Florida Information

Florida Information

Situated in the far south east of the US the state of Florida juts out from the mainland with the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the North Atlantic Ocean to the east. Because of it's southern latitude Florida enjoys an almost tropical climate with a high proportion of the daylight hours being bathed in bright sunshine. However the weather is dominated by the bodies of water that surround Florida on three sides which can produce some severe storms in the hurricane season from June to November. However generally the weather in Florida is perfect for an outdoor vacation with a long hot spring and summer and a pleasantly mild autumn and winter.

First discovered by Europeans in the 16th century the region had a tempestuous history with sovereignty changing several times with Spain, France and England all having claims on it before becoming part of the United States in 1845. Not long after Florida withdrew from the US aligning with the Confederacy before rejoining in 1868.

Nowadays Florida is a major US city with a huge tourism market that is dominated by its natural attractions. The state has around 3600 km of coastline which have over 1900 km of  beautiful sandy beaches. Along many stretches of coastline the skyline is dominated by high rise apartments and resorts but outside the main tourist areas there are still many small communities to be found with quaint B&B accommodation and family run businesses.

In the north of the state there are many recognisable cities including Pensacola, Jacksonville and the state's capital Tallahassee near the Georgia border. The inland and coastal towns in the north of Florida are less developed than down south having some stunning natural scenery.

Family vacations are well catered for with Florida having several major theme parks including SeaWorld and Universal Studios as well as the massive Walt Disney World. In southern Florida the Everglades are unique wetlands that cover around 1.5 million acres and provide habitats for a vast number of bird and animal species. Further to the south the Florida Keys offer great vacation options including sailing, swimming and snorkelling in the clear blue waters that have been likened to the Caribbean many up-market accommodation options available.

With a beautiful climate, stunning natural scenery and so many family friendly options Florida is the perfect for a vacation that will cater to everyone's tastes.