Florida

Florida’s gorgeous beaches, sunshine and theme parks, coupled with the natural beauty of its varied scenery and wildlife, attract multiples of tourists worldwide at all times of the year. From the Everglades to the Space Coast to Disney’s Never Land, here are several resources to assure that you make the most of your Florida vacation.

Places to Visit Along the Way

Along Interstate 75: The Local Knowledge Driving Guide for Interstate Travelers Between Detroit and the Florida Border by Dave Hunter (2004): This claims to turn a boring ride into a fun trip, and there is an index to 28 side trips off the beaten track as well as practical information such as traffic laws, radio stations, police and weather phone numbers, I-75 exit numbers, tips on dollar saving at Disney World, and getting the best lodging rates. Interesting historical and geological “special reports” are included.

Where to Stay/Eat

Mobil 2007 Florida Travel Guide: One to five star quality ratings of accommodations and dining facilities. Only those meeting Mobil Travel Guide standards are included. Arrangement is alphabetical by city, and includes driving tours, walking tours and full color maps and photographs.

Florida in General

Fodor’s 06 Florida: Prime attractions such as shopping, snorkeling, sidewalk cafes, nightlife and diving, plus where and when to go, eat and stay in each region. Great itineraries, historical background info and quick current facts on Florida.

Frommers Florida 2007 by Lesley Abravanel: The staff of Frommers has inspected countless accommodations and listed the very best here of golf resorts, spas, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, condos and motels. Beaches, dive sites, theme parks and the Kennedy Space Center are covered in detail with the latest developments there, plus insiders tips on package deals and airfare.

Central Florida, Orlando and Disney Tour Guides

Beyond Disney: The Unoffial Guide to Universal, Seaworld, and the Best of Central Florida by Bob Sehlinger (2003): Unofficial guides are the consumer reports of travel guides which rate and rank every hotel, restaurant and attraction. Evaluations and critiques are compiled by travel experts.

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World: Expert Advice From the Inside Source (2007): This guide gives you the info you didn’t know and would like to know. One of the most respected names in travel guides, this has accurate information on prices, changes and new attractions introduced for 2005. An explanation of priority seating in restaurants and how to obtain it is given, as well as Disney “character restaurants” with featured items, price ranges and special characters. All the attractions that offer a fast pass are marked and Birnbaum’s “best ratings” for the best rides, entertainment and restaurants are stamped with a capital B.

Econoguide Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando 2005: Also Includes SeaWorld and Central Florida by Corey Sandler: Detailed maps of theme parks and daily itineraries in this source help you get the most for your time and money. Hints on least busy days/weeks of the year to go and pricing comparisons for tourists on a budget. Chapters on dinner shows and character meals, Disney’s Wide World of Sports, and other attractions near Kissimmee and Orlando, including those which are up to an hour away. Includes a separate chapter on shopping and one on Busch Gardens and Tampa, including the Florida Aquarium, Adventure Island and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando (Insight Guides, 2006): Unofficial, independent, candid assessments to help you make the most of your time. Includes Busch Gardens, NASA and Cape Kennedy. Features color maps and illustrations, as well as plans and itineraries.

Walt Disney World and Orlando for Dummies by Laura Miller (2006): Easy and comprehensive and fun to read, this provides full coverage of all Orlando theme parks including Islands of Adventure, Disney Cove and the Holy Land Experience. Tips on how to escape the lines, what you can and can’t miss, the best restaurants and the pros and cons of booking in or outside the parks. Covers Universal Studios, nightlife and dining to all the Disney and non-Disney parks.

Mini Mickey: The Pocket-Sized Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World by Bob Sehlinger (2006): This series boasts over four-million sold. There is a complete rating and ranking of accommodations and attractions, overviews of the parks and evaluations of most popular attractions, easy to follow one and two day touring plans of all the Disney parks and Universal City. Each attraction states what it is, scope and scale, when to go, author’s rating, appeal by age group, duration of show, probable waiting time, description and comments, and touring tips. Separate sections address the disabled, kids, singles, couples, problems/unusual situations, and “special extras”, such as the small child “fright rating” for rides.

For Children and Teens

Walt Disney World & Orlando With Kids by Laura Lea Miller (2006): An all-around kind to attractions, restaurants and more, with the kids in mind.

Around Orlando With Kids: 60 Great Things to Do Together by Jennie Hess (2002): With a page on each attraction, this easy to read or carry guide gives the low-down on each fun experience, with address, phone number, age levels, prices, hours of operation, eating appropriate restaurants for kids nearby, things to do/take with you, and tips to keep in mind when you go there. In addition to Disney, this guide contains very unusual often overlooked attractions which are not the normal Disney fare.

Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World for Kids by Kids (2005): Real kids giving honest appraisals and real advice. Covers the Disney theme parks plus Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Pleasure Island, Discovery Island and Downtown Disney.

Walt Disney World With Kids by Kim Wright Wiley (2007): Written by a kid travel expert with the help of more than 300 families, helps you get a kid perspective on what priorities are to be seen and done. It covers Disney Cruiseline, Universal Orlando, and Islands of Adventure, in addition to the four standard parks.

