March 28, 2024
Viva 500 - Map of Florida

Viva Florida 500 Travel Guide - The Discovery Continues

Beach Dancer
Navarre Beach

Navarre Beach

Photo: Visit Florida

Old Capitol

The old Florida Capitol building, built in 1845 in the Greek revival style, stands 136 feet high, in front of the new Capitol building.

Spanish Quarters

Re-enactors bring history to life in St. Augustine’s Spanish Quarters. 

Viva Florida 500

Viva Florida 500 1513-2013 - VivaFlorida.org

Visit Florida

ShareALittleSunshine.org
It's easy to give Florida business a boost.  Let's share a little sunshine.

Anna Maria City Pier

Anna Maria City Pier

The Disintegration

Salvador Dalí, “The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory,”
1952-54. Oil on panel, The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg

MOSI

MOSI.org
Mysterious. Magnificent.

St. Petersburg Clearwater

VisitStPeteClearwater.com
If you liked the last 500 years, you'll love the next 100 days.

Alligator Experience

St. Augustine Atrium Alligator Experience

Photo: Gaylord Palms

Everglades Atrium

Everglades Atrium

Photo: Gaylord Palms

Butterfly Rainforest

Florida Museum of Natural History Butterfly Rainforest

Photo: Visit Gainesville

Tall ship

Tall Ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano

Visit Gainesville

VisitGainesville.com
Create your own history here, just like the Spanish.

Bradenton

BradentonGulfIslands.com
Real. Authentic. Florida.

The Breakers

The Breakers

The Breakers

For special offers, visit thebreakers.com or call 855-884-3431

Angler's Lobby

The Angler's Lobby

Coral Hospitality
Gaylord Palms

MeetGaylordHotels.com
A hotel & convention center built with your meeting in mind.

Viva Florida 500 Travel Guide

The Discovery Continues

There's much to see and do as Florida commemorates the 500-year anniversary of Ponce de León arriving on its eastern shore.

| 4/30/2013

It's been 500 years since Juan Ponce de León sailed his ships toward the coast of a beautiful peninsula where he hoped to discover gold, treasures and the fountain of youth. His explorations through the land he called La Florida — place of flowers — left him enchanted by the beauty and ready to claim the land for his king and country.

More than 87 million visitors still make voyages each year to what is now known as Florida. In some ways, the state still reflects the dream of early explorers. Florida's diverse economy is able to generate monetary wealth; there is an abundance of natural treasures; and the quality of life instills a personal fountain of youth.

The statewide festivities planned to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of Florida — Viva Florida 500 — invite residents and visitors alike to launch their own explorations. According to Secretary of State Kent Detzner, “We have always approached Viva Florida 500 as an opportunity to better educate the world about Florida's place in history as the location where the world's cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America. But at the same time, we also hope and expect that it will spur economic development as Floridians and visitors get more excited about Florida's historical and cultural heritage.”

Visit Florida

Are you ready to explore? Map out an adventure across Florida this year.

Florida's First Beach
Pensacola Bay Area

Capital Celebrations
Tallahassee

Historic, Romantic St. Augustine
St. Augustine · Jacksonville

The Wonders of Tampa Bay
St. Petersburg · Clearwater · Tampa

Real. Authentic. Florida.
Manatee County

Tags: Dining & Travel, Corporate Travel, Getaways Guide

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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