From Florida's "Space Coast" to the Gulf of Mexico, vacationers will find a little bit of everything their hearts desire: exclusive shopping, world class golfing, bustling beaches and warm ocean breezes, to name a few.

Along the west coast lies the Tampa Bay area, where residents and guests alike, it seems, are required to be outdoors. Tampa was recently named the fifth best outdoor city by Forbes, thanks to its clean air, vast parks and perpetually sunny weather.

Sanibel Island's beaches are well known for their unspoiled beauty, tranquility and colorful seashells deposited daily by Gulf waters. Visitors to Sanibel are more apt to sunbathe, take a sunset stroll along the sugary sands - or perform the famous shell-hunting ritual that has come to be known the "Sanibel Stoop."

Between the do-everything city of Fort Lauderdale and exclusive Palm Beach, lies culturally diverse Delray Beach, where vacationers can follow a day at the beach or tennis center with a night downtown among the galleries, restaurants and shows.

Farther south, sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Gulf, sits incomparable Key West. In the Keys, scuba divers, eccentric artists, anglers and partygoers all peacefully coexist, and it appears as if just about all of them gather nightly to view the magnificent sunsets. Although the Keys reside in the continental United States' southernmost region, ocean breezes keep temperatures pleasant, enticing more than 1 million visitors each year to come and join the fun.

Eat...

Mel's Hot Dogs (Tampa). Sometimes you just want a good dog. Mel's offers up all-beef dogs on poppy seed buns - and an extensive menu of fixings.

Seaside Grill (Palm Coast). Whether you stay at the luxurious Ginn Hammock Beach or not, the Seaside Grill is worth the drive for a romantic dinner. This elegant restaurant features wall-to-wall windows for enjoying both golf course and Atlantic Ocean views.

Play... Play 18. There's no shortage of golf courses in Florida - or warm-weather days in which to enjoy them.

View a shuttle launch (Cape Canaveral). Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex gives you the chance to experience a dramatic shuttle or rocket launch firsthand. Can't match your vacation with a launch? Purchase tickets for a KSC tour (open daily, but reservations recommended).

Go "shelling" in Sanibel. Because of Sanibel Island's unique position, it catches a bevy of colorful seashells whisked in by the Gulf of Mexico. Join the hunters young and old who perform what has come to be known as the "Sanibel Stoop."

Do it all at Busch Gardens (Tampa). Orlando may be the theme park capital of the world, but Tampa has Busch Gardens - a parked designed to thrill animal watchers and roller coaster junkies alike.

Explore...

The Museum of Science and Industry (Tampa). Here visitors don't just learn about science, they become a part of it, experiencing hurricane-force winds, zero gravity and more.

Canaveral National Seashore. Explore 24 miles of unspoiled beauty on this barrier island along the Space Coast. Fishing, hiking, camping, surfing and sunbathing are just a few of the things visitors to the seashore do daily.

Shop...

Fast Buck Freddie's (Key West). Some towns may consider Macy's or Sears or JCPenney the main department store. In the Keys, it's Freddie's, which offers many of the items you would expect at the big-name stores at prices everyone can afford.

House of Vintage (Delray Beach). Tired of the same old touristy fare in shopping malls and strips? Then this fully restored 1920s-era house in downtown Delray Beach might be the place for you. Here you'll find a dizzying array of vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories - not to mention some good old-fashioned sweets from the bakery in the kitchen.

This is provided for informational purposes only. Endless Vacation Rentals does not endorse any of the resort activities, guides, vendors or service providers described. It is the individual’s responsibility to investigate the safety and suitability of any activity, and the credentials and fitness of any guide, vendor or service provider. Endless Vacation Rentals expressly denies any liability for engaging in any activity, and for using any guide, vendor or services provider, that may be mentioned or described in any Endless Vacation Rentals advertisement or publication. Additional fees and restrictions may apply to any activity or service.