Florida

It's what you've always imagined! Warm sunshine, thrilling theme parks and sand almost anywhere you sink your toes. Wherever you go, you'll find just what you've been seeking-a chance to escape, to try something new and different, to really be with your family.  Florida has a diverse character, including much more than beaches and palm trees. Historical sites, lush forests, collections of fine art, professional sports and attractions ranging from large theme parks to small zoos and museums are just the beginning.

Tallahassee
Lush, rolling hills with plantations, fragrant magnolia trees and a handful of truly spectacular canopy roads grace the countryside around Tallahassee, our capital city. A mix of historic and natural attractions is found here. Tour sites such as the Old Capitol building, botanical gardens and several museums, including the new Museum of Art/Tallahassee. Nearby, in White Springs, visitors can raft Florida's only whitewater in Big Shoals State Forest, or visit the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center. The city of Gainesville also offers a number of natural attractions.

Daytona Beach
Alternating between secluded and bustling stretches of sand, the Daytona Beach area offers plenty of family-style recreation and attractions. Besides the beach, families will enjoy Adventure Landing Water Park, the interactive Daytona USA racing attraction, boat tours and several museums. On the Space Coast, Cape Canaveral visitors can spend sunny days on the beach; learn about space exploration at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and commune with nature at Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Quiet and quaint from Sebastian south to Port St. Lucie, this area offers unspoiled beaches, excellent fishing and plenty of small-town charm. Some of Florida's biggest waves draw surfers to Sebastian Inlet.

Sanibel Island
Once accessible only by boat or ferry, tiny Sanibel Island offers breathtaking views of sand, sea and sky. With more varieties found here than anywhere else in North America, the world considers Sanibel Island one of the best places in the nation for shelling. Off the beach, lush foliage conceals chic shops, galleries and restaurants tucked here and there along Sanibel's main route. The island is home to 5,000 acres of mangrove swamp and meandering waterways. Hundreds of species of birds as well as otters, raccoons and alligators are protected here.

Naples
A world apart in demeanor but only a few miles in distance is Southwest Florida's most sophisticated city, Naples. Naples residents demand the best, and the city's boutiques, galleries and cultural arts calendar oblige. Just to the south, the tiny four-mile stretch of Marco Island is another scenic escape with sun-washed beaches and waterfront resorts that line the Gulf of Mexico. Dolphins, manatees and bald eagles share the island and its waterways with visitors, reminding all that the great Everglades National Park is very close at hand.

Kennedy Space Center Spaceport USA The official visitor center at Kennedy Space Center, the world’s only launch and landing base of America’s Space Shuttle. Two hour bus tours and three different IMAX movie presentations available. Open everyday except Christmas. SPACEPORT USA, Mail Code: TWRS, Kennedy Space Center, FL.

Central Florida
Central Florida offers an unforgettable family vacation adventure. Reclaiming childhood is easy here, especially with the opening of three new Orlando attractions: Discovery Cove by Sea World, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. A familiar theme park favorite includes the Magic Kingdom, Disney's original park in Lake Buena Vista. At nearby Epcot, many visitors appreciate the chance to take a mini world tour or learn about humankind's innovations in the quest for knowledge.

Botanical beauty flourishes in several parks that offer breathtaking displays of lush plant life. In Winter Haven, Cypress Gardens' claims its fame with stunning outdoor floral displays and seasonal flower festivals. In addition, star-studded ice shows, a butterfly aviary, a reptile discovery attraction and world-famous water ski shows entertain guests daily. Other fun places to visit include Kissimmee's Gatorland, known as "The Alligator Capital of the World." Water Mania, Wet 'n Wild, Wild Waters, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach and River Country are local water parks where one can beat the Florida heat.

Southeast Florida
The Keys feature big city lights, tiny island treasures and plenty of wonderful vacation spots in-between. Warm, clear, blue-green waters splash the coastline of this diverse region, which takes you from the most remote wilderness to the most cultured, cosmopolitan centers. With soft beaches, world-class museums, superb diving and snorkeling, cruising from two major ports, fine dining by the water, legendary fishing and plenty of beautiful, relaxing places, this region is the perfect place to plan your dream vacation.

Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee is the state's largest lake, famous for bass fishing. In stark contrast is the Gold Coast, a name reflecting its golden sand as well as the incredible wealth from the Palm Beaches to Miami. Art lovers also flock here for a busy cultural calendar that includes ballet, opera, theater, music and modern dance. Once spring break capital for the college crowd, Greater Fort Lauderdale has undergone a renaissance, committing major resources to attract families and couples. Popular with walkers, cyclists and rollerbladers, the Fort Lauderdale Beach Promenade provides easy access to miles of golden sand beaches.

Miami
Cross any street corner in Miami and you're likely to hear the language and music of many cultures. Dine in its restaurants and take a mini tour of the world. Although this sophisticated destination boasts miles of wide, white sand beaches, visitors can also stroll through Little Havana, walk past art deco architecture in the city's artsy South Beach district, visit the Miami Seaquarium and Metrozoo, or take a cruise from local ports. After sundown, you'll find entertainment so varied you'd have to live here year-round to see it all. Visitors to Miami or the Florida Keys often combine a trip to Everglades National Park, the only preserve of its type in the world.

South of Miami, you can visit the legendary Florida Keys. These tiny islands, strung together first by nature, and more recently by The Overseas Highway, seem to be in a time zone and attitude all their own. Main attractions are John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. Most visitors finish their Keys vacation with a trip to Key West, the eclectic end of the continent.

Northwest Florida
Northwest Florida is known for its powder-white sand, emerald green waters and heaping helpings of true Southern hospitality. Though summertime is typically high season for visitors here, your visit will be pleasant any time you choose to come. In addition to beachcombing, active visitors will find plenty of opportunities to golf, go boating, snorkel and dive, or enjoy world-famous fishing. Northwest Florida claims some of the most beautiful lakes, bays and rivers in the state. Pensacola, at Florida's extreme western tip, was the location of North America's first European settlement, with Spanish colonists arriving here in 1559.

Many families choose to vacation on the sparkling beaches of the Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island. This area boasts more than 100 festivals and events held annually, and a good time is always close at hand. Panama City Beach offers an old-fashioned family vacation, complete with colorful amusement parks, arcades, miniature golf, souvenir shops and a big, beautiful beach. A wide variety of accommodations, ranging from waterfront resorts to smaller motels, ensure that vacationers will find something to suit their style and budget. Fishing, boating, wreck diving, and golf have made Panama City Beach a growing vacation destination for families from all over the globe.

North Central Florida
North Central Florida, discover sleepy little fishing villages along a nearly undeveloped coastline, winding rivers, vast tracts of forested land, and more than 100 freshwater springs. Rustic towns and unpretentious, gracious folks are what you'll find, along with some of the most exciting outdoor excursions the sunny state offers. North Central Florida's coastline is largely made up of shallow saltwater estuaries rather than sandy beaches—one reason the fishing is so good here.

Cedar Key is perhaps North Central Florida's best-known coastal destination. Quaint bed and breakfasts, small boardwalk shops and fresh seafood make this an enjoyable destination. Inland, explore North Central Florida's historic areas and state parks. The area is dotted with pristine, lyrically named rivers like the Ochlockonee, Suwannee and Wacissa; and is famous for freshwater springs. Swimmers and snorkelers will enjoy these cool retreats.

Northeast Florida
Northeast Florida is an area rich in history and natural beauty. St. Augustine and Fernandina beaches are fascinating, and located close-by are some of the state's premier golf and tennis resorts call home. Rich in history, beautiful, quiet Amelia Island offers visitors oceanfront accommodations in several luxury resorts as well as more moderately priced lodging in hotels and B&Bs in Fernandina Beach.

Jacksonville, just to the south, offers a sunny, warm climate year round, perfect for enjoying its 20 miles of soft, white sand beaches and more than 50 golf courses. Visitors will enjoy the Jacksonville Landing, a festive waterfront marketplace with unique shops and restaurants; the Jacksonville Zoo; Kingsley Plantation; and a number of good museums. Outdoor activities include hiking, kayaking, biking, and water sports.

