IN SEPTEMBER, Florida hunkered down as it prepared for the 185mph beast that was Hurricane Irma.

Tragically, she claimed the lives of 82 Floridians, and the storm caused more than $66billion in damage. But, in true Sunshine State spirit, the residents, businesses and resorts are already back on their feet. Say Florida and the mind tells you Disney and theme parks. While the southeastern state has that in abundance, scratch beneath the surface and there is so much more to discover.

Families looking to please their children might possibly not be able to do any better than Disney World and its supporting cast of rollercoaster-clad attractions, but Florida is bursting with untapped treasures. For the more mature visitor, The Kennedy Space Center some 50 miles east of Orlando is the one not to miss. With the second race to space well underway there could not be a more exciting time to visit the home of NASA. Two of the three companies vying to send the public outside of the earth’s atmosphere are now based at Cape Canaveral - Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Boeing.

But away from the all-year-round Christmas festival that is the area of land set aside for roller-coasters and fantasy, there are plenty of hidden gems. A world away from the cartoon hubbub, Clearwater sits on an endless plain of pure white sand on the West Coast. In a world masked by Instagram filters, you’ll have to rub your eyes to double check the colour of sand and sea is at is appears - it’s paradise. The Sandpearl Resort hotel swallows the competition and its views of over the miles of beach stretching north and south are unrivaled. It also happens to be a stone’s throw away from the best, traditional sandwich in town – the Grouper Club at Frenchy’s.

Although a few days of lazing on a sunlounger may be tempting, but there are heaps of activities to tempt families away from the waves. Out on the ocean, there are dolphins to be seen and the Tropics Tours team’s expertise all but guarantees you’ll see the playful creatures in their natural habitat. Having built up a thirst, there is a nearby stretch of mini breweries serving up some of the finest craft ales in the country to the soundtrack of the best local talent - none more impressive than the Dunedin Brewery and its stunning selection.

A drive through the Everglades is not as exotic as you might expect, but crocodiles and huge lizards on the road keep whoever’s behind the wheel on the ball.

If you go coast-to-coast, you'll find Miami. 

It's a circus of vanity, sport and multiculturalism with the brutal backdrop of the rich meeting the poor. 

The city's homelessness issue - like most - is bleak. 

And the wealth to be seen on South and Miami Beaches is an adventure in itself. 

If people watching is your thing - then there is no better place in the world than sitting in a bar on Ocean Drive with a cocktail the size of your head guessing the backstories of the weird and wonderful passers-by. 

But having taken in the beach, maybe a Miami Marlins game and Little Havana - get over to Fort Lauderdale. 

It's less than 30 miles north from Miami and as soon as you arrive there, you'll breathe a sigh of relief. 

The relentlessness of the hustle and bustle is left behind and it feels much more holiday than commute. 

In spite of that, there is still plenty to do - and it's a city awash with character and uniqueness. 

With activities for the entire family - ranging from wake boarding both inland and on sea to the all-encompassing Xtreme Action Park indoor entertainment complex featuring bowling, go karting, and trampolining - you'll never be stuck for something to do. 

A series of walks alone the riverbank and canals weave through the city's artistic quarter and the beaches are unspoiled and - as you'd expect - white with clear water.

And as night falls, the vibrant bars and restaurants are abuzz with fine wines, beers and fine dining, for the more sophisticated traveler. 

When the time comes to leave, you might have to get in the car once more. 

But the reward at the end is breathtaking - the Florida Keys. It’s the closest you’ll get to driving on water. One stretch of road leading out to America’s southernmost point in Key West with endless miles of ocean to the left and right. Very few Keys are worth stopping off at, other than to do a spot of snorkeling, but Key West is simply stunning. It’s as if they grabbed the best things from the 1940s with rows of quaint wooden houses with porches overlooking manicured tree-lined streets.The tiny city is one of the best places on the planet to watch a daily occurrence most of us take as a given. Sunsets in Key West are a celebration.

It might be the most difficult place to get to in Florida – but it’s undeniably worth it.