Y
YBOR CITY
Ybor City in Tampa used to be
home to over 245 cigar factories,
which produced over 600 million
cigars a year, making it – at least according
to the tourist board – the cigar capital of
the world. It was first established by cigar
manufacturer Vicente Martinez-Ybor in
1885,
and is today considered Tampa’s Latin
Quarter. Lonnie Herman runs walking tours
exploring the area’s history and its present-
day blend of international sounds, smells
and flavours.
yborwalkingtours.com
Z
ZIPLINING
There are plenty of ways you can view Florida: on foot, from the water – or screaming through the trees
at high speed with only a thin strip of wire between you and the ground below. Welcome to ziplining, the
preferred method of travel for thrill-seekers everywhere. In St Cloud, Florida EcoSafaris riders traverse
more than 750 feet of zipline from 55 above the ground, with deer, gators, bears and panthers among the wildlife
that might be spotted below. For an added dose of danger, opt for a moonlight ride.
floridaecosafaris.com
Norwegian flies direct to Fort Lauderdale from Copenhagen fromNovember, and from Stockholm fromDecember
W
IS FOR WHITE SAND
BEACHES
With 663 miles of
beaches, Florida
has too many options to count,
from Miami’s art deco lifeguard
huts to the Florida Keys’ palm-
fringed white sandy beaches.
If you only head to one stretch
of sand, make it Bill Baggs Cape
Florida State Park in Key Biscayne,
which is regularly cited as one
of the nation’s 10 best beaches.
Located just minutes from Miami
and boasting more than a mile
of perfect beachfront, the park
is most famous for its much-
photographed lighthouse, which
is the area’s oldest standing
structure (it was originally built
in 1825 then reconstructed in
1846).
Visitors willing to climb the
109
steps it takes to get to the
top can join in on a free guided
tour, which take place twice daily
Thursday to Monday.
floridastateparks.org/capeflorida
X
X-RATED
Though clearly a southern state, Florida is possibly the
most liberal state in the Cotton Belt. One need look no
further than its sometimes free-wheeling attitude toward
nudity, particularly in the Miami area. Chalk it up to the area’s
European influence; don’t be surprised to look up from a trashy
beach read and realise that you’re the only one on the beach who
has not removed most of their clothes. Haulover, located just north
of Bal Harbour, is the area’s only nudist beach – clothing is optional
on the northernmost half a kilometre.
hauloverbeach.org
Find more online
visitflorida.com
floridathemeparks.
com
Book your flights
norwegian.com
AL AMY, CORBIS, GET T Y
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