10 THINGS We Love About Florida

~ S P E C I A L
T R AV E L
S E C T I O N ~
10 THINGS
We Love
About Florida
Everyone—to the far corners of the globe—knows Florida. But the South
owns The Sunshine State, and we can get there faster than all the rest.
By Jennifer McKenzie Frazier
E
ighty-four million people can’t be wrong. That’s the number of visitors to
The Sunshine State every year. We’re with them—we love it too. From the
white-sand beaches, crystal clear springs, and over-the-top amusement
parks to the world-class culture, untouched wilderness, and fabulous food,
there are so many treasures that make us adore Florida. Here are 10 reasons
(in no particular order) you should take a trip this year.
»
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~ SPE C I A L T R AV E L SE CT ION • 10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT FLORIDA
1 WALT DISNEY WORLD
Covering 47
square miles, it’s the largest entertainment
extravaganza on Earth. There are lavish hotels,
Cinderella’s castle, and magic galore. Disney debuts
its “What Will You Celebrate?” event where guests
receive free admission to a theme park of their choice
on their birthday and can mark other special occasions with experiences such as a nighttime fireworks
cruise or dinner with a favorite Disney character.
Tip: After a thunderstorm, Disney becomes a ghost
town. It’s the perfect time to try the rides with no
lines. www.disney.com or (407) 934-7639.
TO DO
• Interact with the movie character Crush, the
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turtle from the movie Finding Nemo, at Epcot’s
Turtle Talk.
Ooh and aah to Fantasmic!, the light-andfireworks show at Hollywood Studios (formerly
known as Disney-MGM Studios).
Fire laser cannons to infinity and beyond at
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic
Kingdom.
2 KEY WEST
It’s the southernmost tip of the
continental U.S.—quirky, free-spirited, and
pure fun. Have some Key lime pie made from fruit
grown just down the road. Indulge in a piece from
Alice’s Key West Restaurant, or try it frozen and
chocolate-dipped on a stick at the Blond Giraffe
or Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. After the
sweet tooth is satisfied, watch a sunset at Mallory
Square or the adjacent Hilton Pier, where artists vie
with one another to woo the crowds and cats jump
through hoops of fire! Tip: The Marquesa Hotel,
centered around a tropical pool, features the best 27
rooms in town and a fabulous restaurant. When you
return, even months later, the staff will remember
you by name. Key West Visitors Center: 508 South
Street, Key West, FL 33040; www.fla-keys.com.
3
YBOR CITY Steamy Cuban coffee.
Flamenco dancers. A warm, pressed Cuban
sandwich. Tapas and a glass of sangría. Locals playing chess on outdoor tables and hand-rolling cigars.
Founded by Vicente Martinez Ybor as a cigar manufacturing center in Tampa, Ybor City surrounds
you with culture no matter where you go. Ybor City
Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center:
www.ybor.org or (813) 241-8838.
TO DO
• Enjoy a meal at Columbia Restaurant (the oldest
Spanish-Cuban dining establishment in Florida,
open since 1905).
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• Pick up some empty cigar boxes (at $2 to $5 a
box, they’re great souvenirs) at one of many
cigar shops.
4 SOUTH BEACH
Fashionable clubs,
Art Deco hotels, and well-known restaurants
make this Miami neighborhood fabulous. One of
the coolest things going on right now is a guided
tour of the Miami Beach Architectural District.
A 90-minute walking tour provides an intro to
the city’s Art Deco style as well as Miami Modern
(MiMo) and Mediterranean Revival styles. Tours
run every day ($20 adults) and depart from the
Art Deco Gift Shop on 12th Street. Afterward,
stop by the recently reopened Eden Roc:
A Renaissance Beach Resort & Spa and
Fontainebleau, where Frankie (Sinatra, of course)
and the Rat Pack used to perform and mingle.
www.miamibeachfl.gov, www.mdpl.org,
or (305) 673-7000.
5 ST. AUGUSTINE
History is cool in the
oldest continually occupied city in the U.S.,
complete with its own forts and re-enactments. Bedand-breakfasts, classic hotels, horse-drawn carriage
rides, sidewalk cafes, and cute boutiques make this
town unforgettable. We like the Casa Monica Hotel,
a breathtaking 1888 landmark where you feel the
Moorish mood. www.stjohnscountychamber.com or
(904) 829-5681.
