Florida Holidays

When Walt Disney’s grand plans for Magic Kingdom were brought to life in Orlando back in the Seventies, it set the precedent for things to come. Today, the Sunshine State's the world leader when it comes to theme parks. There are no less than 15, including six Parks at Walt Disney World Resort, and other household names like Universal Orlando Resort™, and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment^®.

White-knuckle rides and worlds of make-believe are only part of the picture, though. With city-sized malls and more restaurants per head than any other US state, Florida pulls out all the stops to impress the tens of millions of visitors it receives every year. World-class golf courses steal a lot of the limelight, too. The Orlando region alone racks up more than a thousand greens, including a handful that are fit for the pros.

Pierce the tourist bubble, meanwhile, and you’ll discover national parks, dense forests and swamplands teeming with the region’s resident alligators. The Everglades are your best bet for outdoor adventure – hiking, kayaking and hot-air ballooning are just a few of the ways you can explore. There’s loads for animal lovers to get excited about, too – the area’s home to beasts like Florida panthers, American crocodiles and West Indian manatees.

Then there are the beaches to consider. Shelving gently into the warm waters of the Gulf Coast, the swathes at St Pete’s, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater are among the best in the country. The latter draws in a big chunk of the crowd, thanks to its buzzing beachfront nightlife and something-for-everyone watersports scene. Miami’s famous for its sandy shoreline, too, and it’s paired with an iconic Art Deco backdrop.