Last updated Oct 20th 2003.
This site is under construction and more information will be added in the future
Site disclaimer
This site has been constructed from personal experiences and opinions and therefore intended as a guide only. The driving directions are suggested routes. The webmaster is not responsible for any changes or differences you may encounter.
Feed-back is always appreciated. e-mail.....airforce.one@blueyonder.co.uk
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The very name Florida carried the message of warmth and ease and comfort. It was irresistible, wrote John Steinbeck over 50 years ago. In his day there were no theme parks and Mickey Mouse was a mere youngster. But what Florida did have going for it then, as it does now, was a marvelous year-round climate, mile upon mile of glorious beaches, and resourceful, hard-working people, determined to make the Sunshine State the world's number one holiday destination. They have succeeded - nowhere else in the world has the art of tourism been so expertly perfected as here. The choice of theme parks, marine-life parks, wildlife parks, sports, beaches, restaurants, bars and nightlife is bewildering and limited only by your budget. Most tourists head straight for Orlando and Walt Disney World (WDW) even before they have unpacked. Certainly, no one with children should miss the Magic Kingdom. After a few minutes inside the park even the most cynical grown-ups will be standing inline to have their picture taken with Mickey or Pluto. It's not a case of having to suspend your disbelief - the real world simply does not exist here. The rest of WDW is also a hugely enjoyable fantasy, and to a large extent this sets the tone for most of central Florida's attractions. Step back into the Wild West, visit Africa, go to the moon, join King Henry's feast, meet King Kong, see improbable wildlife performing unlikely feats.....who wants the hassle of going to Africa when Busch Gardens is only 85 miles away? Attraction hosts (visitors are guests in Florida) are frequently super-efficient and most of the time you won't even have to think for yourself. Within the theme parks you'll never see an overflowing garbage can, litter on the sidewalk, or a burned-out light bulb. If it all gets a little too slick - even antiseptic - leave Orlando (which has a limited amount to offer above and beyond the theme parks) for the excitement of Florida's other cities and the beauty of it's beaches. The illuminated skyscrapers of Miami's skyline are almost as impressive as Epcot's pyrotechnics, and the Art Deco district of Miami Beach is something of a fantasy-land theme park for the trendy. Tampa cannot compete with Miami's energy, but it tries, particularly in Ybor City, a fascinating Cuban area of the city that was once the world's Cigar-making centre. For more sedate sightseeing, head north to St. Augustine to explore the state's oldest town, or cross into the Panhandle to Tallahassee, the state's capital and the historic districts of Pensacola. After footslogging the theme parks you may want to just chill out on the beach. Your choice of resort is limitless, from the beaches of Daytona, Cocoa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami on the east coast, to Clearwater, St.Petes, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, Sanibel and Captiva on the west coast. The list is endless! To the south lie two of America's natural wonders - the great sea of grass wilderness known as the Everglades, and the chain of 32 coral and limestone islands known as the Florida Keys. With the exception of Key West, the USA's very own Caribbean island, the keys are quiet, natural and mostly underdeveloped, but have few large beaches. If you get restless from lying on the beach, you can have as sporty a holiday as your body will allow. For example, a tennis court or golf course is never far away and fishing trips (along with placid cruises) are part of the entertainment that every resort lays on. In terms of practical advice, if you intend to see more of Florida than the theme parks a car is a must as distances are massive compared with the UK.