Overview

Florida, the “Sunshine State”, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Orlando, with its theme parks, movie studios, water parks and other recreational offerings, is the place most associated with Florida. But Florida has much more to offer than Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom Park, Busch Gardens or the new Legoland between Tampa and Orlando. Winding waterways, inland lakes, mountains, forests, exciting cities, 13,560 km of coastline, countless bays and islands and a legendary good climate make this one of the most popular states in the USA. Florida is divided into eight geographic zones. Traditionally, the super rich and famous live in Miami and Miami Beach. Palm Beach is just as glamorous. Fort Lauderdale is popular with families for its sports and recreational offerings. Tropical climate, beautiful beaches and crystal clear water lure in the Florida Keys. Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, is a true Southern city. In the central-western region are Tampa and St. Petersburg. Sarasota is the region’s cultural capital, while Naples is a popular beach destination in the Southwest. beautiful beaches and crystal clear water lure in the Florida Keys. Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, is a true Southern city. In the central-western region are Tampa and St. Petersburg. Sarasota is the region’s cultural capital, while Naples is a popular beach destination in the Southwest. beautiful beaches and crystal clear water lure in the Florida Keys. Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, is a true Southern city. In the central-western region are Tampa and St. Petersburg. Sarasota is the region’s cultural capital, while Naples is a popular beach destination in the Southwest.

• Travelationary: Covers basic information about Florida geography and economy.

Getting there

Arriving by plane

Numerous direct flights to Florida from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are served by the following airlines: – Lufthansa (LH): Frankfurt – Miami and Orlando; – Swiss International (LX): Zurich – Miami; – United (UA) flies from Frankfurt/M., Zurich and Vienna to Miami. – Eurowings Discover (4Y) flies from Frankfurt/M. to Fort Myers.

Flight times

Miami – Frankfurt: 10 hrs 5 mins; Miami – Vienna: 11 hrs 20 mins; Miami – Zurich: 10 hrs 25 mins Orlando – Frankfurt: 10 hrs; Orlando – Zurich: 12 hrs 15 mins (with stopover); Orlando – Vienna: 12 hrs 40 mins (with stopover).

Departure fee

Airport taxes are already included in the ticket price.

Arrival by car

Florida’s major roads run from Daytona Beach to St. Petersburg (I-4), from Jacksonville to the Alabama border (I-10), from St. Petersburg to Tampa (I-275), from the south west coast to Fort Lauderdale ( I-75), the north-south routes I-95 or I-75, and from Clearwater to Vero Beach (State 60). Most roads are well developed. Bus: Greyhound connects Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Key West via Islamorada and Orlando to Miami. Greyhound also operates between Florida and the adjacent states of Georgia and Alabama. Tolls: Various routes in Florida have tolls. Most of the toll is paid electronically with the Sun Pass, which is usually included when you rent a car. Documents: It is advisable to carry the international driver’s license with you in addition to the national driver’s license. Speed ​​Limits: Urban Interstate Highways: 65 mph (104 km/h) Urban Interstate Highways: 70 mph (112 km/h)

Note on arrival by car

Average car travel times: Miami – Orlando: 4 hours; Miami – Tampa: 5 hrs; Miami – Daytona Beach: 5 hrs; Miami – New York: 27 hours; Miami – Chicago: 27 hrs; Miami – Dallas: 28 hours; Miami – Los Angeles: 57 hrs; Miami – Seattle: 69 hrs. Tampa – Orlando: 1 hr. 30 min. Average bus travel times: Miami – Ft. Lauderdale: 1 hour 55 minutes; Miami – Palm Beach: 3 hours; Miami – Orlando: 7 hours 15 minutes; Miami – St. Petersburg: 8 hrs 30 mins; Miami – Jacksonville: 9 hrs 30 mins; Miami – Tampa: 10 hrs; Miami – Tallahassee: 13 hrs; Miami – Atlanta: 18 hrs

Arrival by train

The Miami Amtrak train station is 7 miles north of the business district. The Auto-Train travels the route from Lorton, Virginia (Washington DC) to Sanford, Florida (Orlando). The Silver Meteor connects New York to Miami via Washington DC, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville and Orlando. The Silver Star also departs from New York, but takes a different route in North and South Carolina and heads to Sarasota, a few miles south of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico. Brightline bullet trains operate the Miami – Fort Lauderdale – West Palm Beach route. From 2023 there will be an extension to Orlando.

rail passes

Detailed information about the USA Rail Pass from Amtrak under Getting to the USA.

