Florida

Do

thumb|The world-famous Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World's [[Walt Disney World/Epcot|Epcot theme park.]]

Go to the beach! You have numerous options here: Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, St. Pete Beach, West Palm Beach and Siesta Key are some of the best. Visit Florida's world class theme parks and water parks. Walt Disney World - The most visited resort in the world, home to four theme parks, two water parks, and shopping, dining, and hotels galore. Universal Orlando - Disney World's biggest competitor, these three theme parks are home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. SeaWorld in Orlando and Legoland in nearby Winter Haven. Busch Gardens in Tampa. Visit Everglades National Park, a place like no other on Earth, and take an airboat ride through the swamps. A drive across the Everglades on US 41 is a great way to get a sense of the park's size and scenery. Check out Everglades City for great attractions. Explore some of the more than 150 Florida State Parks. The only three-time winner of the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal for state park systems. Get a Florida State Parks Annual Pass for free admission to most of the state parks, or discounted admission at Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. Visit the Seminole or Miccosukee Native American reservations throughout the state. Here you can find out about their history and culture, try their food…

Buy

Florida is increasingly becoming a major destination for shopping. The Orlando and Miami areas are home to a plethora of shopping malls, including many outlet malls home to shops selling brand-name products for discounted prices. There are also a large number of stores selling souvenirs, although most are not locally produced. The Kissimmee area near Orlando, especially, has a much larger number of retail stores than is typical of U.S. cities. While traditionally these shops catered largely to American families on vacation, most now serve foreign shoppers who flock to these malls to buy products significantly cheaper than at home. It's not uncommon at some shopping malls in Orlando to encounter tourists from around the globe, especially on weekdays when most Americans are working. In the last few years, Brazil has become the largest source of international visitors to the state, with many coming on shopping group tours and sometimes wearing matching shirts. Due to this, major shopping centers in the Orlando and Miami areas now offer services in Portuguese.

Most goods for sale in the state are subject to sales tax. In most of the state the rate is 7%, but it varies from 6-7.5% (6% state sales tax and up to 1.5% local sales tax). This rate is almost never listed on the advertised or displayed prices.

Eat

thumb|A typical Florida orange grove near [[Sebring.]] Florida's cuisine is a mix of many influences and its styles vary across the state from North to South. North Florida has a more Southern style; South Florida a more Caribbean one. There specifically, early Spanish and African cuisines have been given a new spin with the impact of Cuban and other Caribbean cultures, as well as from "snowbirds" escaping the Northern U.S. winters. Being on a peninsula, Florida's chefs have always had access to fresh seafood, and the long growing season provides fresh native vegetables almost year round.

Citrus is a main export, and a tourist is apt to see many roadside stands offering free samples of orange juice and fruits to be shipped or carried home. Florida also grows grapefruit, avocado, mango, papaya, passion fruit, kumquat, coconut and other tropical fruits. These often provide the base for sauces and marinades and are also used in marmalades, soups, and desserts. Official state welcome centers located on I-10, I-75, and I-95 as you enter Florida offer free samples of orange juice to all visitors, a tradition that goes back decades. Strawberries are another popular fruit in Florida. Plant City, off I-4 east of Tampa, is the center of the Florida strawberry industry, where during the peak season (Feb-Mar) many roadside vendors offer flats (16 pints/12 lb/5.4 kg) and half-flats of strawberries for a small fraction of grocery store prices. Since most stands are owned by the individual…

Drink

thumb|The art deco hotels and clubs of Miami's [[Miami Beach/South Beach|South Beach.]] Alcoholic beverages abound throughout the state. However, five rural counties in the northern third of the state are "dry counties", and no alcohol is sold in them. Stand-alone liquor stores are often built into strip malls, supermarkets, and pharmacies, and most grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores sell beer and wine. Bars and clubs are popular throughout the state, with Miami Beach being well-known for a variety of themed and upscale bars with innovative mixed drinks. Unique bars and clubs can also be found in downtown Orlando and the nearby tourist areas closer to the theme parks and resorts of Disney and Universal.

No visit to Florida is complete without a cup of their famous orange juice.

Like every other U.S. state, the purchase and possession age for alcohol is 21 and it's fairly well enforced. Underage drinking "stings" are frequent in most tourist areas. Florida allows smoking in bars, including those that serve food, but the bar must get less than 10% of their revenue from food.

Respect

If you're using a boat or other vehicle, like a jetski, in the water, it may be necessary to significantly reduce speed in areas inhabited by manatees and/or dolphins. Fast-moving vehicles can cause harm to a manatee's respiratory system.

Misuse of recreation areas has caused record manatee deaths in 2021.

Connect

thumb|The gentle white sands of Siesta Key