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Florida is possibly the most exciting, fun-filled state of all, packed with something for literally everyone.

There are theme parks galore – and if you think those begin and end with Mickey Mouse you are in for a pleasant surprise. Away from the parks you can shop till you drop with discount outlet malls offering incredible bargains on designer labels. There is some of the world’s best golf on your doorstep, and then of course there is the weather, with guaranteed sunshine for most of the year.

Here, in our essential guide to the best of Florida’s many highlights, we give you the lowdown on the top five theme parks plus our shopping guide to help you find the best bargains.

Our Top 5 Theme Parks

Disney World
The original theme park continues to grow every year, now taking in so many different areas that you could spend a week in this park alone. Mickey Mouse and his iconic buddies will be your guides as you wander from zone to zone, enjoying the incredible rides and attractions for all ages. You can explore Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Cirque Du Soleil and Downtown Disney. Everyone from the youngest child to the hardest to please adult will find something to enjoy in this magical park.

Busch Gardens
An hour from Orlando, in Tampa Bay, this great park is well worth a visit – especially if you are an animal lover. Of course there are rides including the world’s tallest rollercoaster, Sheikra, but the real highlights are the many exotic animals. You can explore a mini-Africa and see giraffes, rhinos, elephants, zebra and countless other wild animals at close range on safari trips through the park. It’s like having your own game reserve surrounded by rides, cafés and bars!

Universal Studios
If you are a movie fan then this is the park for you, home to rides and attractions based on some of the biggest hit films of recent years. You will be drawn into a world where you star alongside characters from The Simpsons, Terminator, Men In Black, Shrek, Revenge Of The Mummy and loads more. With technologically advanced rides and thrills galore, you will never forget your movie adventures at Universal. And once the sun goes down there is Citywalk, with restaurants, bars and clubs to keep you entertained into the early hours!

Sea World
The original and most famous of the animal parks in Florida, Sea World is just as exciting as you would imagine. Here you can see all the famous performing animal shows, with killer whales, sea lions, dolphins and many more stunning animals showing off their unique talents. There is also the Journey To Atlantis water coaster, and Kraken, a coaster with no floor, which will terrify and delight in equal measures.

Islands of Adventure
If you like your fun in the shape of high speed roller coasters, groundbreaking 3D attractions and whimsical children’s rides, then look no further than Universal’s Island Of Adventure. With five amazing islands, where your favourite myths, legends, comic books, and cartoon heroes come to life, it’s a day you will never forget! Featured attractions include The Amazing Adventures Of Spiderman in Marvel Super Hero Island, The Cat In The Hat in Seuss Landing, the Duelling Dragons roller coaster on the Lost Continent, Jurassic Park River Adventure in Jurassic Park and Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges in the Toon Lagoon. Finding time to squeeze everything in will be your only problem. Away from the rides there are plenty of restaurants and snack bars to keep your energy up and if you want to wander round the shops while you plan your next adventure, they’ve got that well covered too.

Shop Till You Drop!

If you would prefer to spend your holiday hitting the credit cards rather than hitting the theme parks, then Florida is definitely the place for you. Home to some of the world’s best malls, with outlet stores offering discounted goods from top designer labels, and premium malls which offer huge savings on the prices we pay at home.

Orlando Premium Outlets Mall
You could spend a whole day at The Orlando Premium Outlets Mall, boasting end of line and out of season stock from massive designer labels including Dior, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Diesel, DKNY, Hilfiger, Nike, Saks, Hugo Boss, Gucci, Guess… you get the idea. You will leave this mall laden with bags packed with shoes, clothes, sunglasses and other accessories... and at a fraction of what you would pay back home.

Mall At Millenia
At the other end of the scale is the Mall At Millenia, Orlando’s ultimate high-end shopping destination but still much cheaper than those nasty old UK prices. All of the top brands are on offer here, including Juicy, Abercrombie and Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Bloomingdales, Luis Vuitton, Coach, Dior, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and pretty much every other name you associate with the finer things in life.

Fancy a Quick 18?

If a day in a shopping mall is not your idea of a great time and you need a day off from the theme parks, Florida has a host of golf courses that will help recharge your batteries. Falcon’s Fire, Hunter’s Creek, Southern Dunes and the Disney courses to name just a few if you’re staying in the Orlando area. There are many other courses throughout the sunshine state, all easily accessed and very welcoming. Our tip would be to identify the courses you want to play and contact them direct for the best deals.