Photo courtesy of Visit Florida

Summer is here and if you’re like many Canadians, your car is packed and you’re getting ready for the long drive south. Whether your final destination is Jacksonville or Miami or somewhere in between, there are plenty of reasons Canadians keep returning to Florida.

Read More: What’s New at Theme Parks Across North America

Once you’re done making the obligatory visits to theme parks and exploring the state’s 1,300+ kilometres of coastline, there are plenty of new things to check out in Florida this year. Below is a list of some of Florida’s new attractions, hotels and festivals to explore this year.

Northern Region

Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra Beach: The Sawgrass Marriott is adding the finishing touches to a $25 million resort “refresh.” Upgrades are being made to the hotel’s 511 guestrooms/villas, the pool area, the hotel façade and the Sawgrass Spa and Cabana Beach Club. The hotel is also adding a new “butler serviced” wing as well as a new restaurant, the American Gator Club.

Central Region

Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach: Ocean Properties' new luxury resort features a mid-century vibe with a curving façade facing the Gulf of Mexico. The new 230-room property has unobstructed views of the Gulf's emerald waters and 17,000 square feet of snazzy waterfront meeting space.

Busch Gardens Tampa: A new family thrill ride, Cobra's Curse, opens this year. This spin coaster will be the only attraction of its kind in the world. After completing a vertical lift, riders will enjoy a whirlwind tour over the park's Serengeti Plain themed area and through an Egyptian archaeological excavation.

EPCOT, Orlando: Earlier this year, the theme parked opened it’s new “Frozen Ever After” in the Norway pavilion of the World Showcase. The former Maelstrom ride has been renovated into a new attraction based on Disney's popular film, “Frozen.”

Hollywood Studios, Orlando: Star Wars fans can now find a number of new Star Wars’ themed attractions at Hollywood Studios. Interact with characters from the films at Star Wars Launch Bay and enjoy an all new narrative at Star Tours, which features a new storyline and new characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Younger guests can commence Jedi training at the new Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple attraction.

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort: Earlier this year, the park premiered “The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure.” This 4D (think wind, water and smoke elements) features reunites Emmet and Wyldstyle from The LEGO® Movie™ for an all new adventure.

SeaWorld Orlando: The theme park has welcomed a brand new 200-foot-tall rollercoaster, named after one of the fastest sharks in the ocean. The coaster will be Orlando's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster, with speeds topping out at 73 mph. The coaster is the centerpiece of a newly created, shark-themed realm that provides entertainment as well as education as to why these fish are so important to the environment.

Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando: The theme park is opening Skull Island: Reign of Kong this summer, honoring one of the most famous figures in movie history, King Kong.

Disney Springs, Orlando: The attraction formerly known as Downtown Disney is being completely transformed into Disney Springs. The expansion includes a plan to double the number of shops, restaurants and other venues for guests to explore. New restaurants include:

The Edison, an “industrial gothic” eatery from the Patina Group, which will feature live entertainment, classic American cuisine and craft cocktails.

Noted chef and six time James Beard Foundation winner, Chef Rick Bayless is opening Frontera Fresca, the latest eatery in his Frontera empire.

STK Orlando, an upscale steakhouse, is also in the works. When open, it will feature a high-energy vibe with live DJ music and a sleek environment designed to get guests mixing and mingling.

Celebrity Chef Art Smith, who was born and raised in Jasper, Fla., is bringing a taste of home to his new restaurant, Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine.

Brewstillery, Winter Park: Winter Park Distilling Company is opening a new facility that combines a craft brewery, a taproom and a retail showroom in the City of Winter Park. The “Brewstillery,” the first venue of its kind in Florida, will offer daily tours.

Outdoor Kitchen and Edible Garden, Bok Tower Gardens: Fresh food and culinary programming are the focus of this new facility at Bok Tower Gardens, and is the largest capital expansion campaign ever undertaken by the Gardens.

Read More: Coming Attractions in Orlando

Southern Region

Courtyard Marathon Florida Keys: Panoramic bay views and a white sand beachfront are signature elements at this new 83-room property. Other amenities include an infinity pool, fitness center, pool bar and a casual dining venue.

Hilton West Palm Beach: This new 400-room hotel, connected to the Palm Beach County Convention Center by an enclosed walkway, features a 225-seat restaurant named “Manor,” which showcase the talents of renowned local chef Matthew Byrne.

Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale: The all-new $147 million Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort has opened on the Boardwalk. The 349-room property includes eight restaurants/bars, three pools and a full-service St. Somewhere Spa.

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Marco Island: The property has completed the first phase of a $250 million transformation. The resort now has 716 enhanced guestrooms, new dining options, a re-imagined lobby and lots of amenities. When all work is complete, the resort will debut on January 1, 2017 as the JW Marriott Beach Resort Marco Island, the first JW Marriott Beach Resort in the continental U.S.

Naples Bay Resort, Naples: Celebrity chef Art Smith opens his second Florida restaurant, 1500 South, at the Naples Bay Resort. Smith, an acclaimed chef, was Oprah's personal chef for more than a decade.

Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, Sanibel Island: Sundial recently added a fourth dining option, Shima Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, where your meal is prepared right before your eyes on a hibachi grill. 

The Casino @ Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale: The former Dania Casino & Jai Alai has undergone a $60 million makeover and reopened as The Casino @ Dania Beach. The facility features 900 Las Vegas-style slot machines, a card room with 24 tables, live Jai-Alai and a Stage 954 for live performances and touring bands.

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, The Florida Keys: The Florida Keys Wild Bird Center in Tavernier has expanded its facilities to Wild Bird Explore, a series of interactive exhibits including streaming videos of bird releases, Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology eBird kiosk, interactive bird migration maps and a section on bird anatomy with X-rays and articulated skeletons.

The Gallery, The Florida Keys: This new Key Largo venue showcases the art and handmade items of 10 artists who are local to South Florida.

Florida Panther Festival, Naples Zoo: In November, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens presents the inaugural Florida Panther Festival with special presentations, children's activities and a panther-themed hike.

Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Punta Gorda, Fla.: A 50-million-year old stone fossil of a palm frond found in Wyoming serves as the inspiration for the signature sculpture at the new Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens. In total, the 27-acre property will have seven large-scale sculptures surrounded by flowering trees. This will be one of the largest endowments for a botanical garden in the state of Florida.

Rapids Water Park, Riviera Beach: The waterpark is home to a new attraction, Brain Drain, a capsule-style slide where the floor falls out from under guests, dropping them on a 70-foot free fall before they complete the slide’s twists and turns.

Siesta Beach, Sarasota County: This popular beach, the winner of TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award for Best Beach in North America in 2015, has undergone a $21.5 million renovation, which includes new playgrounds, 150 additional parking spaces and a refresh of the Sarasota School of Architecture pavilion.

For more information on what’s new in Florida, visit www.visitflorida.org.

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