Florida – The Sunshine State

Visited: October 2017, February 2019

Duration of travelling: 10 days

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

• Guiding the kids around theme parks in Orlando.
• Walking among remarkable artifacts related to space exploration in The Kennedy Space Center.
• Attending a basketball game, relaxing on the beach and savoring fishbowl cocktail in Miami.
• Spotting alligators and sharing moments of laughter during Everglades Airboat Tour.

The Land of Opportunity, where I started my first Big Tour and kept coming back to explore more and more, is one of the best countries to visit for me, but not to live.

I am separating my exploration of US in three sections, that occurred in different phases, periods and circumstances:

• as a backpacker crossing the US on a car and motorbike (1996) – East coast, West Coast
• working in Grenville, SC, for a Slovenian corporation (2005-06) and
• a couple of short trips to specific areas (Hawaii, Florida) in 2014 and 2017.

In this article I describe my various short trips to Florida: Orlando – the theme park capital of the world, Everglades Airboat Tour, fishbowl and the most exquisite murals in Miami.

More articles about the USA adventures are available here:

Florida was one of the last states that I visited. The Sunshine State with the longest coastline in the contiguous United States is the homeland of theme parks in Orlando area, paradise for sun-seekers, water sports lovers and Latinos.

The Everglades Park with a sprawling subtropical landscape offers rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. The Latino influence, mild climate and Spanish language have moved Florida away from the typical US reality and made it attractive to immigrants and tourists from all over the world.

I have a deep affection for Miami, and at one time, I contemplated relocating to Orlando with my family. Although I have never resided there permanently, I have visited Miami, Orlando, and Daytona Beach on several occasions.

The city of Orlando is located in one of the world’s most visited tourist regions and attracts tens of millions of visitors from across the globe every year. In addition to having year-round near-perfect weather where even the winters are mild, it boasts some of Florida’s top tourist attractions: Walt Disney World Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Studios, animal parks, water parks and more.

Yes, Orlando is the theme park capital of the world!

Enormous tourist infrastructure, which support millions of visitors every year reflects in limitless hotels, motels, and resorts in Orlando and the Kissimmee area, where I was based when in town.

Among its four parks, Magic Kingdom Park stands out as the most iconic, often referred to as the happiest place on earth. The park centers around the enchanting Cinderella Castle, which serves as a focal point for the various areas within.

Curiously, my children did not consider Disney World their favorite destination; instead, they reminisced about the long waits for the thrilling rides and the abundance of shops and fast food outlets situated along Main Street.

The special concern was the relatively passive nature of the attractions. Given their boundless energy and desire to move, jump, and play, they found the extended queues tedious, especially since each ride typically lasts less than a minute.

The Animal Kingdom is divided into seven distinct areas, providing visitors with the chance to observe African wildlife in a naturalistic setting, alongside the impressive Tree of Life. This expansive open zoo is home to several endangered species, including black rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and gorillas, making it our preferred destination. While the animals do not inhabit their true natural environments, the open zoo concept closely resembles their original habitats.

In the Orlando area, our top choice for an amusement park is Legoland Florida.

Upon our arrival at the venue, I was astonished by the abundance of vacant parking spaces. If on previous days, when visiting Disney attractions, we were obliged to take a long walk before entering the facilities, in Legoland I parked almost in front of the main gate.

The kids were actively participating in activities all day, programing robots, drawing, riding a Lego car and of course building Lego bricks. No queuing at thrilling rides gave us a chance to repeat our favorites as many times as we wanted.

The Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral, NASA’s best-known operations center, was on my bucket list for a long time. Since 1968, The Kennedy Space Center has been NASA’s primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology.

The exhibition area showcases some of the most remarkable artifacts related to space exploration, including an Apollo capsule, the authentic Lunar Module 9, Apollo spacesuits, the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and the colossal Saturn V rocket, which holds the record as the largest rocket to have ever traveled through space.

Additionally, the tour included a visit to the multi-user spaceport, where I had the opportunity to view the crawler transporter, mobile launching platform, and vehicle assembly building. I was greatly impressed by the sheer size of the rockets and space shuttles, as well as the immense power of their engines and the complexity of engineering.

I visited Miami for the first time in 2004 and since than I have been there various time, mostly for pleasure, but also for business.

Even though I don’t consider Miami to offer as many landmarks, museums or attractions as New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco, I position it in the top 5 cities to visit in the USA.

