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Florida
St. Augustine
St Augustine, situated on the north-east coast of Florida,
is the oldest European settlement in the United States. The
Spanish conquistadors founded this resilient little town in
1565, which was later attacked and burned by Sir Francis Drake.
In 1668 it was plundered by pirates and all its inhabitants
killed. The town survived and so did some of its Spanish colonial
architecture. Even within the highly developed and technological
state of Florida, some of the buildings in St. Augustine are
five hundred years old. It is believed to be home to a sizable
community of ghosts; the Spanish Military Hospital is thought
to be one of the most haunted sites.
St Augustine also plays an important role in the history
of Florida's black community. Fort Mose (pronounced
mo-say) was the first legal community of freed blacks in the
United States. It was established in 1738 by Manuel Montiano,
the Spanish governor of Florida. The location provided a haven
for over 100 African fugitives who were escaping into Spanish
colonial territory from South Carolina. As Spanish Florida's
first line of defense against the British colonies, Mose is
a testament to the courageous African Americans who took immeasurable
risks to live their lives freely. Fort Mose is open to visitors
and makes a fine spot to survey the town's magnificent historic
bridge.
St Augustine was also an important location during the Civil
Rights Movement. The town was at the very center of sit-in
protests against segregation laws, including the famous Woolworths
sit-in in 1963. In 1964, Martin Luther King was
arrested in St Augustine for attempting to get served in a
white-only restaurant.
Orlando
Most of the pre-packaged tours pick Orlando inevitably as
their main attraction destination. And why not? No other city
in Florida, or the world for that matter, is home to seven
major theme parks, all within such close proximity and packed
full of more things to do than anyone could possibly have
enough time for. Whereas in the past most of the theme-parks
were touted as 'family adventures,' the marketing and development
over the past few years has been moving towards focusing on
a more adult crowd who want to experience fun in the sunshine,
and the sparkle of the Mouse's Magic Kingdom.
Celebration
Celebration is a town planned, built, and run entirely by
the Disney Corporation. Although Disney World is just
up the road, it isn't a theme park but a "planned community"
- a functioning town with a population of people living perfectly
normal lives. The houses of Celebration are characterised
by white picket fences, Southern-style porches, immaculate
streets, and any curtains that are visible from the street
have to be white or off white. The town favours old-fashioned
values, small speciality shops, and streets where all the
neighbours know each other and greet one another every day.
In winter, artificial snow is sprayed from overhead jets over
Market Street, giving residents the sense of a white
Christmas without sacrificing the mild Florida climate. Every
year this town hosts the Posh Pooch Celebrations, an
event for dog lovers and their dogs, featuring everything
from pet-i-cures and paw reading to canine beauty pageants.
The highlight of the celebrations in Celebration is the joining
of paws in matrimony at a pet wedding.
Disney World
For many people, Orlando is synonymous with Disney World.
This is the theme park that set the standard. Disney World
is in fact four parks: Magic Kingdom has been open
since 1971 and it's still the place you are most likely to
bump into Mickey Mouse et al; Epcot conjures up the
appeal of different nations, saving travellers some time in
their world travels by enabling them to enter eleven countries
all within a few steps; MGM Studios pays homage to
the world of show biz; and the Animal Kingdom offers
a safari experience plus rides and animal shows. In addition
you can explore three water parks, a network of monorails,
ferry boats and watertaxis, 72 golf courses, and entire shopping
malls. Disney World is clearly designed to keep tourists in;
you could easily spend a two-week vacation without leaving
its borders.
Key West
Key West is closer to Cuba than mainland Florida, and the
local people, called "Conchs", pride themselves
on their artistic and individualistic spirit. Key West was
home to the writer Ernest Hemingway. His house is now
a museum and Hemingway wrote some of his finest novels here
such as For Whom The Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms and To
Have and Have Not.
Sample the local speciality, key lime pie, and decide
for yourself which of the many pie shops really does sell
the original and best. Before sunset each evening, you can
gather in Mallory Square to be entertained by an assortment
of jugglers, fire-eaters, acrobats, bongo players, and peg-legged
pirates. Duval Street has a thronging nightlife and
you'll be spoilt for choice between live bands and performers
in dozens of all-night bars. Stay in one of Key West's homely
guest house surrounded by lush vegetation and the sounds of
colourful birds in the trees.
Miami
Miami is a vibrant super city brimming with different cultural
influences. The city is divided into distinct districts. The
trendy Design District is the place to go for "bling"
furniture and bespoke decorative items. Try Little Haiti
to capture a sense of the fastest growing immigrant neighbourhood.
Look out for murals displaying the Haitian passion for bright
colour and pictorialism. Little Havana, an established
thriving Cuban district, is well worth a visit. Salsa pours
out of every shop entrance and the smell of sizzling goat
meat fills the air. Without a word of English being spoken
in the streets, you could be forgiven for forgetting you are
in America.
South of Little Havana is the affluent district of Coral
Gables where huge graceful houses are shaded by enormous
lush canopies of the trees which line the boulevards. Nearby
there is a thriving business district where many of Miami's
richest multi nationals have offices in stately tall buildings.
This is also the location of one of Miami's most beautiful
hotels, The
Biltmore. Completed in 1926, this graceful and imposing
building first lit its famous Giralda Tower in 1926 when it
became a hotspot for foxtrotting jazz crowds who danced through
the stylish twenties inside the great mosaic-decorated halls.
