Top 5 ways to unwind in the Sunshine State
Whilst many holidays to Florida consist of adrenaline pumping adventures, there are plenty of ways to switch-off, unwind and relax. From massages on the beach, to floating down a real lazy river, here is VISIT FLORIDA’s top five ways to de-stress:
Tiki Beach massage on Anna Maria Island
White sand, clear blue water and the sound of crashing waves, set the scene for a relaxing aromatherapy massage with Sea-renity Spa, on Anna Maria Island. Just head for the tiki hut on Bradenton Beach for a private or couples’ massage. Massage lessons are also available. Top tip – book for sunset!
Float along a real lazy river in Marion County
Let your troubles float away on Rainbow River, located just an hour and a half drive east of Orlando. Rent a “tube” from Rainbow River State Park to begin your two-hour float along the clear spring-fed river, spotting wildlife along the way. A convenient tram service will then take you and your tube back to where you started.
Make s’mores around a firepit on Clearwater Beach
Spend an evening on the beach, around a cosy firepit at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. Collect your DIY s’mores kit from the hotel and head for the beach, to enjoy sunset, food and beverage service, and the USA‘s most popular fireside sticky treat, s’mores – marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between a biscuit (basically, a melted Wagonwheel).
Beach yoga in Fort Lauderdale
Start your day the right way at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, with a sunrise yoga flow class on the beach. The ultra-chic hotel offers beachside yoga four times a week and provides yoga mats, towels and refreshments. The hotel offers complimentary fitness classes for all hotel guests.
Evening paddle tours in the Keys
See the Florida Keys in a whole new light on a night-time eco tour with Aquaholic Adventures. Kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards are fitted with LED lights, helping you see through the water, as you gently paddle through the mangroves in search of birds and sea life. Sunset tours are also available.
Away from the big cities, namely Miami and Orlando, life’s a lot slower than in many other states anyway. I think the snowbirds flying down for warmth in winter and all those retirees put a brake on things.
Though, having said that, there’s some nice ideas. Not sure that you have to go all the way to the Sunshine State to melt some Wagoneheels. Might give that a try here by the fire in Bedfordshire.
I’ve always liked the idea of yoga. I get all the stuff about relaxation and a higher state of mind etc etc etc.
My mind gets it but my body does not. My physio says that I am the stiffest and least flexible patient she’s treated in her four decades of practice.
I have given yoga a try and my body just makes sounds like an iceberg breaking up.
Even if I was on a sub-tropical beach in Fort Lauderdale I expect that I would still be as stiff as a board.
So, have you got a sixth activity that I could substitute in please?
From the Tiki Beach massage picture it looks like a couples massage.
Putting two and two together it would be great if couples learnt how to massage each other. You’re not on holiday on the island all of the time.
My partner’s job involves a lot of driving and his shoulders and are often in a bad way. Learning how to relieve that stress would be great.
In return he could sort out my feet. My job involves standing all day and my feet are in agony most nights.
I’m really getting into the idea of slow travel. I used to like road trips but you are just going too fast to get a feel for a place. So, I’m quite interested in the idea of hiring a tube to float down the Rainbow River for a couple of hours. Though the one thing I would say is that it is always worth reading up on the flora and fauna that you are likely to see. Ten minutes research nearly always makes a trip more worthwhile,
Love the ways to pump up adventures while visiting in Florida. Among all the given ideas, I love the number two because it really makes us feel relaxed and concentrate. I am fond of floating in a lazy river. Thank you so much Paul for sharing your ideas.
Friends have tried to sell Bikram “Hot” yoga to me. If I’m going to do hot yoga I want to do it on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, far more hygienic than suffering with a load of sweaty people in an overheated gym. If we’re going to it then let’s do it naturally, al fresco
As far as I’m concerned you can’t have too much relaxation when you’re on vacation so I’m all for unwinding in the Sunshine State. For 48 weeks of the year most of us slave away over a hot computer so I reckon that we deserve a break. I’d give all of these a go.
Whenever I hear someone mention Florida, the thoughts of beach and surfing instantly pops up into my head. Me and my friends spent a lot of days having a good time around Florida and I am sure that anyone who visited before also had amazing experiences here. Aside from going to beaches, do not forget to spend a day or two in Kennedy Space Centre or Universal Studios and grab something to eat from food trucks around. Kids will surely enjoy their trip to the sunshine state.