Sunday, April 14, 2013

Enjoy Your Retirement in Florida as a Resident Tourist

By Jony Mozen


Even if you were born and raised in Florida you're still a tourist. Why? Because just like the 23.4 million visitors that came to Florida in the first quarter of 2012 there's a lot to see and do. Direct travel-related employment in Florida rose, adding 19,200 jobs over the past year, because there's a lot to see and do. "On the heels of a record year for the Florida tourism industry in 2011, it's encouraging to see the trend of more visitors and more jobs extending into 2012," Gov. Rick Scott said in a press release. Florida experienced a 2.7 percent increase in Canadian visitors at 1.4 million and a 13 percent increase in overseas visitors with 2.4 million, because there's a lot to see and do. Florida's 14 major airports had a 2.5 percent increase in total enplanements. Recreation taxable sales for Florida rose 8.7 percent during the first two months of 2012. The average daily room rate rose 5.7 percent and the occupancy rate for Florida hotels increased 2.7 percentage points. Why? Because there's a lot to see and do in Florida. You get the idea. There are so many attractions, activities, and places of interest that you'll feel like a tourist on your first visit.

Take Boynton Beach in Southeast Florida for example. Renaissance Commons, adjacent to the Boynton Beach Mall, creates a vibrant streetscape. The welcoming design, stunning architecture and inviting scenery all lend to the mixed urbanism of shopping, dining and dwelling. You can relax in true Florida style with open-air dining, music and fun at one of the traditional pier restaurants overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. While still continuing to preserve its many natural assets, such as lush orange groves, deep-sea fishing, 27 parks, and white-sand beaches, Boynton Beach is also home to fabulous resort-style retirement and all-age family communities as well as two beautiful nature centers - Green Cay and Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge.

What does this have to do with Florida retirement? Well, maybe 85+ million people know something that you don't - that there's a lot to see and do in South Florida! For example, here are a few suggestions for some exciting adventures that await you when you move here. Look these up online: Caribbean Gardens, Edison-Ford Winter Estates, Flamingo Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, The Shell Factory, Sunken Gardens, The Florida Aquarium, Walt Disney World, Epcot, The Animal Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld Orlando, The Holy Land Experience (Orlando), Busch Gardens Tampa, Weeki Wachee Springs, Silver Springs Nature Park (Ocala, Fairchild Tropical Garden, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Flamingo Botanical Gardens and Wildlife Sanctuary, Florida Everglades, Parrot Jungle & Gardens, Everglades National Park, Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, The Deerfield Beach Arboretum, International Orchid Center, Miami Seaquarium, International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, Key Largo Undersea Park, Key West Aquarium, Molasses Reef, Quiet Waters Park, John Prince Park, Butterfly World, Lion Country Safari, Zoo Miami, Monkey Jungle, Palm Beach Zoo and others. Nature lovers will be awed by the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, near Boynton Beach. It's a great place to see all kinds of birds and wildlife. Dedicated to protecting the last remaining portion of the unique Northern Everglades, this 147,392-acre refuge is the largest remnant of a cypress swamp in Palm Beach County. Take the boardwalk through the cypress swamp and you may see Blue or White Herons, Marsh Hens, Grebes, Snail Kites, Wood Storks, Roseated Spoonbills, Loggerhead Shrike, Cedar Waxwing, Painted Buntings and 250 other varieties. You may also see a few alligators on the nature trail, as well as turtles, opossum, raccoons and an occasional Florida Bobcat and River Otter.

Boca Raton's Mizner Park and adjacent Royal Palm Place feature beautifully landscaped town-gathering places and one of South Florida's finest cultural attractions - the Boca Museum of Art. Nearby Royal Palm Place is an upscale blend of boutique shops and salons enhanced by public art. History comes alive at the Historical Society's railroad exhibit. Don't miss the culinary delights present by celebrated chefs at the annual Boca Bacchanal winefest and auction. And golf lovers young and old will unite for the Allianz Championship, a Champions Tour event showcasing golfing legends. West on Glades Road, there's no shortage of great restaurants from your favorite nationally recognized to local favorites. East on Glades Road brings you to University Commons, the area's newest shopping and dining area. Find your favorites such as Nordstrom Rack and Whole Foods Market. Just off and north of Glades Road are the main campuses of Florida Atlantic University, a leading academic institution and a great venue for theatre, music and informative lectures.

Neighboring Boca Raton is one of the finest small cities in America. One of the attractions that make Boca Raton so much fun is Mizner Park. This grand open-air mall is a city icon that features entertainment, culture, dining, fabulous shopping, and the premiere site for people watching. This beautiful place to see and be seen has a park-like setting with glamorous Mizner-style architecture, beautiful landscaping and a casual chic ambience for shopping and luncheons during the day; the evenings turn Mizner Park into a romantic European boulevard of alluring, upscale sidewalk restaurants. The park is host to art festivals and concerts at its amphitheater throughout the year. Another great rainy day venue is Boca's Town Center. It's the area's most comprehensive shopping center with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue and scores of specialty shops. It also is ringed with great restaurants for a totally satisfying day of shopping and dining.

Want to get the most fun out of retirement? Move to South Florida where the climate, dining and shopping, cultural attractions, outdoor activities and beautiful beaches combine to offer a wonderful lifestyle with you in mind. Come join the fun.




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