Where to Go in Florida

North West Florida
The Northwest region of Florida stretches from Pensacola on the State’s western border to the shores of Apalachee Bay. The northwest coastline is the gateway to the Florida peninsula and is easily negotiable. Yet the busy coastal region gives no clue to the items of interest further inland – a geometric pattern of trail systems, secret caverns and bubbling springs – including Marianna, where visitors can explore the spectacular labyrinths of Florida Caverns State Park.
The earliest European explorers were Spanish and landed at Pensacola Harbor in 1540 when Hernando de Soto began his explorations of the Gulf Coast. However, it was not until the 18th century that a permanent settlement was established in the region. Under British rule from 1763, Pensacola was eventually taken by Spain during the American Revolution. The area was again prominent during the Civil War period, thanks to the triangle of fortresses which encircled the 150 sq mile span of barrier islands now known as the Gulf Islands National Seashore. To this day, the area retains its military significance.

Pensacola
The flags of Spain, France and England have flown over the city of Pensacola during its turbulent past. The Colonial Archaelogical Trail leads visitors through the different eras of the city’s history, and highlights an ongoing program of excavation by local archaeologists. The city center features the Pensacola Museum of Art, housed in the old city jail; the Pensacola Cultural Center; Quayside, the South’s largest co-operative art gallery; Wall South, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, DC; and the beautifully restored Saenger Theater, where local and national musical groups regularly perform.
A few miles to the west lies one of the biggest and best air and space museums in the country, the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Displays cover the age of aviation from the first flight in a wood and fabric biplane to today’s travels in space with the Skylab Command Module. East of Pensacola, the Gulf Breeze Zoo is home to more than 700 animals and a huge botanical garden, while gorillas and chimpanzees roam free on two large islands. The beauty of Pensacola’s beaches is protected by Federal and State reservations, which preserve them from development. Gulf Islands National Seashore and Big Lagoon Park offer huge areas of untouched beaches, which are easily accessible to the public.

Travel
Approximately 60 flights arrive and depart from Pensacola Regional Airport (website: www.flypensacola.com) each day. The city is situated on the Amtrak network and is also accessible from most major interstate highways; the Greyhound station is located 11km (7 miles) north of the city center.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Pensacola in 2005:
Feb Black History Month, University of West Florida, Pensacola. Apr 9-10 Pensacola JazzFest, Selville Square. May 6-8 21st Annual Crawfish Creole Fiesta, Bartram Park, Pensacola. May The Florida Springfest (three-day music festival), Pensacola. Jun 2-11 56th Fiesta of Five Flags, Pensacola. Jul-Aug Annual Bushwacker and Music Festival, Pensacola. Sep 23-25 Annual Seafood Festival, Pensacola. Nov Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, Pensacola

Climate
Pensacola boasts an average of 343 days of sunshine per year and an average annual temperature of 24°C (75 ºF).

Emerald Coast
East of Pensacola, visitors will be struck by the glorious coastal scenery. Linked by an impressive bridge network, a long coastal road skirts the mainland and the offshore islands, running from Pensacola to Fort Walton Beach and Santa Rosa Island. Near Santa Rosa, Destin is known for fine fishing, while the Beaches of South Walton embrace the smart prosperous community of Seaside, with its white-washed houses, excellent dining and shopping facilities.
South Walton’s beaches extend eastward towards Panama City, which took its name from the famous canal in 1906. Today, its attractions and nightlife, which extend for 43km (27 miles), are celebrated throughout the State.

Destin/Fort Walton Beach
Famous for 38km (24 miles) of sugar-white sands and brilliant green waters, these southern sea towns both offer some of the world’s finest shells and superb seafood. The Henderson Beach State Park offers acres of unspoilt coastal terrain. Hailed as the ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village’, Destin’s East Pass is only 16km (10 miles) from 30m (100ft) depths. Harbouring the largest and most elaborately equipped charter-boat fleet in Florida, more billfish are caught on the Northern Gulf each year than by all the other Gulf ports combined. There is also a wider variety of game fish than elsewhere, from cobia and scampi to triggerfish and king mackerel. Numerous deep-sea excursions are available for both first-time fishers and the more experienced angler.

Panama City Beach
Watersports are high on the list of attractions at Panama City Beach, which boasts a network of waterways, bays and lagoons. St Andrews State Recreation Area is made up of more than 1000 acres of nature trails and beaches. Visitors can take a shuttle to Shell Island from Treasure Island Marina. The Museum of the Man-in-the-Sea explores the ocean, while other attractions include the Miracle Strip Amusement Park, Shipwreck Island Water Park and Alvin’s Magic Mountain Mall, which houses sharks and alligators in a 30,000 gallon tank.

Apalachicola
Apalachicola has a rich heritage. Once, it was the third-largest cotton port on the Gulf Coast, serving as a base for the Confederate forces trying to run the Union blockades during the Civil War. Today, this protected region of swamps and springs enjoys acclaim as the center of Florida’s seafood industry. Its large oyster beds are responsible for a high percentage of the State’s exports.

Travel
Destin/Fort Walton Beach Airport is located 2km (1 mile) east of Destin; Panama City/Bay County International Airport (website: www.pcairport.com) lies 6km (4 miles) north of Panama City. The Panama City Beach Trolley shuttles along the beach, making various flag stops. Taxis run on a grid system and fares increase as one moves away from Harrison Avenue.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring on the Emerald Coast in 2005:
Apr 21-24 19th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival, Destin. May Annual Destin Mayfest, Destin; Seaside Spring Wine Festival, Seaside. Jun 3-6 Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, Fort Walton Beach/Okaloosa Island. Oct Annual Indian Summer Seafood Festival, Panama City.

Climate
There are warm temperatures all year round with a summer high of 31°C (88 ºF).

North Central Florida
The North Central region lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Georgia at the base of the Appalachians. This region is bisected by the Suwannee River, which was immortalized in Florida’s official state song, written by Stephen Foster. Tallahassee, the state capital and the only uncaptured Confederate capital east of the Mississippi, has preserved the famous battle site of Natural Bridge where the Union forces suffered a defeat in 1865. Today, the city is a wonderful haven of color – azaleas, dogwoods, daphne, magnolias and camellias are all to be seen in bloom here. The Museum of Florida History and the Black Archives Research Center can also be found here.
One of the area’s most notable natural features is Wakulla Springs, which delivers more than 15,000 gallons of water per second.
Seafood was the staple of one of the region’s historic sites, Cedar Key, which is one of the oldest ports in the State. This island became a major supplier of seafood and timber products for the northeastern States during the Railroad era. Today, it is noted for its shopping, Victorian architecture and artistic flair.

