Home of The Mouse, South Beach, Jimmy Buffet, and NASCAR auto racing. This is a state that has built its entire identity around vacationers. Florida is magical and mystical land of contrast and diversity - a land of enchantment and excitement!
For many, it is a tropical paradise with turquoise and emerald waters that wash on sandy white Florida beaches shaded by palm trees that sway in the warm sea breeze. For others, it is a land of fascinating Florida theme parks and Florida attractions. Yet others are drawn to the exciting cultural diversity of its modern metropolitan cities. Still others seek Florida for its natural beauty - its varied terrain of hardwood, pine and cypress forests, swamps, rivers, springs and mangrove waterways where within live hundreds of species of fish, birds, unique plants and interesting animals.
If you think that isn't enough reasons to travel to sunny Florida, and if you can't swap stories about the lines at Disney World, the mosquitoes in the Everglades, the cold spring water at Ichetucknee, or the superiority of the dazzling white sand Florida beaches of the Tampa Bay area and Florida Panhandle, well, I'm sorry my friend, but you're just out of the loop.
With 16 million citizens and 65,758 square miles of land, Florida is as large and as varied as a medium-sized country, and as such can't be seen in a weekend. It has been said that to truly understand a culture (and Florida has several), one must spend months immersed in it. With Florida this is a dangerous proposition. Many people who come to visit end up staying for the
rest of their lives.
Florida, of course, is known for many things: the Everglades; the sun, sand, and surf that make up 663 miles of Florida beaches; the Florida Keys; South Beach in Miami, the trendiest place in the world at the moment; and, oh yes, Disney World, in Orlando. But there is much more...
Just click on a region of interest below to find exciting Florida destinations, attractions, events, activities, or just about anything you desire for your visit to Sunny Florida!
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~ Welcome to Prime Outlets Shopping Center - Ellenton ~
Prime Outlets – Ellenton showcases luxury outlet shopping within a sand dollar’s throw of Florida Gulf Coast vacation areas like Longboat Key and Siesta Key. Beckoning the passionate shopper are 130 designer and brand-name outlet stores including COACH Factory, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store and Dooney & Bourke — all offering everyday savings of up to 65%.
Prime Retail is one of the largest and most successful developers of outlet Shopping centers in the country. Its portfolio spans more than 8.2 million square feet across 21 outlet centers throughout major United States markets and Puerto Rico including Ellenton, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Austin/San Antonio, Texas and Williamsburg, Va., with more than 3,000 stores and 450 leading designer and brand names.
Just a sampling of of our brand name store's:
Stuart Weitzman
Dooney & Bourke
Michael Kors
Juicy Couture
Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store
Nike Factory Store
Gap Outlet
Banana Republic Factory Store
COACH
Adidas Outlet Store
Brooks Brothers Factory Store
Calvin Klein
Carter's
Hartmann Luggage
Hartstrings Childrenswear
Kitchen Collection
Le Creuset
Van Heusen
Yankee Candle
Villeroy & Boch
Getting Here:
** From Sarasota: Take I-75 North to Exit 224. Turn left. Left 1/2 mile onto 60th Avenue. Entrance 1/4 mile on left. **From St. Petersburg: Take I-275 South to I-75 South. I-75 South to Exit
224. Turn left. Left 1/4 mile onto 60th
Avenue. Entrance 1/4 mile on
left. ** From Tampa: Take I-75 South to Exit 224. Turn left. Left 1/4 mile onto 60th Avenue. Entrance 1/4 mile on left.
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The Florida Aquarium
813-273-4000
~
Welcome to The Florida Aquarium ~
Nationally ranked as one of the "Top 10 Aquariums in the Country" by ForbesTravelor.com and TripAdvisor.com, The Florida Aquarium is home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and marine animals from around the world!
See river otters, alligators, stingrays and sharks in natural exhibits! If that isn’t close enough, guests can immerse themselves in interactive dive programs like “Swim with the Fishes” or “Dive with the Sharks,” where coming face to face with a 250-pound Goliath Grouper or Green Sea turtle is common place. Here guests can actually become a part of the exhibit in an up-close and personal experience underwater.
Didn’t bring a bathing suit? How about one of our Behind the Scenes Programs like “Penguins: Backstage Pass” or "daily Shark and Stingray Feedings?"The African Black-footed penguins don’t hang out behind acrylic either, see them face-to-beak in the ‘no borders, no barriers’ Penguin Promenade daily.
New to the aquarium, "Ocean Commotion" offers a uniquely immersive experience utilizing state of the art technology with virtual dolphins and whales, animation and multi-media presentations. Guests can even upload their own videos to become part of the exhibit!
After you’ve seen everything inside, continue the journey to the 2-acre outdoor, water adventure zone called “Explore A Shore.” But bring a bathing suit, because water canons are plentiful and children can explore a two-story, water-logged pirate ship. Parents, try relaxing with a beverage at the "Cantina Bar and Grill" while the kids play the day away.
Where are the dolphins, you ask? Come aboard the brand new, double-decker "Bay Spirit II" for a Wild Dolphin Ecotour and see these amazing animals in their natural environment. Tampa Bay is home to more than 500 bottle nose dolphin and there is an excellent chance of seeing them from one of our daily Ecotours.
~ Discover the magic found in water only, at The Florida Aquarium! ~
Home of The Mouse, South Beach, Jimmy Buffet, and NASCAR auto racing. This is a state that has built its entire identity around vacationers. Florida is magical and mystical land of contrast and diversity - a land of enchantment and excitement!
