Florida Vacation Rentals

When you think of Florida, warm, sunny days at beaches and amusement parks come to mind. Florida means vacation in the everyday language of people outside the state looking for a place to relax. The state's heavily dependent on tourism, and travelers are welcome.

Whether you're jetting to exciting Miami Beach or driving to laid back Key West, hitting Panama City during spring break or Clearwater in the Fall, you're certain to find something to do and see in Florida, even if it's just hanging out and enjoying the surf and sun.

Florida's a place you want to get to fast. And once you're there, the last thing you want to do is head back home or hurry up for anything. That's why vacation rentals and Florida go hand in hand. You can use your vacation rental as a home base to explore the region you choose to visit, whether it's the Central Atlantic Coast, Central Gulf Coast, Northeast Atlantic Coast, Panhandle, Central Florida, Florida Keys, North Central, Southeast Atlantic Coast or Southwest Gulf Coast. You can settle in, stock your kitchen with groceries, snacks and beverages, and get to know the area like a local.

Perfect Places has thousands of Florida vacation rentals ready for you. So open the door, drop your bags and head off to the nearest beach, park or attraction. Or, maybe just hang out by the pool. It's Florida, and that means "vacation."

Free (or Nearly Free) Things to Do in While You Stay in Your Florida Vacation Rental

1. Florida Sunsets. Make it a date when the sun goes down -- with your friend, wife, kids, or just yourself. If you're on the beach, just stroll out. If you're off the beach a bit, then walk or drive over. Bring your favorite beverages, snacks, get their early and stay late. You might even look into building a fire one or two nights and listening to the sound of the surf for a few hours. A great way to spend an evening, anywhere in Florida.

2. Mallory Square in Key West. Keeping on the sunset celebration theme, Mallory Square in Key West comes alive at sunset. It's at the end of Duval Street. You'll see juggling tightrope walkers, sword swallowers, escape artists, street musicians and entertainers galore.

3. Go to Disney in Orlando without Paying an Entry Fee. You can stroll Downtown Disney just like you would your downtown at home--for free. Parking is even free. Take a walk along Village Lake. Check out all the stores, be entertained by street performers after dark, and even catch a glimpse of Epcot's famous fireworks.

4. Florida State Parks. These aren't free, but the price of admissions is generally under $10 for a vehicle, making them perhaps the best bargain in Florida. If you've never been to a Florida State Park, find one near your vacation rental and plan on spending at least a half day or more there. The ones with beaches have some of the best beaches you'll find -- clean, and in a setting very reminiscent of what Florida looked like before commercial development. You'll see Florida in a whole new way and bring home a memory you'll cherish forever. Florida State Parks have plenty of space and activities to keep you coming back again and again.

5. National Museum of Aviation. See more than 150 restored aircraft and 4,000 aviation artifacts at this free museum, located at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. As a bonus, you can watch the Blue Angles practice on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from March through November and take part in autograph sessions with the pilots. The museum also offers special programs and exhibits (also free), as well as free tours and delicious and unique lunch options at the Cubi Bar Cafe (lunch is not free, but the prices are reasonable).

6. Sun Splash Park, Daytona. Lots of people go to Daytona and pay to drive on the beach. While that's a great thing to do, carve out some time with the kids at someplace with a little less vehicle traffic and a lot less cost (as in free)--Sun Splash Park. You'll find lots of covered picnic tables and room for the kids to safely run around. There's a covered playground on the sand, a water park with computerized jets of water for cooling off and having fun. It's right on Daytona Beach, so you won't miss a minute of beach time while your kids are entertained.

7. Free Wine Tasting. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards in Clermont offers Free tours and wine tasting seven days a week until 5 pm. Tours run every 15 minutes or so and lasting about 45 minutes, with an assortment of wines for tasting. You'll find more tips on how to save money on the Perfect Places blog.

Staying in vacation rentals will help you save money, but there are other ways to economize. Check out these 7:

1. Travel in the Offseason. In Florida, offseason generally means anytime between school breaks. Summer is hot and humid in Florida--not to mention crowded--so skipping June, July and August has advantages beyond saving money. If finding warm weather is a must for you, you can still feel the sun by traveling in April/May or September/October. The further south you go, the more you can extend the warmth. Miami in November is still pretty darn nice. Offseason travel works as a great tactic for people with kids too. You might have to shorten your stay a bit, but that'll save you money too. Check the school calendar for all the teacher in-service days and plan around those. Many schools will close intermittently for a couple days around a weekend for teacher training.

2. Stay in Less Popular Beach Towns or Tourist Spots. Instead of Panama City Beach, stay in Apalachicola. Instead of Orlando, stay in Kissimmee or even further out (you're going to be renting a car anyway). You might just find that not only are vacation rentals less expensive, but other things as well. Gas stations, grocery stores, souvenir shops all jack up prices the closer they are to a popular tourist area. Another advantage of looking for a vacation rental down the road a bit is fewer people. You'll be in Florida, enjoying the sun, probably with a private pool instead of a public hotel pool, and you'll be far from the maddening crowd.

