Handicraft
Native American culture is part of Florida's DNA, as Native Americans were the first to populate the region. Two tribes are still present: the Miccosukee and the Seminole. To learn more about their history and discover their customs and crafts, you can visit the Miccosukee village and the Seminole reservation of Big Cypress and its museum, both located in the Everglades. Both places have the particularity of offering visitors a museum, traditional activities and a store where you will find Native American handicrafts (jewelry, clothing, wooden objects or handmade dolls).
In Miami, in the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana, there are many hand-rolled cigar making workshops.
North of Tampa, Tarpon Spring is considered the sponge capital of the world. Tarpon Spring's natural sponges are caught in the city's harbor and are 100% biodegradable.
Shopping
In Miami, fall for tee-shirts from the brand Bichōn, created by a French woman, Marilou. Timeless and made of organic cotton, they are adorned with an embroidered neon, a nod to the famous Ocean Drive avenue. Bonus: they are phosphorescent! The Art Deco Gift Shop, located in the Art Deco Museum in South Beach, is full of Art Deco posters and postcards, as well as vintage items that you won't find anywhere else.
Numerous malls and outlets, although less typical, are scattered all over Florida: they are waiting for you for a designer shopping at very low prices! And don't forget the swimsuits that you will find everywhere in Miami Beach or in the coastal cities of Florida!
Are you planning to visit Orlando, THE theme park city? If you're going to Universal Studio, try your hand at your favorite character's wand at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. At Disneyworld, choose a stuffed animal, a T-shirt with the image of the most famous mouse or the famous Minnie Ears, those headbands shaped like Minnie's ears. Around the parks, there are many stores selling souvenirs at bargain prices, especially in Kissimmee. Keep an eye out for the labels, as they are not always official.
Finally, the iconic Kennedy Space Center, where the Apollo 11 mission was launched, is home to the world's largest space-themed store, The Space Shop.
Gourmet basket
If you want to take home a little bit of Florida's best, you'll have plenty to choose from! From the Keys, we recommend the beers and spirits of Islamorada Brewery and Distillery. Among the most original flavors: hibiscus gin, Keylime beers to find the flavor of the famous key lime pie or Coconut Keylime Ale. It's a fact: the Key Lime Pie is THE specialty of the Keys! If it seems like a long shot to pack a slice of pie in your suitcase, you'll find plenty of lime products at Kermit's Key West Key Lime Shoppe, including candies, cookies, sauces, juices and marinades.
Many local and gourmet products can also be purchased directly from the growers at local farmers' markets. In Miami, in the charming Coconut Grove neighborhood, you should find what you're looking for at the Organic Farmers Market (Saturdays from 10am to 5pm) or the Lincoln Road Farmers Market (Sundays from 9am to 6:30pm).
To give your morning coffee an international flavor, you can bring Cuban coffee from Little Havana, Miami. You can easily find it in local supermarkets and grocery stores. In the south of Miami, more precisely at the gates of the Everglades, Robert is Here is another institution appreciated by the locals: if the business is specialized in fresh fruits and vegetables, it is also full of tasty products such as avocado honey or orange marmalade, Florida being the first orange producer in the United States!
Finally, we do not necessarily know it, but Florida claims to be the first vineyard of the United States! The sun that shines almost all year round is probably a factor. There is even a Florida wine route, which winds from Saint Augustine to Central Florida, passing through Orlando, Clearwater and Saint Petersburg. A stop at one of the many wineries is a good idea for wine lovers. Good to know: the majority of Florida wines are made from Muscat grapes.
Tourist souvenirs
Although they are often made in China, let's admit that this type of souvenirs is very popular for those who are looking for low cost products to bring back to their friends and family. Keychains with Florida license plates, alligator magnets, Miami or Orlando T-shirts or baseball caps... also have the advantage of not weighing much. In Miami, there is no shortage of well-stocked souvenir stores, especially around Ocean Drive. Those located in former Art Deco hotels are worth a look, even if you don't buy anything! You will also find a wide selection of products at the Bayside Market in Downtown Miami.
