Even if you’re not a culture vulture, you’ll recognise famous sets from the silver screen and beautiful buildings designed by some of the greatest names in architecture on your holidays to Florida. Our flights land at Sanford Airport so here’s a suggested route, starting there, for a fly-drive road trip of epic proportions that you’ll never forget…

1 Wonderworks

Distance from Sanford: 12km 

No, you haven’t accidentally travelled down under but yes, that building is upside down! Head out on the 528 toll and take a right on to Route 4, you can’t miss it. Feel free to pop in and see what ‘wonders’ lie within…

 2 Team Disney Building

Distance from Sanford: 25km

 Back on to Route 4 but heading south this time. You’ll soon arrive at the majestic area of the Walt Disney World Resort. The Team Disney Building, designed by Arata Isozaki, looks like it’s just popped out of a computer screen and comes complete with the largest sundial in the world.

 3 Cinderella Castle

Distance from Sanford: 25km

No package holidays to Florida would be complete without seeing this iconic, fairytale fun land. Be warned if you have kids in tow – you can expect to lose a couple of days in this childhood paradise!

4 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pfeiffer Chapel

Distance from Sanford: 100km

Back on the road, you keep following the famous Route 4 south until you get to Lakeland. This gem was the first of Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings to be constructed at Florida Southern College and is one of a total of 64 that you can appreciate within the 100 acre campus.

5 Frank Lloyd Wright’s Florida Southern College Library

Distance from Sanford: 100km

One of the most famous architects of all time had to be included twice on this list and the Southern College Library is just as impressive as the Pfeiffer Chapel. Plus it’s only walking distance from the chapel for you, and after all that driving it’s probably time you stretched your legs.

6 Tampa Museum of Art

Distance from Sanford: 150km

Route 4 leads you right down into central Tampa where you can find a building in which the contents match the incredible design. Marvel at the colourful exterior before heading in to view the Masterworks of 20^th Century Sculpture.

7 Wachovia Financial Centre

Distance from Sanford: 380km

Take Route 75 all the way down the west coast of Florida and through the stunning scenery of the Big Cypress National Park. Feel free to stop for a burger or some sticky ribs! Keep your eyes open for this high-rise giant on the Miami skyline as you come out of the Everglades, and that way you’ll know you’re on course. It reaches 764ft tall and was the tallest building in Miami until 2003.

8 Adrienne Arsht Center

Distance from Sanford: 400km

 

This futuristic centre for the performing arts was designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli. The former ‘Carnival’ Center was renamed after business leader and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht donated $30 million to make the facility financially stable.

9 The Villa Vizcaya

Distance from Sanford: 380km

You may recognise this magnificent Italian Renaissance structure from such films as Ace Ventura (1994) and Any Given Sunday (1999). Built in 1916, this stunning house (complete with a formal garden and a native forest) has become a National Historic Landmark.

10 The Carlyle Hotel

Distance from Sanford: 400km

Finish the trip in cinematic style with some Art Deco Miami. The Carlyle Hotel is one of many striking buildings on Miami’s famous Ocean Drive. The elegant structure has featured in The Birdcage (1996) and Bad Boys 2 (2003) but is probably most famous for its appearance in seminal gangster flick Scarface (1983).

 

If you see something amazing that we’ve missed off this list while on your Florida fly-drive holiday, please mention it in the comments below…