Fourteen years after the founding of our nation in 1776, a fledgling United States planted roots with a permanent capital in Washington DC, a federal territory separate yet equal from its 13 states.

The story of present-day Florida originates in St. Augustine. The Spanish arrived in 1565, forming what would become the oldest, continually occupied European settlement in the United States.

Visitors to Islamorada, a village of small islands in the Florida Keys, can start their days saluting the sun over the Atlantic Ocean and end their evenings watching it set the Florida Bay ablaze.

The northern half of the Sanibel-Captiva island duo, Captiva was once a pirates’ lair and now yields vacation gold.

Wide open spaces, nature excursions, charming small towns, and innovative cuisine are waiting to be discovered by those willing to look beyond mouse ears.

Nestled amid 400,000 acres of protected wetlands, Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo (westgateresorts.com) is the largest dude ranch east of the Mississippi, encompassing 1,700 acres along the west bank of the Kissimmee River.

With a history entwined with the circus industry, Sarasota marries whimsical allure with beachfront fun.

The largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia is a captivating blend of unspoiled wilderness and rich history.

The proper noun “Asheville” has morphed into an adjective, as in “that’s so Asheville.”