Miami: The city’s main shopping streets are Flagler Street, between Biscayne Bay and Miami Avenue; and Biscayne Boulevard, between Flagler Street and north to 16th Street. Luxury and designer shops can be found at Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, south of Miami. Miami Beach: The principal shopping area is Lincoln Road Mall. Just north of Miami Beach is the Bal Harbour Shopping District.

Fort Lauderdale: The famous Sawgrass Mills Factory Outlet Mall is located on the northwest edge of the city and many boutiques can be found near the waterfront. Tampa: The main shopping area is around Franklin Street Mall. Orlando: Shoppers can take advantage of a huge range of retail outlets from factory outlet malls such as Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores to designer malls such as Orlando Premium Outlets and the Mall at Millenia.

Miami/Miami Beach: Nightclubs exist in most hotels and resorts. The Coconut Grove area, with its trendy nightclubs and cocktail bars, offers a swinging nightlife both inside the clubs and on the streets where many people just come for a stroll, in order to be where the action is. The most lavish and lively clubs are Cuban supper clubs.

Les Folies and Les Violons, both on Biscayne Boulevard, are highly recommended and feature spectacular shows and excellent food. Tampa: The best nightlife on the Gulf Coast can be found in Ybor City, which is Tampa’s lively and historic Latin quarter. The action centers on Seventh Avenue, which closes to traffic at weekends to allow the party atmosphere to spill out on to the streets.

Miami/Miami Beach: There are more than 300 fine restaurants, and most hotels maintain excellent dining rooms. Some gourmet eateries are expensive but many popular restaurants have economy prices. Cuban and Mexican food is very popular in Miami, and because Florida is surrounded almost entirely by water, seafood is a State specialty.

Fresh stone crabs are not available anywhere else in the USA. Orlando: International Drive is the center of a variety of restaurants that include Chinese, tapas, Cuban, Asian/Pacific rim and even fondue. Tampa: There is a clear emphasis on Latin cuisine in Tampa but all tastes are catered for, with everything from international restaurants to fast food.

A few miles to the west lies one of the biggest and best air and space museums in the country, the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Displays cover the age of aviation from the first flight in a wood and fabric biplane to today’s travels in space with the Skylab Command Module.

East of Pensacola, the Gulf Breeze Zoo is home to more than 700 animals and a huge botanical garden, while gorillas and chimpanzees roam free on two large islands. The beauty of Pensacola’s beaches is protected by Federal and State reservations, which preserve them from development. Gulf Islands National Seashore and Big Lagoon Park offer huge areas of untouched beaches, which are easily accessible to the public.

The earliest European explorers were Spanish and landed at Pensacola Harbor in 1540 when Hernando de Soto began his explorations of the Gulf Coast. However, it was not until the 18th century that a permanent settlement was established in the region.

Under British rule from 1763, Pensacola was eventually taken by Spain during the American Revolution. The area was again prominent during the Civil War period, thanks to the triangle of fortresses which encircled the 150 sq mile span of barrier islands now known as the Gulf Islands National Seashore. To this day, the area retains its military significance.