Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Miami International Airport (
Click here
)
is an international gateway, as are Orlando,
Tampa and Fort Lauderdale. The Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports are about 30
minutes apart; it's almost always cheaper to fly into Fort Lauderdale. Miami is also home
to the world's busiest cruise port.
New York and Miami.
Car-rental rates in Florida tend to fluctuate, but expect to pay at least $300 a week for
a typical economy car.
SOUTH FLORIDA
Exemplifying the state's diversity, South Florida is a vivid pastiche of all that makes
Florida wicked and wild. First is the multicultural entrepôt of Miami, and the sophistic-
ated, rich beach communities stretching north from Fort Lauderdale to Palm Beach. In
striking contrast, the beaches are bordered by the subtropical wilderness of the Ever-
glades, while the tip of the state peters out in an ellipsis of fun-loving islands, culminat-
ing in anything-goes Key West.
FLORIDA FACTS
Nickname
Sunshine State
Population
19.3 million
Area
53,927 sq miles
Capital city
Tallahassee (population 182,965)
Other cities
Jacksonville (827,908), Tampa (346,037)
Sales tax
6% (some towns add 9.5% to 11.5% to accommodations and meals)
Birthplace of
Author Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), actor Faye Dunaway (b
1941), musician Tom Petty (b 1950), author Carl Hiaasen (b 1953)
Home of
Cuban Americans, manatees, Mickey Mouse, retirees, key lime pie
Politics
Sharply divided between Republicans and Democrats
Famous for
Theme parks, beaches, alligators, art deco
Notable local invention
Frozen concentrated orange juice (1946)
