Sunshine Matters

Florida’s second most important European market in terms of visitation to the Sunshine State is Germany, with nearly half a million visitors to the state in 2015.  To keep Florida top of mind, VISIT FLORIDA recently hosted four German travel writers on an in-depth familiarization tour (FAM) of the Sunshine State’s Northeast region.  Relatively undiscovered to the German audience, the journalists had a taste of the largest city in the U.S. in terms of square miles – Jacksonville; the oldest city in the nation – St. Augustine; and an out-of-this-world experience along the Space Coast.

The first stop on the tour was Jacksonville, where they discovered a deliciously charming confectionary emporium nestled in the heart of downtown which has become nationally recognized, not only for its chocolate, but for its appearance on the TV show “The Profit.”  In addition to enjoying a stroll through the Riverside Arts Market and the nearby Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the journalists spent the day learning about Florida’s east cost beach culture.  With the Jacksonville Surf and Paddle instructors working with the journalists, they were ultimately able to ride a wave and couldn’t wait to share their story.

Heading down Florida’s well-known and scenic A1A toward St. Augustine, the group stopped at the virtually untouched 30 degree 8 minute historical landmark near Ponte Vedra Beach where Ponce de Leon claimed La Florida for Spain.  Doing a full day of the historic sites and learning about the rich Spanish, English and French influences in St. Augustine, the group got a glimpse of life in that time period as they rode along on a horse-drawn carriage tour.  The trip would not be complete without a taste of the city’s foodie culture, from farm fresh tapas, to gyros and even an olive oil tasting shop.

Visitors cannot leave Florida without seeing one of the most well-known and respected creatures, the alligator.  Touring the famous St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park from above, the group zip-lined their way over the sunbathing reptiles.  From alligators to pirates to paddle boarding on the Intracoastal, the journalists were completely enamored by the “Ancient City.”

Only a short two-hour drive away, the Space Coast welcomed the group with a tour of Cape Canaveral’s new and interactive Exploration Tower – an ultra-modern, seven-story observation deck that includes multiple levels of interaction to teach guests about the wildlife and history of the area.  With a full day at the Kennedy Space Center visiting an astronaut and enjoying a personal space launch simulator experience, the journalists were blown away by both the history of space travel and its newest technology.  To get a sense of the natural side of Florida’s Space Coast, the journalists took a pontoon boat to the Thousand Islands Conservation Area where they discovered a host of local bird and marine life.

As these influential journalists learned for themselves, there are a myriad of unique and historical experiences only Florida can offer that make the Sunshine State the ideal destination for outdoors and nature loving German travelers.  Many thanks to our VISIT FLORIDA Partners at Visit Jacksonville, Visit Historic Coast and Visit Space Coast whose support made this trip possible.  For more information about VISIT FLORIDA familiarization tours, please contact me at cclaussen@VISITFLORIDA.org.