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The sunshine state of Florida deserves its reputation as the perfect family vacation spot. Not only does it have sun, sea, sand and Mickey Mouse, it is also much richer in its culture, landscape and character.

By world standard Florida was a late developer, but it does boast the nation's oldest town: St. Augustine, where a rare wealth of well-preserved buildings provides a glimpse of life in the 18th century.

Florida is a divided state both climatically and culturally-a bridge between temperate North America and tropical Latin America and the Caribbean.

Sandy beaches account for over 1,000 miles of Florida's coastline. In contrast to the coral sand on the Atlantic side, the fine quartz sand in the Panhandle is so white that legend has it that unscrupulous traders sold it as sugar during World War 11.

One in ten of the hurricanes to occur in the North Atlantic hits Florida, which is an average of one every two years. The hurricane season runs between June 1 to November 30 and the areas likely to be hit are the south-east coast, including the Florida Keys, the west coast of the Everglades and the western Panhandle.

The waters of Florida are littered with thousands of shipwrecks that have accumulated over hundreds of years. Spain's treasure ships are the greatest prize among salvager's, just as they were once the favored target of pirates. In museums all of Florida, such as McLarty Treasure Museum, Mel Fisher's Maritime Museum and Treasure Museum, Museum of Man in the Sea and St. Lucie County Historical Museum, everyday objects and treasure off an insight into the lives and riches of the Spanish.

Thanks to Florida's climate, you can enjoy many sports and outdoor activities all year round including golf, tennis, canoing and deep-sea diving and snorkeling. Water sports of all kinds are well represented, with wonderful beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Florida has thousands of lakes, as well as rivers and canals for freshwater fishing. Boat rentals and fishing guides are available along the larger rivers, such as the Anclote and the St. Johns, and in other popular fishing areas like Lake Okeechobee. Deep-sea fishing boats can be chartered at many seaside resorts. The biggest fleets are in the Panhandle, particularly around Fort Walton Beach and Destin, and in the Keys.

Florida also boasts around 10 million acres of protected land which can be explored on foot, horse back, bicycle or boat.

The family cannot visit Florida without experiencing Orlando's big theme

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