US Travel

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Florida, the Sunshine State

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Florida is to the East Coast what California is to the West Coast. They both are home to Disney theme parks, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. What's fun to note about the state is that Californians have Florida on their bucket list of places to visit. Likewise, Floridians like to come to California at least once to compare beaches, weather and theme parks, of course.

Florida's top attractions include:

SeaWorld Orlando
Walt Disney World in Orlando
Universal Orlando Resort (with 3 theme parks)
Daytona 500 International Speedway
Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island (on the Space Coast)
Miami Beach and the Art Deco Historic District
Everglades National Park in Miami, Naples, and Homestead
Busch Gardens Tampa
Dry Tortugas National Park
Duval Street in Key West
St. Augustine's Historic District

While Florida's population exceeds 21 million (California's is more than double that,) Florida has the longest coastline in the contiguous United States, approximately 1,350 miles (California has approx. 1,000 miles.)

Florida has a total of 4,510 islands and is only one of two states in the U.S. with tropical climate. The other state is Hawaii. The Sunshine State also boasts the Florida Reef, the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, and the third-largest coral barrier reef system in the world, following the Great Barrier Reef and Belize Barrier Reef.

If you're looking for a beach vacation, Florida offers something you won't commonly see in California—hotels on beaches. Environmental laws have kept properties from being built on the Pacific shores, while Florida is known for its beach vacation hotels. It is also known for its sugar-like sand, much finer and whiter than the coarser tan-to-brown sands of the West.

With 67 counties, a panhandle, eight geographic regions, and a peninsula with beaches on both sides of the state, Florida proudly capitalizes on its reputation as one of America's top beach destinations.

Sports loom large in Florida, as well, and provide another tourism draw. The state is home to the PGA of America golf headquarters.  There are more than 1,250 golf courses!

Does Florida have weather? Oh yeah! Hurricane Season runs June through November. It also has alligators, mosquitoes and lots of bugs that aren't quite so troublesome on the West Coast. It experiences more rain than Mediterranean climates and lacks mountain ranges offering winter sports such as snow skiing.

For all these reasons, Florida is known for its retirement population. The third most populous state in the U.S. (behind California and Texas) has the highest percentage (17%) of people over 65 years of age. If you're in that bracket you'll feel right at home.

Two-third's of Florida's population come from other places and the cost of living makes it possible. It is 1% lower than the national average, with some Florida cities ranking 10% lower compared to the average U.S. city.

The five most populated cities in Florida are:

  • Jacksonville
  • Miami
  • Tampa
  • Orlando
  • St. Petersburg

Getting to Florida is as easy as flying into your preferred destination. Here are some airport options:

  • Orlando MCO Orlando International Airport 
  • Miami MIA Miami International Airport 
  • Fort Lauderdale FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Int'l Airport 
  • Tampa TPA Tampa International Airport 
  • Fort Myers RSW Southwest Florida International Airport
  • West Palm Beach PBI Palm Beach International Airport
  • Jacksonville JAX Jacksonville International Airport

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