Florida basks in 300 sunny days per year

As America's tropical seaside playground, Florida is where much of the country comes to play, party, relax or retire.

The weather is the big draw in the self-proclaimed "Sunshine State" where 300 sunny days per year produce an annual average temperature of 21°C (70°F). The 1,600km of white-sand beaches and clear blue waters offer the best possible places to enjoy the climate.

All this lures vacationers from around the world - along with America's elderly from the likes of winter-stricken Minnesota - by the million. And with so many people here to relax and enjoy themselves it's small wonder that the state has developed an easy-going vibe; one which fuses neatly with the laid-back charm of America's deep south at the northern end of the state and with the cheerfully vibrant Cuban and Latin American cultures (and fiestas) that drive society in the south.

All this makes the state ideal for a tropical beach holiday, particularly given the great food, nightlife, shopping and gamut of commercial attractions, which of course include Disney World.

But the state is a highly urbanized one, so if you're here to commune with nature, you'll really need to make a concerted effort to seek out its wilderness, which includes the languid subtropical Everglades National Park, where alligators roam and mangrove swamps thrive.

Survival guide

More than anywhere else in the service-orientated US, Florida is deeply devoted to tourism and so very good catering for it.

Plentiful flights from US and European destinations make the state easy to get to and hundreds of well-priced rental cars await arrivals. Picking one up is recommended, given the sprawling nature of the state's cities and attractions, unless you plan to simply stay around your hotel.

Many people arrive with hotels bookings complete, so turning up on spec can be tricky at any time of year, despite the huge stock of hotels and motels.

With all logistics easily dealt with, it's perhaps the weather that might prove most troublesome. The southern third of the state is decidedly tropical so its summers can be oppressive and have you scampering from one air-conditioned facility to the next. Thankfully, cool breezes generally make the beaches pleasant, though its also wind, in its most extreme form, that causes the most bother in Florida during the hurricane season (July to November).

Other natural hazards include lightning, tornadoes and shark attacks, though the risk of encountering any is very small and there are plenty of local warnings.