FLORIDA

Florida is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the Straits of Florida. Florida is the 22nd most extensive, the 4th most populous, and the 8th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The state capital is Tallahassee, the largest city is Jacksonville, and the largest metropolitan area is the Miami metropolitan area.

Florida culture is a reflection of influences and multiple inheritance; Native American, European American, Hispanic and African American heritages can be found in the architecture and cuisine. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.

Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm weather and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million visitors to the state every year. Florida was the top destination state in 2011.

Amusement parks, especially in the Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the largest vacation resort in the world, consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; it, and Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and other major parks drive state tourism. Many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, particularly in the winter months. 23.2 million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $21.9 billion.

Capital: Tallahassee

Best Time of Visit:

Unfortunately (or not), Florida has no single perfect season. The best time to go depends entirely on your agenda.

Similar to the tropics, Florida has essentially two seasons: wet and dry. Winter, Florida’s dry season, is from roughly November through April. Temperatures are lower, there’s less humidity and rain, and it’s the ideal time to hike, canoe and explore nature, particularly in South Florida.

Summer is the ‘wet season’: from May to October, it’s hot, sticky and rainstorms deluge many an afternoon. This is also roughly hurricane season, which peaks in September.

For Orlando the high season is year round, the rest of Florida winter is the high season.

Min Days required: 6 days

Places of Interest: 

Orlando

Want to have some pure unadulterated fun? Want to scream your lungs out in a crazy roller coaster ride? Want to forget your worries and become a kid again? The Orlando is the perfect place for you Home to the gigantic Walt Disney World and several other major theme parks; Orlando is the ultimate in fantasy vacations. You can be totally seduced by the magic of the theme parks and at least for a while, leave all your worldly cares behind. So get on to the rides and stretch your ‘Great Escape’ from reality for longer in Orlando.

Places of Interest: Walt Disney World, Sea World, Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, Discover Cove, And Universal Studios.

Miami

Miami definitely counts as one amongst America’s most glamorous and exotic cities. Miami’s charms lie in its beautiful beaches, its amazing architectural heritage and its tremendous ethnic diversity. Home to a large Hispanic community, Miami seems more Spanish than American at times. A favored destination, Miami plays host to rich and famous celebrities as well as scores of cruise-ship travelers, enticing them with a heady cocktail of exotica, sun-kissed beaches and warm and friendly people.

Places of Interest: Deco District, SoBe Life, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Gold Coast Highway A1A, Key West, The Everglades, Lowe Art Museum

Tampa: Tampa Bay Beaches, Lowry Park Zoo, Ybor City, Florida Aquarium, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island

Tallahassee: Florida State University, Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science, St Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Tallahassee Antique Car Museum

Jacksonville:  Jacksonville Riverside District, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Science and History, Friendship Fountain.

Climate:

South Florida has a tropical climate.There is a defined rainy season from June through September, which are the months most at risk of land falling tropical cyclones.

Between October and May, fronts regularly sweep through the state, which keeps conditions dry, particularly over the peninsula. Towards the end of the dry season in the spring, brush fires become common statewide. In winters where an El Niño climate cycle exists, rainfall increases while temperatures are cooler statewide.

In North Florida, snow and sleet have been witnessed, as early as November and as late as April, though most areas do not experience any frozen precipitation during a typical year.

Currency: US Dollars

Things to carry:

Get a reasonable sized suitcase. It should be one that will comfortably fit the things you will need for how long you will be staying, as well as a few additional items like souvenirs.

Have a solid idea of the activities you will be doing. This way, you should hopefully know what you to take with you. If you do not have an idea of the activities you will be doing, pack clothes that can get dirty OR be easily dressed up.

Check the weather. This is the most important thing; if you don’t know what to expect in the forecast, you have nothing to pack around. And always be prepared: if it says it’s going to be sunny, don’t neglect to bring jackets and things for just in case it rains. A good umbrella and/or raincoat is a must.

Bring layers. For much of the year, Florida is pretty warm, but it can get chilly at night, especially during the winter months. In the summer, all you will need is a windbreaker, preferably unlined. During the fall/winter, bring a sweater to layer underneath the windbreaker.

Pack pants such as shorts, skirts, capris, maybe jeans.

Bathing suits, bring at least two or more depending on how long you’re planning to go (Two in case you want to go swimming twice in the same day and don’t like changing into a cold, wet, bathing suit)

How to get there:

Air:

Orlando International Airport – your choice airport for Disney World or the other attractions in Central Florida.

Miami International Airport – the biggest airport for travel in South Florida, and the best option for trips to the Everglades or Miami’s beaches.

Tampa International Airport-serves the Gulf Coast, namely the Tampa Bay area. Has a direct flight operated by British Airways to/from London Gatwick.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport – the fourth largest airport in Florida and another valid option with many domestic low fare carriers.