Arrival by ship

Dubbed the Cruise Capital of the World, the Port of Miami offers ships for every occasion – from onboard conferences to weekend cruises to extended voyages. The second busiest cruise port in Florida is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, which has the largest passenger terminal in the world. Port Canaveral and Port of Palm Beach are other ports on the east coast; the main ports of call for West Coast cruises are St. Petersburg and Tampa.

Cruise ships

Some of the major cruise lines that call at Florida are Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Phoenix and MSC Cruises.

Ferry provider

Key West Express ferries connect Fort Myers Beach and Marco Island to Key West (journey time: 3 hr 30 min).

Passport and visa regulations

Entry with children

Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Business

Business etiquette

When it comes to business, Florida is little different from the rest of the United States, dressing neatly and conducting business American-style—quickly, efficiently, and openly. Business cards should be given. Outside of the meeting room, however, Americans are often informal and address each other by their first names. Business hours are normally 9am-5pm, although there may be slight variations from establishment to establishment. Legal holidays are i. Generally celebrated on the next Friday or Monday and thus create a long weekend. Meetings are often private, and in keeping with the fast pace of American business, breakfast meetings are also very common. Business lunches are also popular, e.g. T. is then also drunk alcohol; sometimes there are meetings at the weekend.

Attractions

Ybor City, within the metropolitan area, is an entire Spanish town named after Cuban cigar maker Vincent Martinez Ybor, who opened a shop in Tampa in 1866. Ybor City has wrought iron balconies, plazas, arcades and sidewalk cafes. It is also known for its nightlife. A single-track railway, Skyride, steam train and trips to Adventure Island are on offer, as well as shows, a zoo and the Moroccan Palace theatre.

The world-famous Pinellas Suncoast can be reached from Tampa in 30 minutes via the state highway. The year-round holiday area has an average of 361 days of sunshine a year. On the 205 km long coast (Internet: www.floridasbeach.com) There are 45 km of sandy beaches and the resorts of Clearwater Beach, Dunedin, Holiday Isles, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach, Tarpon Springs (Sponge Docks), Treasure Island and St. Petersburg, a holiday resort particularly popular with seniors, on Florida’s west coast. The city is considered a cultural center with its Salvador Dalì Museum, art galleries and museums. The Pinellas Peninsula and its famous beaches are just a stone’s throw from Florida’s top attractions. The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg houses the largest collection of the Spanish artist in the world. ThatSt. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts is known for its exhibitions of French Impressionist painters.
St. Pete Beach is a 30 minute drive from Tampa International Airport and an average of 90 minutes from all Central Florida attractions. Beautiful powder-white sandy beaches and an almost endless range of water sports make it an ideal vacation spot. There is also a great cultural and leisure offer in the area with St. Petersburg itself and its theatres, concert halls and museums or Walt Disney World (Disneyland), Sea World and Universal Studios. Sports enthusiasts can also find nearby horse and dog tracks, baseball and football stadiums, or witness fast-paced jai alai games. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary on the Indian Shores is the largest bird hospital in North America. Over 500 birds can be seen here including a large breeding colony of brown pelicans. Specimens of marine life are on display at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Boatyard Village is a rebuilt 1890’s fishing village found on Tampa Bay. Celebration Station in Clearwater is a small amusement park with bumper cars, boat rides and more.

Further south is the seaside town of Fort Myers (website: www.fortmyers.org ) with its famous palm-lined avenues and beautifully restored turn-of-the-century business district. From here you can take a detour to the pretty islands of Sanibel, Captiva, Estero and Pine. On Mac Gregor Boulevard in Fort Myers you can visit the winter home of the American inventor Edison, fully furnished as in his lifetime. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park near the Gulf of Mexico offers visitors the opportunity to get an up-close look at 10,000 fish and marine mammals below sea level. The Ringling Museum of Art outside of Sarasota and is the official Florida State Museum. In Sarasota is the Sarasota Car Museum with over 100 cars, e.g. B. those of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

The Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs offer a glimpse into Florida history and Everglades wildlife, featuring bears, otters, panthers, deer, birds of prey, alligators, snakes and the endangered Everglades crocodile. A colorful art scene joins the Naples Museum of Art in Naples ( Internet : www.visitnaplesonline.com ). The African Safari in the Caribbean Garden in Naples, on the edge of the Big Cypress Swamp, consists of 21 hectares of beautiful tropical landscape with wildlife. The city is also known as the “Golf Capital of the World”. Fort de Soto Park, a historic fort, is ideal for watching the ocean liners leaving Tampa Bay. Other beautiful parks include Hillsborough River Park and Lowry Park and Zoo in Tampa Bay.
The Treasure Coast stretches from Jupiter Inlet in the south to Sebastian Inlet in the North. The treasures of a Spanish fleet that sank in 1715 were recovered here in 1949: gold, silver and art objects worth millions can be admired in the St. Lucie County History Museum. The treasures on the seabed are not exhausted until today. However, the Treasure Coast does not only have history to offer: wonderful sandy beaches, luxurious houses, lush green areas, parks, extensive orange and grapefruit groves, rivers and canals characterize the scenic beauty. The vast expanses of unspoiled nature and rural atmosphere make the Treasure Coast a desirable vacation spot. Visitors can enjoy swimming, diving, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, fishing and horseback riding on the beach in exceptional surroundings. The sunny mild climate makes St. Lucie County a year-round destination for golfers and tennis players. The New York Mets National League baseball team conducts spring training at the St. Lucie County Sports Complex Thomas J. White Stadium in St. Lucie Port from February through April. Fort Pierce is a haven for scuba divers and offshore anglers. Central Florida has no beaches, but there are 6 water parks where you can cool down. The islands of Hutchinson Island and Jack Island off the Atlantic coast offer around 30 km of long white beaches and extensive nature reserves where you can watch birds and sea cows (manatees). Thousands of endangered hawksbill and green tortoises nest on the beaches of Hutchinson Island every June and July; Organized night turtle tours are available during this time. Other interesting places on Florida’s east coast are Hobe Sound, Jupiter Island, John’s Island, Jensen Beach – also “Turtle Capital of the World”, Stuart, Sewall’s Point, Vero Beach and Sebastian.

Central Florida

Tampa, Florida’s third largest city, is located on the west coast. It has long been considered the place of the “super-rich”. The Spanish influence cannot be ignored. Busch Gardens, one of Tampa Bay ‘s top attractions (website: www.visittampabay.com ), is a 300-acre, turn-of-the-century African theme park. Also worth seeing are the Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Pensacola (website: www.visitpensacola.com ) is one of the premier vacation spots on Florida’s scenic northwest coast. Since the arrival of the first Spanish settlers in 1559, the city has been under Spanish, British and French rule. Seville Square (with restaurants and quirky shops), Plaza Ferdinand, the Spanish Aviation Museum, the Spanish Forts, the Pensacola Museum of Art housed in the former city prison, and the historic business district are all worth visiting. The Pensacola Historic District has been designated a National Historic Landmark. On the Colonial Archaeological Trail visitors can explore the historic sites on a city tour.

Cedar Keys (website: www.cedarkey.org ) is a chain of approximately 100 islands off the northwest coast of Florida. Three of these islands make up the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The most beautiful beaches on the so-called “Emerald Coast” include Panama City, Gulf Breeze Beach, Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Destin Beach, Perdido Key, Fort Walton Beach and South Walton Beach. Also, the area features well-known fishing spots such as Bob Sikes Bridge Fishing Pier, Pensacola Bay Bridge Fishing Pier, Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier (Casino Beach), and Fort Pickens Fishing PierNavarre Beach Pier off.

