Florida, the “Sunshine State”, is located on a large peninsula at the southern extremity of the eastern coast of the United States. It is just over 1000 miles south of New York City. This fl at sandy spit of land is approximately 100 miles wide by 400 miles long. It is blessed with a very hospitable semi-tropical climate and has over a thousand miles of ocean shoreline with many hundreds of miles of white sand beaches.

Florida is the favorite winter vacation retreat for millions of Americans from northern states and Canadian provinces. It is also a popular vacation destination for many foreign visitors. In the summer months, many families with children on school holidays brave the tropical heat of Florida to visit the Disney World entertainment complex.

Tourism is a big industry in Florida especially during the winter months. Besides beaches and warm sunshine, the state offers year round golfi ng, fi shing, tennis and other outdoor sports. Farming is the other big industry, with Florida supplying most of the eastern US with oranges, citrus fruits and winter vegetables.

No matter what your interests, you will find an attraction in Florida to enjoy. Mouse ears and the major theme parks of the Orlando area are what fi rst come to mind as Florida ttractions, but they are only the beginning. Wildlife and botanical attractions are among the most popular and include both large parks and zoos and small private gardens. Florida’s rich history is refl ected in museums, monmonuments, forts and homes throughout the state. For a cultural excursion, fi ne art museums have works from Dali to Rubens, sculpture and architecture by names such as Frank Lloyd Wright.

Kissimmee

Situated in Central Florida, Kissimmee is not only in the immediate vicinity of Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World, it also has some major attractions of its own. Shopping opportunities abound with several outlet malls and quaint downtown shops and restaurants. Leisure activities are high on the agenda and Kissimmee/St Cloud’s location enables visitors to take advantage of the wealth of accommodation in the area and access all the major attractions with comparative ease. The Kissimmee Waterway is a spectacular natural area and the Kissimmee River is one of Florida’s top ten bass lakes, making this a popular fi shing destination. Lake Okeechobee enjoys a world-class reputation as a prime bass producer. Boggy Creek Airboat Rides give scenic airboat tours that allow visitors to view wildlife in the Central Everglades. A World of Orchids is a climatecontrolled tropical garden housing a collection of orchids from all over the globe. For those who seek knowledge of other cultures, Splendid China is a unique, 76-acre outdoor exhibit that features China’s most famous landmarks.

Attractions

Universal Studios

Movie-themed attraction boasts more than 40 rides, shows and attractions, including “Shrek 4-D,’’, Terminator 2 3-D’’; “A Day in the Park With Barney,’’ “Earth quake,’’ and coming in May 2004: “Revenge Of The Mummy - The Ride.”

Busch Gardens

Located in the park’s Moroccan Theater, “KaTonga’’ runs 35 minutes and was created by a team of designers with extensive Broadway credits. This stage show is one of the new additions to Busch Gardens recently added. “Cheetah Chase” joins the Montu and Kumba roller coasters. And a promotion currently running includes meals with daily ticket prices.

Adventure Island

Water theme park features “Fabian’s Funport” (childrens’ play area); “Wahoo Run;” seven-story “Tampa Typhoon;” “Caribbean Corkscrew;” “Gulf Scream;” “Paradise Lagoon;” “Splash Attack;” and more.

Just 35 miles east of Orlando, you will also find 72 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches known as Florida’s Space Coast. Along this impressive stretch of coastline, unspoiled nature preserves exist in perfect harmony with the space-age attractions of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Port Canaveral and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Tampa

Urban Tampa, with its modern skyscrapers, stunning waterfront, multi-cultural infl uences and rapid development, is an intriguing city. Cuban immigrants who funded its construction with money made from the cigar industry established Ybor City as a “city within a city” in the 1800s. After years of decay, it has now been restored to its former glory. Ybor Square is the place to see cigar-making demonstrations and main street La Septima is shut off while trendy clubbers enjoy the lively nightlife. The atmosphere in the city is vibrant; with such a cosmopolitan mixture of cultures there is always something happening.

The Florida Aquarium located on the waterfront is a fascinating experience. The building is an exciting piece of architecture with its 83-foot high, multi-tiered dome. There are four major exhibit areas, including a replica of a coral reef. The Henry B Plant Museum, housed in the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, is a masterpiece of Moorish revival architecture. Its dramatic silver minarets are the symbol for the City of Tampa. Superb shopping and dining can be found in a multitude of shopping areas and restaurants.

Clearwater and its island beaches are one of Florida’s most popular vacation spots, and is the place to be in Tampa Bay! The world-reknown beaches, extensive recreational pportunities (including the largest recreational fi shing fl eet on the West Coast of Florida), and a walking distance to restaurants and attractions, mean that there is plenty of fun to be had here. With all types of accommodations designed to fi t every budget and taste, it means that Clearwater is the ideal breakaway from inland Florida.

The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a 106 mile long chain of islands that begin at the very bottom of Florida’s mainland, and are often referred to as America’s Caribbean. With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, The Keys offer some of the fi nest fi shing and diving in the world and are the home of the only living Coral Reef in the Continental United States. The Keys are also the home of some of Florida’s fi nest parks and sanctuaries and there are plenty of places to shop for island wear, home decor and much more. Of course, you can always just sit next to the water and sip on a Margarita while listening to your favorite Jimmy Buffett song.

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Facts about Florida

State Abbreviation: FL
State Capital: Tallahassee
Largest City: Jacksonville
Area: 65,758 square miles [Florida is the 22nd biggest state in the USA]
Population: 15,982,378 (as of 2000) [Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas]
State Nickname: The Sunshine State
Sand Beaches: 1,100 miles
Approx fl ight time: 9 hours from the UK
Time - difference: 5 hours behind the UK
Orlando attracts more visitors than any other amusement park destination in the United States.
Key West has the highest average temperature in the United States.
Islamorada is billed as the Sports fi shing Capital of the World.
Key Largo is known as the Dive Capital of the World.
Florida has more Golf Courses than any other state in the US (1,370).
There are 156 state parks featuring crystalclear springs, miles of beaches, rivers, lakes and an abundance of wildlife and outdoor activities.
Average annual temperatures:
Summer: 80.5 (F) degrees (26.9 C) in north
82.7 (F) degrees (28.2 C) in south
Winter: 53.0 (F) degrees (11.7 C) in north
68.5 (F) degrees (20.3 C) in south