The southeasternmost U.S. state has 1,350 miles of coastline, the longest list of native orchids in America, and the only living coral barrier reef in North America.
Florida, the southeasternmost U.S. state, draws over 120 million visitors annually with world-famous attractions like the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and natural areas like Everglades National Park. Walk through Cinderella Castle's fairy-tale setting, observe rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, or snorkel above starfish and parrotfish in the Florida Keys. The state's 1,350-mile shoreline includes Miami Beach's pastel Art Deco buildings and the gentle waves along the Gulf Coast. Inland, Everglades National Park spans 1.5 million acres of wetlands filled with alligators and rare birds. With daytime temperatures averaging 70°F in winter, you can kayak through mangrove forests or bike along coastal trails any month of the year.
Theme Parks and Amusement Attractions
Start your trip at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, where four distinct parks create endless entertainment. Magic Kingdom lets you meet Disney characters in front of its storybook castle, while Epcot presents cultural exhibits from eleven countries. At Hollywood Studios, experience simulated Star Wars space battles and stunt shows inspired by Indiana Jones. Animal Kingdom takes you on safari rides past lions and giraffes across simulated African savannas. Universal Orlando's Wizarding World of Harry Potter recreates Hogwarts Castle with motion-based broomstick flights and butterbeer treats. Thrill-seekers ride Busch Gardens Tampa's Iron Gwazi, a wooden-steel hybrid coaster reaching 76 mph, alongside habitats housing kangaroos and sloths.
Beaches and Coastal Destinations
Miami Beach's Ocean Drive displays 800 pastel-colored buildings from the 1930s, facing three miles of white sand meeting turquoise waves. Drive the Overseas Highway through the Florida Keys, stopping to feed tarpon at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada or photograph the red-roofed Southernmost Point buoy in Key West. Dive operators in Key Largo take you to Christ of the Abyss, a submerged bronze statue surrounded by angelfish. On the Gulf side, Sanibel Island's shell-covered beaches yield rare junonia specimens, while Naples Pier attracts sunset photographers and occasional dolphin sightings. Try stone crab claws at waterfront shacks during October-May season when fishermen harvest regenerating claws.
Natural Parks and Wildlife
Glide across Everglades' "River of Grass" on airboats to spot alligators sunning on muddy banks. Hike Big Cypress National Preserve's boardwalks through dwarf cypress trees draped with Spanish moss. At Ichetucknee Springs State Park, float down crystal-clear rivers in inner tubes while turtles swim beneath you. Winter visitors to Crystal River can legally swim with manatees in 72°F springs where mammals cluster during cold snaps. Dry Tortugas National Park requires a 70-mile boat ride from Key West to explore Fort Jefferson's Civil War-era brick walls and snorkel around coral heads filled with blue tang fish.
Sports and Outdoor Recreation
Cheer for the Miami Heat basketball team at FTX Arena or watch spring training games for the New York Yankees in Tampa every March. Golfers play TPC Sawgrass' Island Green 17th hole, site of annual PGA Tour tournaments, while tennis fans attend April's Miami Open on Key Biscayne. Charter captains in Destin take anglers into the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" waters teeming with red snapper and grouper. Over 1,300 golf courses range from Jack Nicklaus-designed tracks in Palm Beach to municipal links with manatee-inhabited water hazards. Scuba divers explore the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier artificial reef sunk 24 miles off Pensacola.
Historical Landmarks and Cities
Walk Castillo de San Marcos' coquina stone ramps in St. Augustine, where Spanish soldiers once fired cannons at British ships. Miami's Freedom Tower showcases 1920s Mediterranean Revival architecture and Cuban exile history through rotating exhibits. In Pensacola, tour the 1825-built Pensacola Lighthouse and its 177-step spiral staircase overlooking naval airfields. Ybor City's brick streets in Tampa reveal former cigar factories turned into craft breweries and flamenco dance venues. The Ringling Museum displays Peter Paul Rubens paintings alongside vintage circus wagons and a restored 18th-century Italian theater.
Space Exploration and the Kennedy Space Center
Stand three miles from launch pads at Kennedy Space Center to feel Saturn V rocket engine vibrations during simulated Apollo takeoffs. Touch moon rocks in the Astronaut Training Experience or board a shuttle launch simulator that tilts you 90 degrees. Bus tours pass the 525-foot-tall Vehicle Assembly Building where NASA prepared rockets for 135 shuttle missions. Time your visit with scheduled launches visible from Titusville's Space View Park, where countdowns echo over the Indian River. The annual Astronaut Hall of Fame induction ceremony each April features meet-and-greets with spacewalk veterans.
Climate and Best Times to Visit
Plan December-April visits for dry days with temperatures between 65-80°F, ideal for beach days without summer's humidity. June-November brings daily afternoon thunderstorms but lower hotel rates and shorter theme park lines. Water temperatures peak at 87°F in August, perfect for swimming with minimal wetsuit needs. Spring break crowds dominate March-April coastal areas, while January sees snowbirds filling RV parks south of Ocala. Hurricane season runs June-November, with most storms August-October, though major direct hits remain rare.
Education and Research Institutions
The University of Florida in Gainesville leads citrus crop research using its 2,000-acre agricultural experimental station. Florida Institute of Technology near Kennedy Space Center trains aerospace engineers through rocket launch partnerships. Miami Dade College's eight campuses teach hospitality management using real resorts for student internships. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach operates air traffic control simulators matching Orlando International Airport's systems. State colleges like Tallahassee Community College provide direct pathways to Florida State University's top-ranked meteorology program.
Economic Drivers and Tourism Statistics
Tourism employs 1.6 million Floridians, with Orlando International Airport serving 50 million passengers annually. PortMiami handles 65% of global cruise traffic, home to ships from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Agriculture contributes $155 billion yearly through citrus, tomatoes, and sugarcane harvested across 9.7 million acres. Kennedy Space Center's commercial launch contracts with SpaceX and Blue Origin generate $4.1 billion in annual economic activity. Film productions like "Dolphin Tale" in Clearwater and "Bloodline" in the Florida Keys add $79 million yearly through local crew hires and location fees.