In Orlando (website: www.orlandoinfo.com ), in the heart of Florida, leisure is a priority. The city has 47 parks and 54 lakes. Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks: the Universal Studios Florida film studios and Universal Islands of Adventure with the new Harry Potter theme park. The film studios show shows and models from many well-known cinema films, e.g. B. from »ET«, »Jaws« and »Back to the Future«, all of which were filmed here. Killer whales, dolphins, sea lions and sharks can be seen at Sea World Adventure Park. In the tropical park Discovery Cove the focus is on tropical sea creatures. Eola Park, the 50-acre Le Gardens, the Orange Country Historical Museum and the Cartoon Museum are well worth seeing. The restaurant/theater Celebrity offers five different productions each season. Orlando is close to Walt Disney World, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the USA (see below). The Citrus Tower on Highway 27 in Clermont offers a beautiful view of the citrus fruit growing region of central Florida. In the Medieval Times, west of Kissimmee, an 11th-century castle, banquets, sword fights and tournaments transport you back to the early Middle Ages. NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (website: www.kennedyspacecenter.com ) on the east coast hosts astronaut training, photo and art exhibits, and film screenings. North of Kissimmee, Gatorland Zoo is home to the world’s largest alligator farm, featuring Florida wildlife, birds, an ancient swamp trail and thousands of alligators and crocodiles. Florida Cypress Gardens (Web: www.cypressgardens.com ) in Winter Haven is the oldest tourist attraction in Central Florida with beautiful flower displays, 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 zero gravity.
In Silver Springs you travel in glass-bottom boats through a jungle landscape. Attractions at the nearby Wild Waters Theme Park, open during the summer, include rides on man-made waterways, a wave pool and miniature golf. The Florida Trail, which winds its way through the middle of the state over a length of 2100 km, is intended for hikers.
Walt Disney World Resort (Internet: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com ) : Opened in 1971, this 40-acre theme park is located 20 miles southwest of Orlando on Lake Buena Vista and includes a 6,000-acre conservation area. Between the individual parts you are transported on small trains, ferries and boats. Walt Disney World is open year-round and consists of 4 theme parks and 3 water parks:
The 104-hectare EPCOT Center covers various themes such as scientific achievements and discoveries. The main attractions include “Spaceship Earth” and “Mission: Space” (Mars mission). The World Showcase (also at the EPCOT Center) presents exhibits from 11 nations around a World Showcase Lagoon – Canada, Great Britain, France, Japan, “The American Adventure”, Italy, Germany, China, Morocco, Mexico and Norway are represented.
Within the Vacation Kingdom is the Magic Kingdom , which offers many adventures on a 100-acre site. 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. The landmark is the Cinderella Castle (Cinderella Castle).
Disney MGM Studios are television and film studios with production, touring and entertainment facilities. Walt Disney World Village includes Disney Village Market Place (with 30 shops, 10 restaurants, the Empress Lilly riverboat and Village Lounge ), Disney Village Clubhouse & Village Resort, Hotel Plaza, Village Office Plaza, Conference Center and Pleasure Island – a 6 acre restaurant and entertainment facility.
The newest and largest theme park is the Animal Kingdom Theme Park, a mixture of amusement and animal park.
Vacation Kingdom is a group of themed vacation hotels spread over 100 hectares. You can choose from Disney Resorts Hotels: including the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Coronado Springs Resort, the Contemporary Resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge (Deluxe Resort), the Grand Floridian Beach Resort. Disney’s Pop Century Resort is new. Other accommodations include the Polynesian Village, the Disney Inn, the Fort -Wilderness- Campsite. There are meeting rooms, restaurants, shops, nightclubs, entertainment rooms, championship golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, swimming pools, boat trips and water skiing equipment, as well as the River Country Water Adventure, the Discovery Islands tropical garden, wildlife sanctuaries and the Typhoon Lagoon Water Park.

Tallahassee (website: www.seetallahassee.com ), the state capital, is a modern city with a vibrant bohemian and student community. The main attractions include the deepest freshwater spring in the world, numerous museums, historical buildings such as the Capitol and a variety of local recreation areas. The city is 14 miles from the Georgia state border and 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

North Florida

Jacksonville is located a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean on the banks of the St. Johns River in North Florida. The attractive large port city with 32 km of beaches was named after President Andrew Jackson. Jacksonville Beach offers excellent shopping at the beach pier, the marketplace at Jacksonville Landing and two boardwalks invite you to stroll. Sights 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.

