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Florida A-Z Tips

A RANDOM AND ENTERTAINING ALPHABETICAL GUIDE TO SOME THINGS YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT FLORIDA AND SOME THINGS YOU DON'T.

A is for
Some are huge and world-famous; others are tiny and known only to a lucky few, but no matter what your interests, you will find something in Florida that will thrill and amaze you. The major theme parks of the Orlando area are world famous but the state's wildlife and botanical attractions are stunning and include both large parks and zoos and small private gardens. Florida's rich history is reflected in museums, monuments, forts and homes throughout the state. For a cultural excursion, fine art museums have works from Dali to Rubens, sculpture and architecture by names such as Frank Lloyd Wright.

B is for
Four Florida beaches received top-1 0 rankings in Dr. Stephen leatherman's 2004 survey of the best beaches in America. Known as .. Dr. Beach, .. leatherman is a professor at Florida International University and the director of the school's laboratory for Coastal Research. In order to promote healthy beaches, he has ranked the top ten American beaches since 1991.

C is for
Florida has a semi-tropical climate: hot and humid from June to August with temperatures of 90F (32C) and more and humidity near 100 per cent. The most pleasant weather is during the winter months between December and March when temperatures are more likely around 75 (25C) and the humidity becomes bearable. It rains nearly every day in most months, but the showers are generally short and the sun usually quickly reappears. Florida is the sunshine state and also the Thunderstorm and Lightning State. Every year, many injuries and fatalities are caused by lightning strikes on Florida golf courses and beaches.

D is for
An incredible diversity of underwater sites makes Florida perfect for divers and snorkelers of all skill levels offering undersea adventurers fascinating shipwrecks and coral reefs, subterranean caves and exciting marine life encounters. From the western edge of the state to the tip of the Keys, you'll find more underwater attractions here than anywhere else in the world.

E is for
Enterprise Florida, Ine. (EFl) is the public- private partnership responsible for leading Florida's statewide economic development efforts. Contact EFl if you're thinking of doing business in or with Florida. EFl was formed in July 1996, when Florida became the first state in the nation to replace its Commerce Department with a public-private organisation that's responsible for economic development, international trade and statewide business marketing. EFl also works collaboratively with a statewide network of regional and local economic development organisations to continually improve Florida's business climate and ensure its global competitiveness; diversify Florida's economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high- growth industries.

F is for
Living in a state with more than 7,500 lakes and rivers and 1,800 miles of coastline prompts many residents to take up the sport and Florida is a magnet for fishermen from all corners of the world. Whether you are lured by the tranquillity of freshwater lakes or the excitement of saltwater pursuits, you'll find what you're looking for in Florida. The clear and temperate waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide the ideal environment for fishing. Some of the many and varied fish species which thrive in the area include amberjack, barracuda, black drum, black flounder, jack crevalle, jewfish, king mackerel, mangrove snapper, pompano, red grouper, shark, sheepshead, snook, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, tripletail, yellowtail and snapper. There are plenty of marinas and tackle shops for boat rentals, tackle and advice and those who prefer to fish without a boat are equally spoilt for choice. Some of the more popular spots include rivers and the historic Naples Pier and Florida's beaches can also be productive, especially at dawn and at dusk.

G is for
Florida has been described as a long fairway surrounded by sand and water. The game is a central part of the Florida lifestyle and its courses and resorts are renowned the world over. Florida not only has fine golf resorts in every corner of the state, but some of the best of the courses in the country open to non-members. With over 1,300 courses - more than any other state - Florida is truly a mecca for golfers and challenging for golfers of any level since the state's three distinct kinds of landscape offer attractive and intriguingly different golfing conditions. A word of caution: It's hot, so when the sun's up stay in the shade whenever possible, drink plenty of water and remember the sunscreen!

