Tampa Bay Times columnist Craig Pittman says tourists need to know that Florida is so much more than Disney World: "Some people think that there is no culture in Florida. They think our sense of architecture is Cinderella's Castle."
Pittman will be a guest on Travel With Rick Steves Saturday morning at 6 on WUSF 89.7.
Pittman is the author of "Oh Florida! How America's Weirdest State Influences The Rest Of The Country." He encourages people to explore some of the state's rich cultural resources, such as museums and heritage sites.
He's particularly fond of Florida's natural attractions like state parks, rivers and springs.
"I like to encourage people to go beyond the theme parks; check out our award-winning state park system," he said. "Our beaches that are consistently ranked among the best, if not the best in the world."
Pittman is also a fan of regional foods and calls fried mullet "the nectar of the gods."
He said food has even been the cause of territorial dispute: "I love the fact that there's such an affection for the Cuban sandwich that people in Tampa and people in Miami are constantly arguing about where it started."