The world-famous Florida Keys (Internet: www.fla-keys.com ) form an approximately 200 km long chain of islands that extends south of Miami into the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico and extends from Biscayne Bay near Miami to the Dry Tortugas, which are only 145 km from Havana. The islands are connected to the American mainland and to each other by the Overseas Highway and a total of 43 bridges, the longest of which is the ‘Seven Mile Bridge’. There are also flight connections with US airlines from Miami to Key West and Marathon, and with Transfloridian and Cape Air from various Florida cities to Key West.
You are in the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys. The surroundings of the Keys are mainly dominated by emerald lagoons, deep blue seas, rustling palm trees, rustling pines and olive green mangroves.
Key Biscayne, 6 miles from Miami’s CBD, is accessed via the Rickenbacker Causeway. The main attractions of this resort include the beautiful beaches, a zoo, a picnic area and bathhouses. You can ride a small train and visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park for picnicking, fishing, boating and swimming.
The Miami Seaquarium on Virginia Key and on Biscayne Bay is a tropical island paradise where you can see killer whales, dolphins (including »pinball«) and sea lions. Planet Ocean on Virginia Key can be reached via the Rickenbacker Dam, where the mysteries of the world’s oceans are examined and explained. You can experience a hurricane up close, walk through clouds, tour a submarine and observe the formation of the seas. Key Largo, the largest island, is considered a diver’s paradise, not least because here you can find North America’s oldest underwater park, the 480 square km John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park or Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary
can visit. These two sanctuaries boast 55 species of coral and almost 500 different species of fish; a glass-bottom boat tour of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is available. In the only underwater hotel in the world (” Jules Undersea Lodge “), guests can spend their evening hours amidst the colorful sea fauna.
Islamorada Key in the Upper Keys is the main island of the Purple Isle group, made up of the Plantation Keys, Windley Key, Upper/Lower Matecumbe Key islands . This island, as »Sportfishing Capital of the World « known, lives up to its name. Anglers can fish for Sailfish, Marlin, Dolphins (not Flipper), Kingfish, Snapper, Barracuda and Grouper, among others. But sailing, diving, jet skiing and windsurfing are always popular sports here. Islamorada Key is also home to 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 holidaymakers a wide range of water sports and, thanks to its central location, is an ideal starting point for exploring excursions. Crane Point Hammock, one of the most historic and archaeological parks in the Keys, is another island attraction. On Grassy Key near Marathon is the Dolphin Research Center, where sick dolphins are cared for and trained. South of Marathon is the new Seven Mile Bridge, which spans the sea on hundreds of concrete piers and runs parallel to Henry Flagler’s former railway bridge. The Sandspur Beach of Bahia Honda State Park is considered to be the most beautiful in the entire island chain and has a Caribbean feeling due to its tropical vegetation.
Big Pine Key, is a tropical natural paradise where alligators roam the Blue Hole and is home to the “Key Deer” deer species, found only on the Lower Keys. Motorists should be careful when entering the National Key Deer Refuge take special care not to disturb the game.
Certainly the best known is Key West (website: www.keywest.com ), a 3 square kilometer island with charming wooden houses in the Victorian conch style, its cheerful lifestyle and a fascinating past. In 1931 Ernest Hemingway bought a country house and spent 10 years of his life here, during which time he wrote many of his famous books. Today, many tourists flock to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, as well as his most popular pub, Sloppy Joe’s (now renamed Captain Tony’s Saloon Attractions include bar-lined Duval Street and Mallory Square, where street performers and jugglers gather nightly at sunset. Other Key West attractions include Audebon House of Gardens, home of the famous 19th-century ornithologist and painter th century James Audebon, the East Martello Museum and Art Gallery, the Key West Aquarium and the Key West Lighthouse Museum 90 km off Key West is the sea and island area of ​​Dry Tortugas National Park, which includes coral reefs, smaller islands and the fort Fort Jefferson,
Florida Keys Helicopters offer scenic flights over the island chain.

