what twin centre holidays can you go on that twins with Orlando?

[ssd]

and is there much to do at the Florida beach except melt?

We went to Fort Meyers, Estero beach and stayed at the Outrigger. It was the best choice as the hotel was on the beach-sugar sand, near Sanibel Island, only a few hrs drive across alligator alley to Miami and a few hours from Orlando (go via Tampa). The beaches at Lovers Key nearby are so beautiful you think you are hallucinating and the shacks there make the best shellfish chowder ever.

Hotel was near fabulous local art deco cinema, in a beach community so not too touristy with loads of stores, places to eat and places to visit nearby. We met loads of locals who used the hotel tiki bar as their 'local'.

Its a far less obvious second centre choice. I'd also consider the Georgia/Florida border resorts or the Florida panhandle. Avoid St Pete's/Clearwater unless you like being surrounded by thousands of other Brits and a lesser feeling of being in the 'real' USA.

ah thanks, this was exactly what I wanted to avoid, I love the USA and somehow feel I'd bump into my neighbours in Orlando (or similar)

We arranged car insurance to cover us out of state and drove into Georgia too. There are gorgeous beaches along the sea island coast and low country and along the state line, beautiful parks with jungly sub tropical foliage-spanish moss everywhere and swimming holes a plenty for the kids with swings and local kids to play with. Loved it.

Some people turn their noses up at the Florida/Alabama panhandle beaches- near Pensacola etc as the 'redneck riviera' but I really like them. Windswept sugar sand beaches with soft grasses and piney woods that you can walk through to get to the sea.

wow sounds lovely

how long were you there mignonette?

We spent 7 days in Orlando then went up to Georgia for 4 days then drove down to Fort Meyers for another ten days. Another trip took us to the Florida panhandle then along the Gulf coast to Louisiana via Alabama and Mississippi. We went to the Cajun parishes and stayed in towns like Beau Bridge then ended up in New Orleans.

How about a cruise to the Bahamas?