6 SCENIC HIGHWAY 30A
A narrow
road dips down off U.S. 98 in the northwest
corner of Florida and runs parallel with the beach
between Destin and Panama City. It traces the curve
of the Gulf of Mexico, and we love the growing area
because it’s quaint, walkable, and oh-so familyfriendly. Plus, it’s laced with award-winning
restaurants and super vacation rental cottages.
1
TOWNS TO STOP IN
• Seaside
• Rosemary Beach
• Grayton Beach
7 JOE PATTI’S SEAFOOD COMPANY
This Pensacola seafood market has been family
run since 1935. People line up out the door for the
daily fresh catch. Watch the seafood brought in
off the boats out back, and then walk inside to buy
it. Tip: Joe Patti’s has the best cheeses, deli meats,
and sushi in town—perfect for picnics. Plus, they
ship! 524 South B Street, Pensacola, FL 32501; www.
joepattis.com or 1-800-500-9929. iturn to page FS4
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~ SPE C I A L T R AV E L SE CT ION • 10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT FLORIDA
8
8BOK TOWER GARDENS
Cultivate an
affection for these Florida gardens that wind
through wooded forests. They boast healthy populations of mockingbirds and squirrels, more than
50 identified varieties of butterfl ies, and a couple
of swans. Brag that you stood on one of the highest
points on the state’s peninsula, 298 feet above sea
level. You can’t climb the tower, but pause to listen
to its 30-minute live carillon concert, rung daily at
1 and 3 p.m. 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake Wales, FL
33853; www.boktowergardens.org or (863) 676-1408.
9
JACKSONVILLE This is a town of split
personalities. You have cosmopolitan on one
side and laid-back surfers on the other (with the
Atlantic Ocean a mere 25 minutes away). Hipsters
hang at The Jacksonville Landing, located on the
St. Johns River, which divides the city in two. This
riverfront entertainment complex anchors downtown with glitzy restaurants and club. A must-see:
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, an
award-winning gallery on the banks of the St. Johns.
(Admission is free every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m.)
Take the S.S. Marine Taxi from The Landing to The
Cummer, and get an extra-special view of town ($3
adults, $2 ages 4-12 for a one-way ticket). www.visit
jacksonville.com or 1-800-733-2668.
GET THERE WITH EASE
You can walk to The Landing from these hotels.
• Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront: 225
East Coastline Drive, FL 32202; www.jacksonville.
hyatt.com or (904) 588-1234.
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• Omni Jacksonville Hotel: 245 West Water Street,
Jacksonville, FL 32202; www.omnihotels.com or
(904) 355-6664.
10 FLORIDA SPRINGS
The world’s
largest concentration of freshwater springs
(more than 700 in all) bubble up in Florida. Dip in
a toe at any time of year—the temperature is always
comfortable.
SPRINGS TO EXPLORE
• Deleon Springs State Park (Daytona Beach
•
•
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area): www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings
or (386) 985-4212
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
(Tallahassee): www.floridastateparks.org/
wakullasprings or (850) 926-0700
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (westcentral): www.floridastateparks.org/
homosassasprings or (352) 628-5343
Kelly Park/Rock Springs (Orlando): www.
orangecountyparks.net or (407) 889-4179
Rainbow Springs State Park (Ocala area):
www.floridastateparks.org/rainbowsprings or
(352) 465-8555
Silver Springs (Ocala area): www.silversprings.
com or (352) 236-2121
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (westcentral): www.floridastateparks.org/
weekiwachee or (352) 596-2062
Wekiwa Springs State Park (Orlando):
www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings or
(407) 884-2008
THIS MONTH
February is one of
the best months to
visit The Sunshine
State. Attendance
is down at the
big theme parks,
which means lines
are shorter. Some
hotel and vacation
rental rates drop in
Orlando, St. Pete,
Jacksonville, and
the Panhandle
(Seaside,
Sandestin, Destin,
and Rosemary
Beach). Events
this month include
Daytona’s Bike
Week, Tampa’s
Gasparilla Pirate
Fest, and the
Miami’s Coconut
Grove Arts Festival.
