Florida tourism is red-hot. In 2015, the Sunshine State welcomed more than 100 million visitors, a U.S. record. Many of them visit in March and April, for spring break, baseball spring training or the chance to escape northern climes before winter's grip lets go. USA TODAY's Ashley Day, James Riley and Nancy Trejos look at what Florida-bound travelers can expect this season.
Theme parks
There's an awakening of the Force at Disney Parks in Orlando this spring. First, on April 4, Disney's Hollywood Studios will introduce Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away, a new live stage show that features the biggest moments from the seven Star Wars movies. Then, the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, an all-new nightly fireworks and special effects spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios, will debut this summer. Scenes from the Star Wars movies will be projected onto the Studios' Chinese Theater and other nearby buildings, bringing guests into the movies.
However, just getting into a Disney park will cost a bit more, as the company has announced seasonal pricing for their one-day tickets. New pricing is as follows: Value days (for less busy times of the year) are now $105 for adults and $99 for children between the ages 3-9 at the Magic Kingdom theme park. Regular days are now $110 for adults and $104 for children. Peak days (the most crowded times) are $124 for adults and $118 for children. Children under the age of 3 are free.
Universal Studios Orlando will begin transporting visitors to Skull Island this summer for the Reign of Kong attraction at Islands of Adventure, a 3D ride that promises to be one of Universal’s longest ever.
Mako, soon to be Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster, will also begin its feeding frenzy this summer at SeaWorld Orlando, with a top speed of 73 m.p.h. and a 200 foot tall track.
Hotels
Downtown Miami has in recent years experienced a building boom. That doesn’t seem to be slowing down in 2016.
Later this month, the Langford Hotel is scheduled to open with 126 guestrooms in what was once the Miami National Bank in downtown’s Flagler District. The remodeled 1925-structure was designated a historic site by the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It will have a restaurant called PB Station and a rooftop bar called Pawn Broker.
In the thriving Brickell District, EAST, Miami will be perched on top of Brickell City Centre. Scheduled to open in May, EAST, Miami will have 352 rooms including eight suites and 89 residences. It will be the first U.S. property for Swire Hotels, which has also opened EAST hotels in Hong Kong and Beijing. Guests will be able to sip cocktails on a wet deck, dine at the on-site eatery Quinto La Huella, and soak up views and booze at Sugar, the rooftop bar. ME Miami, the brand's first U.S. location, will also open this spring downtown with 129 rooms. The property will have a sun deck on its 14th floor terrace, dual sunset and sunrise pools, cabanas, a poolside bar and lounge, and an STK steakhouse.
In Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort and Loews Hotels and Resorts will open the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando this summer. It will be the fifth on-site hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. The property will have 1,000 Caribbean-themed rooms and suites built around a lagoon and waterfall.
Over on the Gulf Coast, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants is expanding its presence in Florida by taking over management of the Hotel Zamora in St. Pete Beach. The Kimpton Hotel Zamora will be Kimpton’s sixth hotel in the Sunshine State, and its first flag on the west coast. The hotel has 72 guestrooms, including 22 two-bedroom suites with balconies overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Gulf of Mexico.
Some reliable grand dames of the Florida hospitality scene will be getting makeovers this year. In the Keys, Cheeca Lodge and Spa will mark its 70th anniversary with a multi-phase renovation. In January, the Islamorada property got a newly redesigned lobby bar. In March, work will begin on an upgrade of the resort’s beachfront family pool. And in late 2016, guestrooms will be overhauled and modernized. In Ponte Vedra Beach in the Jacksonville Beaches area, the Sawgrass Marriott is nearing completion of a $25 million refresh of its 511 guestrooms and villas, pool, front desk, hotel façade, the Sawgrass Spa and Cabana Beach Club.
Restaurants and dining
The Sunshine State's in the culinary spotlight with James Beard Foundation nods in Bal Harbour, Coral Gables, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami, where Alter is a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant and its chef Bradley Kilgore is up for Rising Star Chef of the Year.
Miami's food scene sizzles each February when South Beach Wine and Food Festival brings chefs and foodies from around the world, and many have come to stay. Celebrity chefs Jean-Georges Vongerichten (Matador Room, ABC Kitchen coming in 2017), Tom Colicchio (Beachcraft), Alex Guarnaschelli (Driftwood Room, Nautilus Cabana Club) and Spike Mendelsohn (Sunny's) opened restaurants in the last year or so. In February, Matthew Kenney introduced plant-based and raw food destination Plant Food + Wine (along with a raw food culinary school on-site), restaurateurs Cindy Hutson and Delius Shirley opened restaurant and market concept Zest, and the "Million Dollar Chef" debuted Kaori by Walter Martino with $300-$700 tasting menus that fuse Italian and Japanese with indulgences like truffle and edible gold. Also look for new multi-venue lifestyle concepts Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails (Hallandale Beach) and River Yacht Club (Miami) both offering oceanfront dining in south Florida.
Central Florida visitors can look forward to enhanced dining in the Orlando International Airport with a Cask & Larder outpost, Jersey Mike's Subs, Asian Chao Oriental Eatery, and Green Leaf's & Bananas in the newly renovated Terminal 2 (Southwest and Virgin America) Food Hall. Plus, Wahlburgers opened an Orlando outpost in February.
Spring travelers can experience Florida's famous Strawberry Festival and the National Cuban Sandwich Festival in Tampa in March, plus the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Parade & Festival (March 12-13), Marathon Seafood Festival (March 12-13), and Marco Island Seafood & Music Festival (March 18-20). Meanwhile, craft beer fans can find new Florida brews at Bog Brewing and Ancient City Brewing in St. Augustine, Wicked Barley Brewing Co. in Jacksonville, and Hidden Springs Ale Works in Tampa.
Events and festivals
Baseball spring training runs through early April with games on both coasts and the Orlando corridor.
Boat lovers should flock to Miami for Sailing Week March 6-12, and to nearby Palm Beach for the International Boat Show March 17-20.
Daytona Bike Week, one of the USA's largest motorcyle festivals, runs March 4-13.
Everglades National Park is celebrating the centennial of the National Park Service with events and programs throughout the year.
