Discover Experience the best of Florida

This edition written and researched by Adam Karlin, Jennifer Rasin Denniston, Paula Hardy, Benedict Walker

000-toc-dc-flo2.indd0-toc-dc-flo2.indd 1 221/11/20141/11/2014 3:45:093:45:09 PMPM PPalmalm BeachBeach & tthehe GoldGold CoastCoast Highlights ...... 136

 Fort Lauderdale Walt Disney World® Universal  Hollywood Beach & Resort & Orlando Orlando #p109 Resort Broadwalk #p51  Flagler Museum  Morikami Museum & #p255 Japanese Gardens Palm Beach &  Gumbo Limbo Nature Tampa Bay & the Gold Coast Center the Gulf Coast #p133 MMiamiiami & tthehe KeysKeys The Everglades #p233 #p169 Highlights ...... 172  Miami Art Deco Historic Miami & District the Keys  Key West  Hemingway House

 Little Havana

 Overseas Highway Cycling

WWaltalt DisneyDisney UUniversalniversal TThehe EEvergladesverglades WWorld®orld® RResortesort & OOrlandorlando ResortResort Highlights ...... 236 OOrlandorlando Highlights ...... 112  Highlights ...... 54  Wizarding World of Harry  Big Cypress National Potter Preserve  Disney’s Parades & Light Shows  Islands of Adventure  Hell’s Bay  Chickee Camping   Universal Studios  Everglades International  Fantasyland  Production Central Hostel  Sunset Boulevard  Springfi eld

 Animal Kingdom

000-toc-dc-flo2.indd0-toc-dc-flo2.indd 2 221/11/20141/11/2014 3:45:133:45:13 PMPM CContentsontents

PPlanlan YYourour TTriprip DDiscoveriscover

TTampaampa BayBay & This Is Florida ...... 6 tthehe GGulfulf CCoastoast Florida Map ...... 8 Highlights ...... 258 WWaltalt DisneyDisney Florida’s Top 25  Sanibel & Captiva Islands Highlights ...... 10 WWorld®orld® ResortResort &  OOrlandorlando 5151 Florida’s Top  Mote Marine Laboratory Itineraries ...... 32 Highlights ...... 54  Fort DeSoto Park & Beach

 Salvador Dalí Museum Florida Best ...... 56 Month by Month ...... 42 Itineraries ...... 58 What’s New ...... 46 Walt Disney World® Get Inspired ...... 47 Resort...... 60 Need to Know ...... 48 ...... 60 Epcot ...... 65 Animal Kingdom ...... 67 Hollywood Studios ...... 70 Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach ...... 71 Disney’s Boardwalk ...... 72 Downtown Disney ...... 72 Orlando & Around ...... 89 Downtown Orlando ..... 89 Loch Haven Park ...... 89 Greater Orlando ...... 91 Cocoa Beach & the Space Coast ...... 99

UUniversalniversal OrlandoOrlando RResortesort 110909 Highlights ...... 112 Best ...... 114 Itineraries ...... 116 Resort...... 118

000-toc-dc-flo2.indd0-toc-dc-flo2.indd 3 221/11/20141/11/2014 3:45:133:45:13 PMPM CContentsontents

DDiscoveriscover FFloridalorida In Focus Survival Guide

Islands of South Beach ...... 179 Adventure...... 118 Northern Miami Universal Studios ...... 121 Beach ...... 185 TTampaampa BayBay & thethe CityWalk ...... 129 Downtown Miami ...... 187 GGulfulf CCoastoast 225555 Wynwood, Design District & Little Haiti .. 191 Highlights ...... 258 Key Biscayne ...... 191 Best ...... 260 PPalmalm BeachBeach & thethe Little Havana...... 195 Itineraries ...... 262 Coconut Grove ...... 196 GGoldold CCoastoast 113333 Tampa Bay ...... 264 Coral Gables ...... 197 Highlights ...... 136 St Petersburg ...... 274 Greater Miami – Best ...... 138 South ...... 198 St Pete Beach & Barrier Island Beaches ...... 280 Itineraries ...... 140 Turkish Delight ...... 202 South of Tampa ...... 283 Gold Coast ...... 142 North Biscayne Boulevard ...... 209 Sarasota ...... 283 Palm Beach ...... 142 Fort Myers ...... 286 Florida Keys ...... 218 West Palm Beach ...... 146 Sanibel & Captiva Kayaking the Upper Keys ...... 218 Islands ...... 289 ...... 150 Middle Keys ...... 220 Cabbage Key ...... 292 Lake Worth ...... 152 Lower Keys ...... 221 Corkscrew Swamp ..... 153 Key West ...... 223 Sanctuary ...... 293 Delray Beach ...... 154 Dry Tortugas National North of Tampa ...... 293 Park ...... 229 Boca Raton ...... 155 Homosassa Springs ...293 Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Crystal River ...... 294 & Deerfield Beach ..... 157 Busch Gardens Fort Lauderdale ...... 159 & Adventure Island ..... 294 Hollywood TThehe & Dania Beach ...... 166 EEvergladesverglades 233233 Highlights ...... 236 BBestest ofof Best ...... 238 tthehe RestRest 295295 MMiamiiami & Itineraries ...... 240 Daytona & Around .... 296 tthehe KKeyseys 169169 The Everglades National Park ...... 242 St Augustine & Highlights ...... 172 Amelia Island ...... 297 Big Cypress National Best ...... 174 Preserve ...... 247 Tallahassee & Apalachicola ...... 299 Itineraries ...... 176 ...... 251 Destin ...... 301 Miami ...... 178

