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Information on Florida

Florida is a prime state for holidaymakers, appealing to hordes of visitors every year with its sunshine, stunning beaches, quaint towns and entertaining cities. Known as the ‘Sunshine State’, Florida features the charms of Key West; the family fun spot of Orlando, with Disneyworld, Universal Studios and other entertainment parks; the murky and mysterious Everglades National Park, filled with alligators; and the upbeat Miami Beach where people go to be seen.

Favourite Cities

Miami and its famous beaches are popular with visitors. Displaying a distinctly latino/hispanic flavour, Florida’s pre-eminent city has some interesting suburbs, particularl little Havana. This cosmopolitan city is most famous for South Beach, with its Art Deco architecture and vibrant, ‘gay-ccentric’, nightlife. Miami beach is another popular waterfront area.

Orlando is a city you won’t want to miss, especially if you have kids. Best known for Walt Disney World, the metropolis has expanded into a theme park fantasyland. Other attractions include Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Sea World. There is also an array of dining opportunities that keep you entertained while you eat, such as mystery dinner theatre performances, medieval dinners and magic shows.

On the gulf coast, Tampa is home to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, both a theme park and a massive zoo. There are many stunning beaches in the area and it’s worthwhile exploring the coast to the south. Additionally, many large cruise ships leave from Tampa for the Bahamas or even Mexico. St Petersburg across the bay is home to the Salvador Dali Museum, a noteworthy attraction.

Fort Lauderdale, also known as the Venice of America, has some lovely canals and pleasant weather. Home to magnificent million-dollar pleasure yachts and a playground for the rich, the city can be a relaxing place to spend a few days.

Getting There

There are major airports in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville and Tampa; Miami and Tampa are served by many international airlines. Amtrak has passenger services to Florida from all around the country. The Silver Meteor and Silver Star run twice daily between New York City and Tampa and Miami. Florida is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines, with stops in most cities.

Travelling through Florida by car is pleasant, as the weather is usually quite good and there are many places to stop off the interstate highways. Take I-95 south along the east coast, I-75 from the central states, and I-10 from the west. The Florida Turnpike, a toll road, connects Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. For a slow but interesting ‘Florida experience’ follow the original Highway 1 which traverses the length of the panhandle through all the cities and towns as it paralells the intercoastal waterway. I-4 goes across the state from Cape Canaveral through Orlando to Tampa.

Safety

Travellers can put themselves at risk when driving across long distances. Additionally, participating in water sports could result in accidents. Beware of carjackers and pickpocketers in the larger cities. The cost of medical care in the US is high and you would not want to be without insurance if something were to occur. We highly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family when visiting Florida.

Weather in Florida

Central and south Florida can be very hot and humid during the summer with a high chance of thunderstorms. Hurricanes will sometimes approach Florida, however plenty of advance warning will be given. Winter is usually mild but occassional rain can bring cooler conditions.

Florida Travel Partners & Resources

Florida Villa Rentals
Florida villa vacation rentals by owner. Covering the Gulf Coast, Orlando, Space Coast and Miami. Free advertising for owners of vacation properties.

1st For Car Hire
We offer car hire at worldwide airports, towns and cities.

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