North Florida
Jacksonville is located a few miles from the Atlantic to the shores of the St. Johns River in northern Florida. The attractive large port city with 32 km of beach was named after President Andrew Jackson. Jacksonville Beach offers excellent shopping at Strandpier, the marketplace of the Jacksonville Landing and two promenades invite you to stroll. Attractions include the Fort Caroline National Memorial, the Cummer Gallery of Art, the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Science and History and the zoo.
St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., has winding streets, listed buildings and traditional exhibitions offer. Zorayda Castle in the business district of St. Augustine is a replica of the Alhambra with fantastic treasures from around the world and a documentary on the life of the Moorish kings and the Spanish occupation. The Castillo de San Marcos is the 17th oldest stone fort built in the country the Century. The open-air museum in the Spanish Quarter (Spanish Quarter) shows the daily life of the Spanish settlers and soldiers, which is performed by actors in period costume. Daytona Beach is known for its wide beach and its auto racing, especially the Daytona 500 The World Golf Village attracts golfers from all over the world.
Tallahassee , the capital of the state, is a modern city with a vibrant artist and student neighborhoods. The main attractions include the deepest fresh water source in the world, museums, historic buildings like the Capitol and a variety of recreational areas. The city is located 23 km from the border with Georgia and 47 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Pensacola is one of the main resorts on the beautiful North West coast of Florida. Since the arrival of the first Spanish settlers in 1559 the city was under Spanish, British and French rule. Seville Square (with restaurants and fancy shops), Plaza Ferdinand, the Spanish Air Museum, the Spanish forts, which are housed in the former city jail Pensacola Museum of Art and the historic business district, all worth a visit. The Pensacola Historic District was declared a National Historic Landmark. On the Colonial Archaeological Trail visitors can explore on a city tour of the historic sites.
Cedar Keys is a chain of about 100 islands off the northwest coast of Florida. Three of these islands make up the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. One of the most beautiful beaches of the said so “Emerald Coast” (Emerald Coast) include Panama City, Gulf Breeze Beach, Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Destin Beach, Perdido Key, Fort Walton Beach and South Walton Beach. In addition, the area is characterized by well-known fishing grounds such as Bob Sikes Bridge Fishing Pier, Pensacola Bay Bridge Fishing Pier, Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier (Casino Beach), Fort Pickens and Navarre Beach Fishing Pier Pier.
Orlando in the heart of Florida leisure is very important. The city has 47 parks and 54 lakes. Universal Orlando has two theme parks:
the film studios Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The film shows and studio shows many models from popular movies, for example, ET, Jaws and Back to the Future, which were all filmed here. The Sea World Adventure Park include killer whales, dolphins, sea lions to see sharks. In the tropical park Discovery Cove tropical sea creatures are the focus. Eola Park, the 20-acre Le Gardens, the Orange County Historical Museum and the Cartoon Museum worth seeing. The restaurant / Celebrity Theater offers five different productions each season. Orlando is located near Walt Disney World, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the U.S. (see below). From the Citrus Tower in Clermont on Highway 27 you can enjoy a beautiful view of the citrus-growing region of central Florida. In Medieval Times, west of Kissimmee, you feel a castle from the 11th Century, banquets, tournaments and sword fights back in the early Middle Ages. The NASA Kennedy Space Center on the East Coast organized astronaut training, photo and art exhibitions and film shows. Gatorland Zoo in the north of Kissimmee is the largest alligator farm in the world with Florida’s wildlife, birds, an ancient Sumpfweg and thousands of alligators and crocodiles. Florida Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven is the oldest tourist attraction in Central Florida with beautiful flower shows, ice shows and the famous water ski show. Other attractions include Gatorland (alligators) and Wonder Works, an entertainment center in Pointe Orlando, where you can experience earthquakes and Schwerelosgkeit.
In Silver Springs, go in the glass-bottom boat through a jungle landscape. Among the attractions of the nearby Wild Waters theme parks, open in summer, tours are on artificial waterway, a wave pool and a mini golf course. For hikers, the Florida Trail is thought that meanders over a length of 2100 km through the center of the state.
