The great outdoors is likely to feature prominently in any holiday to Fort Walton Beach. There are two public golf courses in Fort Walton Beach, The Oaks and The Pines, while championship courses such as the one at Regatta Bay are within easy reach. Sea anglers have the opportunity for some fine shore or boat fishing, hunting down the big game fish which populate the waters off the Florida coast. The more adventurous may wish to go surfing - or even take instruction and perform a parachute jump!

The Florida Panhandle is known for its quaint beach towns and interesting attractions, many of which are money-saving and family friendly. Come to the Florida Panhandle and relax on glorious beaches, shop to your heart’s content and dance the night away. Santa Rosa Island is great for kids and offers a wide array of both beach-based and water-based activities. Families will enjoy a day away to tour the 150-year-old Pensacola Lighthouse. The Florida Panhandle offers exciting nightlife. Panama City, Destin and Pensacola all have numerous bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes. Panama City is home to Club La Vela, the largest nightclub in the U.S. The Florida Panhandle is a shopaholic’s dream. It offers speciality stores, antique stores and shopping malls. For those renting a home or apartment, a trip to Joe Patti’s seafood market in Pensacola is a must. The market specializes in fine wine and cheese, and beautifully presented handmade chocolates to take home to friends and relatives as gifts. Mon Père et Moi in Tallahassee is also worth a visit.

With an average of 320 days of Florida sunshine each year – and 27 miles of sugar-white sands bordering the clear, emerald green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge – Panama City Beach is a favourite of travellers seeking an affordable beach holiday with year round offerings. The region also features exciting on- and off-shore attractions, including St. Andrews Park and Pier Park, that offer something special to adrenaline-seekers, eco-tourists, families and couples alike.

Panama City is a four-season paradise for water-sports enthusiasts. Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and kiteboarding are popular activities on the crystal blue waters of St. Andrews Bay. Numerous charters offer inshore and offshore fishing, scuba and snorkeling excursions. Guided day trips are available for dolphin-watching or you can go shelling on uninhabited Shell Island. Enjoy water views and fresh, locally caught seafood at popular restaurants like Gene's Oyster Bar, a local landmark.

“Life’s a Beach” all right on Pensacola Beach where building sandcastles, body surfing and beachcombing are popular pastimes. Away from the sands, there are several don’t miss sights for the entire family, including the National Aviation Museum, which features 150 vintage aircraft, flight simulators and an IMAX Theatre, Fort Pickens, an historic military fort built in 1829, and the Pensacola Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Gulf Coast and also the tallest, standing 151 feet tall on a 40 foot bluff. To immerse yourself in the history of Pensacola, stroll the historic village, a pedestrian-friendly area with furnished historic homes, unique museums and the Colonial Archeological Trail. For the white dimpled ball set, try teeing up at Lost Key Golf Club, a target golf set up designed by Arnold Palmer and Marcus Pointe Golf club, an Earl Stone design. Don’t forget, there’s also great deep-sea fishing and other water activities like sailing, kayaking, diving and snorkelling to be actively pursued on Pensacola Beach.

If you're looking for some great Florida beaches but aren't necessarily interested in a mega-resort or theme park atmosphere, Pensacola might just be the place for your perfect weekend. Home to Gulf Islands National Seashore, the city offers some of the best fishing and boating in the area. Inland, canoeing enthusiasts won't want to miss the beauty of the Blackwater River. Closer to town, the city has a proud military heritage, which can be seen at attractions like the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

A larger than life nickel coin greets drivers entering Sudbury, one of Canada's major iron ore production centers. With its large Francophone population, Sudbury is home to various French cultural institutions, theaters, festivals and galleries. The city also boasts numerous art galleries, an interactive science museum and the Bridge of Nations, a stretch of road featuring 72 flags representing the demographic diversity of the community.

Homer is a nature lover's nirvana where common sights can include moose grazing, a black bear crossing the road or porpoises playing in the surf. The charming seaside city, overlooking Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, can be the starting point for a multitude of exciting adventures, including glacier skiing and viewing and guided kayak tours. Naturally splendid Kachemak State Park offers even more outdoor fun, with miles of excellent back-country hiking trails. Explore nearby Halibut Cove, a unique fishing and artists' enclave where the roads are made of water. Or head to downtown Homer to sample delicious seafood, art galleries, museums and shops that sell locally made crafts. A trip to Homer would not be complete without casting a rod for salmon or halibut, the area's major catches. Head to the Homer Spit and try your luck from the shore, or join a chartered fishing boat excursion. No matter which activities you choose, a weekend in Homer is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

If you want to step off a plane and be at a mega resort 15 minutes later, Jericoacoara probably isn’t for you. But if you want an unspoiled beach town, and don’t mind bouncing along rough dirt roads for an hour to get there, you might just think it’s paradise. Kitesurfing, windsurfing, Capoeira, and, of course, just lying on the beach are popular activities.