To some, Florida is synonymous with Disney World, but the Sunshine State has much more to offer than just the Magic Kingdom.

Orlando is known as the theme park capital of the world. Its most famous attraction is, of course, Walt Disney World, but Orlando is also home to Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove, Gatorland, Wet 'N Wild, and Medieval Times, among others.

With over 1,800 miles of coastline, including 1,200 miles of beaches, Florida is one of America's premier destinations for swimming, surfing, sailing, and other water sports.

A number of major sports teams are based in Florida, including the Miami Dolphins (football) and Miami Heat (basketball), the Florida Marlins (baseball), the Florida Panthers (hockey), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (football), and Orlando Magic (baseball). Florida is also home to some of the world's best golf courses, and NASCAR fans flock to Daytona to the Daytona International Speedway.

While most of Florida's leisure activities are designed to take advantage of its climate, there are also a number of museums that are worth stepping out of the sunshine for. In Tallahassee, you'll find the Old State Capitol Museum, the Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science, and the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. The Jewish Museum of Florida is located in Miami, while Pensacola is home to the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Pensacola Museum of Art. St. Petersburg has a thriving art scene, with the St. Petersburg Arts Center, the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, and the Salvador Dali Museum all located in the city. Even Orlando, which is known more for its roller coasters than its cultural offerings, boasts some impressive museums, including the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center, the Orange County Regional History Center, and the International Train and Trolley Museum, to name a few.

Those wishing to escape the urban confines of the city can find sanctuary in the Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park or Ocala National Forest. The Florida Keys offers a tropical escape, with a laid-back atmosphere reflective of true island life.

Florida has an active nightlife. Miami's South Beach is especially known for its exclusive clubs, but since most of Florida is geared up for tourists there is a good selection of restaurants, bars and clubs in most moderately-sized towns.

Florida hosts a variety of cultural events and festivals. The Florida State Fair is perhaps the biggest statewide event. Held in February in Tampa, the Florida State Fair has rides and games, animal displays and shows, exhibitions, music and dance performances, and much more. The Florida Citrus Festival takes place in January. Plant City, the Strawberry Capital of the US, hosts the Florida Strawberry Festival in March. Also in March is the Miami International Film Festival. The Cuban American Heritage Festival takes place in May in Key West. And foodies will want to mark their calendars for September, when the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival and the Pensacola Seafood Festival takes place. Other local, regional and state-wide events take place throughout the year.

A large proportion of Florida's expat community is from Britain; as a result, there are many social groups and activities designed for Florida's British residents. BritishFlorida.com lists dozens of clubs by location. The web site also lists British events that take place during the year throughout Florida and is an overall good resource for Brits who have relocated, or are planning to relocate, to Florida.