Travel
Tallahassee Regional Airport (THL) (website: www.ci.tallahassee.fl.us/citytlh/aviation) is located 10 minutes from the city and served by AirTran Airways, Air Wisconsin, Continental Express, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection Services, Northwest Airlink and US Airways Express.
Amtrak’s Tallahassee station is situated five minutes away on Railroad Avenue. Tallahassee is also served by Greyhound buses. The Old Town Trolley provides a free round trip ride from the Civic Center.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in North Central Florida in 2005:
Jan 10-16 Freedom Blues Festival, Tallahassee. Mar Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival. Mar-Nov Downtown Marketplace, every Saturday, Tallahassee. Apr Annual Spring Arts Festival, Gainesville. May Southern Shakespeare Festival, Tallahassee. May 27-29 Annual Folk Festival, White Springs. Aug North Florida Fair, Tallahassee. Nov 12-13 Annual Downtown Festival and Arts Show, Gainesville.

Climate
Tallahassee is mild and moist owing to its close proximity to the Gulf, with an average temperature of 19°C (67ºF).

Northeast Florida
Straddling the beautiful St John’s River, Jacksonville is located in the northeast corner of Florida on the Atlantic Ocean. The historic districts of St Augustine and Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island are situated nearby.

Climate
The Northeast Region offers mild winters, a cool spring and fall, and it is generally warm during the summer months.

Jacksonville & Area
The Jacksonville Landing, on the north bank, is bustling with restaurants, nightclubs and shops, all housed under one giant orange-roofed facility. The Museum of Science and History and the nationally acclaimed Cummer Museum of Art and its gardens are situated in the city center, just a few minutes away from the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art.
The First Coast area is one of the few unspoiled areas of the Atlantic Coast. Nature trails and national parks line the seafront, providing opportunities for hiking, kayaking and camping. Just a few minutes northeast of the city is the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, an 18,500 hectare (46,000 acre) wetland and historic community. The trails and waterways are filled with indigenous and endangered wildlife such as ospreys, herons, bald eagles, sea turtles, manatees and wood storks. The Talbot Island State Park provides miles of pristine beaches, dunes, coastal hummocks and marshlands. Big Talbot Island boasts spectacular bluffs, 19km (11.5 miles) of untouched beaches, two plantation ruins, sand dunes, salt marshes, tidal creeks and a driftwood forest. South of Big Talbot is Little Talbot Island, an undeveloped barrier island. The entire 1000 hectare (2500 acre) island is a protected State Park and has white sand beaches and a popular campsite.
Fort George Island State Cultural Site contains the longest record of civilization in Duval County. The huge oyster shell mounds found on the island are evidence of Timucuan Indian habitation dating back over 7000 years. Katherine Abbey Hanna Park is Jacksonville’s premier 180 hectare (450 acre) beachfront getaway and boasts sunny beaches, freshwater lakes and wooded campsites. Established in 1914 with just one animal, a white-tailed fawn, the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens is today alive with more than 800 animals from around the world. At the Okavango Petting Zoo children can pet domestic African animals such as pygmy goats, dwarf zebu, miniature horses and Sardinian pygmy donkeys.

Travel
Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) (website: www.jaxairports.org) is 20 minutes from the city center. Jacksonville is served by both Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses. The Amtrak station, Florida’s hub, is located 10km (6 miles) west of downtown Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) provides a local bus service seven days a week with 50 routes. JTA also operates the Automated Skyway Express, a monorail system serving the city center.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Jacksonville & Area in 2005:
Apr 7-10 Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Metropolitan Park and The Jacksonville Landing. Apr 28-May 1 Annual World of Nations Celebration, Metropolitan Park. May Riverfest, Jacksonville. May/Jun Sail Jacksonville (tall ships), Downtown Riverfront. Nov 11 Veteran’s Day Parade, Jacksonville. Nov Annual Jacksonville Light Parade, Jacksonville Waterfront.

St Augustine & Area
The USA’s oldest city is a time capsule capturing nearly 500 years of fascinating history. Situated on the uppermost Atlantic Coast of Florida, the water’s-edge colonial village has 144 blocks of historic houses listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Castillo de San Marcos endures as the nation’s oldest and only remaining 17th-century masonry fort. Now a National Monument, the Spanish-built bastion guarded the mouth of Matanzas Bay from British invaders. The Spanish Quarter Living Museum is a village where actors portraying Spanish soldiers and settlers in traditional costume re-enact 18th-century crafts.
Other attractions include Anastasia State Recreation Area, a 1700 acre bird sanctuary on Anastasia Island; the still operational St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum; the Oldest Store Museum, which recreates a late 19th-century general store; and the USA’s first alligator exhibition farm, St Augustine Alligator Farm. Just past the beaches of Anastasia Island lies Marineland of Florida, the world’s first oceanarium. It features 1000 wonders of the deep, including Nelly, the world’s oldest known living dolphin, born on 27 February 1953.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in St Augustine & Area in 2005:
Mar 4-6 Native American Indian Festival, Francis Field. Mar 7th Annual San Sebastien Harvest Festival and Grape Stomp, St Augustine. Mar 19 Lighthouse Festival, St Augustine. Mar 27 St Augustine Easter Parade. Apr 14-17 EPIC Celebration of Spring, St Augustine. Jul 4 Fourth of July Fireworks, St Augustine. Nov 19-Jan 31 2006 Nights of Light, St Augustine.

Central West Florida
The Central West region is dotted with scenic freshwater sources rich in minerals, and there is an especially high concentration of these in the area known as ‘The Nature Coast’. There is also an abundance of parkland and a whole series of sophisticated resorts. The region’s natural allure and endless beaches betray no hint, however, of its rich and divergent cultural history. Tarpon Springs, for example, is a Mediterranean-style sponging village, which was founded in 1895. Sponge docks, Greek foods, festivals and 19th-century architecture still typify the town. On a larger scale, Ybor City, in the heart of Tampa, demonstrates the city’s Hispanic roots with museums, bakeries and restaurants. A network of bridges, including the striking Sunshine Skyway Bridge, connects the scattered islands and peninsulas of the Gulf Coast.

Climate
Central West Florida has a temperate climate with an average temperature of 22°C (71ºF). With an average of 361 days of sunshine each year, the St Petersburg/Clearwater area enjoys an average temperature of 23°C (73ºF). The annual average water temperature along the beaches is 24°C (75ºF).

