Vacation in the Sunshine State This Summer!

Is your summer forecast calling for fun in the sun and surf? Then you’ll flip for Florida! Whether you’re looking to lounge on the beach or explore the Everglades, this sizzling state has it all.

It’s no surprise that Florida is a vegetarian oasis, considering the mix of health-conscious golden-agers and beach-basking beauties who make this fourth-most-populous state their full- or part-time home. From the health-food store to your supermarket of choice, vegetarian food can be found just about anywhere you look, which is why Orlando was voted one of America’s most vegetarian-friendly cities! Even Marlins and Devil Rays baseball fans are vegging it up: Dolphins Stadium and Tropicana Field serve some of the best meat-free bleacher food in the country.

When in Fort Lauderdale, get your fill of tasty fare at Sublime, an award-winning vegan restaurant with eclectic cuisine and an upbeat ambience that funnels all its profits back into organizations that help animals. If you’re touring Tampa, take a break and feast on authentic Indian masala and other spicy Eastern delights at Pure Veg Mirch Masala. When in historic Saint Augustine, help yourself to healthy, delicious food and good-for-you groceries at The Manatee Café. And if you’re looking for a place to fill your belly, lay your head, and relax your body and spirit, book a stay at the Rasayana Cove Ayurvedic Retreat. Located in the secluded woods of Central Florida, this blissful B&B offers freshly prepared vegan meals and rejuvenation treatments from Kerala, India.

For more great places to eat and stay while you’re frolicking in Florida, click here.

Not-So-Attractive Animal ‘Attractions’

Even though this sunny state prohibits bear wrestling, bloodless bullfighting, and hog-dog rodeos and the cities of Hollywood and Lauderdale Lakes take compassion to the next level by banning all animal acts, Florida still has the dubious distinction of being home to 13 aquariums, more than any other state. At watery prisons like SeaWorld, aquatic animals—who would naturally swim hundreds of miles per day, eat a diverse diet, and form complex relationships—are doomed to spend their lives swimming in listless, lonely circles.

The African elephants at Lowry Park Zoo were captured at Hlane Royal National Park in Swaziland—torn from their families as youngsters to spend the rest of their lives in a cramped pen far from their native land. The zoo has been investigated by the USDA multiple times and was cited for failure to provide animals with clean water to drink, shelter from direct sunlight and inclement weather, safe enclosures, and proper handling.

Sight-Seeing Down South

Florida is a great place for outdoor activities all year. Flanked by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, you won’t have to go far to find wet and wild activities in Florida. Speaking of which, beat the heat and make a splash at Orlando’s Wet ’n Wild water park, and get your daily recommended dose of fun at the Fun Spot of Florida, an awesome amusement park, go-kart track, and arcade all rolled into one great place for the entire family. For a unique underwater adventure, head down to Key West and spend the day exploring ocean reefs with a professional dive and snorkel service.

If you’re more interested in wilderness than wild surf, head to Everglades National Park, where you can camp, canoe, hike, bike, and take guided tours, all surrounded by the one-of-a-kind Everglades, the natural home of alligators, colorful birds and insects, and animals you won’t find anywhere else. Blast off to Kennedy Space Center to catch a shuttle launch, or get revved up for a race at Daytona International Speedway. Search for the fountain of youth at St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the U.S., or explore the lavishly decorated rooms and exquisite Italian Renaissance-inspired gardens of Miami’s Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. And no matter how you spend your day, if your trip takes you to Tampa, tour the D.G. Yuengling Brewery to sample the delicious libations and have a look around.

Now that you’re ready for your fun-filled Florida vacation, browse the PETA Mall “Travel and Vacations” guide for deals that will improve your trip and help support PETA.

And last but not least, don’t forget about your best friend. Before you go, let us help you find a reputable companion-animal sitter to take care of your pal while you’re away.

Happy trails!