Walt Disney World Resort: This 122 sq km Amusement Park, which opened in 1971, lies 32 km southwest of Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, and includes a 2880-hectare nature reserve. Between the individual parts, you are transported on small cars, ferries and boats. Walt Disney World is open all year round and has 4 theme parks and three water parks:
The 104-acre Epcot Center covers various topics such as scientific achievements and discoveries. The main attractions include Spaceship Earth and Mission: Space (Mars mission). The World Showcase (also in the EPCOT Center) exhibits provides from 11 countries at a World Showcase Lagoon around from – Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Morocco, Mexico and Norway are represented.
of the Vacation Kingdom is within it the Magic Kingdom that a 40-acre site offers many adventures on. It is divided into seven themed lands, each with entertainment, restaurants and shops: Adventureland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, Main Street, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Mickey’s Birthday Land. Landmark is the Cinderella Castle (Cinderella Castle).
The Disney MGM Studios are television and film production studios, tour and entertainment facilities. The Walt Disney World Village includes the Disney Village Market Place (with 30 shops, 10 restaurants, the Empress Lilly riverboat and Village Lounge), Disney Village Club House & Village Resort, Hotel Plaza, Village Office Plaza, Conference Center and Pleasure Iceland – a 2.4-acre restaurant and entertainment facility.
The latest and largest theme park, Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a mix of leisure and wildlife park.
Vacation Kingdom is a group of holiday hotels under certain theme on a 100 hectare site. Choose from Disney resort hotels include the Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, the Comtemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge (Deluxe Resort), the Grand Floridian Beach Resort. New is the Disney’s Pop Century Resort. Other accommodations are the Polynesian Village, the Disney Inn, the Fort Wilderness campground. There are meeting rooms, restaurants, shops, night clubs, entertainment facilities, championship golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, swimming, boating and water skiing equipment, and the River Country Water Adventure, the tropical garden Discovery Islands, protected areas and the Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
Central Florida
Tampa, Florida’s third largest city, is located on the west coast. It was long regarded as the site of the super rich. The Spanish influence can not be overlooked. Busch Gardens, one of the main attractions of Tampa Bay, is a 120-acre African theme park built around the turn of the century. Interesting are also the Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Ybor City within the urban area is a full Spanish town, the Cuban cigar manufacturer named Vincent Martinez Ybor was to do so, the Tampa business opened in 1866. Ybor City has wrought-iron balconies, plazas, arcades and street cafés. It is also known for its nightlife. A monorailway a Skyride, a train with steam engine and traveling to the Island of Adventure are offered, as well as screenings, a zoo and the Moroccan Palace Theater.
The world famous Pinellas Suncoast is easily accessible from Tampa on the state highway in 30 minutes. The year-round recreational area has an average of 361 sunny days a year. At the 205 km coastline are 45 km of sandy beaches and resorts Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Holiday Isles, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, Tarpon Springs (Sponge Docks), Treasure Iceland and St. Petersburg, a particularly popular destination for seniors, on Florida’s west coast. The city is with its Salvador Dal Museum, art galleries and museums as a cultural center. The Pinellas Peninsula and its famous beaches are only a stone’s throw from Florida’s main attractions. The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg houses the largest collection of Spanish artist in the world. The St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts is known for its exhibitions of French impressionist painters.
St. Pete Beach is located 30 minutes drive from Tampa International Airport and an average of 90 minutes from all Central Florida’s attractions. make beautiful powder-white sand beaches and a seemingly endless water sports makes it an ideal holiday destination. In the area there is also a unique cultural and leisure offer with St. Petersburg itself, and its theaters, concert halls and museums, or even Walt Disney World (Disneyland), Sea World and Universal studios. Nearby are sports enthusiasts and horse and dog race tracks, baseball and American football stadiums or can rapidly Jai-Alai games experience. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary at Indian Shores is the largest bird hospital in North America. There are over 500 birds can be seen here, including a large breeding colony of brown pelicans. Specimens of marine life are exhibited at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Boatyard Village is a reconstructed fishing village of 1890, which is found in the bay of Tampa Bay. Celebration Station in Clearwater is a small amusement park with bumper cars, Bootskootern and much more.
