If you own a vacation property, chances are you have considered renting it to recoup part of your investment or just as a way to make it pay for itself. There are a few ways you can maximize your vacation rental bookings, but you have to be sure that your vacation rental offers features and benefits that will entice people to choose it over the rest.

The first thing to consider is any touch-up or fix-up that might be needed. You want your pictures to reflect how appealing your vacation rental is and the pictures should reflect a freshly painted and well-maintained vacation rental. Would you want to plan your vacation getaway in a dump?

That brings us to the pictures of your vacation rental that you are going to offer in your advertising, website and rental booking engines. You should feature pictures of the best views, bedroom and living room or kitchen. Add fresh flowers or decorative planters to tables to give a vacation rental a more upscale feel. Sometimes, it is little accessories that can make your vacation rental stand out more than some of the others on the market.

When you are advertising online, be sure that your description is clear and inviting and that your rental rates are competitive. If you are going to use a property rental company, you have to consider they may charge 35% of your rental fees. But sometimes it is worth it for an absentee owner because they can help you maintain it, have a cleaning service in after a rental has taken place, and handle any of the emergency calls that can happen with your vacation rental, which can give you peace of mind. Also, they will feature additional advertising for your vacation rental, which can maximize your rental income.

If you are going to advertise and rent the vacation rental out on your own, be sure to respond quickly to any inquiries because they are probably shopping around with other vacation rentals, too. Sometimes, the first one that suits their needs and is in their price range is the one they will book. Most people don't want to wait very long for answers to their questions, so try to respond within 24 hours, if possible.

You will want to find a good cleaning service that is reliable and can clean the vacation rental on short notice after each renter has left, unless you plan to do this on your own. Many owners of vacation rentals think that a good cleaning company is worth the money they spend, so you might want to consider this option to make sure everything is ready to go quickly for the next rental.

These are just a few of the ways that you can maximize your vacation rentals. If you take advantage of some of the vacation rental websites that lets you list your property, it can be worth the additional income you will get. You want to make your vacation rental stand out above the competition, in order to get the maximum amount of vacation rentals.

1.Fort Desoto- This is actually one of the most popular state parks in Florida and it was voted number 1 in 2005 as the best beach in America.  They offer camping accommodations for families where you can rent kayaks, go fishing as well as rent bicycles.  You can even hop on the ferry that will take you to Egmont Key for a great day trip.  You can explore the fort, which tells of the vast history that dates back to the early 1900s.  There are cannons and actual forts where the soldiers stayed to plan their defense that you can explore with your family.

2.Clearwater Beach - You will find just about every beach and water play here.  They offer a pier park called Pier 60, which has a family activity area that offers concession stands with food as well as fishing for the family and a covered playground for the kids to play on.

3.Daytona Beach - This beach is known as the world's most famous beach.  This is one of the hottest spots when spring break rolls around.  They have an amazing boardwalk with a wide variety of shops; clubs and the all time famous Ron Jon's Surf Shop.  If you're on the east coast this is a must see beach.

4.South Beach Miami - This area offers the best of nonstop nightlife with a wide variety of clubs for all types of ages and personalities.  The shopping strips are an adventure all on their own.  There is plenty to do here for everyone and if you go during spring break, you may even end up on MTV.  

5.Fort Lauderdale - This area is known for the best of the blue water beaches and it is something you will not want to miss.  There beaches have been given the top honor since 1999 as being the best from the Clean Beaches Council.  This is one of the areas that you will find loaded with college students but it is also becoming a well-known family vacation spot for all the fun and activities that they offer year round.
 
If you are visiting Florida, you will find spectacular beaches no matter where you vacation at in the state.  From coast to coast, you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world right in the Sunshine State.

You can start your adventure by checking out the Everglades National Park web site (http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm).  To locate detailed information about the park (including details about kayaking, hiking and camping), use the "site map" hyperlink on the leftmost menu.  But the website also provides great background information about the park.

