Abandoned £1.5billion airport that wanted to be the ‘world's biggest' – with America's answer to Concorde
A NEW airport that wanted to be the world's biggest would have have welcomed Brits to a popular holiday destination - only for it to never open.
Everglades Jetport in Florida hoped to be a major six-runway airport that would welcome some of the fastest flights in the world.
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This included the Boeing 2707, America's answer to Concorde which would have flown up to 1,800 miles an hour.
This would have been much faster than Concorde's to speed of 1,354 miles an hour.
The plan for the huge new airport was revealed in 1968, during the Golden Age of travel.
The need for the new airport was said to be because of the huge boom in travellers visiting the nearby areas, with Miami International Airport welcoming up to 10million passengers at that time.
Longer-term plans would see Everglades Jetport replace Miami Airport entirely.
It wanted to be the largest airport in the world, with plans showing it to be six times larger than the current JFK Airport.
A newspaper article said: "The future development of Marco Island received a tremendous boost recently with the start of construction of a mammoth jetport, the biggest ever, anywhere just 48 miles away."
Around 26,000 acres of land was bought - to put this into comparison, Miami International Airport is around 3,300 acres.
The airport would be linked to the coastline too with a huge new interstate motorway and monorail system.
The governor of Florida at the time, Claude R Kirk Jr, added: "With our new supersonic jetport, South Florida is going to become a major gateway to Europe and a jumping-off place for the Pacific as well."
Massive abandoned airport 3 times the size of Monaco left with rusting jumbo jets to be bulldozed and turned into new city
This was backed by Stuart Tipton, then president of Airlines for America who said: "The recent action taken by the Dade County Port Authority to construct a new jetport makes certain that South Florida will be ready to play its part in the supersonic age.
However, concerns were raved about the damage to the local environment which it claimed would "destroy the Everglades National Park".
Estimates costs of the airport were around $2billion (£1.5billion), the New York Times reports, but by 1970, construction had stopped, with just one runway built.
This was followed by the scrapping of the Boeing 2707 project in 1971.
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It has since been taken over by the Miami Dade Aviation Department, and is called the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.
The 10,000ft runway is now used by pilots for training.
Lonny Craven, who now manages the airport, said: "It was supposed to be the airport for tomorrow.'
Closer to home, Croydon Airport was once the biggest in the world.
Having opened in 1920, it closed in 1958 after London Gatwick was redeveloped, and has since been turned into a museum.
And here is another abandoned airport in the UK that has revealed plans to reopen.
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Times
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15 of the best tours of Italy for your next getaway
How do you capture the essence of Italy in just one trip? With such an astonishing depth of history and culture set against mesmerising landscapes, a lifetime of visits wouldn't be enough to cover it all. To save time, a well-planned guided tour can help you navigate the country's vast riches and deepen your understanding. No matter how often you return, Italy always has more to reveal: from the storied cities of Rome, Florence and Venice to the rolling vineyards and hilltop villages of Tuscany. Some of Italy's most captivating experiences lie off the beaten path: the gastronomic heartlands of Parma, Modena and Bologna; the winding streets of Matera's ancient Sassi districts; or the wilderness of Abruzzo where wolves still roam. Perhaps you'd prefer a journey through prosecco country, with downtime in the history-steeped villages of the Veneto? Whatever your passion, be it art, food, history or nature, there's a tour designed to bring it to life. Here's our pick of the best. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue ££ | Group size 12-18 When King Charles and Queen Camilla toured Ravenna in April 2025, the trip included visits to the tomb of writer Dante Alighieri and the ornate mosaics of the Basilica di San Vitale, and a go at rolling out fresh pasta. Famous for its rich historical sites, this small city in Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna region is an hour's drive east of Bologna and was made capital of the Western Roman Empire in 402AD. On this four-day tour led by the art historians Sally Dormer and Rowena Loverance you'll see the incredible mosaics of Sant'Apollinare in Classe, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and San Vitale. Alongside these treasures, you'll follow in royal footsteps to Dante's tomb, see contemporary mosaics in the city art museum, and have plenty of time to enjoy Ravenna's historical piazzas and bars. The price includes flights and transfers, accommodation and some meals.