Florida is on target to attracting more tourists in 2016 than last year – good news for holiday homeowners! We take a closer look at what makes it so special…
Article written by The Overseas Guides Company
New figures have confirmed that Florida attracted a record 57.4 million tourists during the first six months of 2016, underlining its appeal not only as a tourist destination but also somewhere with a strong holiday rental market.
Theme parks, including Disney and Universal, golf, beaches and world-class leisure facilities remain the main attractions of Florida, all complemented by year-round sunshine. The Sunshine State drew a total of 105 million tourists in 2015 and appears to be on course to surpassing that figure to hit a new record of 115 million tourists in 2016.
If you’re considering a property purchase in Florida, here are five fun facts – with a property for each – that might help you make up your mind!
– Mickey Mouse led the first official visitor into the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in 1971. Fancy a property close to Disney and the other theme parks? This five-bedroom property in the Windsor Hills resort in Kissimmee is a stone’s throw from all the Disney action and comes furnished with a pool and spa. To find out more, click on the image.
– Florida has more golf courses – namely 1,250 – than any other US State. Naples on the west coast is often called the “Golf Capital of the World” and reportedly has more courses per capita than anywhere else on the planet. This charming three-bedroom property is at the Royal Wood Golf and Country Club in Naples. Besides the 18-hole course and practice areas, the community includes pools, tennis and clubhouse. Tempted?
– Florida has 825 miles of beaches, split between its Atlantic east coast and west coast on the Gulf of Mexico. Beaches on the west coast are famous for incredibly fine white sand, and nowhere more so than Siesta Key, voted ‘Best Beach in the US’ on a number of occasions. Siesta Key is one of a number of keys joined to the city of Sarasota on the mainland. We’ve found a charming two-bedroom house in Sarasota, just a 10-minute drive over the bridge to Siesta Key.
– Water is integral to the character of Florida, much of which used to be swampland. Today, it is home to circa 7,700 lakes of more than 10 acres and wherever you are in the state, you’re never more than 60 miles from the nearest body of salt water. Speaking of which, keep your eyes open – it is also the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators coexist! If being beside water is high on your property wish-list, then Cape Coral could be a good place to start. Boasting more than 400 miles of waterways, waterfront properties are the norm there! This large three-bedroom home in Cape Coral comes with a pool, landscaped garden and private mooring for a large boat!
– Florida is second only to Brazil in global orange juice production and the state remains the world’s leading producer of grapefruit. Florida produces more than 70 per cent of the United States’ supply of citrus. It’s no coincidence Orange County is in Florida, home to a great choice of new developments built on former orange groves. One community there, offering new-build homes, is called Hamlin, named after a variety of early season orange!
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