Sometimes you can become so overwhelmed with the range of things you can see and do in Florida it is easy to overlook some of the more laid back places you can visit.

For example you have so many theme parks and major zoos to see, you might miss out on a fully fledged petting zoo that the kids will love. The Green Meadows Petting Farm is what we’re talking about here, and you’ll find it in Kissimmee. Not only is it a more relaxed place than many of the high octane days out you will find in Florida, it also gives the kids an opportunity to get closer to the animals than they would be able to elsewhere.

Of course we’re not talking about the likes of tigers and crocodiles here. But the friendly inhabitants are ideal for giving your kids a great day out – and you too, of course.

If you are wondering what you can see here, you will be pleased at the wide range of animals that call this petting farm home. All the usual farm animals are here and you can enjoy some interactive experiences as well. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to milk a cow, this is your chance!

There are hundreds of animals here and not all of them will be the familiar kind you would expect to find on a farm either. For example you can meet a genuine water buffalo, as well as getting to know some turkeys. There are countless experiences and delights to be had here, and you will be glad you took the time to enjoy them all.

It’s also a great place to go for a picnic lunch, because they provide you with all kinds of places to sit down and enjoy it. If the weather is good this is an ideal place to enjoy for the day, simply because it has so much there to offer you. Don’t delay in making the Green Meadows Petting Farm part of your holiday, thanks to the huge array of activities and animals that await you there.

You’ll probably have heard of Busch Gardens before, and you may know that it’s one of the biggest attractions Florida has to offer. But you may think it’s all about big rides and if this is the case it is worth delving into what it has to offer in a bit more detail.

You see, Busch Gardens is about far more than just rides. Of course these are extremely popular and for a lot of people they are one of the best highlights of the venue. But if you love animals and seeing them up close you will want to make the most of being able to see all the animals in the park.

There are several specific areas of the park that are devoted to animals. There are also several different ways you can interact with them. One of the biggest areas of Busch Gardens that is home to many different animals is the Serengeti Plain. The Serengeti Railway passes this area and it is one of the nicest ways to sit back and relax as you see more of the area. You can go back and explore it in other ways too of course; a Serengeti Safari is not to be missed but it has to be booked in advance. They are extremely popular as well so make sure you don’t leave it too late to reserve your spot.

In fact Busch Gardens gives you lots of opportunities to go that bit further with your animal experiences. If you want to be a keeper for the day you can do just that if you wish. Again you should book in advance and decide which of the experiences you want to have. The Elephant Keeper Experience is one of the most notable interactions you can have at the park – it will certainly give you plenty of memories to go home with!

So you can see that while there are plenty of fast and furious rides at Busch Gardens, you will see a lot more than that if you explore the entire venue. Don’t miss out on some of the best animals in various parts of this superb place.

There are other locations around the world that have Walt Disney stamped all over them. But Walt Disney World in Florida is the most amazing one of all, and to call it a theme park is to vastly underestimate what there is to do here.

The fact that the venue has been called the post card, with Disneyland acting as the stamp size wise, should give you an idea of what to expect. This place is truly massive and one day simply is not enough to see it all – or even a fraction of it.

For starters you have a total of four theme parks to visit. There is the famous Magic Kingdom to begin with, and you can also take in the Epcot Center while you are there. Elsewhere you will also find Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This gives you four times the fun you will find anywhere else, and of course each dedicated park is absolutely massive in itself.

When you add two water parks to this as well, you can see that it is truly amazing. You can spend a week here easily without seeing any more of Florida at all, which is why so many people tend to spend two weeks in Florida so they can see the best of it all.

The Magic Kingdom alone covers more than a hundred acres, giving you plenty to explore in this most famous of locations in Walt Disney World. If you have ever heard about Walt Disney World you will only have heard about a fraction of what it has to offer. With new attractions coming up all the time you will know just how good it can be to visit it, even if you have been at some point in the past as well.

The key to getting the most out of this amazing place is to make sure you have enough time to explore it all. A week simply isn’t long enough to see the best of Walt Disney World and the rest of Florida as well, so treat yourself to two if you can.

Some places in Florida are always talked about – purely because they are as spectacular as they sound. But it’s not all about theme parks and other similar places. Sometimes you can get an even more amazing experience in Florida by heading somewhere that doesn’t always come to mind initially.

Sarasota is one such place. It probably isn’t the first location you think of in Florida, but you’ve no doubt heard of it. In a few moments you will know a bit more about it and be considering paying a visit too.

You will have several beaches here to think about and consider spending your holiday at. With such names as Siesta Key, Lido Key and Venice Beach you can see you really are spoilt for choice here. In fact there is every chance you could explore more than one if you are staying in Florida for a couple of weeks. Why limit yourself to just one part of Sarasota when you can see more of it?

You can’t really go wrong with Siesta Key since it made the number two spot in the best beaches across the entire globe in 2010. If you don’t like this beach you will only have one other in the world that apparently betters it! It is large and very appealing, and it goes on for miles too. This means you shouldn’t have too many problems staking out your own spot to enjoy while you are there.