£ | Group size 4-16 This eight-day tour encompasses one of Italy's most handsome stretches, the Amalfi coast. Come to be charmed by its medieval towns and villages, cutesy coves and rugged cliffs — and aim to see it all on foot. Tick off those postcard regulars of Positano, Ravello and Amalfi, wander the famous ruins of Pompeii, and embark on the Path of the Gods past shepherds' huts and ancient stone houses, soaking up panoramic views of the curving coastline along the way. Price includes accommodation and transport, most meals (including packed lunches) and the services of a tour leader, but excludes flights. • Best things to do on the Amalfi Coast £ | Group size maximum of 36 (classic tour); or 25 (signature) This is your chance to see one of Italy's less-visited spots, Puglia, deep in the south of the country. The rural region, famed for its food and agriculture, has been coveted by rulers throughout history and has a fascinating range of cultural influences, from Spanish castles to Norman churches and Romanesque cathedrals. See the best of them on this seven-day holiday, during which you'll soak up plenty of culture with escorted tours of Lecce's medieval streets and the Unesco-listed troglodyte cave dwellings at Matera in neighbouring Basilicata. There's also time to stroll around the town of Alberobello to see its intriguing dry-stone huts with their conical roofs. And you'll get some downtime at Vieste, a timeless beach town where white-cube houses jostle for position on the cliffs. Tucking into top-quality food, and wine, comes as a given. The price includes flights and transfers, seven nights' accommodation and some meals. £ | Group size maximum of 36 (classic tour); or 25 (signature) Tuscany is Italy's heart-throb region, and this tour takes in some of its most soul-stirring spots — as well as smaller, more rustic corners. Start in Florence, with its fabulous cathedral and Uffizi Gallery holding masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael and many more. Next, look around the lovely walled city of Lucca, before squinting at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Explore the ancient art of alabaster carving at Volterra, then swing by San Gimignano, a gorgeous medieval town. Finally, head to Siena, whose central square hosts world-renowned horse races. String all this together with some classic Tuscan dishes and you're sure to have a hard-to-forget holiday. Prices for this eight-day tour include return flights and transfers, some meals, and your accommodation. • Best affordable hotels in Florence under £175 £ | Group size maximum of 36 (classic tour); or 25 (signature) Incorporating some of the choicest parts of northern Italy and Switzerland, this eight-day holiday pairs stop-in-your-tracks mountain scenery with charming old-world towns. This is classic territory, part of the itinerary for those young aristocrats taking the Grand Tour in the 18th century — and still as captivating today. You'll be based on the shores of Lake Como, the perfect spot for boat trips to lakeside towns such as Bellagio. Daily excursions will whisk you to sophisticated St Moritz, the terraced gardens of Isola Bella, near Stresa, on Lake Maggiore, and unforgettable landscapes along the Bernina Express railway. The price includes flights and transfers, and accommodation (half-board for classic option). £££ | Group size 10-25 There are plenty of Italian gardens worth having a peek around, but those at Ninfa and Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, could top any list. Just south of Rome, the medieval ruins at Ninfa are festooned with curtains of flowers and allow for wonderfully scented walks beside the river. Castel Gandolfo is a sight you'll want to snap a photo or three at — from perfect parterre to umbrella pines and cypresses. The itinerary also features the Renaissance gardens at Tivoli's Villa d'Este, the 'City of Popes' Viterbo, and Rome itself, with highlights such as the Colosseum, St Peter's Square and the Trevi Fountain. Prices for this four-day tour exclude flights but include coach travel, accommodation and some meals. • Best things to do in Rome £££ | Group size average 22 It's hard not to be wooed by Lucca, a beautifully preserved Tuscan town that deserves more than a day trip to uncover its charms. On this four-night guided tour you'll have plenty of time to explore a maze of medieval and Renaissance architecture — grazing the artisanal food stores along Via Fillungo, discovering the dazzling Duomo where four generations of Puccini's family were organists, and strolling ramparts that surround the town for over two miles. The tour has an interesting excursion to nearby Pistoia, plus a stop at Pisa. The price includes flights and transfers, accommodation and some meals. • Read our full guide to Italy• Best beaches in Italy £££ | Group size maximum 10 For a tastebud-tickler of a trip, head to eastern Sicily, where you'll find dishes that reflect the flavours of the island's history under Byzantine, Arab, Norman and Spanish rule. This week-long tour includes visits to olive, dairy and herb farms, a pasta-making class, a guided tasting of Modica chocolate, and island wines galore — including a stop at a winery on the slopes of Mount Etna. But it's not only about eating and drinking. Your expert local guide will also take you to some of the region's prettiest and most historic spots, such as an archaeological park at Syracuse and the lovely baroque town of Noto. Price includes airport transfers (but not flights), accommodation and most meals. ££ | Group size maximum 12 Yes, this luxurious 12-day tour of Sicily features the main sights and cities, but what makes it sing are the visits to those off-the-beaten-track corners. Expect to see the Palatine Chapel in Palermo, Monreale Cathedral, the ruined temples of Agrigento, and Taormina with its ancient Greek theatre, as well as a winery visit and wander around the market in Ortygia. The price includes airport transfers, accommodation and most meals. Flights are excluded. ££ | Group size average 12-14 How can you possibly improve a walk through the Italian landscape? With glasses of prosecco, of course. This seven-night tour with Ramble Worldwide focuses on the province of Treviso and a Unesco-listed area of medieval villages and terraced vineyards between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. After flying into nearby Venice, your base will be the hillside Conegliano, with its 12th-century castle and a long tradition of prosecco production. Follow a guided tour of its historic centre with a vineyard wine tasting — before striking out along the Prosecco Road, Italy's very first wine road. Other highlights feature the romantic squares and alleys of Treviso, lip-smacking views from the ancient town of Asolo, and the 16th-century watermill of Molinetto della Croda. Prices include flights and transfers, accommodation and some meals (mainly breakfast and dinner). £ | Group size maximum 14 This tour is your ticket to explore the magical Abruzzo National Park in the central Apennines, a mountain chain coursing down the middle of the country from top to toe. You'll join natural history guides on scenic walks and take in the region's alpine and Mediterranean plants, birds, butterflies and mammals. 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The tour price includes flights and transfers, and hotel accommodation on a B&B basis. ££ | Group size maximum 20 Get to know the regions of Puglia and Basilicata on a seven-night tour. You'll make tracks for its historic ports, snap photos of baroque architecture and Norman castles, and explore the quirky trulli dwellings of Alberobello, famous for their conical roofs. In Basilicata, get to know Matera's Sassi districts, ancient neighbourhoods built into the rock. You'll even venture to Lecce where a Roman amphitheatre and basilica await, before you enjoy appetisers and an aperitif at a private palazzo with one of the owners, who will describe its history. The trip price includes flights and transfers, and hotels on a B&B basis in Bari, Lecce, Matera and Alberobello. £ | Group size maximum 14 Lace up your boots for a series of relaxing walks in the flower-filled Gargano Peninsula in southeast Italy, where the orchids are among the most striking in Europe. On the itinerary is the medieval town of Monte Sant'Angelo, its terraces dotted with enchanting asphodel and rockrose. After that it's off to Peschici, a traditional fishing village that's a great base for discovering the botany of the northern coast. Each walk with your expert guides is broken with lunchtime picnics, so you can get a taste of the lip-smacking local produce. Price includes flights and transfers, accommodation in family-run hotels, and all meals. • Best places to visit in Italy• Italy honeymoon ideas Video: What's it like on an escorted tour? We joined one to Tenerife to find out Additional reporting by Louise Roddon
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
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Texas enclave is rivalling Napa with beautiful remote homes and the best kept secret wineries in the country
