Theme Parks and more....lots more.
When you visit Florida in 2011, first and foremost we want to have for you a
positive and unforgettable Gaufest experience. As we build our fest we are
keeping the balance between quality, quantity and cost all while maintaining a
Gaufest that is "Treu dem guten alten Brauch". Not always easy but entirely
possible. As always, there will be plenty to do during the Gaufest BUT since this
is Florida we have a feeling that many of you will be staying to enjoy the numerous
theme parks and other attractions that help define Florida as one of the most
popular vacation destinations in the world!
The first theme park arrived in Florida in 1936 when Cypress Gardens opened it's gates to vacationers.
Cypress Gardens no longer exists (Legoland is due to open in its location late 2011) but since then theme
parks have paved the way for economic stability in the state. Sure Florida still has the sunshine, warm and
mild winters and seemingly endless beaches but after Walt Disney World opened it's doors in 1971 tourism
has never been the same!
When you visit Florida for the 23.Gaufest maybe this will be your first visit to the Sunshine State or maybe
you are an annual visitor or perhaps a "snowbird". No matter which category you belong to there is always
something new to do in Florida. For the theme park aficionados Florida offers; Walt Disney World Resorts
(4 separate theme parks), Sea World, Universal Studios & Islands of Adventure, Busch Garden's, Silver
Springs, Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, Holyland Experience, Old Town and the list could go on. Did
you want a water park? There is Wet N' Wild, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon at Disney Resorts, Sea
World has Aquatica, Busch Gardens offers Adventure Island and at Silver Springs one can visit Wild
Waters. There's enough to see and do to keep one busy for a month! Yet, there is another side of Florida
that is sometimes overlooked by tourist, Florida's history and natural "theme" parks.
Florida... The Natural Choice
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If you are looking for a beach, Florida has 1,100 miles of sand and surf waiting for you to explore. From
your Rosen Shingle Creek Gaufest Orlando headquarters, Cocoa Beach is only 61 miles to the East and
Clearwater Beach is to the West 100 miles. Daytona, home to "The World's Most Famous Beach" is only
71 miles to the Northeast! If you aren't to sure which beach is right for you, send us an email
(tom@stvmaigloeckchen.com) and we will help you find your best choice.
For the history buffs a trip to St. Augustine, Florida is well worth the visit. St. Augustine was founded in
1565 and is the oldest city in the continental United States that has been continuously occupied since
Ponce De Leon first landed on it's beach.
The Florida Everglades National Park has over a million visitors each year. With 1.5 million acres, it is the
third largest national park in the lower 48 states, surpassed by only Death Valley and Yellowstone. It is
BIG, beating the Grand Canyon by almost 300,00 acres! For those who want a primitive view of Florida, a
trip to the Everglades may be for you.
Finally if you want to get away from it all and claim your own little piece of an island in tropical paradise,
then Key West is your place to be. You can arrive by vehicle, island hopping as you take the Overseas
Highway. You can take the Key West ferry located in Ft. Myers and Marco Island. Or you can take a
smaller airplane to Key West International. No matter how you get there, once you visit you may never
want to leave. Water sports abound in Key West. Everything from kayaking, para sailing, world class
fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Key West is home to the ONLY living coral reef in the United States
so be sure to have an underwater camera for priceless memories.