Upscale Ponte Vedra Beach is often described as Florida's ritziest destination because of its deluxe golf and tennis resorts. Nearby is Sawgrass, home of the Tournament Players Club, The Players Championship, and headquarters the Association of Tennis Professionals. Flagler County houses some of the quieter communities along the coast. Here, visitors enjoy miles of beaches, historic ruins, public rose gardens and excellent golf. Inland, Palatka is known for its bass fishing, Victorian-era homes, river cruising and Ravine State Gardens.

Central West Florida
Central West Florida offers shimmering Gulf waters, the state's top cultural centers and a keen respect for Florida's fragile ecosystem. This region is also within a two-hour drive of Orlando's theme parks. The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area is sometimes called Florida's sunshine capital because it boasts an amazing 361 sunny days a year. Clearwater Beach offers an upbeat, tropical atmosphere as well as a nightly sunset celebration on Pier 60 with entertainers and food vendors. St. Petersburg is home to many art galleries, antique shops and museums.

Two state parks in the area, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, offer preserved beachfront and nature trails. Visitors need merely cross the bay to Tampa, where they'll encounter a glittering city that's home to the region's top attractions. They include Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Florida Aquarium, the Museum of Science and Industry. Visitor’s will also discover a revitalized downtown waterfront, a huge sports scene, and an extraordinary performing arts calendar.

On Anna Maria Beach and south along Coquina Beach, miles of white sand are bordered by towering Australian pines, providing the area's laid-back, "old Florida" attitude. To the south across Ringling Causeway, Sarasota has long been known for its cultural offerings. It's here that John Ringling built his Venetian-styled mansion and housed his priceless 17th-century Baroque art collection, now owned by the state. If you want to canoe or fish in freshwater and observe a variety of wildlife, including alligators, travel due east to Florida’s largest state park: Myakka River.

Central East Florida
Visit Florida's Central East region to explore charming communities that retain the laid-back attitude of "Old Florida" while offering plenty of comforts. Pretty beaches, nature preserves abundant with wildlife and vegetation, and an exciting events calendar will keep you pleasantly occupied in this area. Many tourists like this region, because its beaches are closest to Orlando's theme parks. Ormond Beach was once a playground for America's early millionaires. Known as the "Birthplace of Speed," the city played host to Florida's first auto races.

Southwest Florida
Visit Southwest Florida to explore its scenic waterways, protected wilderness areas and more than 10,000 uninhabited islands. It's the perfect place to discover the laid-back, happy feeling of being on "island time." Those who prefer quiet to crowds will find that rustic charm survives in many of Southwest Florida's communities. Nearby Fort Myers has a rich history, with tales of Native Americans, Florida "cowpokes” and inventors woven through its past. Thomas Edison built his winter home and laboratory here.

Area: 65758 sq.mi, Land 53997 sq. mi., Water 11761 sq.mi.

Coastline: 1350 mi. 2nd.

Shoreline: 8,426mi. 2nd.

Border States: Alabama - Georgia.

Agriculture: Citrus, vegetables, nursery stock, cattle, sugarcane, dairy products.

Industry: Tourism, electric equipment, food processing, printing and publishing, transportation equipment, machinery.

State Capital: Tallahassee.

Population: 15,111,244; 4th, 12/99.

Flag: On a white field emblazoned with a Confederacy red X and the state seal, Florida's flag represents the land of sunshine, flowers, palm trees, rivers and lakes. The seal features a brilliant sun, a cabbage palmetto tree, a steamboat sailing and a Native American Seminole woman scattering flowers.

Largest Cities: Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, Saint Petersburg, and Hialeah.

Geographical Center: Hernando, 12 miles north-northwest of Brooksville.

Origin of state's name: Named on Easter 1513 by Ponce de Leon for Pascua Florida, meaning "Flowery Easter".

Statehood: March 3, 1845.

Topography: Land is mostly flat with rolling high in northwest.

Highest Point: Britton Hill; 345 feet, 50th.

Lowest Point: Atlantic & Gulf coasts; Sea level, 3rd.

State Bird: Mockingbird.

State Flower: Orange blossom - Citrus sinensis.

State Nickname: Sunshine State.

Motto: In God We Trust.

State Song: Swanee River - music and words by: Stephen C. Foster.

State Tree: Sabal Palmetto.