Orlando Villas · Florida Dream Villa
Orlando Park Tickets · Florida Car Hire · US Domestic Car Rental · Florida Car Rental · Enhanced Roadside Assistance
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: what is there to do for teens/ older children on the gulf coast

  1. #1
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Posts
    4,430

    what is there to do for teens/ older children on the gulf coast

    the gulf coast is a totally new area to us and i must admit i'm a little afraid that i will book a villa for christmas and there might not be enough for the children to keep them occupied and happy

    we usually stay in the orlando area and we pretty much have a mix of days, we're not massive theme park addicts so we will do the odd half day at a theme park, the kids like to do a little shopping and they do enjoy a walk around celebration and the odd visit to a state park

    my daughter is at her happiest around animals and wildlife/ nature and my son prefers the shops

    at the moment we are looking at rotunda and we have a villa in mind but apart from the beach and the park i'm a little worried that there might just not be enough for the kids to keep them occupied and happy, we live minutes from a beach so the beach isn't a massive draw for the kids even if it is a gorgeous white sandy one

    any thoughts/ ideas on days out things to do in this area would be greatly appreciated

    thanks in advance Marie


  2. #2
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    2,468
    There are all sorts of things on the Gulf coast and from Rotonda West, both Sarasota and Fort Myers are an easy drive.

    At Christmas in Fort Myers the Edison & Ford Estates are decorated with Christmas lights etc.
    Golf springs to mind, Kayaking through the backwaters, tennis, ten pin bowling.
    Renting a boat for a day or half day, a different perspective out on the water.
    The Stone crabs the local baseball team play all year at Charlotte stadium very close by.
    There is also bull riding opposite but not always on.

    At Punta Gorda you can take in a harbour cruise either an afternoon or the sunset cruise.
    There is also the walking tour of the historic district with shops etc.
    There will be art shows on, music at Gilchrist Park in Punta Gorda.
    Dinner on Armand Circle and there are lots of shops to wander around.
    Historic Dearborne St in Englewood is very lively on a Friday evening and yes more little shops and galleries.

    Myakka State park is about an hour and will have wildlife including the resident Alligator.

    If staying in Rotonda as there is lots of wildlife, from Racooons, Alligators in the Rotonda river, birds, squirrels and possibly the odd Bobcat or too.
    At Tampa which is not too far there is the big cat sanctuary although you may have done this.

    Hope this helps.

    Lynne


  3. #3
    Florida Newbie Lynn2556's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Brandon suffolk
    Posts
    22

    what is there to do for teens/ older children on the gulf coast

    Busch gardens at tampa is a great place for teens and new years eve celebrations where great


  4. #4
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Posts
    9,920
    Miy
    I know you are asking about Gulf Coast but are you staying on Orlando at all this time? Just wondered because there a couple of trips youor children may enjooy in the Orlando area for a few hours. Both involve the Disney hotels one of them is to go to the Animal Kingdom lodge hotel and have a wander around the savannahs they have there. You can eat at the restaurant or just watch the animals for a while , there are giraffes, ebras, buffalo and a whole host of others, the guides are very knowledgeable about the animals etc.
    The other is to take a bit of time (we usually start at the (Boardwalk hotel and wander round to the others around the lake) and look at the gingerbread and chocolate creations.
    Babblin Boo


  5. #5
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Posts
    9,920
    Miy
    I know you are asking about Gulf Coast but are you staying on Orlando at all this time? Just wondered because there a couple of trips youor children may enjooy in the Orlando area for a few hours. Both involve the Disney hotels one of them is to go to the Animal Kingdom lodge hotel and have a wander around the savannahs they have there. You can eat at the restaurant or just watch the animals for a while , there are giraffes, ebras, buffalo and a whole host of others, the guides are very knowledgeable about the animals etc.
    The other is to take a bit of time (we usually start at the (Boardwalk hotel and wander round to the others around the lake) and look at the gingerbread and chocolate creations.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 3gingerbreadside.jpg   6carousel.jpg   Chocolatedream.jpg   gingerbreadshop.jpg  
    Babblin Boo


  6. #6
    Florida Chatterbox
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    419
    Busch Gardens has animals plus rides, including the very amusing orangutans. Great park as good mixture of rides but plenty of other attractions too - also there's a water park across the road so great way to cool off. We enjoy fishing on the gulf coast and its easy to arrange a group trip, doesn't have to be out at sea - can be backwater so no sickness and not far to go. you're pretty much guaranteed to see plenty of fish, birds, dolphins and possibly 'gators. my kids really enjoyed it as teens. you could also go on the catamaran trip down to the Keys and stay overnight, that's popular -with several different pickups including Fort Myers and Naples. There are more malls springing up - look up Simon's malls - they own/run them - think we visited Coconut Point and another near the Naples Zoo - all the usual stores. If they want Abercrombie it's worth checking their site first.


  7. #7
    Florida Expert Mo Green's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Dorset, England
    Posts
    1,831
    For a really relaxing Christmas Holiday the Florida Gulf Coast is hard to beat. We stayed in our villa last Christmas. The weather was beautiful and warm enough for a swim before lunch on Christmas Day. As the sun set we walked along a deserted beach watching dolphins swimming close to the beach.

    As well as the suggestions from Lynne you could visit Manatee Park in Fort Myers where dozens of Manatees swim past to enjoy the warm water from the power station. From Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda it is possible to take a trip to the inland waterways after dark to see the decorated homes and boats of some of the larger properties. There are large organised tours but it is not much more expensive to hire a boat just for the family.

    For shopping there is a large mall 20 minutes away at Port Charlotte which also has large Best Buys, Target and Wal-Mart stores. Within an hour there are also two huge designer outlet malls within an hours drive with Ralph Lauren, Reebok and many other brands.

    Even the most ‘sophisticated’ teenagers have been known to enjoy searching for fossilised sharks teeth on the local beaches. We even know of one who got up early the morning after a storm so he could be first to see what the storm had washed up!
    Maureen Green


  8. #8
    Gold 5 Star Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    2,468
    Quote Originally Posted by Mo Green View Post
    Even the most ‘sophisticated’ teenagers have been known to enjoy searching for fossilised sharks teeth on the local beaches. We even know of one who got up early the morning after a storm so he could be first to see what the storm had washed up!
    And even a "sophisticated" older lady has been known to do this.


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •