The Sunshine State boasts 220 days of sunshine a year, 825 miles of beaches and over 150 state parks. With an average temperature of 72 degrees- it’s the perfect year-round holiday destination!
Beaches
In Florida, you are never more than an hour away from some of the best beaches in the world. Clearwater Beach on the Gulf Coast was named America’s Best Beach on TripAdvisor in 2019. The beaches are not the only draw, the small beach town atmosphere is the perfect place to enjoy a tropical cocktail or fresh-caught seafood at one of the many local restaurants.
If you’re looking for water sports such as parasailing and kayaking, Fort Myers Beach on the Gulf Coast is the place to be. There’s a full-service beach, jet ski rental and activity centre. There’s also plenty of options to just relax. Just off the coast are the easy to reach islands of Sanibel & Captiva. Sanibel is the sea shell capital of the world- the beach is full of unique finds.
Known as the Festival Capital of Florida, Daytona Beach has events taking place all year round. In the summer, weekly live entertainment fills the historic Daytona Bandshell as their Summer Concert Series entertains with fireworks on Saturday evenings right on the water.
Water Sports
Best Places to Surf
Many don’t associate surfing with the Sunshine State, but the east coast is perfect for it. Top of the list is Cocoa Beach with its famed pier that catches many different types of swell. For more hard-core surfing, head to New Smyrna Beach which ranks highly on any list of surfing bucket lists, or there’s Jacksonville Beach, a series of smaller separate beach communities, each with their own appeal.
Best Place to Snorkel - Dry Tortugas National Park
The shallow waters make this area perfect for first time snorkelers. You'll see lots of colourful corals, several varieties of tropical fish, starfish, queen conchs and much more in this protected marine sanctuary. Not to mention the historic Fort that is perfect for exploring.
The Everglades National Park
Also called “The River of Grass”, The Everglades, is one of the wild wonders of the world. Spanning 1.5 million acres, the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. protects an unparalleled landscape that provides habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the American crocodile and the elusive Florida panther. Skim the surface on an airboat or set off into the unknown with a swamp walk. There’s no shortage of activities here.
Theme Parks
For the adrenaline junkies and for the lovers of magic and fun head to the theme parks of central Florida.
Walt Disney World
The most magical place on earth is in Orlando, Florida. With 4 theme parks and 2 water parks the fun is endless. Trek to Pandora – The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom, play at Hollywood Studio’s new Toy Story Land and experience a brand-new world – Star Wars: Galaxy Edge opening August 2019.
Universal Orlando Resort
Home to 2 theme parks and 1 waterpark, Universal Orlando Resort’s attractions are based on pop-culture icons and blockbuster films. Here you can meet Marvel Heroes, encounter the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park and hang out with Harry and friends at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Busch Gardens
The ultimate family adventure, combining world-class thrill rides, live entertainment and more than 12,000 animals. Challenge a 335-foot drop tower, Falcon's Fury, or race like a cheetah on Cheetah Hunt. Busch Gardens' newest attraction, Cobra's Curse puts a spin on family thrills with this one-of-a-kind spin coaster.
Shopping
Miami Design District
The Miami Design District is a neighborhood dedicated to innovative fashion, design, architecture and dining experiences. Peruse luxury watch stores, high-class fashion boutiques, and more. From casual new cafes to formal dining, Miami Design District has everything you need to whet your appetite while visiting the District.
SawGrass Mills
Sawgrass Mills in Fort Lauderdale is the largest outlet and shopping destination in the U.S. With over 350 stores, there is something for everyone.
Food & Drink
Food & Wine Festivals
Dating back to 1930, the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City takes place in one of Florida’s most important winter strawberry growing regions that stretches across 8,000 acres. Just 20 miles outside of Tampa and usually held in March, this festival showcases a Strawberry Festival Queen in addition to live entertainment, rides, arts and crafts vendors and livestock exhibits.
A two-day event that draws thousands of visitors to the small town of Apalachicola, the Florida Seafood Festival is the oldest seafood festival in the state running for over 50 years. Taking place every autumn at the mouth of the Apalachicola River, you can cheer on your crustacean of choice at the blue crab race, watch an oyster shucking contest, or sit back and watch a lively parade and a fireworks show.
Craft Breweries
There are more than 200 local craft breweries across the Sunshine State. Using flavours like sweet potato casserole and blueberry cobbler, Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park brings bold flavours to South Florida’s craft breweries scene. To celebrate those funky flavours, the brewery hosts an annual Maple Bacon Coffee Porter Day, a street festival where guests can pick up a bottle of the namesake brew, made only once a year, and try nearly 100 different and unique beers.
Apalachicola is known for its oysters, but Oyster City Brewing Company is making a name for itself with its beers. Oyster City uses local ingredients, like tupelo honey, in many of its brews.
Made famous by its 30A Beach Blonde Ale, Grayton Beer Company bottles that laid-back, South Walton state of mind with each beer it makes. The brewery cans its Beach Permit Blonde Ale, which means you bring it with you when visiting one of the area's famous sugar-white sand beaches.
Kennedy Space Centre
Take a trip to the greatest space adventure on Earth! From the dawn of space exploration to current and ongoing missions, you can get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space. Take the Shuttle Launch Experience - recreating the sights, sounds and feelings of a shuttle lift-off. There’s also the shows detailing the work of the Shuttle and the International Space Station, and the exhibit hall for Space Shuttle Atlantis. You may even, if you’re lucky get to see a Rocket launch...
Wherever you travel in Florida- you’ll find your perfect holiday.