000-toc-dc-flo2.indd0-toc-dc-flo2.indd 4 221/11/20141/11/2014 3:45:133:45:13 PMPM IInn FFocusocus SSurvivalurvival GGuideuide

Florida Today ...... 304 Directory ...... 338 History ...... 306 Accommodations ...... 338 Activities ...... 339 Family Travel ...... 314 Climate ...... 340 Culture & Arts ...... 318 Discount Cards ...... 341 Floridian Food ...... 322 Electricity ...... 341 The Outdoors...... 326 Food ...... 341 Gay & Lesbian Wildlife ...... 330 Travelers...... 341 Beaches ...... 334 Health ...... 342 Insurance ...... 343 Internet Access ...... 343 Legal Matters...... 343 Money ...... 344 Opening Hours ...... 344 Public Holidays ...... 344 Safe Travel ...... 345 Telephone ...... 345 Tourist Information ...345 Travelers with Disabilities...... 345 Work ...... 346 Transportation ...... 346 Getting There & Away ...... 346 Getting Around ...... 348

Behind the Scenes ...... 354 Index ...... 355 How to Use This Book ...... 367 Our Writers ...... 368

000-toc-dc-flo2.indd0-toc-dc-flo2.indd 5 221/11/20141/11/2014 3:45:133:45:13 PMPM TThishis IIss FFloridalorida Florida is the USA’s playground. Florida is bracken wetlands that melt under soul-searing sunsets. Florida is blue lakes, teal oceans and green rivers cutting a tropical plain into parcels of romantic beauty. Florida is sand like snow. Florida is cities that have dedicated themselves to giving you food, shopping, nightlife and enjoyment. Florida is waiting. This state exudes a powerful attrac- tion. Generation after generation of travelers keeps coming back. Our grandparents had retirement cot- tages here. Our parents can recall childhood visions of mermaids and manatees and Mickey that their children remember with a similar warm-hearted nostalgia, and want to pass on to the next generation and the next. These recollections encapsulate what many deem ‘Old Florida.’ But Old Florida sits alongside the new here as the state is constantly pushing itself to reinvent the best in tourism. If you want it, Florida has it, in every color, size and shape. There are malls near Fort Myers where you can live out your most lurid consumer fantasies. Thanks to demand for the local, organic and indigenous, those malls are a few miles from neighborly farmer's markets. There are theme parks galore in Orlando, while in the Everglades to the south and Apalachicola to the north, there are state and national parks where a unique subtropical environ- ment is protected by dedicated citizens settling new frontiers in conservation and environmentalism. Florida is the USA’s There are miles of beach in Miami. And beyond sun and sun, a world class, daring arts dis- playground trict. There are the latest toys and trends of the wealthy in Palm Beach, and a few hours south, simple pleasures and parades dedicated to flights of fantasy in Key West. And everywhere you go there is the backbone of Florida: visitors. They can find anything here, and often, more than what they ex- pected. Get ready to join their satisfied ranks.

Lifeguard stand, Miami (p178) FOTOSEARCH/ALAMY © 6

001-this-is-dc-flo2.indd1-this-is-dc-flo2.indd 6 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:13:0012:13:00 PMPM 001-this-is-dc-flo2.indd1-this-is-dc-flo2.indd 7 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:13:0412:13:04 PMPM FFloridalorida

ALABAMA Dothan

Lake Seminole

Mobile Fort Walton Havana Beach Grayton Beach Pensacola State Park Destin Tallahassee Pensacola Panama 2525 Beach City 30ºN Panama Apalachicola City Beach Central Time ZoneNational Forest Eastern Time Zone

r

Apalachee e

v Apalachicola Bay i R

River e e Apalachicola n n a w u Suwannee S

29ºN Cedar Key

28ºN

G U L F O F M E X I C O

27ºN

26ºN

0 100 km 0 60 miles 25ºN ELEVATION 400m 0

88ºW 87ºW 86ºW 85ºW 84ºW 83ºW

002-florida-map-dc-flo2.indd2-florida-map-dc-flo2.indd 8 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:14:1912:14:19 PMPM 31ºN 81ºW GEORGIA Fernandina Top Highlights Beach 9 Amelia Island