St Petersburg/Clearwater
The St Petersburg/Clearwater area is located on Florida’s West Coast, bordered on the east by Tampa Bay and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico. The area is best known for its constant sunshine and 56km (35 miles) of beaches. The Pinellas peninsula and its famous beaches are within minutes of Florida’s popular attractions – just 30 minutes away is Busch Gardens in Tampa and 90 minutes away are Walt Disney World Vacation Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Sea World, Universal Studios Escape and other Central Florida sites.
St Petersburg is home to world-class museums, including the Salvador Dali Museum, which contains the world’s most comprehensive collection by this famous Spanish surrealist; the St Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, noted for its display of French Impressionist paintings; the St Petersburg Museum of History, which offers historical exhibits; the Florida International Museum, which was recently named a Smithsonian Institution affiliate and is home to the largest private collection of John F Kennedy memorabilia, including a recreation of JFK’s Oval Office; and the relocated and expanded Florida Holocaust Museum. A US$12 million renovation of The Pier has turned this popular spot on the St Petersburg waterfront into a festival marketplace of shops, restaurants and entertainment, while Bay Walk boasts an open-air themed plaza, 20-screen theater complex, restaurants and retail outlets. The Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo include Wedding, Tropical, Topiary and Jazz gardens, and are part of a new botanical learning center where visitors can attend walking tours and workshops. Begun in 1998 and still being developed, the US$16 million, 250-acre project, when complete, will be Florida’s largest gardens. The Gardens are adjacent to the Gulf Coast Museum of Art and Heritage Village and are the centerpiece of Pinewood Cultural Park, where culture, history and botany are combined.
Ideal parks for nature study, fishing, swimming and picnics are Fort De Soto Park, south of St Petersburg, plus the Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area and Caladesi Island State Park near Dunedin. All three are undeveloped barrier islands. Fort DeSoto and the Honeymoon Islands are connected to the mainland by causeways. Caladesi Island is ideal for swimming, fishing, picnics, snorkeling and scuba-diving, kayaking and guided nature walks. A 5km (3 mile) nature trail winds through the island’s interior. It is accessible only by a ferry service, with departures from Honeymoon Island and Clearwater.
The Pinellas Trail is a 76km (47 mile) linear park, perfect for cyclists, walkers, joggers and rollerbladers. The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, in Indian Shores, is the largest wild bird hospital in North America. There are over 500 birds on site, including a large nesting colony of injured brown pelicans. Samples of marine life can be found at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a research center that conducts a ‘head start’ program for baby sea turtles and includes tanks containing numerous varieties of fish, as well as Sam, the bottlenose dolphin. Celebration Station in Clearwater is a mini-theme park and includes go-karts, bumper boats and more. Clearwater Ferry Service offers exciting boat trips, including Dolphin Encounter and Caladesi Island Adventure. The Sea Screamer, which is moored in Clearwater, is the world’s largest speedboat. The 20 hectare (50 acre) Moccasin Lake Nature Park features a lake, upland forest, wetlands and most of the plant and animal species native to the area, as well as an environmental and energy education center. At Tarpon Springs, attractions include the Inness Paintings exhibition at the Universalist Church, featuring a large collection of works by American landscape artist George Inness Sr; Konger Coral Sea Aquarium; and St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, a replica of St Sofia’s in Constantinople.

Travel
St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) is served by the carriers Air Transat, American Trans Air, Can Jet, Con Quest, Jets Go, Seacoast, Sun Wing and USA 3000, plus other charters from the USA and Canada with Express One, Ryan International and US Airways, especially during the winter season. St Petersburg is served by Greyhound bus services.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in St Petersburg and Clearwater in 2005:
Jan 29 Pinellas Folk Festival, Heritage Village. Feb 24-27 Greek Fest, Tarpon Springs. Mar 5-6 Harbor Sounds Music Festival, Safety Harbour. Mar 11-13 Cajun/Zydeco Crawfish Festival, St Petersburg. Mar 18-20 Tampa Bay Blues Festival, St Petersburg. Mar 19 DaliFest, Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg. Mar 19-21 2005 Festival of Baseball, Clearwater. Apr 2-13 Festival of States, St Petersburg and Clearwater. Jun 11-12 Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival, St Petersburg. Oct 13-16 Clearwater Jazz Holiday (four days of free concerts), Coachman Park, Clearwater. Dec 24 Light up the Bayou, Tarpon Springs. Dec 31 First Night, St Petersburg.

Sarasota
The city of Sarasota is the cultural capital of Florida. The Ringling Museum Complex, the official State Museum of Florida, is a major attraction with superb old masterpieces and a fine contemporary collection. Sarasota’s Downtown Cultural District contains the Sarasota Opera House (also home of the Sarasota Ballet) and numerous theaters and nightclubs. Historic Palm Avenue, filled with fine art, antiques, jewelry and fashion, was a bustling street in the early-1900s, frequented by Sarasota’s founding families. Today, shopping emporia line Palm Avenue and the corner of Main Street. Sarasota Quay also offers a variety of specialty shops, as well as restaurants and nightclubs located on the water. Just minutes from the Quay and Palm Avenue, dinner cruises and charter boats depart from the stylish city marina.
North Lido Beach is a half-mile stretch of sand shaded by towering Australian pines. The public beach offers a swimming pool, a playground and shops. At the southern end of Lido Key are picnic tables, grills, a volleyball court and a playground. St Armands Key boasts a circle ringed by restaurants, nightclubs and exclusive shops. The Circus Ring of Fame, a sidewalk of circus stars, decorates the central park space.
Located between the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay, Longboat Key offers an abundance of outdoor activities. Anglers cast lines from Longboat’s white sandy beaches, piers and jetties. Boaters can cruise to nearby islands such as City Island, which is the setting for the Mote Marine Aquarium. Next door to the aquarium, the Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary is a rescue and rehabilitation center for pelicans and other wild birds. Siesta Key is best known for its sandy beaches, the widest and most popular in the county. A few miles south of the main beach, snorkelers flock to Crescent Beach where sea sponges and fish can be viewed under the Gulf’s surface. The southernmost spot on Siesta Key is Palmer Pointe South, a popular getaway for boaters and hikers. More than 8 hectares (20 acres) of unspoiled beach make this one of the most beautiful spots in the Key.
Other attractions in Sarasota County include the Gulf Coast World of Science, where visitors can dig for fossils, touch live snakes and experiment with static electricity. There are 50 restored antique cars to view at Bellm’s Cars and Music of Yesterday as well as 1200 music boxes and a penny arcade. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens specializes in air plants, orchids and colorful bromeliads. 10 lush tropical acres are filled with winding trails, beautiful gardens and exotic waterfowl at the Sarasota Jungle Gardens. There are also shows featuring snakes, turtles, alligators and other reptiles. Myakka State Park and Wilderness Preserve covers more than 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of wetlands, prairies and dense woodlands along the twisting Myakka River and Upper Myakka Lake. The park is home to hundreds of species of plants, trees and flowers. For a close-up view, visitors can take the boat or tram leaving from the Boat Basin. There are also numerous trails, a small natural history museum and a bird walk. Oscar Scherer State Recreation Area boasts streams for canoeing, a swimming lake, campsites, nature trails, cycling paths, a recreation hall and picnic areas. Visitors can discover Sarasota’s past on Little Sarasota Bay, in Osprey. Spanish Point, which contains a late Victorian pioneer homestead, a Native American burial mound, a 19th-century chapel, cemetery and remnants of the formal gardens of a turn-of-the-century estate.

Travel
The Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) (website: www.srq-airport.com), located 9.6km (6 miles) south of Sarasota and 16km (10 miles) north of Bradenton, is served by six major air carriers and two commuter airlines, including Air France, Alitalia, American Trans Air, Delta, Northwest and US Airways. Sarasota and Manatee counties provide public transport services from the airport approximately 12 hours per day. The buses are located at the west end of the baggage claim wing in the Ground Transportation area. Airport shuttle and taxi services are also available. Airport facilities include ATMs, a conference center, a post office and car hire. Greyhound buses stop in downtown Sarasota, while Amtrak’s Thruway bus service connects its Tampa railway station with Sarasota, stopping at the local bus terminal on Lemon Avenue. Public buses serving the beaches also stop here.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Sarasota in 2005:
Jan 28-Feb 6 Sarasota Film Festival. Feb 5 Scottish Highland Games and Heritage Festival, Sarasota. Mar 20-26 Sarasota Jazz Festival. Apr 8-10 Venice Sharks Tooth Festival, Venice Beach. Jun 25-Jul 3 The Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix Festival, Sarasota. Nov Sarasota Reading Festival; Sarasota Blues Festival.

