Gold Coast Holidays

The majority of a Gold Coast holiday is likely to be spent soaking in the sun and splashing about in the Atlantic Ocean. And while you can certainly spend all your time at the beach if you want to, there are other things to do in this part of Florida. There’s history and culture to discover in Palm Beach at the excellent Flagler Museum, or you can ogle some art at West Palm Beach’s Norton Art Museum. There are yet more museums in Fort Lauderdale – the NUSU Art Museum is particularly good – but the one thing you must do here is take a ride in a water taxi along its many canals.

Of course, you could always venture further afield during your Gold Coast holiday. Depending exactly where you’re staying, you could easily enjoy daytrips to the Everglades, the Florida Keys, the Kennedy Space Centre or even the theme parks in Orlando.

As you’d expect from somewhere with the word ‘coast’ in its name, this part of Florida is jam-packed with beaches. Miami’s infamous South Beach is a renowned party hotspot – also popular with the surfer crowd – but the city offers up plenty of other less raucous options, too. Sunny Isles Beach is a quiet spot ideal for families, while Crandon Park on Key Biscayne offers kiteboarding, stand-up paddle-boarding and kayaking.

Meanwhile, the promenade that runs parallel to Fort Lauderdale’s white-sand beach attracts runners, rollerbladers and cyclists, and the water here allows for heaps more activities. So if you’re eager to enjoy some watersports during your Gold Coast holiday, but you’re not too keen on Miami, it’s a top choice. Boating and fishing are both popular in Fort Lauderdale, while the three-tier reef system just offshore delights divers and snorkellers of all abilities. Finally, there are the golden, tree-lined stretches sandy dotted around the Palm Beaches, each of which has its own distinct personality.

The biggest city in Florida after Jacksonville, Miami’s a real Gold Coast holiday highlight. In fact, it’s the reason many people head to this part of the Sunshine State in the first place. Besides having a number of world-class beaches, it’s also got incredible nightlife, mouth-wateringly good food, and a first-rate arts scene.

Not only are there tonnes of museums, showcasing all kinds of artworks as well as innovations in science and technology, but there’s also the Design District in once-gritty Wynwood, where the streets are lined with galleries, studios spaces and striking murals. Then, of course, there’s the famous pastel-coloured Art Deco architecture in South Beach, which makes for some seriously good eye candy. Plus, there are heaps of parks and tropical gardens dotted around the city, where you can get back to nature and enjoy a range of outdoor activities

Although the weather can vary slightly from place to place, for the most part, Florida’s Gold Coast sees hot, humid summers and warm winters that are decidedly drier. So if you’re looking to escape the drizzly, grey days common in the UK from December to February, a Gold Coast holiday’s a great idea. During these months, you’ll enjoy daytime highs of around 25°C and lows of about 15°C. And while rain is possible, it’s pretty rare.

Summer, on the other hand, is another story. The wet season arrives on the Gold Coast in May and lasts until October, bringing with it sizzling temperatures and extreme mugginess. Average highs at this time of year are 30-32°C, with lows hovering around 25°C – and most days see heavy afternoon thunderstorms.