3. Coupon Books. Grab as many coupon books as you can find at gas stations, rest stops, even hotel lobbies (just stop in and grab them -- no one will care). If you end up with five books and use just one coupon from each book, then you'll have saved money on five different attractions or activities, and isn't that the point? Vendors advertise in those books for a reason--they want your business. So give it to them.

4. Book Theme Park Tickets Online. Plan your trips to Disney, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, etc., carefully. You're bound to find bargains and save. Plus, you can then plan your secondary trips, also buying tickets online (if there's a savings). You'll have to stick to a schedule, so be careful to over plan or overbuy tickets you may or may not use. That'd defeat the whole purpose.

5. Find Out Where Locals Eat and Buy Groceries. The last place you should be eating dinner (or lunch) is at Disney World. Ask the property manager at your vacation rental where they like to eat, and where the cheapest place is to buy groceries. Talk to locals, then eat where they do. They aren't overpaying like tourists--they know better. Best of all, the places where locals eat and shop won't just have the best prices, they'll have the best food. And you'll make some fantastic vacation memories.

6. Avoid Touristy Souvenir Shops. Instead of buying that plush Mickey Mouse at the Disney Store, head for the nearest Wal Mart, Walgreens, CVS, Target or K-Mart. Don't worry, the folks back home won't know where you bought it--merchandise is different in different areas of the country. And if your kids complain, remind them that you're saving enough money to buy not just a Mickey, but a Minnie and maybe have enough left over for something else.

7. Enjoy the Great Outdoors. You came to Florida for the beaches and weather, so make sure you get out and enjoy both. Head for a Florida State Park and walk some of their beautiful nature trails. Pack picnic lunches. Rent fishing poles and fish off one of their many piers. Snorkel a few yards from shore and get some great seashells that others miss. Rent a bike and ride through some great scenery, stopping at quaint shops and restaurants along the way.

The next time you go to Florida, challenge yourself--spend as little money as possible, but maximize your fun. You'll be surprised at how much you enjoy the trip, and by how much money you save.

Use Your Vacation Rental as a Home Base to Explore Hidden Florida

No doubt, Florida has more tourist destinations than just about anywhere. Between Disney World, Universal Studios, Miami, the Florida Panhandle, Clearwater and Tampa/St. Pete's, Marco and Sanibel Islands and much more, there's an endless number of attractions. And while all the beaches, theme parks and activities are great, try taking time to explore hidden Florida on your next trip. These are areas off the beaten path. Us your vacation rental as a home base and head out for day trips. These are places where the locals go, where you'll be far from the crowds. There places where you'll feel like you can get to know the real Florida.

The Florida Panhandle. Take a day away from the beach and head up to DeFuniak Springs to see some lovely Victorian architecture and home to an active Chautauqua society. Chautauqua's were spiritual, social and educational camps popular in the 19th century. IF you want to see more of how the Florida Panhandle used to be prior to development, follow Highway 90, the main stretch through the Florida Panhandle before Interstate 10. You'll go through many quaint old towns. Or, try State Road 2, also called Hogs and Hominy road. This is a bit further north towards the Georgia border. And be sure to check out Falling Waters State Park, the location of the state’s tallest waterfall, though "longest" might be a better word for it since it falls into a sinkhole.

Nature Coast, or The Big Bend. This is the area just east and south of the Panhandle -- its shores are along the Gulf of Mexico and it curves towards the much more populated areas of Tampa & St. Pete's. It's considered North Central Florida. You'll find very few tourist destinations along this stretch of four counties. It's a dream for people seeking Florida's natural beauty. There are deep crystal clear springs, some with underground caverns, perfect for scuba diving. Much of this area has remained unchanged from its original appearance. You'll find isolated, seemingly undiscovered beaches and the hip artists' town of Cedar Key, old fishing villages, and the 68,000 acre St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, with nearly 300 different bird species.

Highway A1A Through Nassau and Duval Counties. Start in Amelia Island north of Jacksonville and head south to St. Augustine. Along the way, you'll see mostly the sea, and that's the point. Stop frequently to walk among the sand dunes. Perhaps bring fishing poles and try your luck. Collect driftwood and leave a little time to enjoy an evening in St. Augustine (or Amelia Island if you decided to start south and head north).

Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. Here's a kayakers dream. The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail is 190 miles of marked kayak (and canoe) trails that works its way through an area next to some of Florida's best known beaches--Sanibel, Fort Myers and Captiva. Kayakers and canoeists will find a maze of estuaries filled with mangroves, wildlife, and not powerboats. Don't worry about getting lost. The Blueway is well-marked with signs. Free maps are available at locations near the Paddling Trail--outfitters, retail stores, parks, a variety of places. Just ask a local if you can't find one. If you've never kayaked before, don't worry. You can learn how in about 15 minutes. Then, get ready to see a side of Florida you've never seen before.