Prehistoric Florida was more than twice as large as it is today, supporting a large number of plants and animals, including the now-extinct saber-tooth tiger, mastodon, and giant armadillo. Its earliest people were probably hunter/gatherers, living off of plants, nuts, shellfish, and small animals (and maybe the occasional elephant). With a steady water supply and good resources for tool-making and firewood, their cultures flourished, developing complex social organizations with large temple mounds and villages. These peoples successfully fought off attempts at colonization by Spanish explorers for many years.

Settlement was inevitable, however, even with so many nations fighting over this unique peninsula. Eventually the fledgling US government won out, and on March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state in the union.

This was the nation's first wine-producing state, dating back to the mid 1500s when French Huguenots discovered wild muscadine grapes growing near present-day St. Augustine and in other northeastern Florida locales. There are several major wineries operating throughout the state today, all of which are open for tours and tasting. On-site shops are available for you to purchase wines and gifts.

One of the state's best known attractions (other than all those hundred of miles of beautiful beaches) is the Everglades, the River of Grass which Marjorie Stoneman Douglas so avidly fought to protect. Much of Florida's wildlife is dependent on that ecosystem, including many species of birds. A visit to the hammocks in Everglades National Park is a fascinating endeavor, but definitely a cool-weather activity, as temperatures within the hammocks are typically several degrees warmer than outside of it.

Florida is a premier tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over the country and the world. It's all here waiting for you.