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Peach Haus, which offers unique jams and jellies made from locally grown fresh fruits 'There's some high-powered families. A couple celebrities,' he said, hinting that Fredericksburg's proximity to Austin's star-studded scene is a draw. Sandra Bullock and Willie Nelson have been spotted in the area, he added, but the A-listers can go unnoticed in its 'laid-back atmosphere.' Beyond the wine and luxury, nature lovers will also find plenty to do, like climbing Enchanted Rock, a pink granite mountain located about 17 miles north of Fredericksburg. 'Enchanted Rock — if you're into that — it's incredible,' Amezcua said. 'We go once a year. My children love it. I go up there, I take a yoga mat and people make fun of me, but I just take a nap.' Downtown, there are endless adventures to be found. Fischer & Wieser's das Peach Haus, which offers unique jams and jellies made from fresh fruits picked in the region, is a popular spot for tourists. With a local spa, restaurant, and peaceful cottages to stay in, the Hill Country Herb Garden is a luxurious retreat for visitors. All 14 cottages have their own special themes and décor, along with a front porch with rocking chairs and a swing. For history buffs, Fredericksburg's National Museum of the Pacific War displays preserved documents and art from World War II in the Pacific. Visitors are invited to picnic in the town square, called Marktplatz, in celebration of the city's German history. In the middle of the town square is Vereins Kirche, a replica of a 19th-century German church that is brightly lit with holiday lights from November through December. Antique shops and stores with locally made goods line Main Street. Local Texans love to make daytrips for the town's Oktoberfest. Fredericksburg is only an hour-long drive from Austin and San Antonio and a four-hour drive from Dallas and Houston. 'It's a very nice weekend getaway,' said Amezcua. 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Daily Mail
7 hours ago
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Football fans DENIED entry into the United States for the Club World Cup - and lose £700 - amid Donald Trump crackdown
A pair of Benfica fans have been left furious and out of pocket after being denied entry to the United States ahead of the Club World Cup – as visa rejections spike amid president Donald Trump 's revived hardline stance on immigration. Two Portuguese supporters, who had booked flights and secured tickets for Benfica's opening match against Boca Juniors in Miami, have seen their travel plans shattered after being refused electronic travel authorisation without explanation. One of the fans, restaurant owner Fabio Vasques, said he had completed all the required documentation – including the ESTA application, the standard online form needed for visitors from visa-waiver countries – but was stunned when it was twice rejected. 'I filled it out three weeks ago and the answer came back negative,' Vasques told Portuguese newspaper JN. 'I tried again, and the result was the same. No justification was given.' Vasques had arranged flights from Lisbon to Miami via Madrid and paid for match tickets at the Hard Rock Stadium, where Benfica face Argentine giants Boca Juniors on Monday, June 16. He has now lost €820 (£695) in flights and $150 (£118) for the match ticket – and is hoping to claim some of it back through travel insurance. The group of four supporters had planned to stay with a friend living in Miami, but only two were cleared for entry. The other fan who was refused a visa declined to comment. The ESTA programme – officially the Electronic System for Travel Authorization – requires passport details, trip information, and US-based contacts. It costs $21 and is valid for visits of up to 90 days. But legal experts say applications are being rejected with growing frequency under Trump's return to power. 'It used to be rare for Portuguese citizens to be refused entry into the US,' said Nelson Tereso, a Portuguese-American immigration lawyer. 'But the rules have tightened significantly since Donald Trump's changes.' Those changes, first introduced during his previous presidency and now being actively enforced again, form part of a broader, controversial immigration crackdown that has dominated the build-up to this summer's Club World Cup. Riot police, ICE agents and National Guard troops have already been deployed to cities including Los Angeles and Philadelphia, where mass protests have erupted over immigration raids. Just this week, US Customs and Border Protection posted – then deleted – a message declaring they would be 'suited and booted' at Club World Cup games, sparking fears that matches could be used to identify and detain illegal immigrants. Though FIFA say they do not expect such actions at stadiums, the uncertainty has heightened anxiety for visiting fans.