South Florida, Miami and the Keys

Miami (website: www.gmcvb.com ) is the world’s largest cruise port (with dock capacity for 14 ships) and is an ideal springboard to the Caribbean by both sea and air. The former winter holiday resort is now very popular all year round. Temperatures are pleasant all year round – between 20°C in December and 27°C in August. Hotel rooms and apartments are much cheaper from April to mid-December. You can stroll through Little Havana, the neighborhood of exiled Cubans, or along South Beach, the city’s artsy stretch of coast. The Art Deco District boasts the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings.
Miami’s cityscape has changed significantly in recent years due to renovation and new construction projects. The Bayside Market Place, offers many shops, restaurants and entertainment. The 30-acre Bayfront Park stretches along the bay and connects Bayfront to Riverwalk. Greater Miami or Metropolitan Dade County is made up of several localities including Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, South Miami, Hialeah, Key Biscayne, Coconut Grove and Little Havana (with Cuban restaurants and cafes). To the northeast is the popular Sunny Isles Motel Row, to the southwest is the Miracle Mile shopping area in Coral Gables (with a Venetian public bath) and the modern college campus. In Greynolds Park to the north there are picnic areas, boat rentals and a golf course. A curiosity is the 12th-century Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux, bought in Spain by the publisher William Randolf Hearst and then imported stone by stone. Of cultural interest are the Miami Wax Museum, the Miami Art Museum, the Lowe Art Museum with a comprehensive collection of primitive art as well as European and Oriental paintings, and the Bass Museum of Art. American Sightseeing Tours operate daily half-day or full-day tours of Greater Miami; various tour operators also offer boat trips.
The island Miami Beach is connected to the mainland by a causeway and bridges. Flamingo Park is on South Beach. Get a bird’s-eye view of Miami and Miami Beach from a helicopter at
Watson Island.
The scenic flight takes 14 minutes. Located on Old Cutler Road in South Miami, Fairchild Tropical Garden is the largest botanical garden in the United States, featuring 80 acres of colorful tropical plants from around the world, a rainforest, palm trees, a sunken garden and a rare species plant house. The HMS Bounty in Bayside is a full-rigged replica of the famous 18th-century ship made famous by the book Mutiny on the Bounty. The Lion Country Safari is an 800 km drive west on Southern Boulevard through a wildlife refuge and amusement park home to approximately 1000 African, Asian and American animals. In the Miami Metrozoo, not far from Florida’s main thoroughfare, 152nd Street West, the natural habitat of the animals is simulated. In the Miccosukee Indian Village, west of Miami, you can learn how this Indian tribe (which still exists today) lived in the middle of the Everglades (see below).
In the Monkey Jungle south of the main 216 Street West exit, you can see a colony of monkeys living in a lush tropical jungle. Major attractions include the Wild Monkey Swimming Pool, the Amazing Rainforest, and the Ape Encounter. Vizcaya, south of Miami’s business district and Biscayne Bay, is a beautiful 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palace. Set in 10 acres of cultivated gardens, it houses an excellent collection of furniture and works of art. Located near Vizcaya on South Miami Avenue, the Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium features numerous attractions, including a laser show. Of theParrot Jungle, 11 miles south of Miami, is home to 1100 birds. Everglades National Park (website :
www.nps.gov/ever/) west of Miami is the largest subtropical wilderness area in North America. It stretches over 3.5 million acres across three states and occupies most of the southern tip of Florida. The national park is home to 600 species of fish, 300 species of birds, and countless species of mammals and plants found nowhere else in the world. There are hiking trails, swimming areas, camp sites, guided hikes, horseback riding trails, and boating and canoeing opportunities. However, the remainder of the Everglades is gradually being drained, destroying the habitat of some Native American tribes and animal species. The only access from here to the 5439 sq km large nature reserve is by water. North of the Everglades, the Tamiami Trail connects Miami and Tampa.

Fort Lauderdale (website: www.sunny.org ), north of Miami, has been compared to Venice for its many elegant lagoons, canals and rivers. Water sports come first. There’s 23 miles of white sand beach, over 50 golf courses, 288 horseback riding parks, ideal conditions for nature hikes, picnics and camping, and great shopping on the famous Las Olas Boulevard. The Beach Promenade on Atlantic Boulevard provides access to miles of beaches. Other beaches are in Dania and Hollywood. Accommodation options are plentiful, ranging from elegant resorts to tiny seaside cottages.

In the Bahia Mar Marina you can rent boats or take a trip on the Jungle Queen. Artist Frederic Bartlett’s home, Bonnet House, is a subtropical estate south of Sunrise Boulevard. The Museum of Discovery and Science, which also includes a planetarium and insect zoo, introduces the whole family to the world of art, history and science. Also the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex, the Museum of Art with an excellent ethnology department and theOld Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum are very interesting. Downtown Trolley run tours throughout the city.

Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet mall in the world. The Water Kingdom Atlantis, not far from Fort Lauderdale in Hollywood, is a huge water amusement park with many attractions.

• Usaers: Provides a full list of major rivers and mountains in Florida.

