World Country Guide

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FOOD & DRINK
Miami/Miami Beach: There are more than 300 fine restaurants, and most hotels maintain excellent dining rooms. Some gourmet eateries are expensive but many popular restaurants have economy prices. Cuban and Mexican food is very popular in Miami, and because Florida is surrounded almost entirely by water, seafood is a State speciality. Fresh stone crabs are not available anywhere else in the USA. Orlando: International Drive is the centre of a variety of restaurants that include Chinese, tapas, Cuban, Asian/Pacific rim and even fondue. Tampa: There is a clear emphasis on Latin cuisine in Tampa but all tastes are catered for, with everything from international restaurants to fast food.

NIGHTLIFE
Miami/Miami Beach: Nightclubs exist in most hotels and resorts. The Coconut Grove area, with its trendy nightclubs and cocktail bars, offers a swinging nightlife both inside the clubs and on the streets where many people just come for a stroll, in order to be where the action is. The most lavish and lively clubs are Cuban supper clubs. Les Folies and Les Violons, both on Biscayne Boulevard, are highly recommended and feature spectacular shows and excellent food. Tampa: The best nightlife on the Gulf Coast can be found in Ybor City, which is Tampa’s lively and historic Latin quarter. The action centres on Seventh Avenue, which closes to traffic at weekends to allow the party atmosphere to spill out on to the streets.

SHOPPING
Miami: The city’s main shopping streets are Flagler Street, between Biscayne Bay and Miami Avenue; and Biscayne Boulevard, between Flagler Street and north to 16th Street. Luxury and designer shops can be found at Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, south of Miami. Miami Beach: The principal shopping area is Lincoln Road Mall. Just north of Miami Beach is the Bal Harbour Shopping District. Fort Lauderdale: The famous Sawgrass Mills Factory Outlet Mall is located on the northwest edge of the city and many boutiques can be found near the waterfront. Tampa: The main shopping area is around Franklin Street Mall. Orlando: Shoppers can take advantage of a huge range of retail outlets from factory outlet malls such as Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores to designer malls such as Orlando Premium Outlets and the Mall at Millenia.

Sport
Florida’s sports opportunities are endless. Greyhound-racing is held in Bonita Springs, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, the Keys, Miami, Orange Lake, Palm Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, St Petersburg and Tampa. Harness-racing is popular in Pompano and thoroughbred horse racing in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa. Other spectator sports include professional basketball, played in Miami at the American Airlines Arena; professional football, with the Miami Dolphins playing at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers team in Tampa; and polo, played at the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club. Other sports on offer include golf, tennis, fishing, boat-racing, motorcar-racing, rodeo, baseball, diving and sailing. Hunting and fishing licenses are sometimes required by persons over 16 years of age; check with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (website: www.floridaconservation.org). For further information and brochures on any of the above-listed sports, contact the Florida Sports Foundation, 2930 Kerry Forest Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32309 (tel: (850) 488 8347; fax: (850) 922 0482; e-mail: info@flasports.com; website: www.flasports.com).

THEATRE & CONCERTS
Miami/Miami Beach: The best known theatres include the Theater of Performing Arts at Miami Beach Convention Center Complex and Coconut Grove Playhouse, which plays major Broadway hits. The Concert Association of Florida books many major stars; their shows are usually staged at Dade County or Miami Beach Auditoria. Fort Lauderdale: Parker Playhouse was created by Zev Buffman, owner of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, and shows usually move on from there to the Parker. The Sunrise Music Theater often features big-name performers.