Thomas Cook is the world’s best-known name in travel. They have been offering a huge choice of holidays and destinations since 1841. From Menorca to the Maldives and from Cuba to Canada,
Thomas Cook take pride in providing top quality service and great low priced holidays, flights and hotel deals.
This week we’ve asked them to give us their
top tips for vising Florida in the US. This is what they said:
Experiencing the fun of
Disney is a major reason for visiting Florida, but there’s more to the Sunshine State than Mickey Mouse, magical castles and rollercoaster rides. With 1,200 miles of beach and 54,252 square miles of state to explore, there’s also a host of wildlife and history for you to discover.
If you feeling particularly adventurous then you can go searching for alligators on an air boat adventure that speeds along at 45 miles per hour through wetlands that are unreachable by car. If you want something more sedate then opt for an American road trip through the stunning Florida Keys.
History buffs can visit the USA’s oldest city St Augustine, while those who want to have a go at catching marlin or barracuda can head out to Destin’s East Pass nicknamed the ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village’.
Florida Factfile
Top Hotels and Resorts
With four theme parks and more than 20 themed resort hotels, a family could enjoy weeks of magical fun in
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. The most famous park is the Magic Kingdom but there are also Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney-MGM Studios and Epcot. For a truly memorable stay, be sure to visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and get up-close with the animals.
Other theme parks to explore include Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, Universal Islands of Adventure and LEGOLAND Florida.
For a great value holiday to Florida that’s still within easy reach of the parks and attractions then Kissimmee and Lake Buena Vista are perfect places to stay. The three-star motel Clarion Inn Lake Buena Vista has two pools and a games room but is also on the edge of Walt Disney World Resort and just a 10-minute drive from SeaWorld Orlando.
For a holiday that’s full of relaxation and sun then Key Largo is the place to head. At Florida’s southern tip it marks the start of the Florida Keys where America’s only living coral reef can be found. Famed for its excellent diving and opportunities to swim with dolphins, it’s also the start of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, a drive with fantastic views of the ocean as you pass from island to island by bridge.
Attractions & Things To Do
Look out for the
Key Largo Cotton Mouse or crocodiles in the Everglades National Park near Key Largo. For the energetic holidaymaker, there are hiking, canoeing and bicycle trails through the park while the more sedate will enjoy the tram rides and boat tours.
Step back in time and visit the living history museum at St Augustine, the USA’s oldest city. The museum shows what life was like for the first settlers with a 17th century watchtower to climb and the chance to learn how to lock, load and fire a musket.
Or send your holiday into orbit with a visit to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. If you time it right you could see a rocket launched, as well as meet a veteran astronaut.
Annual Temperature & Rainfall
Central and southern Florida enjoys sub-tropical temperatures and high humidity. It is called the Sunshine State for a good reason enjoying on average 300 days of sunshine a year.
In the summer, Orlando has average temperatures of between 33°C and 24°C and in the winter, 21°C to 9°C, while in Key Largo summer temperatures are between 32°C and 25°C and winter temperatures are between 24°C and 17°C.
While it rains nearly every day from June to October, they tend to be short, heavy tropical showers. In July, Orlando has an average rainfall of 185mm while in January it is 58mm. Key Largo has 198mm rain in June and 53mm in January.
Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Have you been to Florida before? What are your top tips?
