West Palm Beach, FL

Background:

Florida is considered by many to be Americas top vacation destination. On offer you have famous landmarks such as Disney World, Cape Canaveral, Universal Studios, and countless beaches and water parks. However if a heavily populated tourist area is not on your radar I would  consider going to West Palm Beach, Florida. West Palm Beach has many advantages over other southeastern Floridian cities. For one West Palm Beach does not find itself overrun with tourist, a problem faced by nearby Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. However, West Palm Beach is still close enough to these cities to be able to do day trips to Disney World, or the many beaches in Ft. Lauderdale. Not only will you find the environment to be more laid back, but West Palm Beach has many activities that appeal to the casual traveler. For example there is plenty of shopping to do along West Palm's historic Clematis Street. You also have the option to take a deep sea fishing charter out of one of the many harbours in the local area. Many festivals and activities that take place at various times throughout the year can provide a fun alternative to the usual Florida fare. The Barret Jackson Collector Car Auction is a fun event that brings historic cars to the area, and puts them up for auction, however you do not have to be a bidder to attend this exciting event. If cars are not your thing than i recommend going to Sun Fest which is Florida's largest waterfront music festival. When it comes to these events though, make sure that you research the specific dates that the activities you want to attend will take place on.

Strategy:

To get to West Palm I recommend flying into PBI, or West Palm Beach International Airport. However, if the prices are to high I suggest trying Melbourne International Airport, or Fort Lauderdale International Airport as a price saving alternative.

Hotel:

I would highly suggest that you wait and book your hotel on a website that provides last minute deals such as hotwire.com this allows you to make the most of your money, and you can usually find a hotel that is normally out of your price range, at a bargain basement rate.

As always i hope this helps you on your road to casual travel. My next post will be about my trip to Washington D.C.