Top reasons to visit Florida in 2010

For year-round holiday entertainment, it’s hard to beat Florida – and in 2010 there are lots of old and new reasons to visit America’s sunshine state.

Enjoy Florida’s Fairs

One of Florida’s long-time favourite events is the annual Florida State Fair, running for 12 days from 4-15 February and featuring agriculture and equestrian shows plus fairground rides, music, food and shopping. Visit http://www.floridastatefair.com/ for further information.

If you miss the state fair, the Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off on 4 March for 10 days and is considered amongst the top 50 fairs in North America. It celebrates the local strawberry and presents livestock shows, fine arts and crafts, live bands, stunt shows, racing pigs and (of course) lots of scrumptious strawberries! Visit http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/ for details, or http://www.floridastatefair.net/ for buy advance tickets.

Celebrate surf and skate

Daytona Beach hosts WinterJAM from 18-21 February 2010 – a VW, surf, skate and music festival now in its fourth year. It incorporates 14 events at seven unique venues over four days, accompanied by live bands and Djs. The events include three VW shows, three action sport events, three themed parties, and a motorsports event.

http://www.daytonawinterjam.com/

See weird white Crocodiles

Visitors to Gatorland in Orlando can now see a colony of rare and spooky-looking white crocodiles, of which just 12 are believed to be in existence in the USA. The creatures were reintroduced there towards the end of 2009, and are housed in lowly-lit enclosures to protect them from harmful sun exposure.

http://www.gatorland.com/

Watch the Endeavour launch with your own eyes

The space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch the STS-130 mission from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 7 February 2010 (TBC), destined for the International Space Station. NASA will broadcast the STS-130 mission live on NASA TV – but that’s no substitute for seeing it with your own eyes.

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html

Wonder at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Set to open in Spring 2010, this new 20-acre Harry Potter land transports visitors into J K Rowling’s wizarding world, bringing the books and films to life. Complete with a life-sized Hogwarts Castle, the village of Hogsmeade, and many other attractions including rollercoasters, it’s an adventure for Potter fans.

http://www.wizardingworldharrypotter.com/

Go on safari with Sesame Street

Also set for a Spring 2010 opening is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s new child-friendly Sesame Street-themed play land, ‘Sesame Street Safari of Fun’. Celebrating the spirit of Africa and featuring all-time favourite characters such as Big Bird and Elmo, the playland will offer children’s rides, 4-D theatre, musical performances, and water play areas such as ‘Bert & Ernie’s Water Hole’, a splashing adventure complete with geysers and water jets.

http://www.buschgardens.com/Bgt/

Go Golfing

Orlando has been named 2010′s ‘Golf Destination of the Year’ for North America by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators thanks to its 177 courses and 23 golf academies – catering for all levels. Before you book or travel, you can research the various golfing options online at http://www.orlandogolf.com/.

Celebrate 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, and to celebrate a large-scale fan event, ‘Star Wars Celebration V’, has been organised for 12-15 August 2010 in Orlando. Promising to be one of the largest official Star Wars fan events ever, there will be fan-run events, members of the cast and crew, screenings, live entertainment and collectibles.

http://www.starwarscelebration.com/

Flights leave for Florida daily from the UK and take just over ten hours