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amelia island
jacksonville
Family Value Days at Amelia offer deluxe oceanview Amelia
Inn room; FREE kids and family recreation, FREE awardwinning Kids Camp Amelia; kids eat FREE, juniors play
golf and tennis free. From $219* per night, based on availability
thru 4/30/09! Call 866.481.5058 or book online www.aipfl.com,
promo code “Family”.
One place for the perfect getaway. With attractions like beaches,
dining, golf, museums and more, it’s no wonder that Jacksonville
is a wonderful place to stay. Just go to visitjacksonville.com
to find money saving packages and start your vacation today.
naples / marco island / everglades
ponte vedra beach
There’s still a place in Florida where great vacations are
about winding down, gaining perspective and recharging
your batteries. Here the water is calmer, the beaches more
secluded, and the escape way more enjoyable. Learn more at
www.ParadiseCoast.com or 1-800-2-escape.
Graceful palms, rolling dunes and the Atlantic surf provide
a dramatic backdrop for the AAA Five-Diamond rated Ponte
Vedra Inn & Club, a northeast Florida landmark since its opening
in 1928. This historic oceanfront resort features 250
luxurious rooms, beach, pools, golf, tennis, gym, spa, shopping,
fine dining and award-winning hospitality.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
(Twenty minutes from Jacksonville)
(800) 234-7842 www.pvresorts.com
To plan your Sunshine State vacation go to:
VISITFLORIDA.com or call 1.800.274.9731
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NORTHWEST
NORTHWEST
NORTHWEST
Go with the flow...
it’ll take you to the beach!
FIVE
Fall is the time for uncrowded
coastlines, mild temperatures and funfilled days! So pack a towel & head
towards the Beach… we have vacation
rentals waiting in Northwest Florida &
beyond, just for you!
Destin
BEAUTIFUL
Navarre Beach
BEACHES
Fort Walton Beach
ONE
Beaches of South Walton
GREAT
Panama City Beach
VACATION
TM
866-466-3205
ResortQu
estNWFL.com
www.destinresorts.com // 800.336.9669
NORTHWEST
BeautifulBeach.com
NORTHWEST
NORTHWEST
DUNE ALLEN REALTY
RESORTS OF PELICAN BEACH
On The Beach in Destin, Florida
Vacation Rentals
on the Beaches of South Walton
888-267-2121
www.BeautifulBeach.com
Save On
Spring Break
Special
Offers!
At the Resorts of Pelican Beach, even
the quiet moments leave an indelible
impression on your senses. After one
visit, you will know why so many of
our guests choose to visit, again.
www.pelican-beach.com
1-888-PELICAN (735-4226)
To plan your Sunshine State vacation go to:
VISITFLORIDA.com or call 1.800.274.9731
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NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST
NORTHEAST
...
On the Quiet Side of Florida
Flagler
County
Visit the perfect place to
take time to reconnect,
rekindle and realize each
moment in the sun
for what it is . . . priceless.
Nestled Between
St. Augustine
Where Good Things
Come in Waves
An award-winning oceanfront resort featuring
66 luxurious rooms, the Atlantic surf, beach,
golf, tennis, fine dining and children’s activities.
For reservations, please call (800) 243-4304.
Ever wish you could
make time stand still?
& Daytona
(800) 670-2310
www.visitflagler.org
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
(Oceanfront. Just 20 minutes from Jacksonville)
www.pvresorts.com
Learn more: www.AmeliaIsland.com
CENTRAL WEST
CENTRAL WEST
CENTRAL EAST
SHARE our
sparkling waters, world–class
shopping and sumptuous cuisine. Explore
family-friendly attractions and root for
your favorite sports team. Take a dining
cruise under the stars, dance the night
away and create lasting MEMORIES.
© Busch Gardens
Powered by
Book your travel at
www.VisitTampaBay.com
Book your travel at
www. VisitTampa Bay .com
Powered by Travelocity
VisitStPeteClearwater.com
where the beach takes you.
To plan your Sunshine State vacation go to:
VISITFLORIDA.com or call 1.800.274.9731
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Gateway to Great Getaways
Find ideas, tips and editors’ picks for
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The heart of Southern life
To plan your Sunshine State vacation go to:
VISITFLORIDA.com or call 1.800.274.9731
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