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Magic of Florida
Rides and rockets |
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Whether you’re a white-knuckle adrenaline junkie or simply want your picture taken alongside Mickey Mouse, then Florida’s famous theme parks and magical Disney attractions will be your heaven on earth. Orlando has the cream of the crop – Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal Studios®, the marine magic of Sea World and the watery thrills of Wet ‘n Wild® are unmissable. Close by, Kennedy Space Center and Busch Gardens® are also world-class visitor attractions. You’ll need a break from the theme parks though. They are great fun but also strenuous, and your feet deserve a holiday too! No problem, there are dozens of smaller top quality attractions all over the State, from specialist museums and art galleries, to the very latest hands-on Discovery Centers. |
Animal magic |
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What would you like to see today? Big cats and exotic birds, sharks and sea lions, gorillas and ‘gators, rhinos, flamingos? How about a manatee? SeaWorld® and Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom are must-visits, but you’ll also find smaller zoos, parks and animal sanctuaries to enjoy. Not all of Florida’s wildlife is in custody, either. You’ll soon get used to pelicans flying gracefully past you, and the strange sight of the anhinga bird drying its outstretched wings. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins on the Gulf Coast but look too in more unlikely places – watch the grass verges around the Kennedy Space Center, for example, for dozing alligators. |
Life's a beach |
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A fabulous beach is never far away in Florida - whether you want a busy stretch with lots of water sports and activities, or a wild uncommercialised coastline where you can look for shells, watch for the fins of dolphins swimming by, and dig your toes into a carpet of soft white sand as you soak up the sun. |
Natural beauty |
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Most first-time visitors are pleasantly surprised to discover that away from the theme parks and resorts, there’s a very different face of Florida to explore, reminding us of just how inhospitable the land was less than a century ago. In fact there are still huge wilderness areas to discover, the most famous being the Everglades, easily explored from Naples. Even in theme park central, Kissimmee, there are unspoilt parks and backwaters that can be explored on foot, by boat, by canoe, or even swamp buggy - watch out for wild turkeys! |
Sports mad |
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Sportsmen love Florida. It’s fantastic for golfers, with top facilities and very little chance of your round getting rained off. Several of Orlando’s theme parks have golf courses attached, as do some of our own villa and hotel resorts. Tennis is another Florida passion which you can often indulge right inside your hotel or villa grounds. Fancy fishing? The Gulf Coast’s rivers and lakes are teeming. Or head out to sea in Hemingway style. Other wonderful ways to enjoy the Florida surroundings are hire a bike, go canoeing, horse riding, boating, or just plain old walking. |
Glorious food |
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So, where would you like to dine? Both Orlando and the Gulf Coast have an irresistible variety of restaurants to match all budgets and tastes. If you're in a hurry, think tasty burgers or buffet. Or take your time over a wonderful dinner at one of the state's fine dining restaurants. Everything's good here, particularly the seafood. Get to grips with a grouper sandwich if you're really hungry, that's battered fish, served in a bread roll; or savour a dish of succulent shrimp at a seaside inn. In the Gulf Coast, find a fish restaurant with a warm terrace where you can sit back and watch graceful pelicans soaring in the sky. |
Shoppers heaven |
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Wherever you are in Florida, you’ll find shopping malls and retail parks - often on a huge scale - offering exclusive designer labels, discount fashions, factory outlet stores and souvenirs galore. Regional specialities include hand-rolled cigars, jellied citrus fruit sweets, Native American crafts, leather belts, boots and hats. And of course the theme parks each offer a vast choice of money-spending opportunities - you can’t go home without Mickey Mouse ears! But in places such as Naples and Sarasota there are also many upscale boutiques and European-style specialist shops. |
That's entertainment |
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The sun’s gone down, but the entertainment goes on. Both Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island and Universal Studios’ City Walk are a fantastic night out whatever your age and choice in music or comedy. Dinner shows are popular in Orlando, staged at many hotels. Listen to jazz or piano music in a quiet bar on the Gulf Coast, take a dinner and sunset cruise, a concert, a movie, or even the theatre. Florida has a booming cultural and performing arts scene too - spend a night with the Players of Sarasota for example. |