Long a firm favourite of British holidaymakers, Florida is one of the world’s great sun-drenched playgrounds for adults and kids alike. Not only is Florida (or, aptly, ‘The Sunshine State’) home to the densest concentration of world-renowned theme parks anywhere on the planet, but also one of the most beautiful and fascinating parts of the USA. Whatever you may look for in a holiday, it is a very good bet that Florida will be able to provide it!

As The Sunshine State is such a hugely popular holiday destination, it is always advisable to book your Florida hotel well in advance of your departure date, especially in peak season. This is particularly pertinent to Orlando, where theme park holidaymakers keep the hotels in Florida busy all year. Florida hotels vary greatly in cost and quality, but are generally extremely good with the American customer service ethic to the fore.

Florida is located on a large peninsula at the southern extreme of the eastern coast of America. It is blessed with a very hospitable, semi-tropical climate that offers hot rainy summers, mild winters and near ideal spring and autumn temperatures.

Florida can be divided into several distinct regions. These are the Eastern Coast of Florida, the Western Coast, Central Florida, the Panhandle and the Southern Tip with the Florida Keys. Each region offers some unique features to attract holiday visitors.

The Eastern Coast of Florida has some great beaches with moderately good surf on the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the beaches, especially those near Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Daytona and Jackonsville tend to be the post popular with tourists. There are an array of hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues that cater for the beach lovers amongst us. Saint Augustine and Melbourne beaches are a bit less commercial and tend to attract more families and local tourists.

The West Coast of Florida is very different to that of the Atlantic Coast. The beaches on the Gulf of Mexico tend to be shallower, with less surf and warmer waters. These are great for families with younger children. You can wade for hundreds of metres without the water becoming very deep. While Clearwater caters for tourism, most of the other areas along the Gulf coast are less commercialised.

Central Florida is the most popular destination for tourists. This is the home of Disney World, the largest amusement park in the world. Just south of Orlando in central Florida, Disney World is surrounded by many other family oriented amusements such as Universal Studios and Sea World.

The southern tip of Florida consists mainly of tropical jungle and swamplands. The Everglades National Park covers nearly the entire tip of the peninsula southward from Miami and Naples.

The Florida Keys stretches southwestward from the tip of the penninsula into the Gulf of Mexico. A 90 mile long series of bridges and causeways connects these islands down to Key West on its southern most tip.
HISTORY
The Americans suffered tremendous handicaps in colonization due to the long and ruinous Seminole wars, which resulted in the building of a chain of forts and stockades throughout Florida. These rude log forts were the beginnings of most of Florida's cities of today, for many soldiers returned to their old barracks and took up home sites where they had lately fought against the Indians.

The same thing happened after the War Between the States and the Spanish-American War. Soldiers returning to their Northern homes from Florida camps told such glowing tales of the rich lands, mild climate and wonderful waterways, that their families consented to undertake pioneering in the far South.

By the early eighties, tourists were coming regularly to Jacksonville and the St. Johns river towns, and such writers as Sidney Lanier and Theodore Irving, nephew of Washington Irving, were telling an interested country about the bright sunshine, the splendid fish and game, the marvelous beaches and unfailing trade winds here. Two great pioneer financiers, Henry M. Flagler and Henry B. Plant, finally became interested in these resort features of Florida and started a friendly rivalry, Flagler developing the East and Plant the West Coast by constructing railroads and erecting great resort hotels. Though Mr. Plant did a great service for the West Coast, Mr. Flagler's achievement was considered the greatest program of resort development in the world-the construction of a railroad 522 miles long, extending through the tropic wilderness of the East Coast and beyond the mainland over the ocean to Key West, together with the erection of a great chain of resort hotels.

After the World War, the nation became suddenly Florida-conscious as never before. Its accessibility to the great eastern and mid-western centers of population, its wonderful hotel facilities, its varied resources for amusement on land and water were described by newspapers and magazines all over the country. Even the California gold rushes and Southwestern oil booms faded into insignificance in comparison with the great population trek to Florida during 1925 and 1926.