Tampa
Tampa is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities and largest ports, with thriving industries and artistic communities. The Tampa Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman items, as well as a series of changing exhibitions. The Florida Aquarium features interactive exhibits where visitors can learn about Florida’s tropical sea life. Visitors can defy the laws of gravity in the Challenger Space Experience or stroll through the free-flying Butterfly Encounter at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The Amazing You exhibition explores the human body, Our Florida focuses on environmental issues and Our Place in the Universe introduces guests to space travel. Ybor City State Museum traces the development of Ybor City, Tampa, the cigar industry and Cuban immigration. The Henry B Plant Museum includes Victorian furniture and Wedgwood pottery. Busch Gardens is a huge amusement park featuring African wildlife. Giraffes, zebras and antelope roam freely through the park’s 24 hectare (60 acre) plain, next to thrilling rides such as the Kumba. There is also a 5 hectare (13 acre) water park, Adventure Island, just northeast of Busch Gardens.

Travel
Tampa International Airport (TPA) (website: www.tampaairport.com), located west of the city Tampa (travel time – five minutes), and northeast of the St Petersburg/Clearwater area (travel time – 30 minutes), has been rated the nation’s best for the past 10 years by the International Passenger Traffic Association. TPA is served by many airlines: Air Canada, AirTran, American West, British Airways (to London Gatwick), Continental, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Midwest Express, Northwest, Song, Southwest, Spirit, United, US Airways and US Airways Express. Public buses to the Tampa are operated by Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART). For coaches and charter buses, the passenger pick-up and drop-off points are located in the bus spaces of the Commercial Ground Transportation Quadrants. Limousines, point-to-point shuttles, taxis and car hire are also available. Amtrak trains stop at the station on Nebraska Avenue. Trains run to Jacksonville, Miami, New York City, Orlando and Philadelphia. A Thruway bus service operates from this station. A Greyhound bus service also stops in Tampa. HART local bus services make getting around the city and nearby sights and attractions easy.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Tampa in 2005:
Jan 29 Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Downtown Tampa. Feb 4-6 Gasparilla Distance Classic (running events), Tampa. Feb 10-21 Annual Florida State Fair, Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. Mar 5-6 Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Tampa. Apr 9-10 AirFest 2005, MacDill Airforce Base. May 7-8 Tomatoe Festival, Ruskin. Oct 29 Guavaween (parade, costume contest and concerts), Ybor City. Nov 6-7 Ruskin Seafood and Arts Festival. Nov 19 Cigar Heritage Festival, Ybor City.

Central Florida
The central region of Florida, which includes Orlando, is home to an enormous number of theme parks, entertainment facilities, resorts, movie studios and water parks. It is the face of Florida that most people recognize instantly. But Central Florida has another side, seen in the majestic Ocala National Forest and peaceful Lake County.

Climate
Central Florida has warm sunny days and mild nights. The average monthly temperature is 24°C (75ºF) in the winter and 35°C (95ºF) in the summer. The average rainfall is 50 inches.

Orlando
Orlando is the one-stop vacation spot that offers more than 88,000 hotel rooms, 3000 restaurants and 66 attractions, which have established it as one of the world’s favorite holiday spots. Orlando’s attractions include hair-raising rides, nail-biting adventures and heart-pounding suspense. Thrill-seekers can experience the terrifying attack of a Great White shark on the Jaws Ride at Universal Studios, Florida, or take a sensual journey to the world’s most wonderful seaside cities and discover the ‘soul of the sea’ at The Waterfront, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction. Walt Disney World Resort is the biggest, and arguably the best, amusement park in the world. It contains four sections: the Magic Kingdom, with seven theme regions; Epcot Center, a science and world exhibition center; Disney MGM Studios, a movie and theme park; and Animal Kingdom, an adventure and safari park featuring wild animals, exotic landscapes and thrill rides. Popular attractions include a 13-story free-fall plunge on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney MGM Studios; Epcot’s Mission:SPACE, which recreates space travel and pushes the boundaries of entertainment technology; and the Stitch's Great Escape at Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom.
Blizzard Beach, Disney’s third and largest water park, is set in a faux snow-capped mountain range featuring Florida’s only chairlift, which carries guests to the tip of Mount Gushmore. A number of water slides challenge visitors, including Summit Plummet, the tallest, fastest water slide in the world. More high-speed rides can be found at Typhoon Lagoon. River Country, in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, is a relaxing water park where holidaymakers can relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.
SeaWorld Orlando, southwest of Orlando (travel time – 19 minutes), is one of the country’s largest marine parks and features whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals and otters. The most popular shows are the ones starring the killer whales, Shamu and Baby Namu.
Pleasure Island is a high-energy, nighttime entertainment complex featuring seven themed nightclubs, stage shows and live concerts, plus a giant New Year’s Eve celebration every night of the week. It is located in an area known as Downtown Disney, along with such restaurants as Wolfgang Puck, House of Blues and the Cuban-style Bongo’s Cafe.
Cultural attractions include the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which boasts the world’s largest collection of Louis Tiffany glass. Cornell Fine Arts Museum, located at Rollins College, houses one of the largest and most distinguished art collections in Florida. Other popular sights include Eatonville, just north of Orlando, which is home to the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts; the Maitland Art Center; Orlando Museum of Art; Orange County Historical Museum, which includes a renovated 1926 Orlando Firehouse; and the Albin Polasek Galleries.
Other attractions in and around Orlando include World of Orchids, the first permanent indoor display of its kind in the world; Church Street Station, a block-long entertainment complex in the heart of central Orlando; Gatorland, in nearby Kissimmee; and Wet ’n’ Wild, a water park offering numerous adventurous water activities.

Travel
Orlando International Airport (MCO) (website: www.state.fl.us/goaa) is located within 24km (15 miles) of the major attractions and central Orlando.
Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) is located 56km (35 miles) north of Orlando and handles a number of charter airlines. Shuttle buses and vans, taxis, limousines and rental cars are available from both airports.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Orlando in 2005:
Feb 18-20 115th Silver Spurs Rodeo, Kissimmee. Mar 4-6 Kissimmee Kiwanis Bluegrass Festival. Apr 8-17 Florida Film Festival, Orlando. Apr 2-3 Spring Fiesta in the Park, Orlando; Arts in April (month-long arts festival), Orlando. Jul 4 July Fourth Lakeside Celebrations, Kissimmee and St Cloud. Sep 30-Nov 13 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, Orlando. Oct Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios. Nov 25-Dec 30 2005 Epcot Holidays around the World (traditional event featuring daily tree-lighting ceremony, themed storytellers, and culminating in a candlelit procession). Dec 10 Kissimmee Holiday Extravaganza.