The essence of Miami lies in its vibrant atmosphere, marked by a relaxed environment, the presence of the sea, and consistently warm weather. This city attracts a diverse population from around the globe, especially from Hispanic backgrounds, while simultaneously preserving the best elements of American culture, resulting in an ideal holiday and living destination.

The modern character of the city has been significantly shaped by the arrival of Cuban refugees since the 1960s. They established a community known as Little Havana, characterized by vibrant salsa music, men engaging in dominoes at local parks, and the rich aroma of café con leche wafting through the air. Today the culinary and artistic landscape of Miami is still heavily influenced by Cuban culture, intermingled with elements from other Caribbean traditions.

Little Havana continues to be a vibrant hub for many Cuban exiles, alongside a diverse population of immigrants from Central America and South America. Strolling through the streets, there is a sense of being in any Latin American country, with lively street scenes, an array of restaurants, music, and various cultural activities, all accompanied by the prevalent use of the Spanish language.

One of the nation’s earliest planned developments, Coral Gables, is significantly more upscale; Key Biscayne is renowned for its bustling recreational marinas and stunning beaches, whereas Coconut Grove, Miami’s oldest neighborhood and sailing capital, is characterized by its bohemian atmosphere, Bahamian heritage, and picturesque landscapes.

Miami Beach is linked to the mainland of Miami through a series of bridges. The area is renowned for its pristine white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and a rich cultural scene that integrates some of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture.

The Art Deco Historic District in Miami Beach boasts the largest collection of Art Deco structures globally. These architectural designs are often characterized by their representation of technological advancement, resilience, and optimism during the period between the Great Depression and the early 1940s.

After exploring the numerous historic buildings, hotels, restaurants, and shops, we decided it was time to enjoy some food and beverages. It was still early afternoon when we placed an order for fish at one of the renowned establishments along the Ocean Drive.

The appealing promotion of buy one, get one free drinks persuaded me to select the famous Fish Bowl cocktail. While the price of 35US$ per glass may seem steep, the value is justified when one considers that a fishbowl can hold up to 1.3 liters of beverage, and the second drink is complimentary. However, the effects of consuming over a liter of cocktail soon became evident.

We opted for a leisurely afternoon nap in a nearby park shaded by palm trees before making our way to the iconic beach, where the endless stretch of sand attracts a diverse array of visitors, predominantly Latino tourists.

During my visit to Miami, one of the most memorable experiences was exploring the Wynwood Walls, an extraordinary urban are filled with striking street art that has extended to include murals beyond the neighborhood itself. Founded in 2009, to promote pedestrian engagement, the Wynwood Walls consist of six buildings that have transformed into a canvas for international, renowned artists from around the world.

I took the opportunity to wander through the area, appreciating the graffiti and street art produced by distinguished international artists.

The walls are adorned with a variety of artistic styles, from graffiti quotes and expansive pop art murals to abstract creations and remarkable sculptures, showcasing the unique creativity of the space.

Although there are many lists highlighting the most iconic murals, I believe that nearly all of them are of exceptional quality and reflect the individual viewpoints of the artists. I found myself in awe of these artworks, unable to resist the urge to take numerous photographs.

Despite the growing popularity of the Wynwood Walls, resulting in the formation of various guided tours, I chose to explore the vibrant neighborhood at my own pace, allowing myself to become fully immersed in its artistic charm.

The Everglades represent one of Florida’s most distinctive ecosystems. Comprising tropical wetlands and sawgrass prairies, this region supports more than 350 bird species, including endangered ones such as the West Indian manatee, as well as numerous crocodiles. I booked one of the typical Everglades tours tour which features an airboat excursion, opportunities to observe crocodiles, and a visit to an alligator farm.

The operator navigated us through narrow river channels, accelerating through challenging curves, and ultimately executed a complete 360-degree turn.

On our slow return journey, we observed several crocodiles in the water. This was succeeded by a display of the rangers’ expertise with snakes and alligators on the farm. Even the youngest attendees were given the chance to hold a non-venomous snake or closely examine the alligators.

Adult male alligators can occasionally grow to lengths of 4 meters. These reptiles play a crucial role in the Everglades ecosystem and are recognized as a keystone species within the park. They can endure a moderate level of salinity for brief periods and are sometimes found in brackish waters near mangrove swamps.