Florida lies in the southeastern region of the United States bordering the states of Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the north, its coastline washed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida.

The state is split into two climate zones – the sub-tropical south and the temperate region north of Orlando. However, even the Sunshine State can have torrential thunderstorms, though they don’t usually last more than an hour or two. Florida is also prone to hurricanes between June and November.

Its economy is chiefly based on agriculture (including extensive citrus growing) and tourism.

Evidence shows that Florida was first settled in 1200 BC, but the first sighting of Florida by Europeans is thought to have been in 1498. The state was given its name by a Spanish conquistador in 1513 when, during the Spanish Easter celebration of Pascua Florida, Juan Ponce de Leon spotted land and named it La Florida. Florida claims the two oldest cities in the United States – St Augustine and Pensacola. The state witnessed repeated clashes of ownership between the Spanish, French and British before being ceded to the US in 1821 by Spain. It became the 27th state of America in 1845.

The state capital is Tallahassee in Florida’s Panhandle – the strip of land bordering Alabama and Georgia – and has grown up on an ancient prehistoric gathering point. It is noted for its leisurely ‘Deep South’ way of life, with surrounding plantations, historic buildings and museums.

There is so much to see in Florida that several visits are required. However, apart from the fairly low, rolling hills of the north the state is comparatively flat, the roads are good and with the help of a car it is possible to drive from east to west in about three hours.

What to do

Theme and Amusement parks

Florida has a huge number of theme and amusement parks. Arguably the most popular are:

Walt Disney World is made up of four main theme parks – the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park and needs at least a day devoted to each park, as do the parks of its competitors Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando.

For a more detailed report on the theme parks in Orlando please visit U.S.A - The Magic of Orlando.

Not a theme park in the conventional sense of the word but a definite ‘must do’ is the Kennedy Space Center – again visitors should allow a full day to experience this amazing site where the wild creatures of the Merrit Island National Wildlife Refuge rub shoulders with high technology.

Daytona Beach is a favourite hangout for bikers and racing car enthusiasts with its International Speedway and the beach itself - motorists can drive on 11 of its 23 miles.

Busch Gardens, Tampa is an amusement park suitable for all ages recreating the sights and sounds of Africa alongside one of America’s premier zoos.

The Everglades

The Everglades National Park is America’s largest subtropical reserve. Overflow water from Lake Okeechobee along with summer rainfall has, over the centuries, made its way through the vast Everglades en route to the sea creating an area rich with wildlife. In it pockets of trees add height to the flat swampy sawgrass plains studded with ponds and mangroves home to alligators, panthers, ibis, cranes and many more species. Worryingly the fragile eco system of the Everglades has been put under severe threat through excessive extraction of water and poisoning caused by agricultural chemicals that have seeped into the soil and water.

The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge occupies the northernmost part of the Everglades. It is a wildlife paradise with some 257-bird species alone using the Refuge.

The Big Cypress Swamp another favourite spot for visitors. It is one of the few places where the elusive Florida panther or even bears might be glimpsed. However, campers are warned to secure their tents at night in case a bear does come visiting.

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys (Key a corruption of the Spanish word cayo islet) is a chain of islands some 100 miles long off the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula. The Upper Keys were formed from exposed coral reefs, whilst the Lower Keys have a limestone base. Finding your way across the islands is easy as there is only one road linking most of the inhabited islands – the Overseas Highway – however, as most of it is only two lanes traffic can be heavy.

The Keys are a perfect destination for anybody who loves fishing, snorkelling and diving. They also have some culinary specialities worth looking out for – conch, a meaty shellfish and Key limes, the small lime used to make authentic Key Lime pies.

Best-known stopovers are Key Largo – a good place from which to visit and see the Florida Reef, a protected section of living coral; and Key West a laid back, leafy town with a wealth of bars, the popular Wreckers Museum and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. Hemingway lived in the house for almost 10 years writing some of his most famous novels.

Beaches

Florida is blest with many stunning beaches many of them sparkling from the powdery quartz sand. Unfortunately at certain times of the year some of the beaches can be affected by the Red Tide – an algae bloom which kills fish and can make breathing difficult, especially for anybody with respiratory problems.

Popular towns and cities to visit

Miami – a major tourist, industrial, financial and business hub, noted for some stunning Art Deco buildings, lovely beaches with clear water and palm trees. In contrast to the lively, element of Miami’s splendid South Beach is the thought-provoking Holocaust Memorial. Its Little Havana district was originally the home of Cubans driven out of their own home by Castro but their fun loving lifestyle lives on in their legacy of food, music and salsa dancing. Close by Little Havana is the elegant, more upmarket district of Coral Gables.

Fort Lauderdale has shed its earlier party going image in favour of one of sophistication and culture. It is a popular mooring place for owners of expensive yachts and cruise liners. Palm Beach is even more upmarket and a great place for designer stores and galleries.

St Augustine, the oldest permanent settlement in the United States, offers a delightful historical city plus beaches. Its old town bears witness to its Spanish settlers, such as the Colonial Spanish Quarter with its reconstructed buildings where volunteers dressed in appropriate costume work in their ‘homes’ and workshops.

Jacksonville, a port city, grew up on the banks of the St Johns River, some 25 miles from the border with Georgia. Like St Augustine it is an historic city but one that has grown rapidly to become Florida’s most populous. From here visitors can easily reach Amelia Island to view the elegant old dwellings at Fernandina Beach.

Tampa on Florida’s west coast having grown up from a US Army base is today a mixture of business hub, culture and fun. Worthy of a visit are the Henry B Plant museum (in a wing of what was originally planned to be the world’s most luxurious hotel), the Tampa Museum of Art and the excellent Florida Aquarium. Busch Gardens, along with the Museum of Science and Industry are just two miles out of town.

Close by to Tampa is Ybor City, once home to the many Cuban immigrants who produced top quality hand-rolled cigars here. It is still a ‘must’ for cigar aficionados.

St Petersburg, 20 miles away from Tampa is definitely worth visit if only to spend time in the stunning Salvador Dali Museum.

Sarasota offers superb beaches, lively shops (don’t miss St Armands Circle just off the Ringling Causeway), good restaurants and culture. It was the circus impresario John Ringling who built the Ringling Causeway as well as his Venetian Gothic mansion. The mansion, plus the museum that houses much of his amazing art collection, form part of the Ringling Museum Complex.

Fort Myers, divided by the Caloosahtchee River, was home to the inventor Thomas Edison. The gardens of his house are worth a visit as is the museum dedicated to his work.

As was mentioned before, the State of Florida has a wonderfully varied selection of attractions above and beyond the world famous theme parks of Orlando.

Florida is served by a number of international and regional airports.