Travel Notes: North America: Florida Travel Notes

In 1513, Juan Ponce de León came to the Sunshine State in search of the mythical fountain of youth, and named it Florida. Sometimes it seems that everyone in America over the age of sixty is searching for that fountain too.

Tallahassee is the state capital, although Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida.

Quick Links

Around Florida, Daytona Beach, Florida Background, Florida Beaches, Florida Keys, Florida Municipalities, Florida Sports, Florida Transportation, Florida Travel Guides, Fort Lauderdale, Map of Florida, Miami, Orlando, Space Coast, Tampa.

Jacksonville Weather - Florida Weather.

Map of Florida - with TravelNotes Hotel Guide

Zoom in on the map to travel around the state and find where to stay.

About Florida:
Find out more about Florida before you travel there. Order tourist brochures and look at where you'd like to stay.

County Map of Florida:
Colourful map of Florida showing the location of all 67 counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun Count, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Miami-Dade, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton and Washington.

Florida Background

Ponce de León thought that he had discovered a large island, when in fact it is a narrow peninsular pointing a finger at Cuba.

Go to Key West and bold red letters tell you just how close you are to Castro's Island.

It wasn't until 1565 that Spanish forces returned, under Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, to oust the French Huguenots and found St. Augustine; the oldest permanent European settlement in the United States.

It is disrespectful of Europeans to think that they found America when the Timucua, Apalachee, Calusa, and the stronger Seminole peoples were already there.

Florida changed hands again after the Seven Years' War in 1763, when Great Britain took control of the territory until after the War of Independence (1775-1783).

The Americans, the Spaniards, and the British would all continue to squabble over the glorified swamp. What must the Seminoles have thought?

Now it appears to be in the hands of Latin Americans and Disney.

Don't get me wrong, we love Little Havana, but we're grateful that we have no children crying out for fun with Mickey.

Apart from the popcorn culture of the theme-parks, and the half-naked bodies on Miami Beach, there are some other places of interest.

Spanish Landmarks

The Castillo de San Marcos, at St Augustine dates from the 1670's and is the oldest masonry fortress of the continental United States.

Florida Travel Tips

Don't be surprised if you fly into Miami International and find the fares are really high. Before booking an airline ticket to South Florida for a cruise or a hotel in Miami consider flying into Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and benefit from its lower airport fees and taxes.
Sent in by: Around The Clock Airport Shuttle.

Visiting Florida

Visiting Florida can be cost effective even at times when the weather is nice. There are now two main seasons in Florida, the main expensive tourist season is January, February, March and April; where people are primarily those who are either semi-retired or those who visit as a travel destination for a second home. Many of these people stay for periods of a month to three months, which escalates the price of accommodations that are available at other times for a lesser price.

The second main season is during the Summer, when families and those wanting shorter periods generally will stay for a week to three weeks on a vacation rental type basis. The rates are generally affordable at this time, but be prepared for HOT weather!

Great times to travel, when there are vacancies and cost effective prices during times when the weather is nice, can be the last part of December, the first few weeks of January, April and October.
Sent in by Thomas Ford.

Miami

Art Deco Hotels:
Not all of the hotels are in the art deco style, but they are in the deco district of Miami Beach.

Miami Herald:
The news from the region in your browser.

Miami International Airport:
Click on Passenger for flight schedules and maps.

Miami Munchies:
Miami restaurant guide with menus, ratings and reviews.

Miami Vacation Condos & Suites:
From the airport to Miami Beach, find the vacation rental that appeals to you. Maps, photographs, descriptions, online availability and reservations at huge savings.

Accommodation in Miami

Hotels in Miami, Florida:
Find hotels in Miami, Florida with special online rates.

Sort Miami Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name.

Fort Lauderdale

Driving Fort Lauderdale:
Navigating Fort Lauderdale is not too hard when you know that avenues, drives and highways run north to south, and boulevards, roads, and streets traverse them - east to west.

Greater Fort Lauderdale:
This is a place where casual meets sophisticated. Where the experiences are as endless as the ocean and the pace is always carefree. Take a glance at the diverse hotels, arts and entertainment on Hollywood Beach and at Downtown Riverwalk. Feel the caress of nature at Butterfly World or get your heart pounding with thoroughbred racing at Gulfstream Park. Plan a spa day or a day cruise. And area museums invite you to explore acclaimed art, culture, science and history exhibits.

