Your Long Stay Guide to Florida
Make More of Your Stay in Florida
When you stay in Florida for a month or longer, you have the opportunity to experience far more than the usual holiday highlights. Instead of rushing from one attraction to the next, a longer stay gives you time to settle into the Florida lifestyle — while also using your base on Isla Del Sol as the starting point for exploring everything the state has to offer.
Our location in St Petersburg, on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, is particularly well suited to a longer Florida vacation. You can enjoy the sunshine, beaches, restaurants, cycling and relaxed lifestyle of the Tampa Bay area, while having easy access to some wonderful destinations further afield.
Whether you are planning a Florida summer stay, a snowbird winter escape, an extended vacation or simply want to spend a month enjoying the best of Florida, here are some ideas for making the most of your time.
Explore Florida Beyond St Petersburg
One of the great advantages of a longer stay is that you don't have to choose between the Gulf Coast and Florida's other destinations. Several fantastic trips are within easy reach by car, making Isla Del Sol an excellent base for exploring.
The Florida East Coast
Cross Florida and discover a completely different side of the state. The Atlantic Coast has its own character, with long sandy beaches, historic towns, waterfront restaurants and lively coastal communities.
A few nights on the east coast can make a wonderful change of scene during a longer stay, particularly if you want to combine your relaxing Gulf Coast lifestyle with some sightseeing and exploration.
St Augustine
For history and character, St Augustine is one of Florida's most rewarding destinations.
Founded in 1565, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the continental United States. Its historic streets, Spanish architecture, waterfront setting, restaurants and fascinating history make it ideal for a two- or three-night mini break.
Spend time exploring the historic district, visit the Castillo de San Marcos and enjoy an evening in the atmospheric old town before returning to the Gulf Coast.
Orlando, the Space Coast & Daytona
A longer stay also gives you plenty of time to explore Central Florida and the Space Coast, with Orlando, Kennedy Space Center and Daytona Beach all making excellent additions to your itinerary.
Orlando
For many visitors, Orlando is an obvious choice for a few days away. The world-famous theme parks and attractions are the headline draw, but there is much more to Orlando than Disney and Universal.
Enjoy the restaurants, shopping and entertainment, explore some of the city's beautiful lakes and neighbourhoods, or simply spend a couple of days enjoying the excitement of one of Florida's most popular destinations.
For families and couples alike, Orlando can easily be combined with other attractions on Florida's east coast, making it particularly convenient during a longer Florida vacation.
Kennedy Space Center
A visit to the Kennedy Space Center is one of the most memorable experiences you can add to a Florida road trip.
Located on Florida's Space Coast, the centre offers a fascinating insight into America's space programme, with historic spacecraft, launch facilities and exhibitions celebrating NASA's extraordinary achievements.
Even if you are not normally a space enthusiast, it is an impressive and highly recommended day trip — and something quite different from the beaches and attractions of the Gulf Coast.
Daytona Beach
Continue along the Atlantic coast to Daytona Beach, famous for its enormous sandy beach and its place in American motorsport history.
Visit the iconic Daytona International Speedway, enjoy the long oceanfront beach and boardwalk, or simply stop for lunch and take in the atmosphere of this classic Florida beach town.
Daytona works particularly well as part of a wider east-coast road trip, perhaps combining it with Kennedy Space Center and St Augustine before returning to St Petersburg.
Miami
For a taste of the energy and glamour of South Florida, Miami makes a great longer weekend or short break.
Explore Miami Beach, South Beach and Ocean Drive, enjoy the city's restaurants and nightlife, or discover the different neighbourhoods that give Miami its distinctive character.
A longer stay in Florida also means you can visit Miami without having to spend your entire holiday there. Enjoy a few days in the city and then return to the more relaxed pace of St Petersburg and the Gulf Coast
The Florida Keys
If you have several days available, consider heading south to the Florida Keys.
The journey along the Overseas Highway is part of the experience, taking you through a chain of tropical islands surrounded by turquoise water.
You can make the trip as relaxed or adventurous as you like, stopping at different Keys along the way before reaching Key West. Stay for a couple of nights, enjoy the waterfront, explore the colourful streets and watch the famous Key West sunset.
For longer-stay guests, the Keys can be a particularly memorable addition to a Florida winter vacation.
Cruise from Port Canaveral
Port Canaveral, on Florida's east coast, is one of the state's major cruise ports. It offers a wide choice of itineraries, including shorter cruises to destinations in the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
For guests staying for several weeks, a short cruise can be a fantastic way to add another dimension to your Florida holiday.
Cruise from Tampa
Even better, Tampa cruise port is close to home - about 40 minutes.
A short cruise from Tampa can be incorporated into a longer stay without the need for a long journey to your departure port. Depending on the cruise schedule, you can enjoy a few days at sea and in the Caribbean before returning to St Petersburg and continuing your Florida vacation.
Short Cruises from Florida
A longer stay also gives you another option that isn't possible on a traditional one- or two-week holiday — taking a short cruise.
Florida is one of the world's great cruising destinations, and you can consider adding a three-, four- or five-night cruise to your stay.
And if you’re happy to stay in the Isla area for your extended stay there’s plenty of things to do right on your doorstep