It's hard to deny the allure of a Florida Vacation. The state has oranges and alligators, art deco and astronauts, and some of the greatest theme parks in the world.

The Sunshine State - famous for sandy beaches, tropical breezes, and a climate that is oh-so-inviting when the rest of the United States is locked in the grip of winter - has long been a haven for winter "snowbirds." Ponce de Leon sought the Fountain of Youth on the Florida peninsula; today, the state is a magnet for the young and the young at heart.

Juan Ponce de Leon landed on the Florida coast near present-day St. Augustine on Easter Sunday, 1513. He named the land after the Spanish Easter flower festival, Pascua Florida. For years, the Spaniards searched for gold and other riches without success, and they had little luck establishing a permanent settlement there. St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously-inhabited European settlement in what is now the United States. The territory fell under British control for about 20 years in the 18th century, returned to Spanish hands in 1785, and became an American territory in 1819. It was admitted to the Union as the 27th state in 1845.

While the state became a popular wintering ground for tourists who traveled by train in the late 19th century, it was not until the advent of the automobile that travel to Florida became popular for the masses. They have been coming ever since. Today, with efficient air transportation systems, Florida is not more than a few hours away from most parts of the United States.

In the 1960s, Florida came into national prominence as the site of Cape Canaveral, the place where America launched its moon rockets. In 1971, the Magic Kingdom portion of Walt Disney World opened near Orlando. EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios, and the Animal Kingdom opened later. More than half a billion tourists have visited the Disney properties, making it the foremost travel destination in the world.