Universal Orlando With Kids by Kim Wright Wiley (2002): Includes Universal Studios, City Walk and Islands of Adventure plus Sea World, Discovery Cove and Wet n’ Wild. Quick guide to kid pleasing rides, insider tips and advice to families on a budget. Contains maps of Universal Studios, City Walk and Islands of Adventure.

Fun With the Family: Florida by Chelle Koster Walton and Sara Kennedy (2005): The Sunshine State abounds with more family fun than fits in the Orlando experience. This book lists the other attractions like the magnificent views of the Seven Mile Bridge and snorkling in the Lower Keys.

Adults Only

Birnbaums Walt Disney World Without Kids: Expert Advice for Loving Adults (2005): Offers sample schedules as well as details on Walt Disney World Resorts, romantic excursions and specialty cruises, sports diversions and entertainment and nightlife.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups by Eve Zibart (2006): The most romantic hotels, restaurants, nightlife, bars, grown-up games, weddings, honeymoons and Love Boat: Disney Cruises are prominent features of this handy compendium.

Special Needs

Wheelchairs on the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida by Michelle Singleman (2002): Mentions accessible beaches, shuttles to lodging, lodging with bed heights, frame types for lift users and bathrooms with roll-in showers. Accessible beach wheelchairs, ramps, drive-on beaches, ADA picnic tables, scenic boardwalks and nature trails. Accessible pontoon boats, pools with lifts, theater seating, playgrounds and camps, and golf and sailing. Ride by ride descriptions of boarding, needed transfers, and entrances with steep ramps. Crowd-coping strategies included.

Running in Florida by Mauricio Herreros (2003): The 147 top places to run in Florida with complete directions, mileage, facilities, parking, fees, terrain, safety tips and descriptions of the scenery. Also, 159 most remarkable and popular races, their locations and surrounding events, running clubs, a reference list of helpful resources including websites for runners, and a pace chart are included.

The Everglades and Florida Keys

Adventure Guide to the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park by Bruce Morris (2005): In addition to where to stay and eat, how to get around and what to see, covers contact information for charter boats, fishing guides, seaplane tours, airboat rides, and hiking and cycling trails through the Keys and Everglades. Historic forts, wilderness trails, wildlife, sealife, parks and nature preserves are also explained in detail.

Liquid Land: A Journey Through the Everglades by Ted Levin (2003): Explores plants, animals and landscapes that remain in the Everglades and on-going restoration efforts. Profiles the parties that interact with, protect, control and co-exist with this environment.

The Insiders' Guide to the Florida Keys and Key West by Victoria Shearer (2005): Seafood markets and specialty foods, fishing, boating, camping, nightlife, kidstuff, retirement, shopping, healthcare, education, child care, worship and annual events are only a few of the highlights covered in this comprehensive guide to fun and culture in the Keys.

Miami and the Keys by Jeffrey Kennedy (2003): This Eyewitness Guide offers dozens of top ten lists, from the top ten places for people-watching, beaches, restaurants, hotels, to top ten things to avoid. Others include most fun places for children, best shopping, plus more specific lists such as unusual shopping, romantic attractions, offbeat attractions, and Miami’s top ten tropical drinks.

Miami and the Keys by Beth Greenfield (2003): Here is a Lonely Planet guide to the arts, history, neighborhoods, walking and driving tours, eating, shopping, sleeping and nightlife of Miami, the Keys, the Everglades and Fort Lauderdale, with detailed maps, index and directory to transportation and service facilities.

The Florida Keys and Key West by Victoria Shearer and Nancy Toppino (2006): This authoritative guide will show you how to navigate these delicate islands and find the best beaches, water sports and watering holes from Key Largo to Key West.

South Florida, with the Best of Miami and the Keys by Lesley Abravanel (2004): This is a Frommers guide with candid reviews of hotels, restaurants, sports, shopping, nightlife, nature life, deep sea fishing, beaches, diving and snorkeling. The best features of Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Miami and the Everglades are covered. It also includes dozens of detailed color maps.

Air and Space Museums/NASA

Kitty Hawk to NASA: A Guide to U.S. Air and Space Museums and Exhibits by Michael Morlan (1991): A chapter on Florida lists ten air and space museums with directions, hours of operation, museum notes, and display aircraft by model, manufacturer and popular name.

The Complete Idiots Guide to NASA by Thomas Jones and Michael Benson (2002): A fascinating look at the many technological advances NASA has contributed to everyday life as well as simple explanations of how rockets work, what life is like in space, and why satellites stay in orbit. Contains a complete history of NASA from Explorer I to the International Space Station.

DVDs and Videocassettes

Florida (DVD, 2005): Documentary travel video on Miami, South Beach, the Florida Keys, Orlando, Daytona Beach and the Everglades.

Tower of Terror (Videocassette): This children’s feature film is based on Walt Disney MGM Studio’s Tower of Terror Ride; fun for adults and children alike.

Wild Florida for Children (Videocassette): A best-of- nature-video, this profiles alligators, manatees, otters, sea turtles, deer and other wildlife of the Florida peninsula.

Website

FLA USA: Visit Florida: This is the official consumer website for the state of Florida. Explore destinations by clicking on a colorful map. Each city is profiled, along with hot deals, attractions, events, recreation, campgrounds, visitor services, parks, dining and accommodations, shopping, golf, directions and weather.

This Special Collection last updated on December 18, 2007.