DAYTONA BEACH

 Daytona Beach, located along the east coast of central Florida, was founded in 1870 and officially became a city when it was incorporated in 1876. This resort is famous for its 23-mile beach, lined with a wall of hotels. The waterfront boardwalk offers concerts in the bandstand, arcades, and go-karts. During Spring Break, nearly 200,000 college students descend on the beach for this ritual party. This is also one of the few beaches in Florida where cars are allowed on the sands, a hangover from the days when motor enthusiasts, such as Louis Chevrolet and Henry Ford, raced on the beaches. The Daytona International Speedway nearby draws huge crowds, especially during the Speedweek in February and the Motorcycle Weeks in March and October. Daytona International Speedway is known as the “World Center of Racing.” It’s the place where dreams begin and history is made.

Daytona International Speedway * Home of The Great American Race

Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

WALT DISNEY WORLD

 

The Most Magical Place on Earth

The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment complex in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida. Opened on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World is the most visited vacation resort in the world. Magic Kingdom Park is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. The park is represented by Cinderella Castle, inspired by the fairy tale castle seen in the 1950 film. The castle was completed in July 1971, after about 18 months of construction. It is 56 m tall, as measured from water-level. Cinderella's Castle, the main entrance to Fantasyland, is the most photographed building at Walt Disney World. 

 

MAGIC MOMENTS IN THE MAGIC KINGDOM
Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto welcome visitors to the Magic Kingdom, where the charm of the past meet the thrills of the future

"Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together."
/Roy Oliver Disney/

Received from Michele, Bayonne, NJ

FLORIDA

For the majority of Florida’s 105 million annual visitors, the typical travel poster images of Florida – sun, sea, sand, and Mickey Mouse – are reason enough to jump on the next plane. The Sunshine State deserves its reputation as the perfect family vacation spot, but Florida is much richer in its culture, landscape, and character than its stereotypical image suggests.

Spring Training in south and central Florida. Let's play ball!

• State Capital - Tallahassee 
• Largest City - Jacksonville
• State Nickname - The Sunshine State
• Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas.
• Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain.
  
• Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), electronics 

 

Peaceful picturesque beaches line Florida's coast 

Postcard of one of many Florida beaches. The best beaches are along the Atlantic, where the water, as blue and pure as on the front, travels as far as the eye can see, kissing the sky where the horizon lies. The white, hot crispy sand squishes beneath your feet and between your toes as the sun warry your cheeks and salty ocean breeze tickles your face.