Throughout the twenties and thirties, the Biltmore was the
height of fashion and counted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor,
Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Al Capone among
its regular guests. The hotel was converted into a hospital
during World War Two and remained one until the late 1960s.
It did not open as a hotel again until the 1980s, and in the
90s it was registered as a National Historic Landmark. Today,
it's quite simply one of the most graceful and impressive
hotels you'll ever see. Even if you can't stay there, take
a stroll around the grounds, peek at the lovebirds in the
cages in the lobby, marvel at the hidden courtyards draped
with lush greenery, and admire the biggest hotel pool in Florida.
You can hear tales of the Biltmore's colourful past at their
regular story telling evenings, which are open to everyone,
no reservation necessary, usually held on a weekday evening
in the main lobby fireplace.
Kennedy Space Center
Just 45 minutes from Orlando is Cape Canaveral, home
to the Kennedy
Space Center, one of only two places on earth from
where humans have been launched into space. It's a fantastic
place to visit and plays a big part in any Florida vacation.
On show is technology originally designed by the military
to blow people up, but now used to further the nobler international
effort to send people into the unknown. It's also home to
NASA's launch headquarters, a working government facility
where over 10,000 men and women daily push the limits of scientific
knowledge. You can see the working launch platforms and, if
you time your visit right, even witness a launch!
The Kennedy Space Center tells the story of NASA's past, present
and future in space exploration. Wander round the Rocket
Garden and see the incredible machines that have shot
man into space. Climb inside the Explorer, a full size
replica of a NASA shuttle obiter an imagine yourself floating
in earth's orbit. It looks real, it feels real, and even has
real space equipment in its cargo bay. If you want to takes
things further, there's the ATX Astronaut Experience,
which promises a day's training and contact with a real astronaut.
You'll be spun on every axis on the 1/6 gravity chair, which
was used to train astronauts in how it felt if their capsule
went out of control, or find out what its like to walk on
the moon by bouncing in a space sling.
The Bahamas
There are typically two reasons people come from all over
the world to the Bahamas. One is for the beaches and two is
for the diving. Both require water, which the Bahamas has
in abundance. Rarely, at any one point, is anyone more than
a few yards from a beach anywhere across the islands. In addition
to water, people also come to the Bahamas to be entertained.
Nassau
Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas, having gained
its wealth from its expansive harbour and years of trade.
The city of Nassau is basically divided into three sections.
One is the inner commercial district, in which Bay Street
is the heart, boasting outdoor markets, pubs, shops, and
cafes all nestled between with historic buildings. Another
is the area set back on the cliff where the colonial mansions
and townhouses of the merchants still sit. The city suburbs
are inhabited by the majority of the locals, areas that contribute
greatly to the liveliness of the city. And of course, all
around is water and beaches to make the stay even more enjoyable.
Paradise Island is a quick jaunt from Nasssau and
the two are connected via a bridge that can be walked or driven
across. The toll for cars is $2 and a mere 25 cents for those
on foot. However, there isn't much to see on Paradise Island
as it is almost purely a fabricated island built up specifically
for the quintessential tourist. There is some repute about
the quality of the beaches on the island, but there are few
places in the Bahamas that do not have lovely beaches.
Grand Bahama Island
Grand Bahama Island is the fourth largest of the Bahamian
islands. Of the major cities, Freeport/Lucaya is by
far the largest, the most flocked to, and the least exotic.
In fact, the resort town was not even in existence a few years
ago and was founded and erected by a corporation. Therefore,
you can imagine what sorts of entertainment and accommodation
is available. Casinos, water sports, large production cabarets,
towering hotels and a plethora of vacation packages are all
found in abundance. In Freeport it is worth checking
out the International Bazaar which consists of a numerous
amount of buildings that are replicas of buildings elsewhere
in the world. For a more natural experience, take a stroll
around the Garden of the Groves, reputed to be the
finest botanical garden in all of the Bahamas.
The Out Islands
The Out Islands are aptly named as they are far less developed
and more remote than Nassau and Grand Bahama Island. Consisting
of the 697 other islands that make up the Bahamas, the lifestyle
on the Out Islands is a bit more laid back and traditional.
There, you will be far away from the casinos, nightlife, and
bustle of the major cities. As more and more people begin
discovering the peaceful surroundings these islands have to
offer, the more accommodation and restaurants are opening
up. Some of the islands have also gained reputations over
the years, for example Bimini is travelled to from
the world over for deep sea fishing, while Aboacos
and the Exumas are renowned for their excellent sailing
facilities. If it is a break from the city that you are seeking,
then a trip to the Out Islands makes for an ideal tranquil
retreat.
Bermuda
Although Bermuda isn't technically included as a Bahamian
island, it isn't far off. Located to the northeast of the
Bahamas, Bermuda is world renowned for its beauty and mystery.
At just 21 square miles and with a small population of just
over 60,000 inhabitants, the island of Bermuda certainly is
not lacking in wonders. Hamilton is the bustling centre
and capital city of Bermuda. It is here that the majority
of the pubs are found, as well as a wide array of shops, cafes,
restaurants and hotels to spend your money on. However, due
to the high cost of living and the reliance on imported goods,
Bermuda is not the best place to go if you're on a budget.
Known for splendid beaches and gorgeous weather, Bermuda is
an excellent place to go to escape from it all, or to disappear
completely if you're a believer in the Bermuda Triangle
myth, where, just slightly to the south of the island, a record
number of inexplicable disappearances of ships and planes
apparently occurred.
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