Elsewhere
Located in the central highlands north of Orlando, Lake County boasts more than 1000 lakes offering fishing, boating and swimming opportunities. The area is noted for its scenic beauty of gentle hills dotted with orange groves and quiet country roads and parks framed by antique brick streets. Major attractions include the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard which is open for tours and tastings all year round. The House of Presidents Wax Museum features the White House in Miniature exhibit. Other popular sights include the Florida Citrus Tower, Uncle Donald’s Farm, Trout Lake Nature Center and Wekia Falls Resort in Sorrento. Recreational activities include water-skiing, in-line skating, swimming and cycling. Seminole Lake is home to the largest glider teaching school in Florida and is open to visitors who want to experience the joys of soaring.
The northern boundaries of Central Florida are engulfed by a national forest so large it needs to be administered by two separate ranger districts. The Ocala National Forest covers 378,178 acres, divided into three divergent recreation areas linked by a 106km (65 mile) trail. The town of Ocala boasts a 19th-century historic district, a major art museum and some 400 horse farms.

Central East Florida
This slender but significant region stretches from Daytona Beach in the north to Stuart in the south.

Climate
Central East Florida has warm sunny days and mild nights. The average monthly temperature is 24°C (75ºF) in the winter and 35°C (95ºF) in the summer.

Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach area covers 37km (23 miles) along the Atlantic coast and at low tide offers a 150m (500ft) expanse of hard white sand. The beach first became well known in the 1930s and 1940s as a testing ground for the early pioneers of high-speed motor cars and it was here that Sir Malcolm Campbell set his 1935 land speed record – an amazing 444kph (276mph) run in his rocket-powered Bluebird. For a small charge visitors can still take their cars on part of the beach, but the top speed now allowed is just 16kmph (10mph). Real speed is confined to the Daytona International Speedway, which hosts the famous Daytona 500 race each February. The Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup Series takes place in the summer. The speedway also houses a huge collection of racing memorabilia and early racing films and conducts 30-minute tours on days with no races.
Other attractions include the huge Daytona Flea and Farmers Market, open Friday to Sunday; the Harbour Marina; and the Ocean Center, which hosts top entertainers, sporting events and conventions. Historical sights include The Casements, the former home of John D Rockefeller; Gamble Place, a historical and nature preserve; Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse; and Sugar Mill Gardens, a large botanical garden and dinosaur park.

Travel
Flights into Daytona arrive at the Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) (website: www.flydaytonafirst.com). Greyhound buses come and go from 138 South Ridgewood Avenue, four minutes west of the beach. Voltran Transit Co operates local buses in the area.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Daytona Beach in 2005:
Feb 5-20 Speed Weeks. Mar 14-13 Bike Week. Mar 14-31 Spring Break. Mar 18-20 Spring Daytona Beach Car Show and Swap Meet. Apr 15-17 Black College Reunion. Jul 2 Pepsi 400 NASCAR Winston Cup. Oct 20-23 Biketoberfest. Nov Halifax Art Festival. Nov 24-27 Daytona Turkey Run (car show and swap meet). Nov 25-26 Birthplace of Speed Celebration.

New Smyrna Beach
South of Daytona Beach is New Smyrna Beach. Billed as the ‘World’s Safest Bathing Beach’, it is also the beach closest to the popular Orlando area and Central Florida attractions and an attraction in itself. Only a short drive from Orlando and Daytona Beach International Airports, New Smyrna Beach lays claim to the best Florida offers - excellent backwater fishing, fresh seafood and seasons of sunshine. As the second-oldest settled city in Florida, New Smyrna offers visitors tours of several historical sites and museums. Also named one of the ‘Top Small Cities for the Arts’, this coastal town houses the Atlantic Center for the Arts, an artists-in-residence community, and many other galleries and exhibits. New Smyrna Beach is 21.2 km (13.2 miles) of white sand and continues into the largest section of Canaveral National Seashore Park and Mosquito Lagoon where backwater fishing for giant Redfish have set international angler records. Canaveral Seashore Park offers miles of pristine beaches, bird watching, kayaking and hiking for the adventurous traveller. Affordable accommodations range from motels to oceanfront hotels, condominiums and bed & breakfast inns.

Space Coast
South of New Smyrna Beach at Titusville is the start of the ‘Space Coast’, a 115km (72 mile) stretch of beach which leads down to Palm Bay.
The main attraction here is Cape Canaveral in the Titusville area – home of the US Space Program. All of NASA’s shuttle flights take off from the Kennedy Space Center. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex runs continuous tours of the complex where visitors see the actual launchpads and astronaut training centers as well as museums and exhibits. IMAX presentations give visitors the illusion of space travel. Tours take in the Apollo/ Saturn Visitors’ Center, the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry and the International Space Station Center, which highlight the past, present and future of the USA’s Space Program. Visitors should plan to spend at least an hour at each of these facilities.
The Astronauts’ Hall of Fame, a few kilometers from the Kennedy Space Center offers a self-guided tour through the early days of space exploration, focusing on the Mercury 7 and Gemini astronauts. A virtual reality trainer and shuttle simulator make this a hands-on exhibit. The Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum displays historical military aircraft.
The Canaveral National Seashore is an unspoilt area of beaches and sand dunes where the giant loggerhead and green turtles come ashore in summer to lay their eggs. The marshy Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is home to more endangered species than any other refuge in the USA and features deer, sea turtles, alligators, eagles and excellent walking tracks. Port Canaveral is America’s second-busiest cruise passenger port. The National Historic District of Main Street Titusville boasts many fine 18th- and 19th-century buildings. This charming area also contains antique shops, restaurants, a playhouse and more. The 7000-seat Space Coast Stadium in Viera is the spring training home of Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins; games are played from March to September. Cocoa Beach is a popular resort famed for surfing and a lively nightlife. Cocoa Beach Pier stretches 256 meters (800ft) into the Atlantic Ocean, offering exceptional fishing and views. The central shopping area has been recreated as Olde Cocoa Village. Astronaut Memorial Hall and Planetarium features memorabilia, astronomical multimedia programs on a 360° domed ceiling, and a public-access space telescope.
Brevard Zoo features jaguars, llamas, anteaters, monkeys, exotic birds and other Latin American animals. The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science traces the origins of Brevard County and the Brevard Museum of Art and Science hosts major touring art exhibitions. The Melbourne/Palm Bay area is near the largest sea turtle nesting area in the USA, which stretches from Spessard Holland Park, south to Sebastian Inlet. Turtles come ashore from May to August and hatchlings struggle back to the ocean until late October. Turtle walks are offered on Space Coast beaches. Perched on the southern tip of the island, the 30m (90ft) Merritt Island Dragon is a concrete and steel sculpture inspired by a local legend. Melbourne’s historic center features galleries, boutiques, restaurants and antique stores. The Henegar Center is the oldest building in the area, and has varied theatrical offerings throughout the year, while the Maxwell C King Center is the hub of area’s cultural life.