Jacksonville A T L A N T I C

S O C E A N t J 30ºN o h 3 2222 Walt Disney World® n 1 's St Augustine R Anastasia Island Resort

i

v e

Gainesville r 2 Miami Art Deco Historic Ocala District National Forest 3 Spanish Quarter Museum Daytona Beach Ocala 4 Wildlife in the Everglades 29ºN Crystal Canaveral National Park 1111 River National Seashore 5 Key West Homosassa Springs Orlando 2424 6 Shelling on Sanibel Island Cape Canaveral 1818 7 Hollywood Beach Caladesi 1919 1 Island Cocoa Beach 8 Snorkeling in the Keys

F Melbourne lo 28ºN Amelia Island Clearwater Lakeland ri 9 da Tampa 's T St Pete u a Salvador Dalí Museum r Beach St Petersburg np ik 1010 Tampa e b Swimming with Manatees Bay (toll) Fort Fort Bradenton c Mote Marine Laboratory DeSoto Pierce Park Sarasota d Gondola Ride through 1212 Fort Lauderdale 27ºN Venice Lake e Miami Art Scene Okeechobee Cayo Costa Palm f Exploring the Gulf Islands State Park 1616 Beach Fort g Shopping in Palm Beach 1515 Myers 2121 Delray Corkscrew Beach Captiva Swamp 2323 h Robert Is Here Island 6 Sanctuary Boca Ratonatoon Sanibel Big Cypress Fort i Wizarding World of Harry Island National Lauderdalealee Potter Alligator Alley Preserve 1313 Naples Hollywoodod es Weeki Wachee Springs d Beach j la g 7 State Park r 2 e v 1414 Miami Beacheacch E Shark k Overseas Hwy Road Trip e Miami h Valley T John Pennekampammp l 4 1717 Coral Reef State Park m St Augustine Ghost Everglades Florida National Park City Tours Flamingo 8 n Morikami Museum & Florida Key 25ºNN Japanese Gardens Bay Largo Dry Tortugas o Winter Park National Park 2020 y s Ke Apalachicola National a Florida p r i d of Fl o Forest 5 Straits Key West 81ºW 80ºW

002-florida-map-dc-flo2.indd2-florida-map-dc-flo2.indd 9 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:14:2612:14:26 PMPM FFlorida’slorida’s TTopop HHighlightsighlights

003-top-experiences-dc-flo2.indd3-top-experiences-dc-flo2.indd 1100 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:16:0912:16:09 PMPM RICHARD GREEN/ALAMY © 1/12/2014 2:56:21 PM1/12/2014 2:56:21 PM Below: Expedition Everest Everest Expedition Below: Resort Resort ® (p69) Florida’s basic reason for being is to function as the world’s best playground, and playground, best function as the world’s being is to for reason basic Florida’s the is one of home Mickey’s (p60). Resort World® Disney Walt truer than is this nowhere Chil- fancy. of and flights imagination of the embodiment parks, original theme world’s quickly revert and adults need, their every to that caters a bright realm explore can dren a fun for in all-American standard the gold it’s but crowded, it gets Yes, childhood. to back you. forgive ever kids will never, your go don’t if you Besides, reason. World World Disney Disney Walt Walt 03-top-experiences-dc-flo2.indd 1103-top-experiences-dc-flo2.indd 11 eNNovemberovember eDDecemberecember 3 White Party High season begins for South Florida beaches. Manatees arrive in warm-water A raucous gay and lesbian celebration springs. (and HIV/AIDS fundraiser), the White Party is actually a series of parties and Art Basel Miami Beach nightclub events in Miami Beach and Fort z Very simply, early December sees one of Lauderdale over a week in late November the biggest international art shows in the (www.whiteparty.net). And yes, wear world, with over 150 art galleries repre- white. sented and four days of parties (www z Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival .artbaselmiamibeach.com). Tampa’s Ybor City has a long history as Victorian Christmas Stroll the cigar-making capital of the US. That 3 The landmark 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel heritage, and the cigars themselves, are (now a museum) celebrates Christmas, celebrated in this one-day festival (www. Victorian-style, for three weeks in Decem- cigarheritagefestival.com). ber, with folks in period costume. St Arrrgustine Pirate Gathering z King Mango Strut Put on an eye patch and dust off your z Miami’s Coconut Grove rings in the New pirate lingo for this hokey celebration Year with this wacky, freak-alicious, after- of scurvy dogs and seafaring rascals in Christmas parade, which spoofs current St Augustine for three days in mid- events and local politics (www.kingman November. gostrut.org).

Far left: June Goombay Festival; Left: July 4th of July, Miami PHOTOGRAPHERS: (FAR LEFT) R H PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES ©; (LEFT) RODRIGO BLANCO/ GETTY IMAGES ©

4455

005-month-by-month-dc-flo2.indd5-month-by-month-dc-flo2.indd 4545 221/11/20141/11/2014 12:45:2012:45:20 PMPM