Venice Beach is another popular spot for holidaymakers to head for. Not only do you have a wonderful beach to explore but you also have Venice itself. It might be far from the Venice in Italy, but it also has a character completely of itself and is very enticing. This is a welcoming location to spend a few days; don’t be surprised if you end up wanting to stay longer because it is very hard to leave. Some people never do – they set up businesses here and welcome others instead.

In short, Sarasota is a delightful part of Florida that sometimes doesn’t get the attention it deserves. But perhaps that is a good thing in a way – it can pay to keep some places to yourself.

Sometimes it can be hard to know where to take the kids to keep them entertained while you are on holiday. However you don’t tend to get this problem when you head out to Florida on holiday.

One typical example of somewhere the kids will love (not to mention the adults) is Monkey Jungle. Monkeys are always great fun to watch but the Monkey Jungle isn’t like your average zoo. Instead it has an altogether different way of showing you how monkeys live.

You won’t find any cages here, except for the ones you will be standing in. The idea is that the monkeys are all allowed to run and roam completely free. Their home is a thirty acre reserve that visitors are allowed to come and see. But you will be allowed only in certain areas – the monkeys really do rule in the Monkey Jungle.

When you first enter the jungle you will see that you can explore it in great detail. There are walkways and paths to follow that take you in among the home of the monkeys that can be found here. It really does make you feel like the caged one, with the monkeys able to love and live in their ample surroundings in a way that just wouldn’t be possible in a zoo.

There is an Amazonian rainforest area, not to mention a swimming pool where the monkeys dive in to look for treats. This is completely unlike any other place you will have seen before, and it is a must see destination for anyone on holiday in Florida. Even if you don’t have any kids to keep quiet you should still pay it a visit.

Monkey Jungle can be found in Miami, Florida. If you are staying anywhere nearby you should definitely go and see it as it is open every day throughout the entire year. This is one attraction that has to be seen in person for you to really appreciate how good it is. The monkeys that call the Monkey Jungle home really do love it – and so will you.

Most people immediately think of theme parks and other similar attractions when they think of Florida. But if the truth be told there is plenty more to see and do in the area than that.

One of the most exciting and nerve wracking things you can do in Florida is to take your place on a ghost tour. You would be surprised at just how many of these there are in Florida today, from the Keys right up to the north of the area. No matter where you choose to stay, you won’t be far from some nerve jangling sights and stories.

The St Augustine Ghost Tour is a classic example. Known widely as the Ghosts and Gravestones tour, this is not for the faint hearted. The Huguenot Cemetery, the grounds of the lighthouse in St Augustine and much more besides are included on the tour. You can even spend a few hours during the night at the Old Jail in St Augustine, if you aren’t too scared to do so!

Elsewhere you can try the Kissimmee Ghost Tour to delve back into the haunted history of this part of Florida. This is a highly rated walking tour that lots of people have enjoyed. There is never any guarantee that you will see a ghost of course, but you just never know.

You won’t feel left out if you are staying down in Key West either. There are ghost tours taking place on a regular basis down here, and they go at 8pm and 9pm every night. Their website shows various photos that have been taken on the tour and apparently paranormal sightings occur quite frequently by people who are brave enough to take a place on the walk.

As you can see there are any number of ghost tours of various types in various locations in Florida. The only question is whether you will join the ranks of those people who have already been brave enough to give it a try. It will certainly make a memorable addition to any holiday based in Florida.

It may sound like a character from a children’s television programme but in fact a better question would be WHERE is Weeky Wachee. And the answer would be in Florida.

Weeki Wachee is perhaps the world’s most innovatively named water park, and it has lots to offer for all those looking for an active and exciting time in Florida. This is a state park and there are countless different activities and delights to look forward to here.

For example there is the Weeki Wachee River boat cruise to try out. The covered river boat is lovely to ride and it keeps some of the sun off as well. The people who steer the boats are very experienced at knowing the ins and outs of their surroundings so you will learn a lot from the whole experience as well.

But what does the rest of the water park have to offer you?

There are animal shows you can watch as well while you are there, which give you a better insight into many of the animals that live in the Florida area. As such the park is an educational day out as well as a fun one. It is certainly a good option for the whole family to go to if you are all staying in the Florida area for your holiday.

Buccaneer Bay is a real highlight of your time at the Weeki Wachee park too. Here you’ll find all kinds of water based rides to try out. You might be brave enough to try the Pirate’s Plunge, which has a steep drop followed by a long flat finish to slow you down! There is also the Cannonball, which is a similar ride that starts you off in the pitch black before shooting you out into the fresh air. Do you have the nerve for it?

As you can see there are some stunning rides and activities all packed into the one water park. If you want to have a fun day out with lots to see and do, you’ll be well advised to try out the Weeki Wachee water park.