While the scenery is gorgeous (and you'll want to take as much photographic equipment as you can), recognize two important things about the area.  First, south Florida has two primary seasons - wet and dry.  Each is extreme.  Hence in summertime, you have to dodge daily thunderstorms with incredibly heavy rainfall and intense, dangerous lightning.  In late winter and spring, dryness rules.  And prescribed burns (intentionally set fires to clear away dead wood and grass to prevent larger fires) and natural fires abound.  This means that some park areas may be closed off or skies may be smoke-filled.

To begin enjoying the Everglades, stop at one of the visitor centers - west of Homestead, south of Everglades City and any of several within the park.

The Gulf Coast Center offers access to the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands and waterways located along the coast.  There are tours, but you can also take your own (or rented) boat or kayak out to explore.  Look for manatees, dolphins, osprey and other saltwater species.

Inside the park, navigation is hard.  This is because of the aforementioned seasonal fire danger, limited trail coverage and the presence of dangerous species.  Still, there are some trails open for walking and biking.  But you'll need to get on the narrated tram ride to reach inaccessible areas.  At the Shark Center, the observation tower allows for spectacular views of the sawgrass marshes.

Airboat rides, available from private marketers, are a must-do. Offered for various lengths of time (and associated costs), these take you far into the Everglades where you can see nature untouched. While these rides hype gator-watching, you'll get to see a lot of the Everglades in the process.

Finally, recognize that a visit to the Everglades is not a one-day event.  There's a lot to see here.  Plan to visit again, especially during a different season.  The scenery, the history and the educational value are well worth your time and any expense.

Actually, it would not be completely accurate to infer that the popularity of this destination as a green vacation site is something completely new. It has long since been a well traveled vacation town that has drawn in scores of tourists from around the world. The reason for this is revealed almost immediately once one looks at the lush green environment that surrounds the area. Without a doubt, the locale of this town is among the very best that Florida has to offer…bar none.

 At the core of this town is the neighboring Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. While some may have the erroneous belief that a swamp is little more than a collective of pests and unfriendly wildlife in hot, muggy weather, this is most definitely not the case. In fact, swamps can be filled with a lot of wonder as evidenced by this amazing sanctuary. Exploring this sanctuary will lead to a greater understanding an appreciation for the amazing plant and animal life that resides in it.

Then, there is also the excellent Lovers Key State Park that also borders the region. Those that visit the state park will also be treated to a number of unique sights and sounds that allow one to bask in the glory of the natural world. Of course, this is done in the comfort of a protected environment which makes for safer and more efficient tourism. Again, this is what greatly contributes to the popularity of such a park.

That is why so many scores of visitors descend upon it each year. Why not become one of these visitors and see what the park has to offer? Another great benefit to visiting this region that many will find appealing is the fact that Bonita Springs borders some of the most amazing beaches in Southwest Florida. These white sand pristine beaches are certainly unforgettable and the blue water will also forever remain embedded in one's memories. Of course, venturing into the water and taking part in any number of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, or even scuba will add to the fun. Yes, these beaches are incredibly enjoyable. Why not venture into them to see the great fun for yourself? Bonita Springs, Fl remains one of the most unique vacation destinations in all of the United States. This is why those interested in the concept of a green vacation should look towards this town as a solid destination well worth exploring.

Many of our states are beautiful, but Florida has to be one of the most breathtaking that there is. Many people move to this wonderful state each year, and many more visit. If you are planning to take a road trip, there may not be a better state to do it.

There are so many places to go in Florida that you might have a hard time at first deciding just where you are going to go and how you are going to get there.

If you have a destination in mind that you are going to make a part of this trip, this will make it easier to plan the whole drive. Find your destination, and then look at everything around it. There are many great websites that list attractions by town, so you can choose to stop at towns on the way. Other sites will show you a list of popular routes that people take in order to see as much of Florida as they can. You can choose one of these routes that have your destination in it.

On the other hand, if you don't have a specific location in mind that you need to get to, this can make your trip more interesting. If this is the case, you can choose a destination, such as Miami, Orlando, or the Florida Keys, and build a road trip around getting to and from this destination.

