Exploring: Florida's cities
The Sunshine State's enduring popularity is rooted in its beaches and theme parks, but its cities offer multicultural flair, arts, gastronomy, nightlife and much more, says Jeannine Williamson
From Daytona in the north to Miami in the south, Florida’s cities are packed with attractions.
As a twin-centre or standalone break, they offer a wealth of experiences - with the added bonus of a great year-round climate.
Orlando
You don’t need to venture far from the popular man-made attractions to discover a very different side to Orlando.
For more natural thrills you can swing through the trees like Tarzan at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park, while Wekiwa Springs State Park, just 25 minutes north of downtown Orlando, has canoe rentals and park trails offering a real breath of fresh air. Then there's Brevard Zoo, the only menagerie in the U.S. to offer a guided kayak tour around animal exhibits.
Boxi Park is an unusual new attraction based around recycled shipping containers. Fifteen minutes from the airport, it includes restaurants, bars, a stage and playground.
Scheduled to open soon on International Drive, Dezerland Action Park will feature Orlando Auto Museum. One of the world’s largest private car collections, it will include James Bond and Batman vehicles.
Miami
From the pumping nightlife of South Beach to the Art Deco district architecture and vibrant Little Havana neighbourhood, Miami is the complete all-rounder. On the accommodation front, the 275-room fivestar grand dame property Biltmore Hotel Miami recently unveiled its two-year $25 million revamp, with a grand lobby restored to its 1926 glory, a reimagined golf course and new guest rooms.
For sports-loving clients, five American professional sports – NFL football, soccer, baseball, basketball and ice hockey - are all played in Miami .
Tampa
A city linked to the UK by flights from British Airways and Norwegian, Tampa describes itself as ‘the hip, urban heart of Florida’s
Gulf coast’. The birthplace of the Cuban sandwich also takes its food seriously and has a gastronomy scene influenced by its multicultural population, and a fastexpanding craft beer scene.
Tampa is also family focussed, with attractions ranging from Busch Gardens (which has a new thrill ride, Cheetah Run) to Zoo Tampa to the Florida Aquarium (where you can dive with sharks) to the Glazer Children’s Museum.
The Tampa Bay History Center chronicles the area's growth and heritage, while the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts showcases Broadway productions.
Kissimmee
Close to the theme parks, but keen to carve its own separate identity, Kissimmee is the ideal base to combine outdoor adventures with shopping in quaint downtown areas, or picking up brand-name bargains in Premium Outlets, The Florida Mall and The Mall at Millenia. Old Town, Kissimmee’s family fun destination, has a grand reopening this month (April) following a twoyear renovation and expansion programme to create a classic flavour of bygone times with vintage-style shops and restaurants.
Another long-time attraction is Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, with its closeup views of alligators and the chance to discover the heritage of the Native American Village.
New hotels include the 184-room Margaritaville Resort Orlando, 25 minutes from the airport. Tropical island-themed, it includes the Sunset Walk shopping, dining, and entertainment district, and Island H2O Live!, a 14-acre water park.
St Petersburg
Nicknamed the Sunshine City, St Petersburg is a great suggestion for golfing, boating, fishing and enjoying the famous white beaches of Clearwater that are regularly ranked amongst the top in the U.S.
The flagship Dali Museum houses America’s largest collection of the Spanish artist’s work, whilst the Museum of Fine Arts includes paintings by greats such as Monet, Renoir and Cezanne. For anyone interested in Jewish history, the thought-provoking and moving Florida Holocaust Museum is one of the largest in the U.S.
In recent years the accommodation offering has boomed with a large number of openings and refurbishments. The Sirata Beach Resort has undergone a $15 million transformation, with a new beachfront area and children’s water playground, and the $50 enhancement at the Vinoy Renaissance St Petersburg Resort & Golf Club includes a new marina-front restaurant.
Sarasota
One of Florida’s primary Gulf Coast cities, Sarasota is home to opera, ballet and world-class theatre, and provides a blend of culture, fine dining and pristine beaches. The arts offering will expand further with the opening of the Sarasota Museum of