Sunshine Matters

China represents the fastest growing outbound travel market in the world, with nearly 2.2 million Chinese tourists visiting the United States in 2014.  Not only do visitors from China come frequently, but they stay longer and spend more than any other inbound international group in the United States.  With these key facts in mind, VISIT FLORIDA teamed up with The Florida Keys & Key West and The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring six Chinese journalists to South Florida to explore arts, culture and nature.

In Key West, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum tour provided a glimpse into the life of the famous American writer whose work is very popular in China.  They also enjoyed learning about a different era of Key West and meeting many of the 54 six-toed cats who call the historic property home.

The Keys also showcased the endless ways to enjoy the water, with most meals accompanied by the sound of waves crashing and activities like snorkeling and kayaking.  The group recalled seeing colorful fish, barracuda and a nurse shark while snorkeling at North America’s only living coral reef.

And, no trip to the Keys is complete without key lime pie.  The group enjoyed a variety of key lime pie recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including key lime pie on a stick from Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe.

After a scenic ride from the Keys, the journalists arrived in Miami with an appetite and an eagerness to experience the arts, so the South Beach food tour hit the spot.  The group experienced the history and architecture of the Art Deco Historic District and enjoyed the best of Miami Beach’s global cuisine, which included Latin, European and American comfort food.

The group fell in love with Miami’s art and culture as they continued their excursions with lunch and a guided tour at Wynwood Walls, a tour of the Miami Design District, a stroll along Ocean Avenue and a trip to Little Havana.

VISIT FLORIDA would like to thank our Partners, The Florida Keys & Key West and The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, for introducing the media to a wonderful sampling of the arts, culture and nature experiences that Florida has to offer.  For more information about VISIT FLORIDA FAM trips, please contact me at mdougherty@VISITFLORIDA.org.