Tour the States: Florida

Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts

Friday, May 6, 2016

Miami Beach, Florida

Miami Beach has perhaps the some of the best city beaches in the country. The water is relatively clear and the warm, white-sand beaches are wide, firm, and long enough to accommodate the throngs of visitors.

The most crowded beaches are from about 5th to 21st Street, which is essentially South Beach and all its circus-like glory. As well as sunbathing with the beautiful people, you can also get in some surfing.

If you don’t get enough people watching on South Beach, head to the mid-Beach boardwalk, which runs from 21st to 46th streets. Families should head north of 21st Street, especially to the beach at 53rd Street and 73rd Street. Another family-friendly spot is Matheson Hammock Park and South Pointe Park.

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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Florida

If you want to scream your lungs out on a steel roller coaster, only to get off and come face to face with a giraffe, Busch Gardens is probably the place for you. An exciting and surprising hybrid between a zoo and a theme park, Busch Gardens perfectly blends the serene beauty of the wild with the thrilling excitement of amusement park rides.

Half of the Gardens offers the attractions of an African safari, where one can see over 3,000 different animals spread out over the park's 335 acre (136 hectare) grounds. Animal attractions range from a bird observatory to a tug-of-war competition with a tiger.

Just as diverse as the animal selection are the ride choices, which include huge roller coasters, a white water rapids ride, and a zip line, among many other options. There are also countless other shows, restaurants, and attractions sprinkled throughout the park, making it the perfect place for the entire family to enjoy a day of fun.

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Florida Aquarium - Tampa,Florida

The perfect place to take the entire family for an afternoon, the Florida Aquarium offers exciting views of nature within the comfort of an air-conditioned building. Home to more than 20,000 aquatic plants and animals, the aquarium offers 200,000 square feet (23,000 square meters) worth of fun and adventure.

If walking around the expansive building and enjoying the amazing wildlife wasn’t enough, the aquarium also has additional opportunities for more in depth exploration. Some of these family friendly attractions include a Swim with the Fishes Tour, Penguins: Backstage Pass opportunity, and a Wild Dolphin Ecotour.

If you ever want to head outside, the 2-acre "Explore a Shore" water adventure zone provides opportunities for the kids to cool off with water games while parents can relax under the shade of the Tampa Tribune Cantina bar and grill.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument - St. Augustine, Florida

The oldest masonry fort in the United States, the Castillo de San Marcos has exchanged many hands and undergone many name changes throughout the years, but has evolved into a symbol of the cultural clashes that ultimately unify the United States today.

Occupying 2.5 acres (101 km²) in downtown St. Augustine, it was first constructed by the Spanish starting in 1672 in order to protect Spanish territories in the New World. Over the next 23 years, the fort was fashioned from a stone called coquina (Spanish for "little shells"), made of ancient shells that have bonded together.

Throughout the years, the fort changed hands between Spanish, British, and American owners, changing its name each time. It also played a vital role in many famous conflicts, from the Civil War to the Spanish-American War. Today, it is a site worth visiting because of its storied history and impressive stature.

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SeaWorld Orlando, Florida

A fantastic blend of marine animals and thrill rides, SeaWorld is home to both Shamu the killer whale and Kraken, the floorless coaster. Journey to Atlantis brings both concepts together: it's an oceanic water-coaster with a 60 foot (18 meter) vertical drop.

Little ones can ride a dolphin on the Sea Carousel, twist around on Jazzy Jellies, or ride the Shamu Express. Away from the rides, its beautifully landscaped grounds include a 17 acre (6.9 hectare) lagoon, flamingo and pelican ponds, and a lush tropical rainforest.

SeaWorld also offers interactive programs, including the Sharks Deep Dive, which gives guests a chance to have limited, hands-off contact with more than 50 sharks. SeaWorld also provides opportunities to feed stingrays, sea lions, and other critters. Shows are equally spectacular.

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Sunday, April 24, 2016

Jungle Queen Riverboat - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Voyage the waterways of Fort Lauderdale's New River on the Jungle Queen Riverboat and stop at a Native American village and experience a stunning tropical island environment complete with extraordinay plants and birds and tussling alligators. For more than 50 years, visitors have traveled on this dignified riverboat to be entertained by the crew and sights of Fort Lauderdale. The Jungle Queen Riverboat Company owns several boats and offers two distinct tours.

The Sightseeing Cruise lasts about 3 hours, and will take you up the New River, including a stopover at the "Jungle Queen Indian Village." The Bar-B-Que and Shrimp Dinner Cruise lasts roughly 4 hours, and also includes a trip up the New River. There is an island stopover for an all-you-can-eat shrimp and ribs dinner and a live variety show amid tropical foliage.

