Rough Guides - The Rough Guide to Florida (Travel Guide with Free eBook) (Rough Guides)

Introduction to Florida

Named by the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Len in 1513, Florida (land of flowers) has been attracting adventurers for centuries. Today its nickname Sunshine State seems rather more apt, as its now sun seekers rather than fortune hunters who are drawn to Americas third most populous state. But Florida's miles and miles of gorgeous, sugary sands can vary wildly hordes of copper-toned partiers are often just a Frisbees throw from a deserted, pristine strand and theres a lot more to the state than just beaches. Delve a little deeper and youll discover the influence of a vibrant blend of cultures African, Spanish and Native American in an array of ancient ruins, tantalizing restaurants and exuberant architecture. You can spot alligators in the Everglades, clamber on rockets at NASAs space centre, stroll amid orange groves, visit Hemingways Key West or feast on Apalachicola oysters followed, of course, by a slice of Key lime pie.

Indeed, its the sheer range of experiences on offer that often takes visitors by surprise, with the glitz of Hispanic Miami and the east coast a far cry from the traditional Southern culture on display in the Panhandle parts of the Florida Keys and the Everglades can seem like completely different countries. Top of a long list are Floridas natural attractions , ranging from isolated keys and world-class wreck dives , to close encounters with dolphins , manatees and Key deer . Floridas state parks are especially well organized, supplementing nationally managed resources such as the Everglades with freshwater springs, dense forests and spectacular caverns.

Culturally Florida is just as enticing, with a remarkable cache of art on display, largely thanks to donations over the years from its wealthier citizens the Salvador Dal and Dale Chihuly collections in St Petersburg are truly exceptional. Native American culture is represented by a small but vital community led by the Seminole indigenous people, while remnants of Spanish rule primarily old forts and missions dot the northern half of the state. More prevalent is the stock of mansions and public buildings designed in lavish Italianate or Spanish Revival style in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, from St Augustine to Coral Gables .

Floridas top 10 beaches

The Sunshine State takes great pride in its roughly 660 miles of clean, tidy and usually spellbinding beaches . Some of the most popular are around Miami on the Atlantic coast, although the best beaches lie on the Gulf of Mexico , where warm breezes, bone-white sands and spectacular sunsets are big draws.

Anna Maria Island

Bahia Honda State Park

Caladesi Island

Fort de Soto Park

Perdido Key

St Andrews State Park & Shell Island

St George Island

Sand Key Park

Siesta Key

South Beach, Miami

Florida doesnt just attract tourists. The state boasts a vigorous college sector , best encapsulated by the fanatical support accorded to the University of Florida Gators sports teams in Gainesville , and the musical virtuosity of the Florida A&M University band in Tallahassee . Florida is also home to one of the biggest and most influential Latin American communities in the US, with a well-established Cuban presence supplemented by Venezuelans, Puerto Ricans and Central Americans. Miami in particular is coloured by Latino culture, in everything from food to music.

Despite all this, Floridas beaches and amusement parks continue to drive tourism for good reason. The mild climate subtropical in the south combined with mesmerizing white sands, especially on the Gulf coast, make Florida prime beach territory all year round.