Guide to Florida

Beaches

Island hideaways. Soft city sands. And deserted dunes. Just a short drive in either direction from Orlando, you'll find the perfect antidote to Florida's theme park frenzy - the Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches. There's 1200 miles of platinum sand surrounding the Sunshine State. For sugary-white sands, you've got Panama City Beach in the northwest. This stretch of quartz-crystal coast is known as one of the world's most beautiful beaches. It's also known as the Spring Break Capital of the World, so be prepared to jostle for sand space between February and April. To play with the beautiful people, South Beach is the place to see and be seen. For decades Miami's favourite strip of sand has been setting the standard for world cool - everyone from the Rat Pack to Paris Hilton has been papped here. Don't confine your Miami time to sunbathing though. Try rollerblading past pampered pooches in pushchairs on Lincoln Road for some light entertainment. For something secluded, escape to Caladesi Island State Park near Clearwater. This three-and-half-mile island beach is only accessible by ferry from the mainland, so even though it's just a stone's throw from Tampa it's still quiet. Beaches aside, you don't have to travel to the coast to feel the sand between your toes. Disney's got your demand for sand covered in the form of Typhoon Lagoon water park. As well as manmade beaches, lagoons and a lazy river, this tropical water world's storm slides, a water-coaster and a saltwater shark reef for snorkelling.

Eating out

Supersize. Jumbo. All you can eat. Florida is king of the USA's bigger is better culture. As you'd expect, you'll see the golden arches and good ol' Colonel Sanders on every corner. Topping the fast food charts with the highest number of take-out restaurants is Orlando's International Drive. You'll also find the world's biggest Macdonald's here at the intersection with Sand Lake Road. But it's not just about speed in these parts. Orlando alone packs more than five thousand restaurants into its borders, with fierce competition ensuring there are just as many fine dining and middle of the road options as there are burger bars. Disney and Universal have got all the food bases covered in the parks and hotels. From Chinese and Italian to African and Mexican, there's something to suit every mood and budget. In Downtown Orlando, there's even a Vietnamese district called Little Saigon, where cosy restaurants serve dishes like summer-rolls with peanut sauce. And while you won't find many Michelin stars here, there are a few places that could easily hold their own against the gastro-elite. Restaurants like the Victoria and Albert at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Emeril's at Universal's City Walk. Or Hue – A Restaurant, a Downtown Orlando eatery that was recognised as one of the best new restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveller. As for what to try while you're here, a southern-style breakfast is a great way to start the day. Mixing sweet and savoury is the way to do it. Think stakes of pancakes smothered in maple syrup, strips of crispy bacon and eggs fried sunny side up, all washed down with endless free coffee refills. Then there's the seafood. Forget lobster, crab claws are where it's at. Steamed or boiled, they're meaty, slightly sweet and delicious dipped in butter. Dessert-wise, it would be criminal to go home without sampling some key lime pie. Made using home-grown Floridian limes this tangy pud is Florida's answer to lemon meringue pie, with or without the meringue. But what Florida is really famous for, of course, is citrus fruit – namely the Florida orange. Whether freshly squeezed, made into barbecue sauce or salad dressing, orange juice flows through the veins of this southern state.

• Little Saigon, Downtown Orlando – Bringing Vietnamese favourites like noodle soup and steamed crepes to Florida, Little Saigon is a big favourite with the locals.
• Earl of Sandwich, Downtown Disney – Brought across the waves by the 11th Earl of Sandwich, this is fast food the British way and these hot sarnies are great when you're longing for a taste of home.
• California Grill, Disney's Contemporary Resort – With its stage kitchen, bird's eye view of the Magic Kingdom and to-die-for food, it's easy to see why this 15th-floor restaurant is one of Florida's best.
• Doc's Restaurant, Downtown Orlando – Owned by two doctors, this appropriately named restaurant has the Kennedy family's former chef cooking up a storm.
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, Universal's City Walk – Like the name suggests this restaurant is based on the film Forrest Gump and everything from the menu to the decor is packed with Gump-isms.

Nightlife

• In Florida, theme-park fun isn't confined to the daytime - in peak season the rides roll late into the night and the character parades take on a glow-in-the-dark edge. It doesn't end there though. Disney's known the world over for its firework displays. Take your pick from Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, Illuminations at Epcot and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios and get ready for a light-the-sky spectacular. Even after the theme parks have been put to bed, the rest of the state doesn't sleep. Downtown Disney and Universal's City Walk both have their fair share of nightclubs, bars and entertainment. And with choices ranging from comedy and live music to salsa dancing and Cirque du Soleil, you're certainly spoilt for choice. But if you're looking to escape the parks altogether, Downtown Orlando – with over 50 bars and clubs - has got the after-dark market cornered. Dance floors. Martini bars. Live music venues. You name it Downtown's got it. Further afield you'll find Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are all on the party hot-list - because even the grown-ups need playtime.
  
  
• 8TRAX, Pleasure Island, Downtown Disney – Hustle back to the days of lava lamps, platforms and bell-bottom jeans to bump your way round the dance floor at this 70's disco throwback.
  
  
• Tanqueray's Bar and Grill, Downtown Orlando – A converted bank vault where the Tanqueray Martini's flow freely and conversation and cocktails are the order of the day.
  
  
• Sky60, Downtown Orlando – A high-class hangout that is literally sky-high, this roof-top cocktail bar has fantastic views over Orlando.
  
  
• Pat O'Briens, Universal's City Walk – Modelled on the New Orleans original, this concept cocktail bar comes complete with a flaming fountain and duelling pianos – and their signature Hurricane cocktail really packs a punch.
  
  
• Snatch, Miami – All 12-foot mirrors, corseted go-go dancers and a mechanical bull called Louie, this place is very rock and roll – and certainly pulls in the A-listers.

Shopping

Florida's the only place on earth that can turn a shop-a-phobic into a bona fide shop-a-holic. It's got one-of-a-kind boutiques. Outlet centres. And fleamarkets that sell anything and everything. Not to mention the sleek malls that are so synonymous with the US. This is a 'leave your spending inhibitions at home' kind of place. The biggest mall on the block is Orlando's Florida Mall which measures up at a massive 18,580 square metres. But if you're after serious plastic melt-down, head to the Mall at Millenia. This city-sized mall is home to three department-store giants – Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Macy's – as well as sizeable stores from Chanel, Cartier and Jimmy Choo. Away from the multi-level shopping centres, well-heeled Winter Park in Downtown Orlando brings an air of elegance to retail therapy. Park Avenue is all about the finer things in life. Its chi-chi boutiques, bistros and art galleries are the stomping ground of ladies who lunch and their crystal-collared poodles. But if you're on a stricter budget, the discounted shopping of places like Lake Buena Vista's Premium Outlets will be right up your street. With everything from Gap and Timberland to Fossil and The Sunglasses Hut, there are some big savings to be had here.

Local information

THEME PARKS The many incredible theme parks on offer are top of most people's list when they come to Orlando. In addition there are thrilling water parks, and Kissimmee has its own attractions including Water Mania water park.