The State of Florida is located in the Southeastern region of the United States of America with an area of 58,560 square miles. It is a peninsula bordered on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean.

Florida

Various Visits

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

The Everglades was originally a freshwater river. Mangrove waterway and sawgrass marsh now fill up much of the area. The trees and flowers here are much like those in the West Indies and Cuba. The park is home to over 350 species of birds, and it is also a sanctuary for the manatee and the American crocodile. Additionally, over 600 species of fish, alligators, snakes and sea turtles abound.

The park is open all year. From the Visitor Center, the road continues to Flamingo where boat tours depart. There are five major boardwalks/nature trails. You can charter a fishing boat or use a marina or campground. Cruises and boat tours leave daily. Airboat rides are available outside the park by private companies along the Tamiami Trail.

FORT LAUDERDALE

Fort Lauderdale claims one of Florida’s foremost attractions….a pristine three-mile-long strip of sand. The Intracoastal Waterway connects office buildings, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, etc. on Las Olas Boulevard and the nightspots of Riverwalk, a long stretch promenade that runs through lush tropical landscaping along the river.

Fort Lauderdale is primarily residential and a most popular area on the East Coast. Besides being a leading resort area, it is an active commercial center. Modern boat terminals here provide facilities for Caribbean-bound luxury liners. The International Swimming Hall of Fame is also located here. It applauds the successes of famous swimmers going back in time to past centuries. Don't miss La Olas Boulevard for great shopping.

JACKSONVILLE

Jacksonville is a busy seaport and one of Florida’s major cultural, financial, industrial, transportation and commercial centers. Jacksonville Landing, along the St. Johns River, has a downtown marketplace featuring shops, riverfront cafes and restaurants. Water taxis provide transportation across the river.

• Alexander Brest Museum - featuring a collection of pre-Columbian objects
• Cummer Museum - featuring decorative and fine arts dating from 2000 BC
• Jacksonville Maritime Museum
• Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art
• There is also the Jacksonville Historical Center, the Zoo and Gardens

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (47miles east of Orlando)

Kennedy Space Center is NASA’s launch and landing site for the space shuttle. It is home to two launch pads and the only place in the world that man has launched from Earth and gone to the moon. East of the center is Cape Canaveral Air Station, site of the Mercury and Gemini flights.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers an exploration of the past, present and future of US Space programs, including an IMAX theatre. Admission includes a bus tour of NASA restricted areas. There is also an Astronaut Hall of Fame and an Astronaut Memorial for those who died while serving.

KEY WEST

Key West is known as the Southernmost city in the Continental United States. It is 129 miles southwest of Miami, FL (about 160 driving miles) and 106 miles north-northeast of Havana Cuba. It is a seaport destination for many passenger cruise ships.

It wasn’t until 1912 when Key West was connected to the Florida mainland via the Overseas Railway extension of Henry Flagler’s railway that much activity occured. When a hurricane destroyed much of the railroad and killed hundreds of residents, the US government rebuilt the rail route as an automobile highway, completed in 1938.

The original Key West neighborhood in the west is called "Old Town" and comprises the Key West Historic District. It covers the major tourist destinations of the island, including Mallory Square, Duval Street, the Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor. It is where you can find the classic bungalows and guest mansions. New restaurants and stores are appearing in the historic Bahama Village neighborhood (settled in 19th Century by Bahamian immigrants).

Get on the Conch Train and go back into the fascinating history of Key West. Discover Native American culture and customs; learn about the impact of the railroad. Explore the Hemingway House that famous writer Ernest Hemingway occupied while he lived in Key West, and take a peek into the summer getaway of presidents! Key West attracts visitors from around the globe who come to enjoy the charm and character of this one-of-a-kind town. A great start is the Key West Trolley; take a tour around town and explore Mallory Square. Get off at the Key West Aquarium to learn about local marine life. Try some conch chowder and fritters, and a must is the key lime pie. For some fun in the water, we took a catamaran day trip out to the ocean for jet skiing, snorkeling and para-sailing. Get a little lost in this special Southern city and don't miss Hemingway's hangout, Sloppy Joes!

MIAMI-SOUTH BEACH

Miami, a former wilderness area, today is a vibrant colorful city, bustling with Mediterranean architecture and a contemporary skyline blend of Art Deco Style. When the television program Miami Vice premiered in 1984, the city became a cool, hip, hot metropolis. The cultural complexion of Cuban, Central and South American, Caribbean, Asian and European make it an interesting ethnic diversification for shopping and culinary arts. It may be the most foreign of all US cities.

Overlooking Biscayne Bay is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens on Miami Avenue. This impressive 50 acre estate of 34 European-style lavishly furnished room is a former residence of James Deering, an agricultural industrialist. Many other museums of art and science abound, along with a planetarium, a seaquarium, a monkey jungle and a parrot jungle island.

Miami Beach is tourist-oriented, consisting mostly of condos and hotels. South Beach’s whimsical Art Deco District is a showcase glowing with pastel-painted buildings with special architectural touches, porthole windows and geometric patterns. It has a very active nightlife.

ORLANDO

Once a quiet town surrounded by citrus groves, Orlando was transformed into a tourist mecca overnight. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Pluto, with Walt Disney’s money and creativity made this the most favorite vacation destination in the world…Walt Disney World. Central Florida’s Disney story began in the mid-60s and became a reality in 1971 with Magic Kingdom as the area’s first theme park. Today with the addition of Universal Studios, MGM Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, water parks and many other favorites, Disney is the magical dream destination of all children and many adults.

SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS

Sanibel and Captiva are located just north of Naples and south of Tampa with over 15 miles of beautiful, Florida beaches on the Gulf Coast. It is linked to the mainland by a causeway from Ft. Myers. Visit the Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve and Bird Sanctuary to see many species of birds, alligators, dolphins and racoons. Experience the many available outdoor activities – biking, shelling, fishing, bird watching, boating, golfing. A great place to stay is Sanibel Siesta which offers beachside condos.

Sanibel Island is renowned for its shelling beaches. It is a top Florida destination for visitors. Lay back on the beach with a favorite book. It’s a short ride from Fort Myers International Airport. Captiva Island is connected to Sanibel by San-Cap Road. Once you cross the short bridge at scenic Blind Pass, the road becomes Captiva Drive. Follow it north for two public beach accesses, plus restaurants, shops and resorts.

SARASOTA

Sarasota includes the offshore islands of Lido Key, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key and St. Armand Key. Here you will find 35 miles of beaches on the Gulf Coast. Sarasota is not only a beach resort but an art community. There are quite a few performing art facilities here including the Ringling Museum of Art. John Ringling selected the town for his Ringing Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. People from all over the world came to Sarasota to see or star in this show. The museum is built in Italian Renaissance style and includes a bronze cast of Michelangelo’s David.

ST. AUGUSTINE

This coastal and oldest continuous city in the US, discovered by Spain’s Ponce de Leon in 1513, came to life in the 1880s when Henry Flagler provided a railway link from New York. The area was developed as a winter resort. Its Spanish heritage has been restored, resembling colonial days. Many points of interest exist; our favorites are:

• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in US
• Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine
• Historic old jail complex
• Old town trolley tour
• Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth
• Colonial Spanish Old St. Augustine village and shops
• A walking tour of Old City
• Columbia Restaurant on St. George St. for Cuban/Spanish specialties

TAMPA/TAMPA BAY/ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

The Gulf Coast has broad, graceful, white sand beaches, some of the country’s prettiest. Two bridges link Tampa with St. Petersburg. Tampa is the main port on the West Coast and the busiest. Cigars were once the city’s main product which provided employment for Spanish, Italian and Cuban immigrants. Tampa Bay is known as Technology Bay, and many Fortune 500 companies are in this region, in addition to tech firms AT&T, GE, Honeywell Avionics, Verizon, UNISYS; half of Florida’s medical companies are located here.

For recreation, take the kids to Busch Gardens, an African theme park with over 2000 animals and thrill rides. And for an interesting day/evening, take the trolley into Ybor City (Tampa’s Latin Quarter), a section of the Tampa Bay area, an old cigar-producing Cuban community. Go early for dinner at the Columbia Restaurant for some wonderful Cuban choices; entertainment starts a bit later. Shop in the boutiques and specialty stores at Centro. Nearby is Channelside, an entertainment and dining complex. Tampa is also the Spring training site for the New York Yankees.

ST PETERSBURG: St. Pete has a huge landmark pier extending 2400 feet into Tampa Bay. It holds a complex that is an inverted five story pyramid offering fishing, an aquarium, dolphin sight-seeing cruises, sailboat charters, shops and restaurants. Don’t miss the Salvador Dali Museum which houses a comprehensive collection of the Spanish artist’s works, ranging from small impressionistic works to gigantic surrealistic montages.

CLEARWATER: Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches, in addition to the spring-training site for the Philadelphia Baseball team (Phillies) at Bright House Networks Field. Clearwater is a resort city and popular retirement community.

TALLAHASSEE

This state capital was built in 1845 and is an elegant centerpiece to the Florida state capital complex (completed in 1977). Tallahassee is in a region of rolling hills, live oak forests and rivers with beautiful gardens and lakes. Tallahassee is located in the panhandle of Florida and does experience some cold weather during the winter months. Florida State University is on a campus within downtown.

TARPON SPRINGS

Tarpon Springs became an important center for sponge fishing when Greek divers came here at the turn-of-century. The Greek influence has remained in the dock area where Greek restaurants, bakeries, remaining sponge boats, etc. still exist. It is a charming small community. Check out the waterfront and also visit the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas where there is a replica of St. Sophia’s in Constantinople (Istanbul). Colorful Greek festivals originate from here on the corner of Pinellas Avenue (US 19A) and Orange St.

THE VILLAGES

The Villages is a master-planned age-restricted retirement community located mainly in Sumter County Florida. Homes range from in the $100,000 range and go as high as $1,000,000. The overall development lies in central Florida, approximately 20 miles south of Ocala and approximately 45 miles northwest of Orlando. The Villages had a population of 8,333 at the 2000 census but has a population of 80,000 today.

As a master planned retirement community, The Villages offers numerous forms of recreation. The majority of the costs are paid for via the monthly amenities fee assessed to residents.

The centerpiece of The Villages is its numerous assortment of golf courses free year-round. It is a key component of The Villages advertising campaigns. The Villages operates 37 courses. Twenty-eight of the courses are executive golf courses, all of which are 9-hole layouts. It is these courses at which residents of The Villages can play free golf for life and can walk the courses for free as well; fees are charged for riding a golf cart on the courses.

In addition, The Villages operate numerous recreation centers and have many swimming pools throughout each village. They also operate a trolley-style bus tour of the community which originates from the sales and information center located at The Market Square in Lake Sumter Landing. Sumter County Transit operates The Villages shuttle. They provide various weekday loops through the Villages.

The Villages operates a shuttle between the community and Orlando International Airport. The shuttle stops at Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs. The ride takes approximately 90 minutes.

Florida Photo Gallery

Click on the photo to view larger