Florida: Best of

Turquoise waters, boundless shores, round-the-clock fun: this is Miami, a city where design, arts, and visionary architecture have more than one moment in the sun. Occupying the southernmost three miles of Miami Beach is gorgeous South Beach, with its hundreds of dazzling pastel-coloured 1920s and 1930s Art Deco buildings. By night, Ocean Drive becomes one of the liveliest stretches in Miami. If this is too much for you, head a block west of the beach to Collins Avenue or to Washington Avenue, with fashion shops and cool coffee bars. For more shops, restaurants and cafés, head for the Lincoln Road Mall (between Alton Rd and Washington Ave), a pedestrianized zone where you can stroll and graze. North of downtown the Design District, hemmed in by 36th and 41st streets between Miami Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, is also worth a visit, crammed with hip restaurants. Miami does Cuban food best, and it’s not limited to the traditional haunts in Little Havana. You’ll also want to try Cuban coffee. Cuban cooking is complemented by sushi bars and American home-style diners, as well as Haitian, Italian and new Floridian restaurants, among a handful of other ethnic cuisines. Coral Gables, South Beach and the Design District are best for upmarket cafés and restaurants. Seafood is abundant. Stone­crab claws (served Oct–May), are another South Florida speciality.

Orlando is a city of fun. It owes its fame to DisneyWorld and its theme parks (EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom), SeaWorld and Universal Studios with its fantastic Wizarding World of Harry Potter and countless other exciting attractions.

Crystal River, a source of surprisingly clear turquoise waters, is the gem of the so-called Nature Coast. During the colder months (from November to March), dozens of manatees hibernate in the crystal-clear waters of Three Sisters Spring and King's Bay, creating an impressive spectacle. Visitors can observe them through boat or kayak excursions and even swim with them, accompanied by experienced instructors.

In front of Sarasota, a string of barrier islands with incredibly white beaches stretches for tens of kilometers. The city is not lacking in non-marine attractions, such as the aquarium, the spectacular museum founded by magnate John Ringling and rich in world-renowned artworks, the unique Circus Museum, and the Ca' d'Zan, a residence in Venetian Gothic style. For shopping, there is the large St Armands Circle mall.

A bridge connects the mainland to Sanibel Island, witness of a bygone era, before mass tourism and skyscrapers: the vegetation here is luxuriant, the streets are quiet, with no traffic lights, and beautiful seashells keep washing up on the island's pristine beaches.

Key Largo è la più grande delle Key superiori, nota per le barriere coralline che la circondano, dove si possono praticare snorkeling e immersioni, primo fra tutti al John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, la prima riserva naturale sottomarina degli Stati Uniti. Ottima anche la cucina dell'isola, a base di frutti di mare freschi da gustare nei numerosi bar e ristoranti sulla spiaggia.

A short distance from Key Largo is Islamorada, a paradise island with sparkling blue waters, fabulous restaurants with sea views, and unparalleled fresh seafood. The island is a perfect stop on the way to Key West. The Keys are a chain of coral islands stretching almost 200 km, with the most eastern tip - Key West - just 150 km from Cuba. They are not a beach vacation destination, as the beaches are modest and the sea is not very suitable for swimming; but the islands are fascinating for their nature and human environment.