There's a reason why Florida remains the vacation capital for Northerners craving a little fun in the sun after months of winter gray.

Florida. The name alone conjures cinematic images of brilliant sunshine, white sandy beaches, lush palm trees, and aquamarine waters. For many, Florida is the premiere family getaway destination due to its year-round warmth and fun-filled adventures in almost every nook and cranny of the state. From our vantage point in sunny Lake Wales—almost the exact center of the Florida peninsula—we feel pretty well qualified to give you the inside look at some of the things you might consider doing the next time you plan a family vacation here. The possibilities are endless. The most obvious destination? Orlando, of course! And with a little help from our friends at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (OCVB), we’ll give you a quick rundown of things you might not know about—beyond the fantastic theme parks and a certain mouse who calls Orlando home.

Travel along the eastern coastline and you’ll find miles and miles of well-known beach towns, including Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Daytona Beach. But there’s more to Daytona than boardwalks and surfing, including the Daytona International Speedway, home to the world-famous Daytona 500. In fact, the 50th running of the race will take place in February 2008. Further north, St. Augustine (the nation’s oldest city) is home to the historic Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Fort Matanzas, built by the Spanish and still standing more than 250 years later. Heading south past Cocoa, you’ll hit Fort Lauderdale, where waterfront homes dot the Intracoastal Waterway leading to Miami, earning its nickname of the “Venice of America.” Of course, once you hit Miami, the dazzling sights of the Art Deco District in South Beach are a must-see. Brilliant swashes of pink, turquoise, yellow, green, and every color you can imagine can be found at every turn, with fantastic architectural flourishes along the route—not to mention the occasional celebrity sighting!

Unusual finds throughout the rest of the state include a mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Springs, the Salvador Dali museum in St. Petersburg, and the off-the-beaten path appeal of Ybor City near Tampa—home to Colombian and Cuban delicacies, real-life fortune-tellers, and the popular Fiesta Day Street Festival in early February. Traveling further north up the western coastline you’ll hit more famous beaches with plenty to offer, in such famed seaside communities as Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City. All bordering the Gulf of Mexico, the beaches here are famous for their pure white sands and warm, blue-green waters. Of course, we’ve only covered a fraction of what Florida has to offer, but we’ve saved the best for last: a closer look at the Central Florida region and Orlando, where endless sights and sounds abound for the entire family.

Of course the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios Florida® are musts, but we thought you’d find the following list of “Fun Facts” worth looking into. It comes to us courtesy of the folks at OCVB, who invite you to check out their website for everything you want to know about planning the perfect Orlando vacation – www.orlandoinfo.com. And of course, if you’re anywhere near Lake Wales during your stay, be sure to drop by and say hello!

20 Things To Do in Orlando*

1. Slip into the water with a beluga whale or touch a stingray at SeaWorld Orlando.
2. Learn to surf without going to the beach, at Ron Jon’s Surfpark, opening 2008.
3. Paddle a swan boat on Lake Eola.
   
4. Smell the roses at Harry P. Leu Gardens.
   
5. Cast a line for bass fishing with a guide.
   
6. Marvel at Tiffany glass at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art.
   
7. Find Chief Osceola in the mural at Celebration Hotel.
   
8. Swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove.
   
9. Experience the thrill of stampeding buffalo at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner & Show.
   
10. Count the manatees at Blue Springs State Park.
    
11. Race your friends on go-karts at Fun Spot Action Park.
    
12. Explore the headwaters of the Florida Everglades on an Orlando airboat adventure.
    
13. Drive a stock car at 125 mph (201 km/h) at Richard Petty Driving Experience.
    
14. Tour the world in under a mile at Epcot.
    
15. Go whale watching at Port Canaveral.
    
16. Dine at the world’s largest Hard Rock Cafe.
    
17. View the stars from the largest refractor telescope in Florida, at the Orlando Science Center.
    
18. Get a taste of Hawaiian fusion at Roy’s Restaurant.
    
19. Float over the area in a hot air balloon.
    
20. Treat yourself to "a little something" at Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Jimmy Choo, or Coach at The Mall at Millenia.

*Taken from OCVB’s list of “207 Things to Do in Orlando (2007).”

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