Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida

by DK

  The Seminole Wars

  In the period before the Civil War, known as the antebellum, runaway slaves taking refuge in Florida found sympathy from the Indian tribes, creating growing conflicts with the US. By 1817, antagonism had escalated into the first of three Seminole wars. Future US president Andrew Jackson invaded the then-Spanish Florida and defeated the Seminoles. Under the US flag, a plantation economy based on slavery, as in other Southern states, began to develop here. Land was at a premium and pressure grew on the US government to remove the Indians from their lands. In 1832, the US signed the Treaty of Payne’s Landing with some of the Seminole chiefs, promising them lands west of the Mississippi River if the tribes would leave Florida peacefully. Many agreed, but those who remained were prepared to defend their land. From 1835 to 1842, and again from 1855 to 1858, Seminole warriors defied the far more powerful US Army. In the end, though, it was a lost cause and almost all the Seminoles were forcibly exiled. But a band of some 300 stubbornly remained, hiding in the Everglades wilderness. Their descendants are the Seminole tribes of today.

  The State of Florida

  Florida became the 27th US state in 1845. Most of the state’s population was in the northern area, where the plantation culture flourished. By 1850, the population had grown to 87,445; almost half were African-American slaves. In 1861, to preserve its plantation way of life, the state broke away from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. Located well south of the fighting, Florida was spared the destruction experienced in other Southern states during the Civil War (1861–5). Its main role was to provide an estimated 15,000 troops, plus cotton, and food supplies, including salt, beef, and pork, to the Confederacy. When the Confederates lost the war and slavery was outlawed, the plantation economy waned. But soon canny developers had their eyes on a new source of wealth – tourism.

  Florida’s Golden Age

  While most of Florida’s early development had been in the northern part of the state, the agreeable climate of the land farther south made it attractive for development. Railroad barons such as Henry Flagler on the east coast and Henry Plant on the west expanded their railroads in the late 1880s and 1890s, and began building the first grand hotels to attract passengers. Tourism boomed, fortunes were made, and fine mansions were built.

  The railroads also meant that the Sunshine State’s juicy crops of oranges and lemons could reach eager buyers all over the country, and soon Florida was the nation’s biggest citrus fruit producer. Immigrants from the nearby Caribbean island of Cuba brought with them the skill of making highly prized cigars. Tampa’s warm, humid climate suited the rolling of tobacco leaves perfectly, and Ybor City was founded there in 1885 by Cuban manufacturer Vicente Martinez Ybor as a home for his factory and workers.

  Portrait of Henry Flagler, founder of the Florida East Coast Railway

  Boom and bust

  Henry Ford’s Model T began rolling off the assembly lines in 1908, making automobiles affordable for the first time, and nowhere was the effect felt more strongly than in Florida, where “tin can tourists” came streaming in. In 1914, entrepreneur Carl Fisher came up with the idea of building the north–south Dixie Highway, which eventually ran all the way from the Canadian border to southern Florida. At the southern end of the highway, Fisher dreamed up a new resort city, Miami Beach. During the 1920s, investors of all kinds raced to buy and sell land in South Florida communities such as Miami and Palm Beach. Prices soared, and con men entered the picture. Some foolish buyers purchased land sight unseen, only to find themselves the owners of worthless swampland. By 1925, prices were astronomical, buyers became scarce, and the real estate boom turned to bust. A devastating hurricane in Miami in 1926 depressed the market even farther. By the time the Great Depression began in the rest of the nation in 1929, residents of Florida had already experienced economic hardship.

  A second boom

  Government work programs and the flourishing citrus industry helped Florida ride out the Depression, and many unemployed people arrived from all over the US, looking for work and helping the state’s economy grow. World War II brought another boom as Florida’s year-round mild climate made it ideal as a major training center for the US army and navy. Highway and airport construction followed, and by the war’s end an up-to-date transportation system was ready and waiting for visitors.

  Newcomers arrived from other countries too, especially in Miami. Fidel Castro’s rise to power in Cuba in 1959 brought an influx of Cubans, and unrest in Haiti in the 1970s led to the founding of the community known as Little Haiti.

  The first Daytona 500 roared into action in 1959, making the Daytona International Speedway a mecca for auto-racing fans the world over. Space exploration and the arrival of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center in 1962 also brought jobs and more visitors. The theme park era began in 1959 when Busch Gardens opened in Tampa, and 10,000 people were waiting impatiently at the gates when Walt Disney World® made its debut in 1971.

