Southwest Florida

Southwest Florida, also known as the Suncoast, stretches lazily from Tarpon Springs in the north all the way to Naples in the south, and includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. So named for its three-hundred-plus days of sunshine, the Suncoast is historically known as a retirement area for hundreds of thousands of retirees from the North America and Europe. Recently the area has undergone a major demographic change, with large numbers of younger people making their way to the area to enjoy the sunshine and the easy access to the Gulf of Mexico.

The beaches are by far the most popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. With soft, white sand to loll about upon and warm, clear turquoise waters to splash around in, a day spent at the beach is always a good time. The beach communities are home to dozens of wonderful restaurants, but your best bet is to indulge in some fresh seafood. Golf courses are abundant in this area, with Naples alone boasting over a hundred of them. The Suncoast doesn't have the same concentration of theme parks as its interior neighbor, Orlando, but the ones that are in this area, like Busch Gardens and Adventure Island in Tampa, are just as thrilling as any other amusement park. (Ask anyone stepping off Sheikra, Busch Garden's newest roller coaster that features a ninety-degree drop, straight into the ground.) Finally, the Tampa Bay area is home to three major league sports teams – the NFL's Buccanneers, MLB's Devil Rays and the NHL's Lighting - all of which are a guaranteed good time!