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Cheap holidays in Florida

Why not search our database of Cheap holidays in Florida now by visiting the holidayco.co.uk homepage and using the search facility.

Florida, the 'sunshine state', lies at the southeastern corner of the United States. Most of the state takes the form of a long peninsula sticking out into the sea. The eastern coast lies on the Atlantic Ocean while the western shores are lapped by the Caribbean. The first European to land on Florida's shores, Juan Ponce de Leon, named the land he found 'La Florida' after the Spanish Pascua Florida, or Festival of the Flowers.

Florida is fairly flat and is on average only 30-35m above sea level. There are large areas of wetlands, home to many species of wildlife. The state can be considered to be made up of three geographical areas: the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the East Gulf Coastal plain and the Florida Uplands.

The Atlantic Coastal Plain is part of the Atlantic Plain that runs down the eastern seaboard of the USA from Massachusetts to Florida and forms the eastern side of the Florida peninsula. It is low-lying (10m-30m above sea level) and very wet, with large areas covered by the Big Cypress Swamp and the Florida Everglades. Off the coast there are many small islands, coral reefs and sandbars. The plain disappears under the sea at the southern end of the peninsula, though the chain of islands known as the Florida Keys run out to sea for about 250km.

The East Gulf Coastal Plain is also a part of the Atlantic Plain. It runs up the western side of the peninsula and round the Gulf Coast to the state's western border, broken into two segments by part of the Florida Uplands. Part of the East Gulf Coastal Plain is covered by the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp. There are many islands off the coast.

The Florida Uplands run from the northwest corner of the state, along the northern edge of the Florida Panhandle and then south into the central area of the peninsula. The Florida Uplands is characterized by low rolling hills of red clay, with forests of hard and softwood and many lakes. A section of the Uplands divides the East Gulf Coastal Plain in two and separates it from the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

Florida attracts millions of tourists each year – in 1999 it was almost 60 million – who come for the sunshine, the beaches and of course Disney World. Florida is also famous for its alligators and as the launch site for America's space programme.

Things to Do

In Miami, there is great shopping at the Dolphin Mall near the airport and Aventura Mall to provide a break from all that lazing around on the beach in glorious sunshine. Watson Island is good for kids, while there are several good resorts along the coasts, at Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour and South Beach.

Key Largo, largest of the Florida Keys, is just one hour away and offers some of the best diving to be had, on the only living coral reef in the United States. You can also wreck-dive on former Navy ship which was deliberately sunk to become art of the reef. The Everglades National Park is also just one hour away.

Also in the Florida Keys you can find excellent sport fishing for Tuna and Sailfsh and a marine mammal facility where you can come face to face with sea lions and dolphins as well as stingrays and other aquatic life. Key West, which is a 5-hour drive form Miami, has a wealth of fascinating history and also excellent nightlife. You can visit Ernest Hemingway's home (which is now a museum) and the Key West Lighthouse, or visit the Middle Keys and swim with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Centre.

In Orlando you will find the world-famous Walt Disney World. More than a theme park, Disney World is a resort in its own right. The park has its own internal transport system included in the cost of staying there. In the surrounding area you can go horse riding or alligator-spotting from the safety of a hovercraft-boat.

In the Gold Coast and Space Coast areas there are excellent watersports, fishing and plenty of beach fun, but the big attraction is the Kennedy Space Centre. Located on the famous Cape Canaveral, this is where America's first man in space lifted off, and the moon missions followed soon after. The space centre tour includes recreations of the historic Apollo launches.

In the same area you can visit Brevard Zoo, which is subdivided into country zones, each with animals from a different region – Central America, Australia and Florida to name just three. The zoo also has a petting centre. There are also wildlife refuges at Meritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Canaveral National Seashore.

Palm Beach is a favourite with golfers, who will find over 150 courses in the area, and divers, who can discover the amazing variety of life in the warm Gulf Stream waters. The Everglades are close by, making airboat excursions to see the alligators easy. West Palm Beach is also famous for its exciting nightlife.

On the Gulf Coast you will find the resort of Clearwater, with an excellent beach in close proximity to the city. The marina offers a range of boat trips, and the city of Tampa is within easy reach. There is also the Nature Coast, with its array of wildlife dwelling along the coast and on nine islands. The Crystal River region also offers diving and snorkeling.

A little further along the Gulf Coast, St Pete Beach is one of the sunniest laces on Earth. The current record stands at 768 consecutive sunny days. The area has nature reserves to visit and the city of St Petersburg with its Children's Museum and Salvador Dali Museum. Sarasota offers golf and cycling as well as canoeing and diving, plus cultural activities including ballet and opera. There are museums of art and science and some fine botanical gardens.

Why not search our database of Cheap holidays in Florida now by visiting the holidayco.co.uk homepage and using the search facility.