2013, is one of the top 10 boat shows in the country, featuring hundreds of power boats, center consoles, personal watercrafts and superyachts over 150 ft. The show features more than $350 million worth of vessels and nautical accessories from the world’s leading marine manufacturers. Fort Lauderdale, aka the “Yachting Capital of the World,” is host to the 54th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show held in October. From sportfishers and high-performance boats to cabin cruisers and catamarans, visitors get a chance to see and board some of today’s top-of-the-line vessels in a 3-million-sq.-ft. space. Cruising into Miami Feb. 14-18, 2013, is the Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail showcasing more than 3,000 boats and 2,000 maritime companies from all over the globe. Held in three separate locations—The Miami Beach Convention Center, Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center and Miamarina at Bayside—visitors get a chance to shop and browse the newest products in recreational boats and marine accessories. Other notable boat shows include The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show, presented in the latter part of the year and the largest boat show on the Gulf Coast, and the annual Suncoast Boat Show, April 19-21, 2013, in downtown Sarasota. There are dozens of beaches to choose from in this area of Florida, but for couples, recommend Turner Beach perfect for watching the sun set; for families there is Bonita Beach Park offering picnic areas, concession stands and boardwalk; and Blind Pass Beach, located on Sanibel’s north end, is the spot where your clients can walk the shoreline and increase their shell collection at the same time. “Whether you want to hunt for seashells (our area is considered one of the best shelling destinations in the world), or just relax on the beach, you will leave relaxed and craving for a return visit,” says Tamara Pigott, executive director, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. VISITFLORIDA.COM 10-23_2013_Beaches.indd 21 2013 | Official Florida Travel Industry Guide 21 1/15/13 11:37 AM  http://www.palmisland.com

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