Fall is here and the Florida Gulf Coast is ready for you! It’s a beautiful time to vacation here in Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores. The Gulf of Mexico beaches are calling. Experience Florida in the fall and enjoy the best of the what the Gulf beaches and towns and have to offer. The first step is booking your Gulf Coast vacation rental. Then you can move on to exactly how you’re going to spend your hard-earned vacation time in the Sunshine State. Let us help you get started on the best ways to do that with these recommendations and suggestions.
1. Book your Gulf Coast vacation rental.
Your vacation starts here. Choose your personal oasis of comfort and customize your vacation by choosing the location, size, style and amenities that matter most to you and your family. Indian Rocks Beach rentals and Indian Shores Beach condos offer either Gulf of Mexico or Intracoastal Waterway views, so no matter which rental you choose, you’re close and convenient to the water on both sides of the island. Feel at ease knowing that your rental has enough bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone, and that you don’t have to give up privacy just because you’re on vacation. Of course you already know that a vacation rental saves you money by giving you more bang for your buck. So go ahead, and start looking at your rental options.
You also might want to read our previous post on 10 Things You Should Know About Your Vacation Rental for some additional insight and information. Of course, just let us know if we can help you along the way. That’s what we’re here for!
2. Download the Plumlee vacation app.
The Plumlee app is like having a personal concierge right in your pocket whenever you need one. From managing your vacation rental information to researching the best of what the Gulf Coast of Florida has to offer, you’ll find it all right on the app. Check out the local events, restaurant recommendations, things to do and more right on your phone. Enjoy the convenience of having the information you need and want 24/7, whenever you need it. We know you’ll love it and use it often. Go ahead and download it right now!
3. Research the area.
Any great vacation takes a little advance planning and research. Get to know the Gulf Coast of Florida better and then narrow down the things you and your family most want to do on this trip. Where do you want to go? How do you want to spend your time? What interests you most? Do you have any bucket list items you want to try on your vacation? Ask yourself these questions and write down the answers. Then start planning your time. Don’t worry, you don’t have to plan out every minute (this is a vacation, you know), but it will help to have an idea of what you want to do and how you want to spend your precious vacation time.
4. Get to know the Gulf Coast attractions.
Area attractions are often a big part of a family vacation. You’ll want to familiarize yourself and your family with all of the wonderful options that await you, and get an idea of your top priorities. Think about how much time you have to spend for these and then pencil them into your vacation days, so everyone knows what to expect.
Take caution not to plan too much in the time you have, you certainly don’t want to overplan your vacation and feel too rushed to fully enjoy the fun. Of course, you’ll never have enough time for all the things you want to do and the places you want to explore on this trip, so just know that you can always come back next year and continue your Gulf Coast adventures (see #10 on this list).
(IMG Source: Clearwater Marine Aquarium)
5. Buy the Tampa Bay CityPASS discounted ticket booklet.
Purchasing the Tampa Bay CityPASS is well worth the investment if you plan to visit some of the most popular Gulf Coast attractions during your vacation. You will save over 50% off the retail price of paying separately for 5 of the best attractions in the Tampa Bay/Clearwater area by opting to buy this bundled booklet of discounted tickets. The Tampa Bay CityPASS includes big attractions. Here’s where you’ll save (and skip the lines): Busch Gardens Tampa, the Florida Aquarium, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (home of Winter and Hope of Dolphin Tale movie fame), and an Option Ticket where you get to choose from admission to the Chihuly Collection and Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop or admission to the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) permanent exhibits, one standard IMAX® DOME Theatre film, one Saunders Planetarium show (based on availability) and Kids In Charge. Whew, that is a lot of savings right there!
6. Take advantage of the Plumlee Perks during your vacation.
Plumlee Perks give you a better Gulf Coast vacation experience than most vacation rental companies. We include a lot of free and discounted advantages by selecting Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty as your vacation rental company of choice. Free DVDs, free bikes to use, and free oversized parking areas are just the beginning. Be sure to check out the full list of Plumlee Perks and see what your best Gulf beach vacation includes.
7. Get your fill of sun, sugar sand, and the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico.
You’re coming here for the beaches, right? Right! Be sure to soak up all of the coastal beauty as often as you can. Autumn is a lovely time of year to be here with lower temps and less humidity along with all of the Florida fun and festivities that visitors, vacationers and residents enjoy all year long. Bask in the sunny days, cool evenings, unique beach vibe, and laid-back lifestyle that our Gulf Coast towns have to offer. Every one is a little different, so explore a few and see which one suits you best. We are a little biased toward Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores for their less busy and less commercialized beaches, towns and atmosphere, but we’ll let you be the judge.
8. Relax, unwind and enjoy the best of fall in Florida.
We are talking about vacation here, so make sure you allow enough time to relax, restore and rejuvenate yourself and your guests. Whatever you love to do, do it! Reignite your passions, try new things, go fishing, walk on the beach, catch a coastal sunset, or do whatever your heart desires. Whatever gives you peace, restores your sense of calm, sparks wonder, and allows you to feel joy—that’s what you want to focus on. Forget everything else for a while.
9. See the sights.
What do you love to do most with your free time? Go golfing. Fish from the pier. Explore a park or nature preserve. Watch the dolphins. Go snorkeling or scuba diving. Dine your way around town. Take a dinner or sightseeing cruise. Get out on the water. Visit a local festival or event. Drive the coastline. You won’t run out of beautiful things to see, do and explore during your time on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Rain or shine, there are always a lot of fun and family-friendly options. Seize the vacation day and make the most of each and every one.
10. Plan next year’s Florida Gulf Coast vacation now.
What do find to be most beautiful this time of year on the Gulf Coast of Florida? We’d love to know!
