Florida: West Coast and Panhandle

Tampa rises on Florida's Gulf coast, a sunny, cosmopolitan city blending Latin heritage, nearby beaches and world-class attractions. Its historic heart is Ybor City, the old cigar-making quarter founded by Cuban and Spanish immigrants, now a maze of red brick, clubs and restaurants serving the authentic Cuban sandwich. Along the Hillsborough River winds the Riverwalk, a pedestrian promenade linking museums, parks and waterfront venues. The big family draw is Busch Gardens, a theme park combining roller coasters with an African safari. A short drive away lie the white sands of Clearwater and St. Pete Beach, among Florida's most awarded, perfect for ending the day before the sunset over the Gulf.

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.

Clearwater Beach stretches along Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast, home to one of the most famous white-sand beaches in the United States. Its calm turquoise waters and blazing sunsets make it a quintessential seaside destination, with the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 festival bringing buskers and craft stalls to the waterfront. From the heart of town you can stroll the lively Beach Walk promenade, lined with palms, seafood restaurants and waterfront bars. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium, devoted to rescuing dolphins and sea turtles, is a family favourite, while the marina offers dolphin-watching trips and sunset cruises. The warm waters are ideal for snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding, and just offshore lie the unspoiled barrier islands of Caladesi and Honeymoon, natural havens reached by ferry. Clearwater Beach is the perfect portrait of sunny Florida, blending lazy days on the sand with easy living overlooking the Gulf.

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.

Wakulla Springs preserves, in northern Florida, one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, the heart of a state park of rare beauty. Its crystal-clear waters host manatees, alligators and abundant wildlife, explorable on evocative cruises among cypresses and water lilies. An imposing subtropical forest frames the scene. A natural sanctuary where the magic of the springs and the wild nature of Florida meet.

Panama City Beach is one of the most beloved seaside resorts of the Florida Panhandle, famed for its very long beaches of white, sugary sand washed by the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the 'Emerald Coast', it offers fun for everyone: water parks, piers, water sports and a lively nightlife. Its calm, shallow waters make it ideal for families, while nearby the coastal state parks protect dunes and wild nature.

Pensacola Beach stretches across a thin barrier island of the Florida Panhandle, famed for its fine white-sand beaches, among the whitest of the Gulf of Mexico, and its emerald waters. Close to the historic naval air station, it is home base of the Blue Angels acrobatic flights, who perform in the skies of the area. The lively pier, water sports and the protected dunes of the Gulf Islands National Seashore make it a destination beloved by families and sea lovers.