Further south is the coastal town of Fort Myers with its famous palm tree-lined avenues and the beautifully restored business district from the turn of the century. From here you can make a trip to the beautiful islands of Sanibel, Captiva, Estero and Pine. On Mac Gregor Boulevard in Fort Myers can be the winter home of the American inventor Edison, fully furnished like to visit during his lifetime. The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park near the Gulf of Mexico offers visitors the opportunity to look under the sea level to 10,000 fish and marine mammals up close. The Ringling Museum of Art outside of Sarasota and is the official state museum of Florida. In Sarasota, the Sarasota Car Museum with over 100 cars, including those of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
The Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs offers a glimpse into the history of Florida and the fauna of the Everglades with bears, otters, panthers, deer, birds of prey, alligators, snakes and the endangered Everglades crocodile. On the Naples Museum of Art joins in Naples a colorful arts scene. The African Safari Caribbean Garden in Naples, on the edge of the swamp Big Cypress Swamp, consists of 21 beautiful acres of tropical landscape with wild animals. The city is also called “Golf Capital of the World” known. Fort de Soto Park, a historic fort, is ideal for watching the ocean liners leaving Tampa Bay. Other beautiful parks are the Hillsborough River Park and the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa Bay.
The Treasure Coast stretches from the Jupiter Inlet in the south to Sebastian Inlet north. Here in 1949 the treasures of a 1715 Spanish fleet were recovered previous: gold, silver and works of art worth millions are to be admired in St. Lucie County History Museum. The treasures on the seabed are not exhausted until today. The Treasure Coast has to offer not only History: wonderful beaches, luxurious homes, lush green landscapes, parks, vast orange and grapefruit groves, rivers, and channels dominate the landscape beauty. The vast areas of untouched nature and the rural atmosphere make the Treasure Coast a coveted tourist destination. Visitors can swim in an exceptional environment, among other things, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, surfing and beach ride. The sunny and mild climate make St. Lucie County to a year-round destination for golfers and tennis players. In St. Lucie County Sports Complex Thomas J. White Stadium in St. Port Lucie leads the National League baseball team the New York Mets from February to April by her spring training. Fort Pierce fishing is a paradise for divers and offshore.
Central Florida has no beaches, but have 6 cooling water parks. The Atlantic coast of the islands and Jack Hutchinson Iceland Iceland provide about 30 km long white beaches and vast nature reserves, where sea cows (manatees) and birds can be observed. Thousands of endangered loggerhead turtles and green turtles addressed each year in June and July on the beaches of Hutchinson Iceland their breeding grounds one, during which time turtles organized tours are offered at night. Other interesting places on Florida’s east coast are Hobe Sound, Jupiter, Iceland, Iceland Johns, Jensen Beach and Turtle Capital of the World, Stuart, Sewall Point, Vero Beach and Sebastian.
South Florida, Miami and the Keys
Miami is the largest cruise port in the world (with bar capacity for 14 vessels) and both the water and by air is an ideal springboard to the Caribbean. The former summer resort of the year is now visited over a lot. The temperatures are pleasant all year round – between 20C and 27C in December in August. Hotel rooms and apartments are from April to mid-December, much cheaper. You can be Little Havana, stroll the districts of the exiled Cubans or the South Beach, the artistically-inspired coastal strip of the city. The Art Deco District boasts the largest collection of Art Deco buildings.
Miami’s cityscape has changed in the last years of renovation and construction projects. The Bayside Marketplace, offers many shops, restaurants and entertainment. The 12-acre Bayfront Park runs along the bay and Bayfront connects with River Walk. Greater Miami and Metropolitan Dade County is made up of several villages, including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, South Miami, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and Little Havana (with Cuban restaurants and cafes). In the north-east is the popular Sunny Isles Motel Row, the southwest is the Miracle Mile shopping district in Coral Gables (with Venetian bathhouse) and the modern university campus. Greynolds Park in the north, there are picnic areas, boat rentals and a golf course. A point of interest is the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux in the 12th Century, which was bought by the publisher William Randolf Hearst in Spain and then imported stone by stone. Of cultural interest, the Miami Wax Museum, the Miami Art Museum, the Lowe Art Museum with an extensive collection of primitive art and European and Oriental paintings and the Bass Museum of Art, the American Sightseeing Tours are run daily half-day or full day through the city of Greater Miami, also offer various tour operators tours by boat.
