FORT LAUDERDALE | JACKSONVILLE | KEY WEST | MIAMII | ORLANDO | PANAMA CITY BEACH | PENSACOLA | PERDIDO KEY | SARASOTA | ST AUGUSTINE | TALLAHASSEE | TAMPA | WALT DISNEY WORLD | WEST PALM BEACH |
The beaches of Florida are one of the most popular travel attractions, along with some of the world's best known theme parks, including Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. However some of Florida's best secrets are in secluded locations away for tourist areas and well worth seeing. Regardless of preference Florida has something to offer for any kind of traveler.
Tourism makes up the largest sector of the state economy. Warm weather and hundreds of miles of beaches attract about 60 million visitors to the state every year. Amusement parks, especially in the Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. The Walt Disney World Resort is the largest vacation resort in the world, consisting of four theme parks and more than 20 hotels in Lake Buena Vista, Florida; it, and Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, and other major parks drive state tourism. Many beach towns are also popular tourist destinations, particularly in the winter months. 23.2 million tourists visited Florida beaches in 2000, spending $21.9 billion
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Orlando International Airport - your choice airport for Disney World or the other attractions in Central Florida. Located south of Downtown Orlando, this airport offers car rentals and free shuttles to Disney World for visitors.
Miami International Airport - the biggest airport for travel in South Florida, and the best option for trips to the Everglades or Miami's beaches.
Tampa International Airport - serves the Gulf Coast, namely the Tampa Bay area. Has a direct flight operated by British Airways to/from London Gatwick. Also international flights to Canada, Mexico, and the Cayman Islands. Rated #1 US Airport overall.
Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport - the fourth largest airport in Florida and another valid option with many domestic low fare carriers.
Other large airports can be found in: Jacksonville, Fort Meyers, Tallahassee, St.Petersburg/Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Key West, Gainesville, Melbourne, & Sanford. Be aware that there are many more airports throughout Florida which may get you closer to your ultimate destination; watch for these smaller airports while researching your destination.
By train - Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida, effectively serving as a car-rail link to Florida from the Washington, D.C. Metro Area.
Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor (Trains 91-92 and 97-98 respectively) - both routes begin in New York City and end in Miami. While the two routes are slightly different, within the borders of the state of Florida, the routes are exactly the same. This option can get you from most East Coast cities to Miami, or many Florida cities in between.
By boat - Florida is possibly the largest state for cruise ship embarkation in the United States. Port Canaveral, Tampa, and Miami are all popular ports for embarkation, with cruises heading throughout the Caribbean. There are also many casino cruises which depart from Pinellas County and South Florida.