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South Beach - Miami, Florida

South Beach is everything the hype has lead you to believe. Its 10 miles/16 kilometers of beaches filled with a buzzing, carnival-like atmosphere, and the stunning pastel-hued structures in the Art Deco District, where stands the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world.

With a trendy Caribbean-chic café culture and an impossibly hip and sexy nightlife scene, South Beach is a nonstop people-watching mecca, especially on Ocean Drive. Head to lovely Lincoln Road to shop, stroll the Art Deco canyons on Collins Avenue, or wander the beach Promenade between 5th and 15th streets.

If you want to get out of the sun and away from the crowds, step inside the provocative World Erotic Art Museum or visit the polar opposite Bass Museum of Art for a peek at 16th-century religious art. By then, mojitos and people-watching will carry you into the evening.

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Stranahan House - Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The Stranahan House, also known as the Pioneer House, is an historic Fort Lauderdale building that is in the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built in 1902 as a trading post by Frank Stranahan, the founder of Fort Lauderdale.

His wife, Ivy, was the first teacher in the area and used it as a school house.

After her death it was under the ownership of a church, which sold it to the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society in 1979. After restorations were completed in 1981, the Stranahan House became a museum complete with turn-of-the-century furnishings and historical photos of the Fort Lauderdale area. The building has also served as the town hall and post office and is considered to be a Fort Lauderdale institution.

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Universal Orlando Resort - Orlando, Florida

Spider-Man®, now in high-def 3-D; and the Jurassic Park River Adventure®. Take a starring role in some of the biggest movies and TV shows ever created at Universal Studios®, home of the 3-D ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Shrek 4-D, Revenge of the Mummy®, Universal’s Superstar Parade, Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular nighttime show, and the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit® coaster.

And enjoy the best in restaurants, nightclubs, shopping and movies at Universal CityWalk®. It’s all at Universal Orlando Resort, where vacation becomes adventure. TRANSFORMERS: The Ride – 3D – NOW OPEN! Embark on a daring adventure that redefines thrill rides.

TRANSFORMERS: The Ride - 3D is an ultra-immersive sensory experience that puts you on the front lines of an intergalactic war between the Autobots and Decepticons. You’ll lose sight of the difference between fantasy and reality as ground-breaking high definition 3D film is fused with flight simulation technology on this epic ride.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Dry Tortugas National Park - Key West, Florida

With its name coming from the Spanish word for "Turtles," it's no surprise that the main attraction that the Dry Tortugas have to offer is their beautiful tropical wildlife.

The abundant sea life and colorful coral reefs, along with legends of shipwrecks and sunken treasures, are what draw visitors to the seven small islands off the coast of Florida known as the Tortugas. The Dry Tortugas National Park preserves the islands as well as the famous Fort Jefferson.

The park's centerpiece, Fort Jefferson, is a massive but unfinished coastal fortress that is the largest masonry structure in the West hemisphere. It is composed of over 16 million bricks. Come and marvel at the enormous structure, with its stoic, plain construction. After looking at Fort Jefferson, be sure to enjoy the beautiful wildlife the islands have to offer, whether you go snorkeling, scuba diving, saltwater fishing, or bird watching.

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Sunday, November 8, 2015

Kennedy Space Center - Orlando, Florida

You don’t have to be a space junkie to enjoy NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the only spot in the United States from which humans have been hurled into space. The plethora of hands-on exhibits, IMAX movies, and sheer magnitude of the shuttles will surely impress the most passive fan.

One of the highlights is the Shuttle Launch Simulator, where budding astronauts are strapped into a cockpit and given high-fidelity ride, which creates the impression of an actual lift-off.

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Everglades National Park, Florida

The Everglades National Park, covering much of the southeastern tip of Florida, is more than a big swamp full of alligators. True, you will see alligators - lots of them - but this unique subtropical wilderness also supports such creatures as American crocodiles, bottlenose dolphins, manatees, snowy egrets, bald eagles and ospreys.

And amid the mangroves, cypress, hardwood hammocks and miles of sawgrass, there are endless opportunities for hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, or taking an airboat ride.

You can book Everglades tours departing from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers in addition to Orlando. Spot alligators on a day-trip along the Tamiami Trail or take a two-hour tram tour in Shark Valley.

When hunger pangs set in, stop in Everglades City for a plate of gator nuggets and frog’s legs. The visitor center at Big Cypress National Preserve has great exhibits for kids and an outdoor, water-filled ditch popular with alligators.

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