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Florida

Florida, commonly known as the Sunshine State, is one of the highest-ranking states in the US for tourism. A popular spot for domestic and international holidaymakers, the state is home to cities including Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa. Another key draw is the white quartz sand beaches, besides the Gulf Coast waters.

The most concentrated area of Florida for theme parks, Orlando, has been the home of Walt Disney World since its 1972 opening. As the resort has expanded, so has the city, with Universal Studios Florida opening its gates in 1990. IAAPA hosts its annual trade show expo in Florida each year.

Whilst the amusement industry is largely centralised in Orlando, there are other theme parks to be found outside the area including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Legoland Florida and Peppa Pig World.

The most populated city, Jacksonville, is home to the Museum of Science and History, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, as well as Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, which boasts one of the largest animal collections in the state.

The Magic City, Miami, is home to notable tourist attractions including Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Pérez Art Museum, Zoo Miami and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

Tampa, the third largest city by population, features the Tampa Museum of Art, Henry B. Plant Museum, MOSI, Glazer Children’s Museum and The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.

Alongside Busch Gardens, Tampa is home to other animal experiences including Florida Aquarium and ZooTampa at Lowry Park.

Natural Floridian destinations include Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the US, and one of the deepest freshwater springs in the world, Walluka Springs.

Other attractions found in Florida include Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, The Dali Museum, Lightner Museum, the Morean Arts Center and Air Force Armament Museum. Kennedy Space Centre, a visitor centre operated by NASA, can be found at Cape Canaveral.

Florida in depth

Theme park design
Immersive experiences
USA
Disney
Star Wars
Attraction design
Themed entertainment
Visitor experience

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