If you decide to drive to the Florida Keys, this is a road trip all in itself. Driving from the mainland to the islands is a trip full of spectacular views. The life experience of driving from one island to another is interesting all by itself. No matter where you go, see if you can take different routes to your destination and back so you see as much as possible.

One of the first things you need to do is to decide how long of a trip this is going to be. If you only have a few days to make your Florida road trip, you need to make sure that your itinerary matches the time you have. You don't want to over-stuff your schedule because you need to leave yourself time to enjoy the places you visit.

On the other hand, if you have a couple weeks to spend on your trip, you should get enough destinations in to make you feel like you really saw the state.

When you stop at big tourist cities, give yourself some extra time here as there will be a lot to see. Make plans on what you are going to visit while you're in town so that you have a plan once you arrive. Otherwise, you'll feel like you are being pulled in all different directions by your options.

Going to natural sights like the Everglades will give you memories for a lifetime, and are especially important if you have kids.

There is so much that could be said about Florida, it would be impossible to list it all here. Gather some information on Florida and the places you'd like to see, and then have fun planning your trip. Involve the entire family, and everyone is sure to be excited about the trip.

Yet, every state, and Florida in particular, has an incredible array of architecture, just waiting to be viewed.  To do so, however, requires a bit of effort and just maybe taking that detour to catch a look.

First, do a little homework.  A judicious web search for "Florida Architecture" or "Florida history" may suffice.  But, to get you started, here are 10 architectural treasures that showcase Florida's rich history and the climate, ethnic cultures, businesses and other things that have driven its diversity.

There's no better place to start than in central Florida near Walt Disney World.  Here the Epcot icon, Spaceship Earth, a huge golf-ball-like edifice, greets visitors.  It is about futuristic as one could imagine.

Nearby is the Team Disney Building.  Its modernistic perspective, graced with an ornamental sundial atop its central cylinder and its colorful, playful design speaks volumes about the Disney mindset.

Be sure to include a visit to Celebration, literally the Town Disney built.  Still in its youth, Celebration has brought back the small town image from the 1930's in its neo-traditional town design.  Several thousand residences surround an easy to access shopping area.

Mixing new and old comes to play when considering the religious influences of the state.  

Newness is exuded in the Ava Maria community outside of Naples in southwest Florida.  On the older side, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College some 70 years ago.  It was the first building on the Lakeland campus and combines location, concrete and colored glass to advantage.

You'll find historic buildings throughout the state.  Some are now "bed and breakfasts;" others are residences, government buildings or serve other purposes.  

But one stands out because of its history, as well as architectural story.  That's the "Shotgun House," a long, narrow building, often next to similar buildings.  Similar to New York brownstones, these homes are only one-level.  And while they have a space between them, side windows are lacking (since they would have done little for ventilation and a lot against privacy).  They remain sprinkled throughout the state.

No amount of historical perspective would be complete without a schoolhouse.  And the supposedly oldest surviving school building in the U.S. (dating back to before 1716) can be found in St. Augustine.  It's well-weathered, but still standing and that tells a lot about construction some 300 years ago.

Not far away, in Fernandina Beach, there is a "lighthouse home."  Yep, it's just as you imagined.  The home looks like a lighthouse with a life preserver atop that houses the street address.

The Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale uses more modern, and more hurricane resistant, concrete design.  But it mixes different facades, terraces and other structures to give the building a character so often missing in today's block-like buildings.

The South Beach area in Miami likely houses the largest collection of art deco architecture in any place.  Street after street contain colorful, unusual designs that typify the fun and playfulness tat South beach is known for.

Finally, be prepared to find a plethora of mansions and other grandiose homes, especially near the coast and key inland waterways and lakes.  Often each home has been designed with a different look and feel.  So driving around will give you an architectural perspective you may never have experienced before.

With your eyes now open to the richness and history of Florida's architecture, it's time to take that long overdue tour of your local area first; then reach out and experience all that Florida's architecture has to offer.  Hopefully, you'll like what you see.