| Florida has been a destination of choice for centuries. | | | | tourist stop with quaint shopping & dining. St. Pete |
| Ponce de Leon came, looking for the Fountain of | | | | also boasts a number of excellent museums. The |
| Youth, in 1513. Since then, six cultures left their mark on | | | | beaches here are some of the best in the US. |
| the peninsula. Native Indians fought Spanish, French and | | | | Ft. Myers - Another classic Gulf coast resort is Ft. |
| English explorers. American settlers brought agriculture, | | | | Myers/Ft. Myers Beach. The area, plus nearby Sanibel |
| industry and slavery. After the Civil War, rail barons like | | | | and Captiva Islands, is known for some of the best |
| Henry Flagler promoted Florida's climate. By the 1900's | | | | shelling in the world. The slope into Gulf waters is so |
| Florida was THE winter destination for many wealthy | | | | gentle, the beaches here are among the safest, as |
| Americans. | | | | well. Thomas Edison and his friend, Henry Ford picked |
| As Florida developed, so did tourist attractions. Today, | | | | Ft. Myers for their winter homes. Tour their adjacent |
| those same places provide a look at Florida's | | | | estates with a single admission. Visit the Cypress |
| yesteryear. Interestingly, every Florida destination is no | | | | Preserve, Manatee World, Babcock Wilderness |
| more than eighty miles from the Atlantic or the Gulf of | | | | Adventures and the shell museum. Drive along |
| Mexico. | | | | McGregor Boulevard, lined with 1800 palm trees. The |
| St. Augustine - Spain claimed the nation's "Oldest City" | | | | stately trees give Ft. Myers its nickname, "City of |
| 42 years before England landed at Jamestown. It had | | | | Palms". |
| a rocky history until Flagler picked St. A as his first | | | | Key West - This tip of the keys has been America's |
| tourist project. His famed hotels are now Lightner | | | | "Margueritaville" for decades. Even Ponce de Leon |
| Museum and Flagler College. St. Augustine is an | | | | started here before sailing north to St. Augustine. Tour |
| eclectic mix of historic, vintage and modern attractions | | | | Hemingway's 1920's home and Truman's 1949-era |
| to delight any traveler. Tour Castilla de San Marcos, | | | | Little White House. Visit Pirate Soul and the Key West |
| the historic district and the famous striped lighthouse. | | | | Shipwreck Treasures museums to learn about the |
| Immerse yourself in the culture of St. Augustine. Book | | | | buccaneering heritage of the island. Nature lovers will |
| rooms at an historic inn, bed & breakfast or | | | | enjoy the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, and |
| classic motel. | | | | the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory. Several US |
| Sarasota - Ringling Bros. Circus picked Sarasota for its | | | | presidents have vacationed on Key West; so should |
| winter quarters. The Ringling complex includes a | | | | you. It has all the flavor and laid-back charm of a |
| world-class art museum and Ca d'Zan (House of John) | | | | Caribbean island |
| mansion. Its Circus museum features a popular | | | | Miami/South Beach - Like all of Florida, Miami has a rich |
| miniature circus. Jungle Gardens' vintage zoological | | | | history to balance her modern side. South Beach is |
| park opened in 1940. Other attractions include two | | | | known worldwide for its Art Deco buildings. Take a |
| classic car museums, Marie Selby Botanic Gardens, | | | | walking tour or guided tour. The oldest building in the |
| and Myakka River State Park. Sarasota is a "gem of | | | | Western Hemisphere was moved, stone by stone, |
| the Gulf coast" with pristine white sand beaches along | | | | from Spain to Miami by Randolph Hearst in the 1950's. |
| the mainland and nearby barrier islands. | | | | Jungle Island, (formerly Parrot Jungle c. 1936), is an |
| Winter Haven - Winter Haven is an inland paradise, | | | | animal show and zoo sure to please everyone. |
| surrounded by more than 30 lakes. No wonder it is the | | | | There's also the Seaquarium, Miami Zoo and several |
| water-skiing capital of the world. It is also the home of | | | | museums. Cruise Biscayne Bay past Millionaire Row. |
| Cypress Gardens, Florida's first theme park (1936). CG | | | | Many of the estates date to Miami's heyday in the |
| is famous for spectacular water-skiing shows and | | | | early 1900's. |
| beautiful gardens. (Cypress Gardens is closed for | | | | Ocala - This central Florida city is synonymous with |
| renovation. It will reopen in March 2009.) Other popular | | | | Silver Springs, a nature park on the Silver River. The |
| sites include Bok Sanctuary with its famous carillon, | | | | artesian springs pump enough fresh water daily to |
| and Fantasy of Flight. Midway between Orlando and | | | | supply New York City. It is one of the largest in the |
| Tampa, Winter Haven lives up to its name. It's away | | | | world. Famed glass-bottom boats take visitors through |
| from the crowds but convenient to many major | | | | the park, just like they did in the late 1800's. There are |
| attractions. | | | | other boat tours, plus a jeep ride. The waters are so |
| St. Petersburg - "The Sunshine City" boasts 360 days | | | | clear that several movies have been filmed in the |
| of sunshine per year. Tour Sunken Gardens, Florida's | | | | waters of Silver Springs. Divers will enjoy Paradise |
| oldest tourist attraction and a historic landmark. More | | | | Springs for cave diving. Nature lovers should visit |
| than 50,000 plants, representing 500 species, thrive | | | | Juniper Prairie Wilderness in Ocala National Forest. |
| here. The Pier is a popular spot. Visit the aquarium and | | | | Of course, all of Florida offers exceptional travel |
| the replica of the HMS Bounty. MGM built the ship for | | | | opportunities, whether you want sun, sports, history, or |
| the 1962 movie. It was also used in one of the Pirates | | | | entertainment. Just don't forget these gems when you |
| of the Caribbean films. Nearby John's Pass Village is a | | | | plan your trip to The Sunshine State. |
| former pirate retreat and fishing village. It is now a | | | | |