The Beaches:
Fort Lauderdale's beaches are famous, but the sandy strip is only the start.

Accommodation in Fort Lauderdale

Hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
Find hotels in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with special online rates.

Sort Fort Lauderdale Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Happenings:
The official visitor information site for the Daytona Beach area provides maps and event calendars. Special section for Speedweeks, Bikeweek and other major events throughout the year.

Disney Info:
Unofficial information for anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World.

Accommodation in Daytona Beach

Hotels in Daytona Beach, Florida:
Find hotels in Daytona Beach, Florida with special online rates.

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Orlando

Orlando airport, Orlando flights, Orlando shuttle, Orlando theme parks, Orlando transportation, Orlando vacations.

Holiday in Orlando, Florida:
Orlando is a stunning combination of untouched ecosystem and artifice, where Disney's Animal Kingdom houses a gigantic man-made Banyan tree, and, less than an hour away, Big Tree park is home to the oldest tree in Central Florida.

Arabian Nights:
A dinner show that brings a fairy tale to life on horseback. Beautiful horses from around the world are showcased in the world's largest indoor equestrian arena. Located at 6225 W. Bronson Hwy., in Kissimmee.

Church Street Station:
Not a station at all, rather a night-time dining, shopping and entertainment complex located in the historic downtown area of Orlando.

Orlando Attractions:
There's more to Central Florida than Mickey, Shamu, and ET.

Orlando Hotel Map:
Map of Orlando with locations of major hotels.

Race Rock:
A full service motorsports themed restaurant - there's also one in Las Vegas - packed with rare racing memorabilia from all forms of motorsports. If you like drinking from fuel cans, get down to 8986 International Drive.

Ripley's Believe It or Not:
For over forty years, Robert Ripley explored the uncanny and amazing mysteries of the the world in search of the unbelievable and inexplicable. The Orlando Odditorium is one of 27 Ripley's Believe It or Not museums world-wide, located at 8201 International Drive.

Sunkissed Orlando Holidays:
David has been travelling to Florida since 1977 and seen the Orlando area of Central Florida grow beyond recognition. Since 1996, trips to Florida have become more of a family affair and this website was set up to supply helpful content and recommendations based on the combined family knowledge and experience.

Accommodation in Orlando

Hotels in Orlando, Florida:
Find hotels in Orlando, Florida with special online rates.

Sort Orlando Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name.

Orlando Travel Tips

Orlando's busiest times are during the school holidays - Easter, Summer and Christmas - so if you are on a tight budget try to keep away from Orlando around these dates. The whole experience is best when the crowds are at their lowest and the temperature is suitable for you.
Sent in by: David Philp.

Tampa

Tampa Bay:
Things to see and do in the Tampa Bay area.

Tampa Dining Guide:
Find out where to eat in Tampa Bay from a wide range of restaurants in the Bay Area.

Accommodation in Tampa

Hotels in Tampa, Florida:
Find hotels in Tampa, Florida with special online rates.

Sort Tampa Hotels by: Hotel Price, Hotel Rating, Hotel Name.

Florida Keys

Diving Florida Keys:
Experienced scuba divers can explore two purposely sunk Coast Guard Cutters that serve as artificial reefs.

South Florida Vacation:
Provides visitors with tips for travelling to South Florida, including beach safety, facts about Florida, local events and attractions, weather and local customs.

Travel Tip

If you're caught in a rip tide while swimming in the ocean, do not fight the current. Swim parallel to the shore and soon you'll swim out of the rip tide. Do not try to swim towards shore and do not let the tide carry you out.
Sent in by: South Florida Vacation.

Florida Sports

For sports fans who prefer to watch -- the Orange Bowl, in Miami, hosts a major end of season college football game, and the Daytona 500 is held at Daytona Beach every February.

Miami Dolphins:
Touchdown at the Dolphin's Endzone.

Florida Transportation

Around The Clock Airport Shuttle:
Serving the Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Metropolitan areas, ATC Shuttle offer transportation services to all airports, seaports, attractions and hotels.

Florida Municipalities