H is for
Alex, Hermine, Otto, Bonnie, Ivan, paula, Charley, Jeanne, Richard, Danielle, Karl, Shary, Earl, Lisa, Tomas, Frances, Matthew, Virginie, Gaston, Nicole, Waiter. A list of your kid's schoolfriends? No. They're the names given to America's 2004 hurricanes, real and potential. Some of them should sound familiar since they caused such devastating damage in August and September. Tropical storms and hurricanes have been given names since 1953. Names alternate between male and female and always run in alphabetical order. Names of hurricanes that do a great amount of damage are retired and never used again. If a hurricane threatens while you're in Florida, monitor radio and TV broadcasts for information regarding the storm's progress.

I is for
Didn't know Florida has casinos? You're not alone, many people don't but a legal battle waged by the Seminoles in Florida and then California cleared the way for gaming on Indian reservations way back in 1979. Today, the Seminoles have four casinos in different locations throughout West Central and South Florida and their close kin, the Miccosukee Indians, have operated a casino in Miami for a decade. The usual casino games are on offer as well as high stakes bingo


J is for
Not a state that you would normally associate with jazz but Florida has become an increasingly important area for jazz musicians, clubs and fans alike. The so-called "Treasure Coast" which covers the southeast part of the peninsula from the Palm beaches to Miami is seeing more and more concerts. According to Internet jazz columnist Nick Catalano, big band swing also has a solid following in Florida that is increasing steadily. "The ghost bands (Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, larry Elgart, etc.) have long held sway down here and new bands are arriving to fill demands for the neo-swing craze," he writes. One of the major concert showcases in the northern part of the "Treasure Coast" is the auditorium at Florida Atlantic University. A 2500+ seater and one of the most enduring South Florida jazz organisations is the Gold Coast Jazz Society responsible for bringing a variety of jazz styles into various venues.

K is for
The longest island of the Keys chain, Key largo is the site where Humphrey Bogart and lauren Bacall battled both Edward G. Robinson and a hurricane in the movie of the same name. Even if a hurricane doesn't hit, Bogie's Key largo connection can be experienced aboard the African Queen, the actual boat that Bogart skippered in the movie. Today Key largo's protected reefs are what attracts most visitors, particularly divers.

L is for
Floridians know best and when readers of Florida Monthly magazine voted for their state's best beach, the undisputed winner was the lee Island Coast with Florida's best nature centre, shelling and bird watching.
Awards are nothing new for Florida's lee Island Coast. Islands magazine chose Captiva Island to its esteemed list of "50 perfect island getaways" and describes the list as "dream destinations".

M is for
Manatees are a blimp-like creatures that frequents the warm waters off the Florida coast They are also sometimes called sea crms. referring to their habit of feeding in herds in watery pastures. Manatees are thought to have evolved millions of years ago from plant-eating mammals. As an endangered species, the manatee is protected by state and federal laws that actually prohibit contact. However there are manatee tours that allow close observation within certain guidelines. December to March is the best time to find and observe these gentle giants as they seek the warm headwaters of rivers near power plants.

N is for
Florida can no longer cover up the naked truth; nude and clothing-optional resorts are taking off. Indeed, one Florida county, Pasco, just north of Tampa, is gaining "status as the North American Capital of Nudism". Florida's mild temperatures creates the perfect climate for optional clothing opportunities, even if Florida law casts an uneven shadow on the conduct. Miami-Dade County operates a legal "clothing-optional" beach, where any given weekend, a thousand or more totally nude men, women and children frolic in the surf and sun. But an irregular distribution and enforcement of nudity laws is driving naturists to private nude ..and clothing-optional resorts and clubs, so bare if you dare while you're in Florida, but be sure to check local laws wherever you go. Nudist Beaches are: Air Force Beach (MacArthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach County), Apollo Beach (Volusia County), Haulover Beach (Ba I Harbour, Broward County, Hobe Sound (Jupiter Island, Martin County), Blind Creek Beach (Hutchinson Island, Martin County), Playalinda Beach (Brevard County), St. Lucie Inlet (St. Lucie State Reserve, Palm Beach County).

