Beyond the stereotypical image of the Sunshine State—swaying palm trees on balmy beaches, glittering hotels and high-tech theme parks—there is another Florida. It is a pristine wilderness where Native Americans paddled dugout canoes. Where Spanish conquistadors established sturdy fortresses.
With its blend of outdoor wonders and historical treasures, not many destinations can hold a candle to North Florida… although candles will be the focus in 2013 as the region gears up to celebrate the big 5-0-0—the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s landing in la Florida.
Central Florida may be the center of the theme park universe, but the universe is still expanding in this multi-faceted destination of surprising cultural encounters and mysterious wilderness areas where time seems to stand still.
Sublimely subtropical, South Florida simmers with possibilities.
From island escapes to swamp-water treks and cultural encounters that transport the visitor to new worlds of tastes, sights and sounds, South Florida’s charms are as endless as its vast wilderness expanses.
