WHATS GREAT ABOUT
F LORIDA?
MARY MEINKING
Copyright 2015
by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
Content Consultant: John Sacher, Chair,
Department of History, University of Central
Florida
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Main body text set in ITC Franklin Gothic Std
Book Condensed 12/15.
Typeface provided by Adobe Systems.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication
Data
Meinking, Mary.
Whats great about Florida? / by Mary
Meinking.
pages cm. (Our great states)
Includes index.
ISBN 9781467733915 (lib. bdg. :
alk. paper)
ISBN 9781467747080 (eBook)
1. FloridaJuvenile literature. I. Title.
F311.3.M45 2015
975.9dc23 2013048344
Manufactured in the United States of America
1 PC 7/15/14
CONTENTS
ORLANDO
THEME PARKS
DAYTONA
INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
FLORIDA FACTS
FLORIDA Welcomes You!
Florida is one of the worlds top places to visit. Its easy to see why.
Florida is known for its year- round warm weather. But thats not all.
Tourists of all ages enjoy Floridas many theme parks. People also
come for the states nature and history. From the Panhandle to the
Keys, theres so much to see and do in the Sunshine State! Keep
reading to learn the top ten things that make Florida great!
Explore Floridas beaches
and all the places in between!
Just turn the page to find
out all about the
SUNSHINE STATE.
ORLANDO
THEME PARKS
Orlando is a perfect first stop for a trip to Florida.
It is home to some of the countrys best- known
theme parks. In fact, there are eight theme parks
in Orlando!
Walt Disney World has some of Orlandos
most popular parks. Meet your favorite Disney
characters at Magic Kingdom. Disneys Hollywood
Studios brings movies to life. Tour countries around
the world at Epcot. Lions, giraffes, and zebras
roam the grounds at Disneys Animal Kingdom.
Next, head to Universal Orlando Resort. It has
two theme parks. Universal Studios Florida and
Universals Islands of Adventure are movie- themed
parks. Dont miss The Wizarding World of Harry
Potter attraction. Youll feel like youre part of the
Harry Potter books and movies!
Do you like learning about marine life? You might
enjoy SeaWorld and Discovery Cove. Youll get an
up- close look at dolphins, killer whales, and more!
The Wizarding World of Harry
Potter lets visitors feel as
though they are part of the Harry
Potter novels, written by author
J. K. Rowling.
You can watch killer
whales and their trainers
perform amazing tricks
at SeaWorld.
SAINT AUGUSTINE
Feel history come to life at Saint Augustine. This
is the oldest continuously settled city in the
United States. Saint Augustine is on Floridas
northeast coast. Spanish explorers settled
here in 1565. People have occupied the area
ever since.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
is the oldest stone fort in the United States.
Scramble up to the gun deck. Hear the cannons
boom when fired. Many of the forts workers
dress in costumes from the 1600s. They talk
about what life was like at the fort.
Visiting the Colonial Quarter is like stepping
back in time. Be part of a musket drill. Watch
blacksmiths bend metal. You can even make a
leather bracelet, and dig for buried artifacts.
You may be thirsty after your time travel.
Stop at Ponce de Lens Fountain of Youth
Archeological Park. Here, you can have a cool
drink of spring water. If you believe the legend,
the water will keep you young forever.
JUAN PONCE DE LEN
In 1513, Spanish explorer Juan
Ponce de Len came to Florida.
He and his three ships probably
landed near what is now Cape
Canaveral. He was searching for
gold and new land for Spain.
He landed around the Easter
holiday. So he named the land
Florida or Pascua Florida. This
Spanish phrase describes an
Easter celebration.
Costumed workers demonstrate how to load the cannons
at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.
THE PANHANDLE
The Florida Panhandle is a must- see stop on
your Florida trip. The Panhandle is the strip
of land that makes up northwestern Florida.
While there, check out Pensacola.
Dont miss Pensacolas National Naval
Aviation Museum. More than famous
aircrafts are housed there. You can watch the
Blue Angels practice tricks as they fly through
the air. These navy pilots are some of the best
flyers in the world.
The museum is free to visit. Inside, you can get
behind the controls of a flight simulator. Youll
feel as though youre riding with the Blue Angels
in the IMAX theater. Try out dozens of hands- on
flight experiments. Then step outside. Here, you
can take the bus tour past about forty aircraft.
Once the museum closes, head across the
bay to Gulf Breeze. Keep your eyes to the sky.
Gulf Breeze has been the site of more UFO
sightings than any other place east of the
Mississippi River. Maybe youll spot a UFO
above the water!
Pensacolas National Naval Aviation