Travel
Melbourne International Airport (MLB) (website: www.mlbair.com) serves Brevard County and the Space Coast. Car hire is available and the airport runs a shuttle service throughout several counties.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Central East Florida in 2005:
Mar Florida Marlins Profile Baseball Spring Training, Space Coast Stadium, Melbourne. Mar 11-13 Seafest, Cape Canaveral. May-Sep Sea Turtle Nesting Season.

Southwest Florida
Florida’s Southwest coast lies along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and much of the area’s charm and island ambience comes from the multitude of barrier islands sprinkled along the coastline. It has the feel of ‘Old Florida’, with a relaxed, subtropical, island-style environment. In addition to the many parks and wildlife refuges in the region, there is an abundance of recreational activities: beachcombing, canoeing, golf, windsurfing, biking, tennis, boating, fishing, water-skiing and just plain sightseeing. The first tourist to visit Florida’s Lee Island Coast was Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, who deposited his stone marker on Pine Island in 1513 and was later mortally wounded in these same waters by a Calusa Indian arrow. Shell mounds, which have provided an insight into the lives of these seafaring Native Americans, can still be found on Pine Island.

Travel
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) (website: www.swfia.com) offers non-stop and connecting flights across the USA and Canada, provided by all the major US and Canadian airlines. Major European destinations are easily accessible via connections through a number of US hubs, and services are available from France, Germany, Sweden and the UK (travel time – approximately eight hours). Airport facilities include long-term and short-term parking, a visitor information center (provided by the Lee Island Coast Visitor & Convention Bureau) and car rental. Lee Tran buses run between 0600 and 2200. Another bus service is provided on an hourly basis to a transfer point located at Daniels Parkway and US State Highway 41. Connections can be made from that point to the remainder of the Lee Tran bus routes.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Southwest Florida in 2005:
Jan 29-Feb 20 Edison Festival of Light, Fort Myers. Mar 3-5 68th Annual Sanibel Shell Fair & Show, Sanibel Island. Mar 19 16th Annual Sounds of Jazz, Cape Coral. Apr 21-24 Fort Myers Beach Film Festival. Apr 24 A Taste of the Islands, Sanibel Island. May 14-15 Fort Myers Beach Air Show. May 21 Freedom Fest 2005, Cape Coral. Jun 5 Annual Fort Myers Beach ‘Taste of the Beach’ Festival. Jul 4 Independence Day Celebrations, Fort Myers and Sanibel Island. Aug 6-7 Fort Myers Beach Offshore Fishing Rodeo. Oct 6 Island Expo 2005, Fort Myers. Oct 28-30 Oktoberfest, Cape Coral. Nov 9-13 19th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship, Fort Myers.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Unspoiled yet luxurious, Sanibel Island is connected to the mainland by a scenic causeway that spans the waters of Pine Island Sound. Sanibel is probably best known for the fabulous shells found on its shores, but the reputation of its beaches is growing. Sanibel’s main thoroughfare, Periwinkle Way, is picturesque, lush with jungle and framed by a canopy of Australian pines. Interesting shops and unique restaurants dot the road from the Sanibel Lighthouse to Tarpon Bay Road. A variety of eateries offer everything from fine dining to casual seafood bars. Two attractions not to be missed are Lighthouse Park and the J N ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, occupying more than a third of the island. The refuge features delightful footpaths, winding canoe trails and an 8km (5 mile) scenic drive, all of which are surrounded with sea grape, wax and salt myrtles, red mangrove, palms and other native plant varieties. Naturalists will get their best view of the wide variety of fauna and flora from observation towers strategically placed throughout the nature sanctuary.
A short span at Blind Pass joins Sanibel to Captiva, an intimate hideaway where Spanish pirate José Gaspar held his female prisoners captive. Several barrier islands are accessible from Captiva by boat. Other excursions include a shelling tour to Upper Captiva or a visit to the Cayo Costa State Island Preserve.

Fort Myers & Area
The city of Fort Myers is perhaps best known for its palm-lined boulevards and Thomas Alva Edison’s winter home. Edison spent 46 winters in his old-Florida-style home, a tour of which provides an insightful look at this great inventor. His home, laboratory and experimental gardens are located on 14 acres of land on the Caloosahatchee River. For 24km (15 miles), McGregor Boulevard is lined on both sides with statuesque royal palm trees, the first 200 of which were imported from Cuba and planted by Thomas Edison.
The Caloosahatchee separates Fort Myers from Cape Coral, a boating community with more canals than Venice, Italy. In addition to the Edison Home, visitors to Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the neighboring towns of North Fort Myers, Lehigh and Bonita Springs can enjoy a visit to Henry Ford’s home, the Lee County Nature Center and The Shell Factory.
Fishing is a popular pastime in Southwest Florida. The waters are teeming with fish, from delicious red snappers and grouper to game fish such as snook and tarpon. A short boat ride away, and connected to the mainland by a short causeway near Punta Gorda, is Boca Grande, a slice of ‘Old Florida’ on Gasparilla Island. Long known as a playground for the wealthy, this quaint, sleepy town is a favorite spot for sport fishing – tarpon is a popular catch here. Further south are Estero Island and Fort Myers Beach, ideal for family holidays with its safe, gently sloping shoreline and numerous activities.
Golf aficionados will appreciate the fact that Southwest Florida has more golf holes per capita than any other destination in the USA.

Naples
Naples is a charming city with an atmosphere of understated elegance. Home to cosy beach cottages and 5-star resorts, Naples is also known for its pristine shoreline and abundant wildlife.
Both the ambience and the scenery are serene, thanks to the easygoing demeanour of the Neapolitans and the city’s meticulously maintained thoroughfares, parks and shopping areas. A stroll along Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South’s tree-lined avenues in ‘Olde Naples’ reveals a variety of gift boutiques, antique emporia, apparel shops and art galleries, as well as a range of cafés and restaurants. The Old Marine Market Place at Tin City on Naples Bay reflects Neapolitan history at a time when the area supplied fresh fish from tin-roofed warehouses. Not far away, The Village on Venetian Bay is reminiscent of a Mediterranean plaza with winding waterways and walkways. At Waterside Shops, cascading waterfalls are the central point for major retailers, clothiers and galleries. The Caribbean Gardens Zoological Park offers 21 hectares (53 acres) of rare, endangered animals and tropical gardens. At the Teddy Bear Museum, almost 3000 bears in every shape and size are whimsically arranged.
Naples boasts more than 53 golf courses. Professional tournaments such as the PGA Greater Naples Intellinet Golf Challenge and the Florida Senior Open take place throughout the year. Tennis is a close second to golf and Naples offers community courts in a park-like setting just blocks away from the beach.
Wildlife is also plentiful in the Naples area. Numerous venues afford ample opportunities to view endangered species such as the manatee, the American bald eagle, and the North American wood stork. Nature lovers will enjoy a real view of Old Florida along two miles of scenic boardwalks in the National Audubon Society’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
South of Naples is Collier Seminole State Park, featuring guided boat tours through mangrove forests along the Blackwater River.

