Florida things to see and do

Florida's Everglades make up the largest sub-tropical wilderness on the United States mainland, and were designated a national park in 1947. Both temperate and tropical plant communities are represented in the park's 610,684 hectares (1,509,000 acres), including cypress swamps, pinelands and sawgrass prairies. Florida Bay, the largest body of water within the park, covering 2072 sq km (800 sq miles), is home to fish, shellfish, coral and sponges. The park is particularly well known for its abundant birdlife.
Other endangered species protected in the park are the Green turtle, the Key Largo Cotton mouse, the American crocodile and the Schaus swallowtail butterfly. The park's five visitor centres provide information on the flora and fauna in the Everglades, as well as details of various park trails. Hiking and canoeing trails start at Flamingo Visitor Centre, Gulf Coast Visitor Centre and Shark Valley Visitor Centre. Shark Valley Centre also hires out bicycles and visitors can take a narrated tram ride or a boat tour of the park.

Located in the northern Gulf Coast, Destin is considered as being the 'World's Luckiest Fishing Village'. In Destin, you can find the best selection of deep-sea finishing excursions. For some of the best fishing off America's coast, join anglers and spotfishermen in the Florida Keys (www.fla-keys.com). Compete with world records for catches of sailfish, marlin, kingfish, snapper, barracuda and grouper.

For an island getaway, drive south along US route 1 to Florida Keys, an archipelago of coral reef islands off the coast of Florida. Key Largo and Key West are the most well-known and commonly visited islands in the entire chain. Popular activities in the Keys include diving, fishing, eco-tours and birdwatching. For an unforgettable experience, sign on for the Dolphin Camp (www.dolphinsplus.com) to swim with the dolphins in Key Largo.

Florida has more golf courses than any other state in the US. With over 1,250 golf courses to choose from, the state is a haven for anyone who loves golf. The Seminole Golf Course and Club (www.seminolegolfcourse.com), located in Tallahassee, has been ranked as one of the top golf courses in the state of Florida.

In Miami's South Beach, take a drive down Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive where you can see over 800 candy-coloured art deco buildings in the Art Deco Historic District (www.visitsouthbeachonline.com).

Located along the Gulf Coast in southwest Florida, Naples is a charming city of understated elegance (www.naples-florida.com). It is home to cosy beach cottages, 5-star resorts, pristine shoreline and an abundance of wildlife.

If you are looking for backwater fishing, fresh seafood, historical sitres, and long seasons of sunshine, visit New Smyrna Beach (www.nsbfla.com) in the Atlantic Coast. Alternatively, Fort Myers Beach (www.fortmyersbeach.org) is ideal for family holidays due to the endless activities available and gently sloping shoreline.

Situated in Sarasote, the Ringling Museum of Art (www.ringling.org) is a major attraction with stunning masterpieces, classical sculptures and a fine contemporary art collection. The Salvador Dalí Museum (www.salvador-dali.org), located in St. Petersburg, contains the world's largest collection of works by famous Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí.

Walt Disney World Resort is the largest theme park in the world, which covers a space almost twice the size of Manhattan. The park is divided into four theme parks, alongside water parks, restaurants, theatres and hotels. The four theme parks include the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The best known of the four theme parks is the Magic Kingdom, which provides traditional Disney rides and attractions as well as allows visitors to meet their favourite Disney characters. Epcot explores the earth's natural phenomena as well as takes visitors on virtual trips around countries such as China and France (in World Showcase) and offers a glimpse into the technology of the future (in unDISCOVERed Future World). Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a theme park featuring rides, shows and tours inspired by Hollywood stories, such as ‘The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror’. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, visitors can learn about the animal kingdom, enjoy shows such as the 'Festival of the Lion King', and go on an animated jungle trek or African-style safari.