Florida

On the fringes of the Caribbean lie the incredible Florida Keys, offering one of the world’s greatest ocean drives over 42 bridges linking beautiful coral islands. Enjoy spectacular snorkelling, diving and fishing in Key Largo before watching an unforgettable sunset and enjoying a drink in Hemingway’s old haunt in Key West, the southernmost point in the USA.

Florida’s east coast boasts many popular beach resorts – from the promenade and canals of Fort Lauderdale to the Gilded Age mansions and luxury shopping of Palm Beach. However, the real highlight of the Atlantic coast is Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Centre’s original spacecraft, simulation rides and fascinating exhibitions on the Space Race. Further north, historic St Augustine is the USA’s oldest continuously inhabited city with a fort built by the Spanish in the 17th century, as well as extravagant Gilded Age hotels.

The west coast of Florida offers a more laidback ambience than the east coast with warmer waters, quieter beaches and resorts that maintain their authentic architecture. From Naples to Sanibel, Anna Maria Island, St Petersburg and Clearwater, these resorts are renowned for their soft, white-sand beaches, elegant harbours and protected marine parks. Many of the resorts also have cultural delights in their museums and galleries, the pick of which is the amazing Salvador Dali Museum in St Petersburg.