O is for
Florida is the No. 1 state in the US for growing oranges and second world producer after Brazil. According to Florida Agricultural Statistics Service citrus farmers produce well over 200 million 90- pound boxes of oranges annually, 95 per cent of which goes for processing. Florida is also a major producer of fresh and processed grapefruit accounting for more than third of world production. Half the Florida crop is sold as fresh fruit and half goes for processing.

Pis for
Simply known as The Pier, the St.Petersburg Pier it is anything but simple. That is evident as you enter the fascinating inverted-pyramid design. A breathtaking centrepiece of giant tubes, bubbling with wonders of the sea, leads to the second floor aquarium filled with native and tropical fish. That is just the beginning. There are five stories of fun, food, shopping, and more.

Q is for
Once there were millions of Queen conchs around Key West. Now there are believed to be just 40,000 of these large snails left. Despite a commercial harvesting ban in Florida since 1975 and a total harvesting ban since 1986, their numbers are still falling fast. The main cause: Its meat makes a common and appreciated part of food in the Caribbean region as well as in Florida. And its beautiful shell attracts the attention of tourists and collectors. The dwindling conch numbers inspired scientists and environmentalists to found the first US conch breeding farm in the Florida Keys which hopes to release around 5,000 baby snails a year. A female Queen conch can lay up to 500,000 eggs several times a year.

R is for
The Florida East Coast Railway was developed by Henry Morrison Flagler, a tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and Rockefeller partner in Standard Oil. In 1883, when he honeymooned with his second wife at St. Augustine, Florida. Flagler found the city charming, but the hotel facilities and transportation systems inadequate. Flagler realised that the key to developing Florida was a solid transportation system and consequently purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad and, shortly afterwards, four additional existing railroads. He developed hotel facilities to entice northern tourists to visit Florida. By 1895, Flagler's railroad system was further extended to Key West. The construction required many engineering innovations as well as vast amounts of labour and monetary resources. At one time during construction 4,000 men were employed. In 1913, Flagler fell down a flight of stairs at Whitehall. He never recovered from the fall and died in West Palm Beach of his injuries on May 20 aged 84. Sadly, the railway was badly damaged and partially destroyed in the hurricane of 1935. It was never rebuilt, but was replaced by the Overseas Highway, which used much of the remaining infrastructure.

S is for
Too often, days at the beach result in scorching sunburns. Even mild sunburns can cause days of misery, while extreme cases require treatment by a doctor. Near drowning are reported frequently in the surf and are often the result of ignoring safety rules and/or poor judgment by the victim. These are all needless tragedies that can mar your vacation. So ... . Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the sun's rays.
•Apply plenty of sunscreen.
•Wear a hat and sunglasses with UV(Ultraviolet) Protection.
•Drink plenty of water and non-carbonated drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.
•Don't get fooled into thinking you can't get sunburned when it's cloudy.
Always stay within the designated swimming area and ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard. Never swim alone. If you should get caught in a current, don't try to swim against it, swim gradually out of the current by swimrning parallel to the shore until clear of the current. Don't leave a small child unattended at the water's edge.

T is for
How could you name this coast anything but the Treasure Coast? Over 300 years ago, several ships of Spanish galleons carrying gold and silver are thought to have been shipwrecked off the south-eastern shore of Florida durnping their vast treasures into the ocean. Then, over 100 years ago, Palm Beach became a popular vacation destination of the rich and famous - coming by way of Henry Flagler's railroad. Many stayed... and, you could say, the rest is history. As one of the world's premier destinations, Palm Beach's warm and breezy climate is perfect for just about every recreational activity imaginable and Palm Beach and its neighbour to the west, West Palm Beach, provides them all. Plus, the area boasts 47 miles of pristine beaches, superb parks, unique attractions, cultural venues, shopping, and a fantastic nightlife. Connoisseurs of fine dining delight in the vast selection of four-star restaurants with plenty of after-dinner delights including after-hour cafes, dinner theaters and discos. Palm Beach advertises itself as offering "The Best of Everything."

