Florida is the southernmost state of the continental United States, is known for it’s abundant sunshine and pleasant climate, awarding it the nickname of “The Sunshine State”.  The state is a peninsula surrounded by the subtropical and tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. With upwards of 76.8 million visitors yearly Florida is the number one travel destination in the world.

The first known European discovery of North American land was in Florida by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon in 1512 who was actually in search of the fountain of youth.  They gave the land the name Pascua Florida meaning “festival of flowers”. To this day Florida has a strong Spanish influence and culture you will find woven into it’s arts, architecture, cuisine, and music.

Located in North Florida, St. Augustine is known as the “Ancient City” for it is the nation’s oldest city.  America’s first church, school, court and hospital were all born here. Walk the cobblestone streets and delight in the quaint cafes, bars, charming restaurants, churches and shops to experience the city’s historic legacy.  The Spanish introduced oranges to the new city in 1565 when St. Augustine was founded. Today Florida produces ¾ of the nation’s oranges and is the second largest producer of oranges in the world.

Florida has the third largest water area of all states only to be surpassed my Michigan and Alaska. The surface is a porous plateau of limestone and bedrock that sculpt it’s many beautiful underwater caves, sinkholes and fresh water springs throughout the state. Along the state’s 8,426 miles of shoreline and literally thousands of islands you will find some of the world’s best beaches. There are 663 of them to be exact, including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Key West, Panama City Beach, West Palm Beach, Ft. Meyers and Sarasota. With so many beaches and waterways it is the perfect place for boating, fishing, diving, surfing, parasailing and so much more.

Whether you are beach bum looking for rest and relaxation, family entertainment, surfing or a sizzling nightlife, you’ll find it here. The white sandy beaches and clear blue water of St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, in Port St. Joe, FL have dubbed the spot one of the top rated beaches in the world. It is the perfect place to get away from it all and go snorkeling, diving or just sit and take in the tropical paradise. Daytona Beach is a great place to take the family. Aside from the sand and surf there are water parks, go-kart tracks, mini golf and a planetarium to enjoy. Located on a barrier island nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Banana River Lagoon, Cocoa beach is also a great place for a family retreat. It is known as the surfing capitol of the East Coast and is home to several surfing champions. Visit South Beach Miami to escape to a different kind of madness full of energy and hedonism and find out why it’s known as the world’s elite playground. Stroll the palm tree lined boardwalk, relax in the sun, shop for designer duds or check out some of the renowned nightclubs.

For an action packed adventure be sure to visit Orlando, the Theme Park capitol of the world!  People from around the globe travel here to experience the fun of the cutting edge rides and attractions of the number one TV and movie based theme park of Universal Studios, make fantasy reality at Disney World with 4 unique theme parks and 2 water parks, meet an astronaut and train in a space flight simulator at the Kennedy Space Center or meet the famous Shamu at SeaWorld.  Just around the corner is Busch Gardens Tampa, an African themed amusement park that lets you get up close with amazing animals, take an African safari ride test your courage aboard some of the most thrilling coaster on the east coast. 

For the outdoor enthusiast, Florida has 159 state parks that offer a diversity of natural communities, cultural and historical sites, and recreational opportunities that are unsurpassed. The parks in the northwest include some of the world’s best beaches. Go canoeing and kayaking in the northeast along the fresh water springs and rivers, sit back in a hammock along the banks or hike the trails and visit the many cultural sites. The parks in the central region boast beautiful gardens, cool springs and breathtaking beaches to explore as well as extensive recreational activities for land or water. The southwest parks consist of swamps, dry prairielands, pine flat woods and salt springs. Visit the areas lighthouses, fish on the world’s longest fishing pier, enjoy the equestrian and bike trails or soak in the sun on the beautiful beaches. Just along the very southern tip of the peninsula is the Everglades National Park which is the only subtropical reserve in North America and the only place that Aligators and Crocodiles exist side by side.