From 1920 to 1925, the population of Florida increased four times as fast as the country as a whole. Miami in 1900 had a population of 2,000, in 1920, 30,000; in 1925, 71,419; in 1930, 110,000. All other cities of the state received their quota of newcomers also, who continued to come through the summer months as well as the winter, thus discovering Florida's advantages as a year-round resort state. Although the orgy of land speculations resulted in a period of deflation, tourists have continued to come in steadily increasing numbers and the unfailing attractions of Florida, incomparable sunshine and the refreshing ocean breezes continue to attract hundreds of thousands of new Holiday makers every year.
FOOD & DRINK
Seafood is king in Florida but chances are, whatever you fancy to eat, you can find it. Local specialities vary from region to region such as Miami where fine Cuban cuisine is popular and in Jacksonville where barbeque fare is on most menus.

There is an overgrowth of fast food chains in Florida and whilst these serve a purpose try some of the local Florida restaurants as these will offer superior food.

Haute cuisine is served at many restaurants throughout the state, but especially in and around Miami Beach, Naples and Palm Beach.

If you are travelling on a budget or just prefer to sample the local fare there are thousands of ethnic restaurants. In the south be sure to try some Cuban cuisine and in parts of Fort Lauderdale and Miami try the Haitian and Brazilian dishes available.

There are Greek communities to be found in Tarpon Springs, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale and throughout the Miami metro area there is an abundance of Italian restaurants. In the state's metropolitan areas Indian and Thai restaurants are becoming more common place. Vegetarian dishes can be found on most menus but vegan dishes are less common, particularly in the north of Florida. If you have particular dietary requirements please speak to us prior to making your booking and we will be pleased to advise you on the area you are interested in.

For a real Florida treat, find yourself a fish camp. These come in many shapes and sizes but you may have to ask a local in order to locate them as many are not sign posted and are located at the end of a riverside dirt road. All the seafood will be local and examples include catfish fillets, (fried or broiled), a basket of shrimp, scallops and clams. Some fish camps will offer steamed Florida blue crabs and even rock Lobster tail.
NIGHTLIFE
Nightlife in Florida starts as early or as late as you want.

North Florida

As well as the well known Panama City Beach in northwest Florida, try downtown Pensacola's Seville Quarter. It's filled with bars, restaurants and clubs, many of which feature live entertainment. East of Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach play host to some of the area's hottest nightspots. Jackonsville's lively nighlife centers on Jacksonville Landing, a downtown entertainment, dining and shopping complex on the riverfront.

Central Florida

On the Gulf coast, Tampa's historic Latin district, Ybor City, draws thousands of revellers to its many nightclubs and bars.

In Orlando, the theme parks are for grown ups as well as kids and both Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando resort have their own nightlife centered entertainment complexes that get going after dark.

Disney's Pleasure island is full of nightclubs of varying themes. There's even a nightly New Year's Eve street party!

South Florida

In Miami's South Beach, you can take a drink under the stars whilst rubbing shoulders with the stars. There are many outdoor bars and cafes or try one of the sophisticated hotels on Collins Avenue.

In Florida's southernmost point, Key West
THINGS TO DO

Walt Disney World Resort, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, the Epcot Centre and more..

Many, many visitors from all over the world head to The Sunshine State solely to tour the amazing theme parks that are mainly sited around the city of Orlando. When you look at what is on offer in this context, this is not at all surprising. The fantasy worlds of Disney dominate with Walt Disney World Resort, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, the Epcot Centre and more.

Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Gatorland and the Kennedy Space Centre

Universal is coming up fast behind Disney with their Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, while Busch Gardens, Seaworld, Gatorland, Kennedy Space Centre and the numerous marvellous water parks add considerable weight to the theme park options available to you. By selecting your Florida hotel with care, you could position yourself and your family perfectly to ensure you get to all the theme parks – just as the children would wish it!

Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater and Daytona Beach

For sun worshippers, Florida is quite simply paradise. With a coastline of golden and white sands stretching for around 1,100 miles and taking in the major resort cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater and Daytona Beach (to name but four), Florida offers virtually year-round sunshine plus all the usual exciting watersports and fun that beachlife brings.

Natural Beauty

Nature lovers, too, are in their element in Florida. A state blessed with glorious wildernesses, the Florida Keys, the Everglades and so much more, you do not need to go far to encounter beautiful Floridian flora and fauna.