More than a million families and couples from the UK make Florida their holiday destination of choice each year and if you've had the good fortune to head that way yourself then you'll understand the reason why.
Hot, sultry summers and mild winters make the sunshine state in the south of the USA an ideal getaway all year round.  

If it's sun-drenched beaches that tickle your holiday fancy then the resorts along the Florida coast are rich with variety and choice. White, powder-fine sandy beaches stretch along the shores of Florida for as far as the eye can see The gentle, azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico with its spectacular wildlife from leaping dolphins and the lumbering manatee to the large beaked pelicans that plunge for dinner off the coast. Along the east coast the beaches sprawl from the glamour of Miami and Fort Lauderdale all the way up to the North with a variety of towns and resorts lined along sprawling beaches of natural beauty, all looking out onto the endless waters of the Atlantic. 

Then of course, away from the beaches Florida remains one of THE premier destinations in the world for families because it's the spiritual home of the theme park. With the huge, sprawling city of fun that is the Walt Disney Resort and the ever expanding Universal Studios Park now comprising Harry Potter World, not to mention the joys of Sea World, Busch Gardens or the wonderful and educational Kennedy Space Centre at Cape Canaveral.  

It's not all Mickey Mouse or Alligator Alley in Florida either. The state also possesses a rich cultural mix. A strong art scene exists around the Sarasota area offering a range of galleries, museums and opera performances. As a state Florida has been shaped over the centuries by the influences of Native American, Spanish, Caribbean and Anglo-European cultures and their combined presence can be felt throughout the state. There's also the chance, for the literary minded, to pay a visit to the home of one of the great names of American Literature, Ernest Hemmingway, a former resident of Key West whose home is now a museum to his legacy. 

Florida is a state that positively thrives on sporting activity. With its proclivity to some of the most stunning coastlines it's no surprise that watersports are a prominent activity; with some spectacular scuba opportunities available along the Keys, not to mention some of the most popular big game fishing around. Florida is the home of major franchises in all the main American Sports including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Sharks and Miami Dolphins from the NFL and Orlando Magic and Miami Heat of the NBA.  Florida can also boast some of the best opportunities for golfing holidays anywhere in the USA with championship courses including the famous TPA courses at Sawgrass and the Doral course littered the length and breadth of the state.    

Florida is home to a richly diverse eco-system and fauna. Explore the Everglades National Park with its tall ranging sawgrass lined swampland and wonderfully varied wildlife, from crocodiles and alligators to turtles and storks. Or travel into the Keys for a chance to discover the truly remarkable diversity of sealife that lives off the coast of Florida where the waters of America merge into those of the Caribbean.