Palm Beach County (Web: www.palmbeachfl.com) is an extraordinary holiday destination: dreamy sandy beaches, palm-lined avenues, an attractive range of sports from golf to diving, pure culture and nature, excellent shopping opportunities, over 2,300 restaurants and more than 200 hotels, resorts, exotic “seaside cottages” by the sea, charming “Inns ” and dreamy “Bed & Breakfast” inns. Mizner Park in Boca Raton and City Place in West Palm Beach, which is designed to resemble a European downtown, offer numerous shops and restaurants. Clematis Street in West Palm Beach with its numerous bars, clubs and restaurants is known as a meeting place for night owls. For over a decade, the weekly Clematis by Night, a huge street festival in the Clematis Street District, has started on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. during the summer months. Other Palm Beach attractions include the Dreher Park Zoo, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Garden, the Norton Gallery of Art, the South Florida Science Museum and the Lion Country Safari Park with over 1000 wild animals, free boat rides, miniature golf and a dinosaur park. and reptile park. In the northwestern part of the county lies Florida’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Okeechobee. The lake is famous for its perch and fishing competitions are held here throughout the year, attracting sport fishermen from all over the world.

St. Augustine, America’s oldest city, has winding streets, listed homes and costume shows. Zorayda Castle in St Augustine’s CBD 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 country’s oldest stone fort, dating back to the 17th century. The Spanish Quarter Open Air Museum depicts the daily life of Spanish settlers and soldiers, performed by actors in period costumes. Daytona Beach is known for its wide beach and auto races, especially thatDaytona 500. The World Golf Village attracts golfers from all over the world.

Shopping

Overview

Miami: The city’s most popular shopping streets are Flagler Street between Biscayne Bay and Miami Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard between Flagler Street and north 16th Street with the ultra-modern Omni Shopping Complex. A flea market is held every weekend on the grounds of the Tropicaire Drive-In Theater (7751 Bird Road, Miami).Miami Beach: Lincoln Road Mall is the largest shopping area. North of Miami Beach is the Bal Harbor shopping area.Tampa: Franklin Street Mall is where most of the shops are located.

Nightlife

Introduction

Miami/Miami Beach: Miami has many theaters and venues. The most well-known are the Theaters of Performing Arts in the Miami Beach Convention Center Complex and the Coconut Grove Playhouse (3500 Main Highway), which hosts major Broadway hits. The Opera Guild of Greater Miami books well-known stars, and their shows are usually performed at the Dade Country or the Miami Beach Auditorium. There are nightclubs in most hotels and resorts. The Coconut Grove district with its trendy nightclubs and cocktail bars offers a vibrant nightlife both in the bars and on the street. Just walking around gives you the feeling of being right in the middle of the action. The liveliest mood always prevails in the pompous luxury Cuban nightclubs. For example, Les Violins and Les Folies on Biscayne Boulevard are highly recommended, the shows here are spectacular, the food is excellent.Fort Lauderdale: The Parker Playhouse was founded by Zev Buffman, owner of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Performances usually take place first at the Coconut and then at the Parker. Frank Sinatra and Pat Boone have performed at the Sunrise Music Theater. the owner of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Performances usually take place first at the Coconut and then at the Parker. Frank Sinatra and Pat Boone have performed at the Sunrise Music Theater. the owner of the Coconut Grove Playhouse. Performances usually take place first at the Coconut and then at the Parker. Frank Sinatra and Pat Boone have performed at the Sunrise Music Theater.

Culinary

Overview

Miami/Miami Beach: Cuban and Mexican cuisine is very popular in Miami. Seafood is the state specialty, and you can’t get fresh stone crab anywhere else in the US.Tampa: The Spanish/Latin American food scene is popular here, and the selection is plentiful.

Culture

Social Rules of Conduct

In Florida, in the city of Melbourne, wearing a thong on the beach, in a park or on the street is punishable by a fine or imprisonment.

Climate

Best travel time

The climate is influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, which moderates summer temperatures. Thunderstorms are plentiful, the region also suffers from hurricanes and less severe tropical storms which bring heavy rains from July to October. The winters are mild.

Country data

Area (sq km)

170,304 sq km (65,755 sq miles)

Population

21,477,737

Population density (per square km)

136.4 per sq km (52.7 per sq mile)

Population statistics year

2019