The "Sunshine State" is best known for its generally warm climate. Its northern and central regions have subtropical climate, while its southern region is entirely tropical. Having the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, Florida is a top cruise destination with many ports of call from which to choose. Because of the many beach cities located around the state, both locals and vacationers find Florida an ideal place for a variety of water sports and recreation activities.
Florida features a number of world-class beach cities. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest city in America and features coastal lines filled with long stretches of restaurants and little shops. People can also visit the nearby Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park, which has a 1904 replica of the Fountain of Youth. In Miami, infamous South Beach is acknowledged as a quintessential hot spot for its trendy locale and thriving nightlife where celebrities are frequently spotted wining and dining on the strip. Naples is another escapist destination on Florida’s west coast. It features a more quiet atmosphere complete with beaches, restaurants and hotels primarily geared towards people looking for tranquil spots for romantic getaways.
Because Florida is a peninsula with many coastal areas, it features a variety of beach-related activities for vacationers and adventurers. Palm Beach Gardens is home to the PGA National Resort and Spa, the top destination for golfers in Florida. Fury Water Adventures in Key West offers a wide range of water sports and recreational activities including reef snorkeling, sunset cruising, parasailing, jet skiing and water trampoline.
The year-round mild climate in Miami makes it an ideal destination for families who want to go sailing, diving, snorkeling and windsurfing. American WaterSports, Miami Beachsports and Hector Water Sports are some of the top companies for water sports equipment rentals in the city. Aside from theme and water parks, Orlando also features many family-friendly recreation sites for bowling, mini-golf and skating.
Florida is widely known for its many cruise offerings. Several coastal cities around the state have regular cruise schedules and are popular hubs for many cruise lines. Key West is one port of call for many Western Caribbean cruise itineraries.The Port of Miami is the "Cruise Capital of the World" and the "Cargo Gateway of the Americas." The Port of Tampa, the largest port in Florida, is another port for Western Caribbean cruises. Port Everglades is known as the deepest of all Florida ports and is one of America's busiest container ports.
Port Canaveral, the second busiest port in the world, typically hosts the cruise ships of Carnival, Disney, Holland American, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Royal Olympic, Sterling and SunCruz. The Port of Palm Beach is another busy container port, which also serves as a Florida cruise terminal.
Orlando is world-renowned for its many theme parks and water parks including Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Wet ‘n Wild, Disney World Resort, and Sea World.
Various parts of Florida are filled with other child-friendly attractions such as Cape Canaveral's Kennedy Space Center, the public’s door into the world of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) space program. The Miami Children's Museum is a delight for young kids with its plethora of interactive exhibits and the kid-sized rock climbing wall called Mt. Michimu. Meanwhile, the Orlando Science Center allows children to explore a 207,000-square foot hands-on science learning center as does the upside-down building on International Drive, Wonderworks.
