Travel review: Florida

Falcon's Fury at Busch Gardens in Tampa is the tallest free-standing drop-ride in North America. And I wimped out.

At the ride's highest, like its bird of prey namesake, riders pivot 90 degrees in mid-air to a face-down dive position. A second later they plunge straight down at 60mph. So, can you blame me?

Home to theme parks galore, Florida has become synonymous with the 'House of Mouse' and family fun – but a holiday to the Sunshine State doesn't have to involve Mickey and Co.

If you've done Disney to death, there's still plenty to enjoy – sea life, water parks with slides to strike fear into the heart of the most hardened adrenaline junkie, wonderful food, glorious sunsets, and even craft beer.

While the young (and young at heart) generally rule, a few days after swerving the fury of the falcon, sitting in a laid back beach bar with a local beer I couldn't help thinking there's definitely a more grown-up side to the Sunshine State.

I was on a six-day twin-centre trip to Florida joined by my boyfriend Mark with a plan to explore four of SeaWorld's parks and then soak up some surfer chic in St. Pete Clearwater.

Our adventure started at SeaWorld Orlando, and the flying face down thrill-ride Manta, followed swiftly by the extreme Kraken – see, I'm not a total wimp.

If you don't fancy being thrown about and would prefer to hang on to your lunch, the park offers visitors the chance to explore a natural wonderland of penguins, manatees, whales and more.

We were given a behind-the-scenes tour, hearing about the conservation work carried out by SeaWorld's animal experts, who rescue and care for sea-life on a daily basis.

In fact, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have been leaders in the care of animals, conservation research and animal education for more than 50 years. And it shows. Each team member we met talked with passion about the animals and their work.

Second up was the Aquatica water park. Whether it's just paddling about or extreme slides for the more adventurous, there's something for everyone. Once again I wimped out on the 'big ride' Ihu's Breakaway Falls, although Mark braved it – and loved it.

Riders climb 126 steps to the top of the eight-storey tower, which stands at almost 80 feet tall, stepping into one of three 'breakaway boxes'. As the door closes, they cross their arms and give a thumbs up in preparation for their drop – but they'll never know when the floor beneath them will disappear.

Once it does, riders drop 20 to 24 feet per second launching them into a spiraling speed slide and ending in a final splashdown.

Next on the park list was Discovery Cove, an island paradise, where visitors can swim with dolphins, snorkel among colourful fish and try out Sea Venture, an underwater walking tour wearing a diving helmet.

After slipping into wetsuits provided by the attraction we hand-fed tropical birds and relaxed on the all-inclusive attraction's pristine white beaches before floating about in the Freshwater Oasis.

Relaxed and with smiles on our faces we headed back to our hotel, the Doubletree Inn, Seaworld, in Orlando, which was a perfect base.

Next on the list was Busch Gardens, which is 90 minutes away in Tampa. The park's Serengeti Safari was a big highlight, feeding giraffes lettuce from the back of a truck and posing for animal selfies.

I also came across my favourite ride – the Cheetah Hunt. This coaster climbs high above the African landscape and then races down along the ground and through a rocky gorge. With another burst of acceleration, it leaps over bystanders and heads for home. It's a 4,400ft sprint that took my breath away.

If surfer chic is more your thing, head to The Postcard Inn in St. Pete – a six-mile-long island off the coast of Florida – about a 40-minute drive from Tampa.

With flour-fine white sand and shallow Gulf of Mexico waters, the coastline is excellent for laid back sun worshippers. The upgraded motel plays off a local surf vibe: the 196 rooms feature a mix of vintage boards, surfing-themed photographs, retro light fixtures, and flea market finds.

You can walk along the sand, kayak in the water, or take a stroll to one of the town's cafes or bars to soak up the relaxed beach town vibe.

There's even a craft beer scene, and we sampled a few of these and Mexican food any hombre would doff his sombrero to at Peg's Cantina in nearby Gulfport.

The restaurant is small and homely, with an enchanting garden decked out with fairy lights and candles. Watch out for the hot sauce though – let's just say for once it wasn't my driving making my other half cry.

A little more sedate than roller coasters, although thrilling in a different way, was kayaking at Fort De Soto Park.

This country park covers five islands and 1,136 acres on the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, and offers activities and amenities to entertain all ages.

Our guide Eric helped us navigate the two-and-a-quarter-mile paddling trail of amber-tinged tidal waters around the island, decorated with mangroves, and home to herons, white ibis and even manatees.

St. Pete comes alive at night, with a buzzing bar scene and we enjoyed cocktails in the rooftop lounge at The Birchwood before heading downtown to The Mill restaurant. Now these people are experts in their craft, from the hostesses to the servers and bartenders, nothing is too much trouble. We tried braised pork belly, sweet pea houmous and even frog's legs.

Everything tasted amazing.

The following day we recharged our creative batteries, visiting the Salvador Dali museum, which has one of the largest collections of the surrealist's work outside Spain, and the Chihuly Collection – a series of rooms housing stunning glass work.

The three-storey Dali museum is in a beautiful bay side spot, the dramatic envelope sheltering the 2,000-piece collection, while a sculptural spiral staircase beckons visitors to the galleries above. Superb.

During our trip we marvelled at impossibly crafted glass and breathtaking views; ate cookies as big as our faces; got up close to some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet; and bickered on a kayak.

By Rachael Harrison