Marco Island & the Southwest
South of Naples is Marco Island, located at the southernmost tip of Florida’s Gulf Coast and nearly lost amongst the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove isles that stretch from Naples to the Florida Keys. It is an area of stunning beauty. Marco Island, the largest and only inhabited isle, is a retreat for the wealthy.
Its pampered perfection complements the tangled wildness and sweeping sawgrass prairies of Florida’s famous Everglades National Park, which lies only an hour away. The Everglades is the USA’s third-largest national park. Several excursions offer a glimpse of the country’s only subtropical region, by means of airboat tours, nature trails and safari vans. The unassuming fishing hamlets of Everglades City and Chokoloskee Island, both locked in time, offer visitors an interactive eco-adventure in the inspirational beauty of Florida’s final frontier. For information on the eastern areas of the Everglades, see the Southeast Florida and the Keys section.

Southeast Florida and the Keys
Southeast Florida is home to one of the USA’s most international cities – Greater Miami – which offers a rich array of exotic cuisine, nightlife, festivals, shopping, attractions, arts and architecture. Once strictly a winter resort, the area is now a year-round holiday destination for tourists from all over the world. The vibrant life of the coastal area provides a startling contrast to the Everglades National Park, which stretches across a large portion of southern Florida. The USA’s only subtropical region, this expanse of wetlands is within easy reach of the main cities in Southeast Florida (for information on the western areas of the Everglades, see the Southwest Florida section). Stretching from Key Largo at the northern end to Key West in the south, 45 of the over 800 islands of the Florida Keys, once known as the Cayos, are linked by Overseas Highway 1.

Climate
Greater Miami and the Beaches’ subtropical climate ensures plentiful sunshine all year round. There is sufficient rainfall during the summer and early autumn. Virtually all buildings are air conditioned. In fact, a light sweater or jacket is advisable to take the chill off the indoor climates. The powerful rays of the sun also make it a good idea to wear a hat or protective sunscreen when planning to be outdoors for long periods.

Miami
Today, Greater Miami is an international crossroads of commerce, culture, sports, entertainment, transport and tourism. This cosmopolitan city boasts beautiful beaches, right next to one of the USA’s most vibrant urban centers. Often called the ‘City of the Future’, Miami contains dramatic skyscrapers, modern hotels and an international financial district. Greater Miami is famed for conch fritters, black beans and rice, cowbells and castanets, salsa and compas, jig and rumba. It offers a unique blend of 21st century and Old World architecture, sports facilities and sunbathing opportunities, big-city culture and small-town neighborhoods.
The American Airlines Arena, a distinctive, neon-lit addition to Miami’s futuristic skyline, has emerged as a focal point for the city’s renaissance. This home for the Miami Heat basketball team is across from the new Miami-Dade Performing Arts Center. Ornamented by a parade of palm trees, Brickell Avenue’s towers of mirrored glass and steel command some of the area’s most coveted views of the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay. Bayside Marketplace is a restaurant, shopping and entertainment complex on the bay. Nearby, the Metro-Dade Cultural Center is a Mediterranean-style complex housing the Center for the Fine Arts, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and one of the largest libraries in the southeast.
Trips across the half dozen causeways that span Biscayne Bay are short and scenic, connecting mainland Miami to the seaside attractions. Bal Harbor, Surfside, Sunny Isles, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach are minutes from the heart of the city.

Miami Beach
Renovated hotels along Ocean Drive and throughout the Art Deco District have captured national praise for the Art Deco, Streamline Moderne and Spanish Mediterranean Revival styles which dominate the 1 sq mile area. Just north of the Art Deco Historic District, multi-million dollar restorations have transformed many of the well-known hotels along Collins Avenue. The striking new architecture of the recently expanded Miami Beach Convention Center makes it an instant landmark. The updated and hip Lincoln Road Mall is a hub of the arts and entertainment: the street now houses the South Florida Arts Center, the Colony Theater and the headquarters of MTV Latino, the New World Symphony and Sony Latin America.
At the southernmost tip of Miami Beach, South Pointe Park offers an ideal vantage point to watch luxury cruise ships make their way out to sea. Boat watching is also a favorite pastime at the International Yacht Harbor, one of the largest marinas in South Florida. All year round, the warm sand, azure waters and pleasant breezes of Miami Beach beckon sunbathers, picnickers and outdoor diners.

Elsewhere
Biscayne National Park offers glass-bottomed boat rides through mangroves and islands and out to tropical coral reefs rising 8m (25ft). Miami Metrozoo represents state-of-the-art zoo design, with exotic animals in habitats very similar to their original homes in the wild. Miccosukee Indian Village, west of Miami, shows how this Native American tribe existed (and still exists) in the heart of the Florida Everglades. The Monkey Jungle gives visitors the chance to see North America’s first colony of wild monkeys in lush tropical jungle surroundings. Vizcaya, south of central Miami on Biscayne Bay, is a beautiful 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palace set in 10 acres of picturesque formal gardens. The Miami Museum of Science & Space Transit Planetarium has many attractions, including a laser show. With over 3000 exotic animals, 500 species of plants and the largest crocodile in captivity, Parrot Jungle Island opened in June 2003, after its US$47 million relocation to Watson Island, mid way between Miami and South Beach, off the MacArthur Causeway.

