Explore Florida

Florida is well known throughout the world for its beaches and theme parks, however there is so much more to the state than just attractions and shopping. There is a lot of history and for somewhere that possesses so many tourist hotspots it is actually quite easy to get away from all the hustle and bustle, and head off on the beaten track to explore the real Florida in all its splendour.

Northern West Florida, known as the Panhandle stretches for almost 200 miles from Pensacola to Apalachicola and undoubtedly has some of the most amazing beaches in the USA, with sugar white sand that dazzles in the sunlight and brilliant turquoise crystal clear waters. Pensacola is a surprisingly old city and is full of culture, history, outdoor adventure, fine museums and attractions. A short drive inland is the state capital of Tallahassee, set among rolling hills; this gently thriving city attracts many tourists to Wakulla Springs, one of the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs.

North East Florida is home to Jacksonville, Amelia Island and the charming St Augustine, the oldest city in the USA. Jacksonville possesses a lot of history and hugs the St. Johns River, and there are many beaches that stretch for 20 miles along its Atlantic Coast. Amelia Island is one of Northern Florida’s greatest destinations and is home to the small city of Fernandina Beach. The area is characterised by tall white dune beaches, marshland where kayaking is popular, and mile upon mile of shark tooth filled coastline – well worth a visit!
If you have time to visit St. Augustine it will feel very much like stepping in to a marvellous time warp. It was founded in 1565 more than 50 years before the first Pilgrims came to New England and thankfully much of its historic district has been revived providing a fascinating insight to life from this era.

Western Central Florida possibly boasts some of Florida’s finest beaches. To the south, the warm calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico gently wash up along the white sandy beaches, and to the North a natural wilderness awaits at Homosassa Springs State Park. The cosmopolitan city of St Petersburg boasts a downtown waterfront scene that pulses with energy and along its coastline are a string of beautiful islands which are home to an array of wildlife. The contemporary city of Tampa has many museums and is home to the cigar industry which moved here from Key West to the central district of Ybor City. This area has a party atmosphere with a Cuban, Spanish flair which comes to life on evenings and weekends. Tampa is also home to the exciting Busch Gardens theme park, which is definitely worth visiting if you enjoy thrilling roller coaster rides!

Eastern Central Florida has a unique blend of well preserved wildlife, attractions, beaches and the western hemisphere’s only manned space launch site – Kennedy Space Centre. If you’re in town when a shuttle is due to launch then you can watch everything (obviously from a safe distance) from many sites including the 800 foot long pier at Cocoa Beach, and will definitely be something to tell all your friends about when you get home. Daytona the famous city known for its long beach and very fast cars is located just north of Cape Canaveral and definitely has a party atmosphere.

Orlando is probably the name that everyone recognises as the home of Walt Disney World. Disney’s theme parks and other major attractions such as Seaworld and Universal's Orlando Resort attract millions of tourists to their gates every year. However, there is a lot more to this area than meets the eye, just north of Orlando is the Blue Spring State Park, which is an amazing place to see Manatees in their natural environment. If you are looking to get back to basics with nature then you must take a drive to Silver Springs, an attraction built around seven natural springs. The rides all focus around wildlife including a Glass bottom boat ride, a Jungle Cruise and the amazing Gator Lagoon.

South West Florida is home to Fort Myers now a thriving rich city which was put on the map by the inventor Thomas Edison back in 1885. The city acts as a gateway to the breath taking Gulf barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, and is a natural haven for wildlife and recreational activities including fishing and shelling charters.
Naples is an affluent beach city with a wealth of top-notch golf courses, first class restaurants and pearly white beaches. It is small enough to feel neighbourly and is one of the last cities before you reach the Everglades in the southernmost area of Florida. The Everglades, the second largest national park in the USA encompasses a world of wetlands, salt and freshwater marshes. You can drive through the Everglades to appreciate its natural wonder or if you’re after adventure, then you can explore the 10,000 islands by canoe or kayak, whilst crossing paths with alligators.

South East Florida has many modern and vibrant cities. West Palm Beach is a wealthy metropolitan city and has developed a distinctive personality of its own. Nicknamed “the Gold Coast” you will find fabulous beach after fabulous beach spread along its luxurious coastline, Delray, Boca Raton, Boynton, the list goes on.
Fort Lauderdale, known for being an International yachting centre, is a prosperous city with more water than land, more putting greens than lawns and skies more colourful than an art museum. Here you can celebrate the spirit of diversity in a friendly beach resort setting; enjoy Caribbean-style and Latin cuisine and some of the south's best soul food and BBQ.
Miami is a diverse and multicultural city charged with a rich Hispanic and Caribbean flavour. Miami has a subtropical climate with some of the best beaches and sparkling waterways in the country, which are a magnet for boating enthusiasts, fishermen, divers and water sports. If you like to party, then head to Ocean Drive, South Beach where the lively cafés spill their hip clientele onto the sidewalk and the all-night clubs attract the rich and famous.

The Florida Keys are a string of islands (Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pins and the Lower Keys and Key West) south of Miami reaching down towards the Caribbean. Their romantic, easy-going attitude and vibrant coral reefs make them a favourite destination for everyone trying to escape to paradise.
Key Largo is the northernmost island of the Florida Keys chain. Six miles offshore in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary you will find the wreck of the Spiegel Grove, a 510-foot Navy ship intentionally submerged in June 2002 to be the backbone of a new coral reef, which is a great attraction for divers.
Key West is the southernmost island and is actually closer to Havana, Cuba than it is to Miami. The sunsets here are mesmerizing and the best place to see them is at Mallory Square Dock overlooking Key West harbour. Key West is a perfect location for diving, fishing and golfing but is probably better known for its eccentricity, funky street performers, night life, artists, architecture, and historical landmarks.