U is for
There are many real estate developers in Florida who would like to claim that their development is a utopia. But there is, in fact, only one Utopia in Florida - a town of that name in Broward County, Florida. with a total population of 714 covering just 0.8 km2. According to the most recent census, Utopia has 714 people, 262 households and 175 families. The racial make-up of the town is 21.57 per cent white, 65.97 per cent African-American, 0.28 per cent Native American, 0.56 per cent Asian, 9.38 per cent from other races and 2.24 per cent from two or more races. The census statistics state that 30.9 per cent are married couples living together, 28.2 per cent have a female householder with no husband present and 33.2 per cent are 'non-families'. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 94 males. The median income for a household in the town is $22,000 and the per capita income for the town is S 12.306. Four per cent of the population and 23.8 per cent of families are below the poverty line. Doesn't sound much like Utopia to us!

V is for
More than 300 miles of navigable inland waterways wind through palatial estates, citrus groves and the unique and exotic Everglades - beckoning boats of all sizes and shapes. It is the Intracoastal Waterway - stretching south to Miami - and the waterfront homes which dot it, that have earned Greater Fort Lauderdale its reputation as the "Venice of America." Sun-seekers from all over the world come to Fort lauderdale to play, relax, and sometimes even to work. Although long thought to be only for the "rich and famous" that can afford luxurious lifestyles, loyal visitors know that the area offers a wide variety of accommodation and experiences. More than 3.6 million people cruise out of the modern Port Everglades each year. making it one of the world's largest cruise ports and the one with the most five-storey ships.

W is for
The Wait Disney World Resort in Florida is a magical world of four theme parks, two water parks; fantastic themed hotels. and a host of dining, shopping, and entertainment favourites. Located in sunny Orlando, Florida, the Wait Disney World Resort covers a vast area of 47 square miles - as big as a large city.

X is for
There is a SI 0 million prize to jump-start the space tourism industry through competition among the most talented entrepreneurs and rocket experts in the world. Florida is a step closer to hosting this new space race having been named - along with New Mexico - as possible hosts for the X Prize Cup, which will show off privately built spaceships. The Cup event won't take place until a team wins the $10 million prize for sending a manned ship to the edge of space and back. The winning state will be named later this year. One of more than two dozen competing teams is expected to take the X Prize this year or early next. The winning ship must carry three people to an altitude of 62.5 miles and back, then repeat the feat within two weeks.

Y is for
It began in 1885 when Don Vicente Martinez Ybor (pronounced EE-bore) - a Cuban cigar factory owner - fled the political and labour unrest of Cuba to establish his cigar empire in a key area of Tampa. Ybor's factories prospered and attracted Cuban, Spanish, Italian. German and Jewish immigrants to work in the factories or open their own businesses. People referred to it as "Mr. Ybor's City," which over the years evolved into the name Ybor City. At the industry's peak, the district had 200 cigar factories with 12,000 tabaqueros (cigar makers) producing an estimated 700 million cigars a year. As the depression and prohibition took their toll on the city, the cigar district declined. Over the past decade, Ybor City has evolved from a forgotten cigar city to a lively Latin Quarter which attracts visitors with its unique history, distinctive architecture and atmosphere. The wrought-iron balconies, brick streets, globe street lamps, boutiques, coffeehouses and nightclubs are evidence that cultural heritage is as important now as it was at the turn of the century. And the now trendy district even has its own home-brewed beer "Ybor Gold." Cigars are still hand-rolled today by master "tabaqueros" and the Ybor City State Museum exhibits tell the story of the immigrants' life and Ybor's cigar making history.

Z is for
Florida's zoos, gardens. marinas and other wildlife venues will leave you with the feeling that there is more wildlife here than in Africa - and a lot easier to spot. At the Brevard Zoo you can stroll through the shaded boardwalks of Latin American and Native Florida and see over 200 animals representing more than 60 species including alligator, crocodile. giant anteater. tapir, marmoset, jaguar, eagle, river otter and exotic birds. The Miami Metrozoo houses more than 700 wild animals in a cageless subtropical environment and the Palm Beach Zoo at Dreher Park claims it is "Home to Over 400 Intriguing Animals".