15 Reasons Why You Should Visit Florida

One of the top U.S. destinations, Orlando is famous for its theme parks. Universal Orlando Resort™ comprises the Islands of Adventures and Universal Studios, where the Wizarding World of Harry Potter takes you through the Hogwarts Castle and Diagon Alley. SeaWorld has some of the most unique experiences for animal lovers, such as watching waddling penguins, exploring a dolphin nursery and a glass tunnel in a shark aquarium. Less we forget, Disney World! Who wouldn’t want to live in the happiest place on earth?

Much like the heat of this tropical state, parties here never stop. Miami Beach is known for its dazzling nightclubs such as LIV, Clubspace, Story, and E11EVEN, which runs 24/7 and is complete with sexy strippers—the party goes on while most are having breakfast. Long after the theme parks close, the nightlife in Orlando is pulsating with dance clubs, high-end bars and lounges in Disney’s Pleasure Island, Universal Studios CityWalk and Downtown Orlando’s Orange Avenue.

The Florida peninsula is rich with wildlife. The sawgrass marshes and mangrove forests of the Everglades National Park are home to 350 bird species, 27 different kinds of snakes, fresh and saltwater fish, the bottlenose dolphin, alligators, crocodiles and the Florida panther. Bird-watching is possible in over 500 locations all over the state, and tens of millions of monarch butterflies fill the Florida sky all along their migration route from Canada to Mexico. Visitors can easily spot manatees, the gentle sea cows native to Florida, in shallow slow-moving waters (such as your neighborhood canal); they migrate each winter in large numbers where they join at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

The beaches—all along the peninsula are miles of soft white sand and teal blue warm waters that promise a relaxing retreat, complete with a dreamy Florida sunset. Daytona Beach is a hotbed for spring breakers, while Fort Myers Beach along the west coast promises a calmer, tranquil spot for vacationing. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are known for fishing and spotting dolphins, while Naples along the Gulf of Mexico boasts extravagant golf courses and ritzy restaurants to satisfy the palate.

Las Vegas may hold a full-house hand when it comes to gambling, but you can still get lucky at one of these major casinos. The Miccosukee Resort & Gaming in the outskirts of Miami offers a 32-table room for high-stakes poker, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood has a lavish grand room for poker and 2,000 slot machines. The hotel’s interior is a rock fan’s sanctuary as rock-and-roll memorabilia cover the walls, including guitars signed by Elvis Presley and Metallica plus a display of costumes from Madonna to Beyoncé. The locale also boasts a bustling nightlife with plenty of entertainment, including karaoke bars and a plethora of restaurants.

Indulging in a little shopping spree never hurt anybody. Shopping malls in Florida are made for tourists and locals alike with stores for every budget. Luxury boutiques at Bal Harbour Shops carry big brand names such as Cartier and Chanel, and outlet malls are nearly in every major Florida city, including Orlando, Miramar, and Sunrise, where Sawgrass Mills is a popular destination.

Should boredom ever kick in, just browse through the local news. All sorts of bizarre incidents happen in Florida, such as the cannibal attack of 2012 (a man gnawed at a man’s facial flesh before being shot); the woman twerking on a moving vehicle riding on the highway; and most recently, a man drank five gallons of vodka and lived to tell the tale. Florida is full of wild and unpredictable daily events, making it a truly entertaining place.