The island of Miami Beach is a causeway and bridges to the mainland by. The Flamingo Park is located on South Beach.
Watson Iceland may be a glimpse of the helicopter from the air in Miami and Miami Beach eject. The flight takes 14 minutes
The Fairchild Tropical Garden on Old Cutler Road in South Miami, with 33 ha colorful tropical plants from around the world, a rain forest, palm trees, a sunken garden and a plant house with rare species of the largest botanical garden in the U.S.. The HMS Bounty in Bayside is a replica of the famous ship from the 18th Century with full rigging, made famous by the book Mutiny on the Bounty. The Lion Country Safari is a 800 km ride on the Southern Boulevard to the west by a wildlife and recreational park, home to about 1,000 African, Asian and American animals. Miami Metrozoo, Florida near the main road, 152nd Street West, the natural habitat of animals is simulated. The Miccosukee Indian Village, west of Miami, you can learn how this Indian tribe (it still exists today) in the middle of the Everglades (see below) lived.
The Monkey Jungle south of the main road exit 216 West Street, one can see a colony of monkeys living in a lush tropical jungle. The main attractions include the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool Encounter, the Amazing Rain Forest and the Ape. Vizcaya, south of the business district of Miami and the Biscayne Bay is a beautiful palace with 70 rooms in the style of the Italian Renaissance. He is a 4-hectare cultivated garden and houses an excellent collection of furniture and objets d’art. The Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium is located in the vicinity of Biscay in the South Miami Avenue and offers many attractions, including a laser show. The Parrot Jungle, 18 km south of Miami, Habitat of 1100 birds.
The Everglades National Park west of Miami is the largest subtropical wilderness in North America. It covers 1.4 million ha of three states and takes up most of the southern tip of Florida. The National Park is home to 600 species of fish, 300 bird species and countless species of mammals and plants that grow nowhere else in the world. There are hiking trails, swimming areas, camp sites, guided walks, horse trails and facilities to boat and canoe. The remaining area of the Everglades is dehydrated but gradually, so that the habitat of some Indian tribes and animal species will be destroyed. The only access from here to the 5439 sq km area of the waterway. North of the Everglades Tamiami Trail connects the Miami and Tampa.
The world-famous Florida Keys form a 200 km-long island chain from Miami in the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico extends south and extend from the Biscayne Bay near Miami to the Dry Tortugas, which are only 145 km from Havana. The islands are connected to the American mainland and connected by the Overseas Highway and 43 bridges, the longest of which is the Seven Mile Bridge. There are also air connections with U.S. airlines from Miami to Key West and Marathon, as well as Cape Air and Transfloridian of various cities in Florida to Key West.
They are divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. The environment of the Keys is mainly dominated by emerald-green lagoons, deep blue sea, swaying palms, rustling pines and olive-green mangroves.
Key Biscayne, 10 miles from Miami’s business district is located, Rickenbacker causeway to reach the. Among the main attractions of this resort are the beautiful beaches, a zoo, a picnic grove and beach houses. You can visit go with a small car and the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park with a picnic, fishing, boating and swimming.
The Miami Seaquarium in Virginia Key and Biscayne Bay is a tropical island paradise in which one killer whales, dolphins (including Flipper) and can admire sea lions. Planet Ocean on the Virginia Key can be reached via the Rickenbacker causeway, here are the mysteries of the oceans investigated and explained. You can experience a hurricane first hand, go through clouds, visit a submarine and see the formation of the oceans.
Key Largo, the largest island, is considered paradise for divers, not least because one of North America’s oldest marine park, over 480 square miles John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary can visit. These two protected areas offer 55 types of coral and almost 500 different fish species, a fact-finding trip by glass bottom boat through the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is possible. In the only underwater hotel in the world (“Jules Undersea Lodge”), guests can spend their evenings in the middle of the colorful marine life.
Key Islamorada in the Upper Keys is the main island of Isle-Purple group consisting of the islands of Plantation Keys, Windley Key, Upper / Lower Matecumbe Key are composed. This island, known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World, makes its name. Anglers can fish for here include Sailfish, Marlin, Dolphin (not Flipper), kingfish, snapper, barracuda and grouper. But also sailing, diving, jet skiing and windsurfing are popular sports here always fun. Also located in Islamorada Key one of the oldest and most popular marine parks in the country, the Theater of the Sea with dolphin shows.
