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Which coast should you visit on your Florida vacation?

| July 11, 2010 2:00 PM

Should you visit the East Coast or West Coast when you make your way to the Sunshine State? That can be a tough decision. They both have everything a tourist could want - luxury accommodations, beautiful beaches, theme parks and great restaurants.

So what sets the two coasts apart? Culture!

If partying the night away till the crack of dawn is your idea of a good time, you definitely have an East Coast mentality. Florida vacations in both Miami and Key West offer plenty of opportunities for going out at night.

Miami has the world famous South Beach club district where people go to be seen and people watch. There's also nightlife in the downtown area. Club Space, in fact, is one of the most popular clubs in America. Among the A-list celebrities who are regularly seen in Miami, the Kardashian sisters, Nick Lachey, Fergie, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.

If clubbing isn't your thing, but you still like to go out, Key West may be more your speed. Duval Street is the Bourbon Street of Florida. Captain Tony's Saloon, Durty Harry's and Sloppy Joe's are "the places" to be.

Head 90 miles north to the Palm Beaches and the focus is more on sophistication. The island of Palm Beach, with its multi-million dollar mansions, is a great place to visit. You can drive from one side of the island to the other and see how the other half lives. On the island itself, places to check out are Worth Avenue, the Rodeo Drive of Florida; the world famous Breakers Hotel; and the Flagler Museum.

For those looking to get away from it all for a while and just relax, Florida vacations along the West Coast make more sense. The pace is a lot slower there. Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island are world renowned for their great beaches and beautiful seashells. Tampa has earned a reputation as a mecca for sports fans. The city has a professional football team (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), professional baseball (The Rays) and professional hockey (The Lightning).

With so much going on, and terrific weather year-round, tourism is huge in the Sunshine State. It's easy to find cheap hotels at almost any time throughout the year.

Courtesy of ARAcontent