Florida: Family Fun

Orlando, in the heart of central Florida, is the world capital of theme-park entertainment, a garden city dotted with lakes that has transformed its marshy lowlands into a universe of parks and attractions beloved by families from every continent. It is here that the Walt Disney World Resort spreads out, the complex that made the city famous, with its four theme parks — from the Magic Kingdom to EPCOT, from Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom — joined by Universal Studios and the magical world of Harry Potter, from the Wizarding World to the thrills of Islands of Adventure. For those seeking nature and wildlife, SeaWorld tells the story of the marine world, while numerous water parks offer cool relief under the subtropical sun. But Orlando is more than its parks: the historic downtown, gathered around Lake Eola with its iconic fountain and the swans that glide across its waters, holds a more intimate soul, made of neighbourhoods such as Thornton Park and Winter Park, where art galleries, cafés and tree-lined avenues invite a slower pace. Its cuisine ranges from the international kitchens of International Drive to the flavours of the American South, while Florida's eternal spring makes every season ideal for a visit. All around, wild nature reasserts itself: a short distance away lie the reserves of the Everglades, the crystalline springs where manatees swim, and the beaches of the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, with Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center just down the road toward the coast. A city of dreams and imagination, Orlando promises intense days and shared wonder, in the gentle, sunlit climate that Florida offers all year round.

Crystal River is a picturesque town on the Gulf coast of north-central Florida, famed worldwide as one of the few places where it is possible to swim with manatees. Each winter hundreds of these gentle marine mammals gather in the warm-water springs of Kings Bay and Three Sisters Springs, creating a unique nature experience. The area also offers kayaking, snorkelling and fishing among crystalline springs and mangroves. Between manatees, transparent waters and protected nature, Crystal River is an authentic sanctuary of Floridian aquatic wildlife.

Sarasota rises on Florida's Gulf Coast, a refined seaside town blending white-sand beaches, culture and a laid-back atmosphere. Its emblem is Siesta Key, repeatedly named among America's finest beaches for its powder-soft, dazzling white sand, perfect for long sunset walks and swims in the warm Gulf waters. At the heart of city life stands The Ringling, the legacy of circus magnate John Ringling: the opulent Venetian-style mansion Ca' d'Zan overlooking the bay, an art museum with Baroque masterpieces and a museum devoted to circus history form a unique complex. Nearby, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens hold an extraordinary collection of orchids and epiphytes among mangroves and waterfront gardens. The historic Towles Court district, with its colourful houses turned into galleries and studios, captures the city's artistic soul, while downtown offers fresh seafood restaurants, Gulf catch and a lively cultural scene of theatres and festivals. Sarasota is the ideal destination for those seeking sea, art and the good life under the Florida sun.

Fort Myers faces the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, a sunny city of white-sand beaches and tropical atmosphere. At the heart of its history are the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, winter homes of the two famous inventors, with botanical gardens and the original laboratory. Along the Caloosahatchee River the lively River District gathers eateries and galleries, while offshore the islands of Sanibel and Captiva offer shelling and abundant wildlife of herons and manatees. Between kayaking through the mangroves and sunset cruises, Fort Myers is the quintessential Florida beach holiday.

Miami stretches along the south-eastern coast of Florida, overlooking turquoise waters and blessed by a subtropical climate that makes it one of the most beloved seaside destinations in the United States. A glamorous and deeply Latin city, it blends the energy of its beaches with an effervescent cultural and nightlife scene. Its emblem is Miami Beach, the barrier island linked to the mainland by scenic causeways, home to the historic district of South Beach. Here, along Ocean Drive, the famous pastel-coloured Art Déco buildings line up beside open-air restaurants and white-sand beaches dotted with brightly painted lifeguard cabins. The neighbourhood of Little Havana, heart of the Cuban community, offers the city's most authentic flavour: along Calle Ocho the air fills with salsa music, the scent of coffee and cigars, while the cafés serve traditional Caribbean dishes. Further north, the Design District and Wynwood reign as the realm of contemporary art and street art, with spectacular murals and avant-garde galleries. Modern Downtown, with its mirror-clad skyscrapers, looks out over Biscayne Bay, from where boat excursions set off towards exclusive islands and floating residential enclaves. Miami is also a gateway to extraordinary natural wonders: a short distance away lie the Everglades, a boundless park of marshes and mangroves teeming with alligators, and the Florida Keys, the coral archipelago reaching south along a scenic overseas highway. Between beaches, luxury shopping, fusion cuisine and an atmosphere that pulses day and night, Miami invites you to live the very best of the American tropical lifestyle.

Founded by the Spanish in 1565, St Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited city of European origin in the United States, set on Florida's Atlantic coast. Its historic heart unfolds along St. George Street, a pedestrian artery lined with colonial buildings, shops and cafés, leading to the massive Castillo de San Marcos, a coquina-stone fortress that has guarded Matanzas Bay for more than three centuries. Among the must-sees are the sumptuous Lightner Museum, housed in a former Gilded Age hotel, and the Cathedral Basilica, a symbol of the city's long Hispanic heritage. Just minutes from the centre stretch the broad beaches of Anastasia Island, perfect for ending the day by the ocean. St Augustine blends colonial history, elegant architecture and a maritime atmosphere into a city of timeless charm.