  Florida today

  Modern-day Florida is the fourth most populous state in the US, and one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Twenty percent of this flourishing state’s diverse population consists of retirees aged over 65, who are drawn by its mild climate. Well over 300,000 of the Cubans who fled to South Florida from the 1960s onwards have settled here, raised families, and become influential in business and state politics. Walt Disney World® grows bigger every year and has been joined by Universal Studios Florida®, SeaWorld® and LEGOLAND® Florida Resort to make Orlando the theme park capital of the world.

  The 1930s Art Deco architecture of Miami Beach has been rediscovered by the young and hip, who flock to the hotels and nightclubs in town. The state has also become the major US center for the growing cruise industry, with busy ports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and other coastal cities serving thousands of cruisers each year. All of this means jobs, and with the citrus industry and tourism joined by more recent industries including electronics, plastics, construction, and international banking, younger job aspirants have added to the rush to Florida. Like most of the world, Florida has felt the cloud of the global economic slowdown that began in 2008, but whatever lies ahead, the sun will continue to shine in Florida.

  The Art Deco facade of the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, Miami

  Historical sites

  Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

  Admire the fine example of Spanish architecture that has influenced many of Florida’s buildings (see Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine).

  Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS)

  Gaze at the prehistoric giant sloth here, which stands 12 ft (4 m) high (see Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS)).

  Indian Temple Mound Museum

  Discover the huge collection of ceramic artifacts at this museum adjacent to one of Florida’s largest Indian ceremonial mounds (see Indian Temple Mound Museum).

  Mission San Luis

  Witness a rare example of racial harmony, as costumed interpreters bring to life the site shared by the Spanish and Apalachee Indians (see Mission San Luis).

  Kingsley plantation

  Visit the oldest plantation house in Florida and explore its restored main house, kitchen, and barn, plus the ruins of 25 original slave cabins (see Kingsley plantation).

  Ybor City Museum State Park

  Trace the story of the city’s cigar industry and look at a restored cigar worker’s home (see Ybor City).

  Facts & Figures

  What’s in a name?

  Many of the names in today’s Florida – Hialeah (pretty meadow) in Miami, Appalachee (people on the other side) Parkway in Tallahassee, and the town of Apalachicola (land of friendly people) – come from the original Native American settlers. The Spanish also left a legacy of names, such as Fernandina (a popular name for girls in Spain).

  Florida’s flying firsts

  Florida aviator Tony Jannus flew the first airplane from which a parachute jump was made in 1912, and o
n January 1, 1914, piloted the world’s first scheduled passenger service flight – from St. Petersburg to Tampa (about 20 miles/32 km).

  Cooking up a tan

  In 1944, Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented the first suntan cream, by cooking cocoa butter in a coffee pot on his wife’s stove.

  Drink to win

  The sports drink Gatorade® was developed in 1965 at the University of Florida to help its sports teams withstand the heat, and was named for the “Gators,” the team’s nickname.

  State symbols

  Florida’s state bird is the mockingbird and the state flower is the orange blossom. The seal on Florida’s flag represents the state with a brilliant sun, a cabbage palmetto tree, a steamboat, and a Seminole woman scattering flowers.

  Miami

  Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and around

  Downtown, Little Havana, Vizcaya, and around

  Miami Beach and around

  The Gold and Treasure Coasts

  Orlando and the Parks

  The Space Coast

  The Northeast

  The Panhandle

  The Gulf Coast

  The Lower Gulf Coast, Everglades, and Keys

  < Exploring Florida

  Miami

  Exotic, glamorous, colourful, and cosmopolitan: Miami is everything the movies make it out to be. The city, the southernmost point in Florida before the mainland tapers off into the string of islands known as the Florida Keys, took on its multicultural character with the early migrations of New York Jews and Bahamians. Since then, an influx of people of other nationalities, including Cubans, Haitians, Brazilians, and Jamaicans, has influenced Miami’s food, arts, and culture. Families will enjoy the city’s carnival-like atmosphere.

  Classic vintage Cadillac parked outside a hotel in the historic Art Deco District, South Beach

  Highlights

  Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

  Miami’s best-known and most-eccentric landmark, this fantasy palace and its gardens offer a fun, imaginative day out (see Vizcaya Museum and Gardens).

  South Beach

  Admire this neighborhood, Miami’s most-filmed district, with its dazzling Art Deco buildings. Kids love it for its great beach (see South Beach).

  Coral Gables

  Built out of locally quarried rock in the 1920s, the “City Beautiful” boasts elegant architecture, and offers family-friendly museums and parks (see Coral Gables).

  Coconut Grove

  Shop, dine, and enjoy the festive atmosphere in this fashionable destination, once a Bahamian settlement and then a hippie hangout (see Coconut Grove).