Travel
Miami International Airport (MIA) (website: www.miami-airport.com), located 7 miles from central Miami, ranks 12th in the USA for total passenger traffic, with approximately 30 million travelers passing through its portals annually. Parking at the airport is simplified by a state-of-the-art people-mover system that connects the parking areas to the main airport terminal via moving walkways. Airlines serving the airport include Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Continental and Delta Airlines. Miami Air International is an upmarket charter airline specializing in cruise travelers, and incentive and corporate travel. Supershuttle offers easy, door-to-door transport to and from the airport. Customer service representatives are on call 24 hours a day and are located outside the airport baggage claims area. More than 19 of the 63 Dade County routes serve Greater Miami and the Beaches every day, as well as the Miami Seaquarium, the Orange Bowl Stadium, the Cultural Center and Metrozoo.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Miami in 2005:
Jan 14-16 Art Deco Weekend, Miami Beach. Feb 4-13 Miami Film Festival. Feb 17-21 Miami International Boat Show, Miami Beach. Feb 19-21 Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Feb 24-27 Coral Gables Bluefest, Coral Gables. Feb 25-27 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, Miami. Mar Carnaval Miami, Little Havana. Apr 22-May 1 Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
May 8-9 Great Sunrise Balloon Race and Festival, Miami. Jun 3-6 South Florida Boat Show, Miami Beach. Jun Goombay Festival, Coconut Grove. Nov-Jan 2006 Santa's Enchanted Forest, Tropical Park, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale
Greater Fort Lauderdale is one of the premier tourism destinations in South Florida. During the 1920s, this sleepy outpost boomed when real estate speculators dredged the Everglades, forming irrigation canals and creating the ‘Venice of America’. Brick-paved pedestrian promenades, columned porticos and hundreds of new palm trees make the city’s famed beachfront strip one of the best in the USA. In total, there are 23 miles of beach front, 300 miles of inland waterways and 3500 restaurants.
Riverwalk, a linear park, links hotels, restaurants and attractions along the banks of the New River, leading to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Water taxis ply Fort Lauderdale’s canals and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Opportunities to explore the natural world in Greater Fort Lauderdale include Butterfly World, dedicated to the study, care and display of beautiful butterflies from all over the globe; Flamingo Gardens; the Water Taxi; and the Museum of Discovery & Science. The Secret Woods Nature Center features wetlands, mangrove swamps and numerous plant and animal communities. It is possible to ride an airboat through the Everglades at Sawgrass Recreation Park or Everglades Holiday Park. The Old Fort Lauderdale Village & Museum is a historic village in the center of Fort Lauderdale, comprising the 1905 New River Inn (housing the museum), the 1905 Philemon Bryan House (the administrative offices of the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society), the 1907 King-Cromartie House (museum) and the Replica 1899 Schoolhouse. The new Hoch Heritage Center is due to open in 2005. The Society produces exhibits on the area’s development, the history of sports in South Florida, regional architecture, Seminole Indian culture and even a silent movie theater. The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, on the Seminole Indian Reservation, includes profiles of historic leaders, artifacts, traditional crafts, toys and jewelry exhibits.
The Von D Mizell Library is just one of several attractions in Broward County with important affiliations to the African-American community. Displays feature the black heritage of Broward County, especially authors and artists, as well as memorabilia of Dr Mizell, one of the area’s first African-American doctors. Bonnet House is a historical estate of 14 hectares (35 acres) that reflects the history of South Florida. The waterfront estate includes a plantation-style house, art gallery, a bamboo bar and shell museum and eight outbuildings.
Other attractions include Stranahan House, the home of the area’s first ferryman, Frank Stranahan, and the Graves Museum of Archaeology & Natural History with exhibits on the Tequesta Indians of South Florida, as well as ancient Egypt and the Near East, marine archaeology, pre-Hispanic Americas and the Carole Jacobs Mineral Collection. Boats can be hired from Bahia Mar Marina or visitors can hop aboard The Jungle Queen, a paddleboat. Also in the area is Sawgrass Mills Mall, the world’s largest designer outlet mall, which features over 275 specialty shops.

Travel
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) (website: www.fll.net) is located in Fort Lauderdale. It is served by 24 airlines including Air Canada, Air Jamaica, American Airlines, Continental, Delta, TWA and United.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Fort Lauderdale in 2005:
Feb 4-6 Fiesta Tropicale (South Florida’s Mardi Gras). Feb 12-Mar 13 13th Annual Florida Renaissance Festival, Deerfield Beach. Apr Fort Lauderdale Seafood Festival, Smoker Park. Nov 19th Annual Sound Advice Blues Festival, Fort Lauderdale.

Palm Beach
This is a popular hang-out of the rich and famous, who spend their days buying jewelry in Cartier on Worth Avenue or sipping iced-tea at the polo matches. The resort is also home to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, a tribute to the railroad mogul who established the area as an exclusive holiday destination by laying out the opulent palm-lined boulevards. Other attractions in the area include the Burt Reynolds Ranch & Film Studios, a 68 hectare (168 acre) ranch featuring a mini-petting farm, gift shop and museum; the Rapids Water Park, with four gigantic waterslides; the Sailfish Marine and Lion Country Safari Park, with more than 1000 wild animals, free boat cruises, miniature golf and a dinosaur and reptile park; and the International Museum of Cartoon Art has a permanent collection which includes 100,000 original drawings, 10,000 books and hundreds of hours of film and videotape. Other museums in the area are the Children’s Museum of Boca Raton, South Florida Science Museum and Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens. West of Palm Beach is Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest lake in the USA, celebrated for its large-mouth bass fishing.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in Palm Beach in 2005:
Jan 15-30 South Florida Fair. Mar 17-20 Palm Beach Boat Show. Apr 27-May 1 Sunfest, West Palm Beach.

The Keys
From Miami to Key West is only 45 minutes by air. The first Key from Miami is Key Largo, the longest island of the Keys chain and the site where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall battled with both Edward G Robinson and the elements in the movie Key Largo. Key Largo’s star attractions are John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – the first underwater preserve in the USA – and the adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary. These two refuges feature 55 varieties of delicate corals and almost 500 different species of fish. Key Largo also features the world’s only underwater hotel, where guests can spend the evening in the midst of the marine life of the Keys. Islamorada is the centerpiece of a group of islands called ‘The Purple Isles’ that includes Plantation Keys, Windley Key and both Upper Matecumbe Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. Known as the ‘Sportfishing Capital of the World’, Islamorada is famed for its angling opportunities and features the Keys’ largest fleet of offshore charterboats and shallow water ‘backcountry’ boats. The Keys boast more sportfishing world records than any other fishing destination in the world. Anglers can find sailfish, marlin, kingfish, snapper, barracuda and grouper. Long Key State Park has nature trails leading to tropical hummocks and Grassy Key is the site of the Dolphin Research Center.
Marathon, heart of the Florida Keys, and neighboring Key Colony Beach, boast 18- and 9-hole golf courses respectively. It is also home to Crane Point Hammock, a 26 hectare (63.5 acre) land tract that is one of the most important historical and archaeological sites in the Keys. The area contains evidence of pre-Columbian and prehistoric Bahamian artifacts and was once the site of a Native American village. At Crane Point is the Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys and the Florida Keys Children’s Museum, which explores the islands’ rich natural history. Big Pine Key is noted for the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, a national refuge for miniature Key deer, tropical forests and even a few alligators in the Blue Hole.
Ernest Hemingway purchased a pre-Civil War mansion in Key West and lived in it for 10 years while writing some of his best-known novels. His legend remains and visitors continue to seek out his home – now a museum – and his favorite bar. In the evening, visitors gather at Mallory Square to ‘call it a day’. The daily ‘Sunset Celebration’ is a tradition that Key Westers share with visitors. While musicians, jugglers, mime artists and an occasional fire-eater provide the entertainment, the sun sinks slowly below the horizon.

Special events
The following is a selection of special events occurring in The Keys in 2005:
Jan 29-30 20th Annual Key West Craft Show. Feb 12-13 11th Annual Pigeon Key Art Festival, Marathon. Mar 19-20 32nd Annual Original Marathon Seafood Festival, Marathon. Apr 22-May 1 23rd Conch Republic Independence Day Celebration, Key West. Apr 23-24 Annual 7 Mile Bridge Run, Marathon. May 11-15 Key West Songwriters Festival. Jun 13-18 Cuban American Heritage Festival, Key West. Jul 9 21st Annual Underwater Music Festival, Big Pine Key. Jul 18-24 Hemingway Days Festival, Key West. Jul 20-23 Drambuie Key West Marlin Tournament (in conjunction with the Hemingway Days Festival). Oct 21-30 27th Annual Fantasy Fest, Key West. Nov 13-20 Key West Offshore World Championships (powerboat racing). Dec 31 New Year's Eve Celebrations, Key West.


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