Undiscovered Florida 2013 - (Page 4)
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FLORIDA
New Worlds of
DISCOVERY
4
04-05_2013_UNDIS-WELCOME.indd 4
throughout the peninsula possible, not
to mention comfortable, another group
discovered Florida – tourists. And the
tourists have been coming ever since,
creating the Florida that most of us know,
the Florida of oceanfront resorts and
dining under palm trees, of
open-air shopping, surfboards
and golf clubs, and of attractions
that transport the visitor past the
limits of imagination.
ABOVE: The waters off Palm
Beach are rich in marine life.
BELOW: A statue of Juan Ponce
de Leon presides over
St. Augustine
Viva Florida 500
Courtesy of the Palm Beach County CVB; Courtesy of FloridasHistoricCoast.com
F
lorida keeps getting discovered,
over and over.
In 1513, a group of Spanish
explorers led by Juan Ponce de
Leon discovered a “flowery” coastline
they named La Florida and claimed it
for Spain. After that momentous first
contact, the Spanish conquest of Florida
was unstoppable, and soon, this rich
subtropical land of abundant natural
resources was changing hands between
the Spanish, British and the newly formed
U.S., before finally becoming the 27th state
in 1845.
Meanwhile, new residents were
pouring into Florida, including Cubans
and Bahamians who discovered great
fishing in the waters surrounding
Key West; the U.S. military, who
discovered strategic, protected harbors
and natural ports around the peninsula;
and Southerners who discovered how
lovely and fertile the North Florida
landscape was, and set about constructing
huge plantations complete with grand
Southern-style homes.
Following the Civil War and the
proliferation of railroads that made travel
2013 is a big year for Florida. It’s the 500th
anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon’s arrival on the
Florida coast, which forever changed the historical
direction not just of the peninsula but the entire
Western Hemisphere.
The whole state is celebrating with historical
reenactments, festivals, food and much more.
Check out VISITFLORIDA.com/viva for further
information and a full calendar of events.
Undiscovered Florida
3/5/13 11:28 AM
http://www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com
http://www.VISITFLORIDA.com/viva
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Undiscovered Florida 2013
New Worlds of Discovery
North Florida
Central Florida
South Florida
Undiscovered Florida 2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/undiscoveredflorida2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com