  Downtown Miami

  Head to this bustling area that is home to the lively Bayfront Park and Marketplace, as well as the Little Havana Cuban community.

  North Miami Beach

  Enjoy the world-class shopping and high-rise resorts in Miami’s latest hot spots: Surfside, Sunny Isles, and Bal Harbour.

  * * *

  The Best of Miami

  One of the numerous brightly coloured lifegaurd stations in South Beach

  Though Miami is famous for its nightlife, the city also ranks high as an arty destination, with annual festivals, museums, theaters, and galleries that reflect its rich and varied cultural heritage. The city’s coastal location makes it attractive to families interested in watersports and other seaside activities. In addition, there are a variety of parks, zoos, and hands-on attractions that are of great interest and appeal to visitors of all ages.

  A weekend at the beach

  The best family beaches lie across the causeway from downtown on Virginia Key and Key Biscayne. Get to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in time for a lighthouse tour, and climb the lighthouse for an overview of Key Biscayne’s beaches and beyond. Have lunch at the park’s beach restaurant before renting a kayak or hydro-bike to play in the waves. Visit Crandon Park in the afternoon to relax on the beach, then explore the park’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center for a break from the sun. Next, go to Virginia Key Beach Park for some fun in the playground. Visit South Beach to round off a weekend on the beaches of Miami. Head for South Pointe Park to get away from the crowds and watch cruise ships chugging in and out of port.

  Retro ride through the city

  For a relatively new city, Miami has lots of history, most of which centers around the 1910s and 1920s. Start with a guided Art Deco District walking tour in South Beach, then visit the Jewish Museum of Florida, which explores another aspect of the state’s past. South of downtown, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was built in 1916 to look old and European. In Coral Gables, homes dating back to the 1920s populate one of the country’s most successful planned developments; learn more at the Coral Gables Museum. Built around 1891 in a virgin hardwood forest, The Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove offers a chance to glimpse old Florida. Visit the Deering Estate at Cutler, which belonged to Charles Deering, brother of James Deering, who built Vizcaya. Another historic structure reveals a man’s bizarre dream in the Coral Castle in Homestead.

  Animal safari

  Families that love animals can see them in the wild and at attractions throughout Miami. Take a boat excursion from Bayside Marketplace to look for dolphins in the sea, then head to Miami Seaquarium® on Key Biscayne to take a closer look at them, along with whales and sea lions. Sign up for a dolphin encounter, and check out the crocodiles, sharks, manatees, and other sea creatures. Heading south, the Miami Science Museum and Zoo Miami both provide opportunities to get up-close with animals. En route to South Beach, Jungle Island is home to exotic birds, kangaroos, and big cats.

  One of the many dolphins at the Miami Seaquarium®, Key Biscayne

  Culture quest

  The clacking of dominoes, the whiff of strong coffee, the strains of Latin salsa, and the thick, heady aroma of cigar smoke are as much a part of Miami as its beaches. Little Havana is the place to start cultural explorations. Walk Calle Ocho and take in Domino Park, the shops, and the food. While in downtown, check out Miami Art Museum. In Coconut Grove, get a taste of Bahamian architecture in Charles Avenue Historic District. In South Beach, the Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant offers a true taste of Haiti. Along Española Way, Latin is the flavor du jour.

  < Miami

  Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and around

  Children playing in a tidal pool in Matheson Hammock County Park, Coral Gables

  South Miami has some of the metropolitan area’s oldest, most interesting, and most family-friendly neighborhoods. Lush tropical greenery shades winding streets where beautiful mansions and well-manicured parks can be found. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove are the two most popular districts in this part of the city, but visitors should not miss historic Cutler Bay, nor Homestead, an agricultural town at the edge of the Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys. Farther afield, families will find plenty to see and do at the Fruit & Spice Park, Coral Castle, and Zoo Miami (see Coral Castle).

  1. Coral Gables

  2. Coconut Grove

  3. The Barnacle Historic State Park

  4. Peacock Park

  5. Fairchild Tropical Garden

  6. Deering Estate at Cutler

  7. Zoo Miami

  8. Coral Castle

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  < Miami

  1. Coral Gables

  City of fantasy

  A Venetian swimming pool carved from a former coral limestone quarry

  A city out of a storybook, Coral Gables was built
by real estate developer George Merrick, who envisioned one of the first and most successfully planned suburbs in the US. Known as the “City Beautiful,” it earns its moniker from oak-shaded streets lined with homes of international lineage. The city boasts one of the most beautiful public swimming pools in the world – the Venetian Pool, formerly a limestone quarry. Families will enjoy the area’s green spaces and its splendid architecture.