Marathon, the heart of the Florida Keys offers tourists varied water sports and is a central location provides the ideal base for exploring trips. Crane Point Hammock, one of the most important historical and archaeological parks in the Keys is another attraction of this island. On Grassy Key near Marathon is the Dolphin Research Center, where sick and dolphins trained to be maintained. South of Marathon is the new Seven Mile Bridge, which leads to hundreds of concrete pillars on the sea, parallel to the old railway bridge by Henry Flagler runs. The sandy track of the Bahia Honda State Park Beach is considered the most beautiful of the entire island chain and raises because of its tropical vegetation Caribbean feeling.
Big Pine Key is a tropical paradise where nature is at the Blue Hole and alligators frolic on the Rehart “Key Deer” their home has it on the Lower Keys only. Drivers should, when riding the eighth National Key Deer Refuge special care not to disturb wildlife.
Certainly the best known is Key West, about a 3 square kilometer island with charming wooden houses in the Victorian-style conch, his happy life and a fascinating past. Ernest Hemingway 1931, bought a country house and spent 10 years of his life here, in which he wrote many of his famous books. Today it attracts many tourists to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, as well as to his favorite pub, the “Sloppy Joes” (now renamed “Captain Tony’s Saloon”). As the attractions are lined with bars of Duval Street and Mallory Square, where make every evening at sunset street performers and jugglers. Other attractions in Key West are Audebon House of Gardens, the home of the famous ornithologist and painter of the 19th James Audebon century, the East Martello Museum and Art Gallery, the Key West Aquarium and the Key West Lighthouse Museum. Key West is located 90 km from the sea and island region of the Dry Tortugas National Park. It includes coral reefs, small islands and Fort Jefferson.
Florida Keys Helicopters offer scenic flights over the island chain.
Fort Lauderdale , north of Miami, is because of its many elegant lagoons, canals and rivers have been compared with Venice. Water comes first. There is a 37 km stretch of white beach, over 50 golf courses, 288 parks, where you ride, ideal conditions for hiking in the outdoors, picnics and camping, as well as excellent shopping on the famous Las Olas Boulevard. The beach promenade at the Atlantic Boulevard offers access to miles of beaches. Other beaches are located in Dania and Hollywood. The accommodation offer is large and ranges from elegant resorts to tiny little house on the coast.
In the Bahia Mar Marina you can rent boats or take a ride on the Jungle Queen. The house of the artist Frederic Bartlett, Bonnet House is a subtropical property south of Sunrise Boulevard. The Museum of Discovery and Science, which also includes a planetarium and a Insektenzoo, the whole family to the world of art, history and science closer. Also, the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex, the Museum of Art with an excellent ethnographic section and the Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum are very interesting. Downtown Trolley organize tours throughout the city.
Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet centers in the world. The Atlantis Water Kingdom, near Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, is a huge water park with many attractions.
Palm Beach County is an unusual destination: beautiful sandy beaches, palm-lined avenues, lots of sports from golf to scuba diving, culture and nature, excellent shopping facilities, over 2,300 restaurants and more than 200 hotels, resorts, exotic Seaside Cottages by the sea, lovely and enchanting Inn Bed & Breakfast accommodation. Mizner Park in Boca Raton and a European city modeled on City Place in West Palm Beach waiting for the shops and restaurants with. The Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, with its many bars, clubs and restaurants, is known as a meeting place for night owls. Thursdays at 17:30 clock starts in the summer months for over ten years, the weekly Clematis by Night, a huge street party in the Clematis Street District. Other attractions in Palm Beach are the Dreher Park Zoo, the Morikami Museum to the Japanese garden, the Norton Gallery of Art, the South Florida Science Museum and the Lion Country Safari Park with over 1,000 wild animals, free boat rides, crazy golf and a dinosaur and reptile park. In the northwestern part of the County is Florida’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee. The lake is famous for its perch, and so are held here throughout the year fishing tournaments that attract anglers from around the world.
