Page 11 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

Many towns such as Davie have Orange Blossom Festivals. Florida is among the largest producer of oranges in the U.S. Honey production, and ranks as the fourth largest producer in the country. In 1763 English settlers introduced the first hives in Pensacola, and it's been sweet ever since.
In fact, Florida depends on export crops as diverse as sugar cane and tomatoes while still leaving plenty of sweet corn and green beans available for passersby to purchase. Visitors are often amazed to find farm stands and U- pick farms offering everything from boiled peanuts and fresh blueberries in Gainesville to mangoes and lychees in the southern areas of Redland and Homestead. Throughout the year, festivals—such as Plant City’s Florida Strawberry Festival in March and the July Mango Days of Summer festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables—are hugely enjoyable, multi-day attractions.
If you prefer bottled fruit, wineries are popping up everywhere, with many offering both grape varietals as well as tropical fruit vintages.
BLOWING ROCKS PRESERVE ON JUPITER ISLAND • VISIT FLORIDA
INTO THE WILD
Florida is home to several hundred commonly found bird species, which amateur ornithologists can track along The Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail. The 2,000-mile trail comprises four sections— the Panhandle, East, West and South—and lists what species can be found where.
Florida also has more than 170 native butterflies. In addition to finding them in the parks and in the wild, visitors can observe them in conservatories such as Butterfly World in Coconut Creek and the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum in Gainesville.
The 142 native species of amphibians and reptiles, including around 50 kinds of snakes—of which only six are poisonous— are equally fascinating. You can view these and the 50 plus additional non-native species at many zoos and safaris, ranging from Zoo Miami to Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee and ZooTampa at Lowry Park.
Visitors who prefer to check out natural habitats where wild things reside can hit any section of the sprawling Everglades. A range
NEED
TO KNOW
Many beaches, parks and festivals don’t charge an entrance fee or, if they do, it’s only a few dollars. If you do run out of cash, ATMs are everywhere from convenience stores to festivals. Many stores allow debit card users to obtain “cash back” above their purchase without a transaction fee. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4or5PM,and 9AMor10AMto2PMon Saturday. However, TD Bank has locations open every day, except major holidays.
Banks and government offices, including the post office, are closed on major U.S. holidays. Most attractions remain open year-round.
Florida’s base sales tax on purchases is six percent, with some counties adding discretionary taxes. In addition to pet deposits, most hotels charge a “bed” tax and some will add a “resort or amenities tax” and even parking fees.