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Florida Travel Guide

Florida is known as the Sunshine State; with good reason. Tourists the world over are drawn by its great beaches, theme parks, and, of course, wonderful weather. Long summers are followed by warm winters. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León gave the peninsula the name La Florida, meaning “flowery land.” With more than 990 miles of shoreline, it’s no surprise that Florida is a top destination for travelers in search of sand and surf. The western side of the peninsula, situated on the Gulf Coast, has warm seas and soft white sands. The Atlantic coast is made for the surfers with bigger, rougher waves and broader beaches. Some of the world’s most beautiful beaches can be found in the southern state: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Sanibel Island, and Anna Maria Beach off Bradenton.

The central part of the state has all the do-not-miss attractions for your next Florida vacation. Orlando is amusement park heaven, packed with Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios, Cypress Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens, Daytona Speedway and Gatorland. For space and history buffs, the Kennedy Space Center is nearby. Once the kids have gone to bed, Orlando turns up the heat to party.

For a trip with unrivaled nightlife, Miami’s South Beach lays claim to being “the coolest place on the planet,” but the rest of Florida is no slouch when it comes to partying and is serviced by many international airports. A cheap flight to Fort Lauderdale reveals six seaside communities, stocked with plenty of bars and clubs. Nearly two-thirds of all Major League Baseball teams make Florida their home for spring training. Major league sports are a big part of Florida year-round, with NFL football, NBA basketball and two NHL hockey teams calling the state home.

Getting to and around Florida

Orlando airport:

There are several bus routes you can take to get from the airport to the city, all of which take different journeys so it’s worth figuring out which one you need to get to wherever it is in Orlando you need to be. There is also a shuttle service that can take you from Orlando to Miami as well as other big cities. If you have a lot of luggage and would rather not use public transport then you can opt to get a taxi from outside of the airport. These are more costly than the bus counterparts but if you can split the fare with a friend they can be more worthwhile, especially if you’re in a rush.

Fort Myers airport:

One of the easiest ways to get from the airport to the city is via the LeeTran service. It operates from 6:40am until 9:25pm during the week, with slightly shorter times throughout the weekends. The timetable does change depending on the season though so it’s worth double checking before you book your flights to Florida, especially if you land very early or late. Once you’ve booked your flights to Florida it’s worth choosing a hotel which provides free shuttle transfers to and from the airport as this can make your journey a lot easier. Lastly you can hire a car or take a taxi from outside of the airport however this will cost a lot more than the bus option available.

A car is the best way to get around Florida. Although some cities have public transportation, you need to check that it goes where you want to go and at convenient times. Driving is generally the best way to go from town to town and across the state. Depending on the distance, flying from one city to another may be a better option.

Florida is great for bicycling. Although biking in the cities isn’t recommended, there are bike paths along the coasts and long-distance trails in central Florida. Plus, Florida is flat: its highest point is 345 feet above sea level.

Tips for your stay in Florida

• Miami goes cultural in early December. About 20 art fairs and other independent exhibits and performances lure serious collectors to mingle for a week with the locals in the city’s parks, trendy hotels, giant air-conditioned tents and private galleries
• Snorkeling with manatees in Florida’s Crystal River, 75 miles north of Tampa, is like taking a bath with elephants, the closest land relative to these aquatic giants.
• You can swim with the manatees in the Homosassa River and Blue Springs on the Nature Coast of Florida (the inside curve of the western coast of the state). This area, along with the Crystal River, is home to the largest concentration of manatees in the world.
• New Smyrna Beach, near Daytona, is quieter and has a 13 miles beach front. World-renowned as the “safest bathing beach” due to its offshore rock ledges that counteract dangerous undercurrents, it offers year-round deep sea fishing. South of New Smyrna lies the Canaveral National Seashore, which offers excellent swimming, bird watching and hiking.
• There are several major-league fantasy camps in Florida. Each year fans take trips to Florida to play for their favorite team and mix with their heroes at spring-training facilities. Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training home is in Dunedin, 20 miles outside Tampa-St. Petersburg and about 5 miles from Clearwater.

Finding Flights from Florida

Whether you’re planning a multi-legged trip and Florida is just the first stop, or you call Tampa, Orlando or Miami home and you’re planning a vacation elsewhere, multiple airline carriers offer flights from Florida to destinations around the country and the world. Airlines that fly into the cities typically offer flights out, and these carriers include, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Sun Country, JetBlue, Southwest and Lufthansa to name a few. Cheapflights is the ideal way to find the flight you’re looking for from Florida at the fare you desire.

No matter what Florida city you’re traveling from, you’ll want to arrive at the airport with enough time to make it through security and arrive at your gate before boarding. It’s always a good idea to check your flight’s status before you leave home, or the hotel, to ensure everything is on time.

Most major airports in Florida feature rental car returns on site at the terminal or a short free shuttle ride away, but you’ll want to plan ahead for possible backups at the return. When hiring a taxi, make sure the company is legitimate. This can be easily handled by checking with your departure airport’s ground transportation office.