It is the unique goal of many travel adventurers to visit all 50 states in America. To boost this objective, each week, we shall explore one state. Alphabetically, the ninth state to visit is none other than Florida, abbreviated FL. Regardless of the order in which you visit them, Florida, the Sunshine State, is a fabulous place to go!
Visit state # 9 – Florida
| State Motto | In God We Trust |
| State Flower | The Orange Blossom |
| State Bird | The Northern Mockingbird |
| State Gemstone | The Moonstone |
| State Capital | Tallahassee |
| Famous foods | Dole whip, Key Lime Pie, Stone Crabs, Cuban Sandwiches, Fried Gator Bites, Citrus, Conch, Grouper & Snapper, and more |
The ninth U.S. state alphabetically is Florida. This southern east coast state is home to many popular tourist attractions, including beautiful islands, world-renowned beaches, state and national parks, and man-made tourist attractions such as Cape Canaveral, the Kennedy Space Center, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Gatorland, Adventure Island and more.
Florida is a long and flat peninsula that covers over 65,000 square miles. One-fifth of the state is water, and the state also boasts about 10,000 lakes. Florida is situated between the Atlantic Ocean to its east and the Gulf of Mexico to its west. It is bordered on the north by Alabama and Georgia. Historically, the territory of La Florida was ceded by Spain to the U.S. in 1819. Admission to the union occurred in 1845, making Florida the 27th state to join.
The largest freshwater lake in Florida is Lake Okeechobee, and is sometimes called ‘The Big O.’ Other noteworthy lakes include Lake George, just east of Ocala National Forest, Lake Seminole which empties by the Apalachicola River, Lake Kissimmee in a state park bearing the same name, and Lake Apopka near Orlando. Florida lakes are home to many interesting species of birds, including egrets, ducks, coots, cranes, ospreys, eagles, and wading birds. There are also manatees, American alligators, snakes, spiders, raccoons, bears, armadillos, Florida panthers, and more that inhabit the state. Flamingos, an endangered species, prefer to congregate far south and can be found in the Florida Everglades, mangroves, and alkaline lakes and estuaries.
Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm beach sit along Florida’s Gold Coast. These Atlantic Coast cities belong to the region named for its “glittering lifestyle.” The expansive Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. In fact, it is so large that the wetland preserves spans 1.5 million acres over the southern part of the state. The park is made up of a diverse ecosystem with coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, pine Flatwoods, and more. Visitors can take a guided two-hour tram tour of the region, which travels along a fifteen-mile loop into the “River of Grass.”
Florida’s West Coast features white sand beaches such as Clearwater Beach. Visitors can enjoy year-round fun under the sun. Whether soaking up the rays on a lounge chair at a great resort, swimming, jet-skiing, or parasailing on the water, there is plenty to do before the sunsets. At night, there is always a good time to be had in this pleasantly warm state, including enjoying restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and music festivals, and more.
No matter where you go in Florida, whether it be the panhandle, east coast or west, or center of the state, there is an abundance of enjoyable towns to visit, parks to explore, and championship golf courses. In fact, Florida has the most golf courses of any state, boasting over 1,300 public and private courses, many of which host prestigious tournaments throughout the year. Of course, the great weather typically varies between 52 and 91-degrees F, with the coldest weather generally occurring in January and the warmest in July. Thus, the agreeable temperatures, an abundance of sunshine, and entertaining things to do make Florida an ideal travel destination for all.
Next up: Georgia
