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All About Florida and the Good Life
Facts| Universities | Theme Parks | Miami | Key West | Florida Panhandle
About Florida
- The Capital of Florida is Tallahassee which is located in north Florida and is
also home to Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
- Florida is called the Sunshine State because Florida enjoys around 230 days of
sunshine per year on average, making it a popular destination for vacationers
seeking sun-filled getaways.
- Jacksonville, FL holds the title of the largest city in Florida by population
and land area. According to the latest data, Jacksonville has over 950,000 residents
but that number is somewhat deceiving since it includes all
of Duval County. In comparison, Miami-Dade County which includes
Miami, supports a population of 2,700,678 in 27 municipalities.
- Orlando, Florida is the most visited city with Disney World, Universal Studios, and
Sea World amusement parks. Disney World includes four parks, Magic Kingdom,
Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Universal Studio's newest park in
Orlando is
Epic Universe, joining Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay, and Universal Studios.
- The Florida State Bird is the Northern Mockingbird. This bird is known for its
exceptional vocal abilities, often mimicking the sounds of other birds and even
mechanical noises. The Northern Mockingbird can be found throughout Florida.
- The Florida State flower is appropriately the Orange Blossom. The orange
blossoms are known for their lovely scent, which fills the air during the
blooming season.
- A marker in Key West, Florida marks the southernmost point in the continental
USA. Key West is a very popular destination in
Florida with resorts, fishing, boating, and fabulous sunsets.
- Florida hosts four national parks which are Everglades National Park,
Canaveral National Seashore, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National
Park. Additionally Florida also has national preserves including the Big
Cypress Preserve, Ocala National Forrest, Apalachicola National Forest, the
Osceola National Forest and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
- The University of Florida in Gainesville, FL has as a mascot, the Florida 'Gator in
recognition of Florida's prolific alligator population.
World
Famous Florida Beaches
Visit Florida's beaches from Destin, FL in the
Florida Panhandle all the way to
Key West, Florida, the southern most point in the USA.
Enjoy beautiful beaches, deep sea fishing, seafood restaurants and views on the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. And, you have never seen more beautiful sunsets from Mallory Square.
Drive your car on
the beaches in Daytona Beach, or horseback ride on the beaches of Amelia Island.
And, the surfs up at
Cocoa
Beach home of world famous Ron Jon's giant surf shop, annual surf
contests, and Surfin Santas.
On the west coast of Florida are the island beach favorites at Sanibel
Island,
Longboat Key and
Siesta Key. Here, the way of life is an ode to the beach vibe and fabulous
sunsets that draws all
beach lovers to the sea.
The Florida Panhandle has some of the finest
beaches in the world and great seafood restaurants with the freshest fish in the
country. Cities such as Pensacola Beach, Destin and Fort Walton Beach
attract tourists from all over the world to the Florida Panhandle beaches.
Florida has hundreds of miles of the finest beaches in the world. Enjoying
the crystal clear water and permanent sunshine are only two of thousands of
reasons to vacation on one of Florida's beaches.
Every year, thousands on turtles return to their favorite Florida beaches to
lay hundreds of eggs in carefully dug nests in the sand. The majority of nesting
takes place between March and October. The five species of turtles that nest on
Florida beaches are Loggerhead, Green Turtle, Leatherback, Kemp's Ridley, and
Hawksbill. Beachfront hotels, restaurants, condos, and private residences all
use special lighting during the nesting season to help the hatchlings find their
way using the moon as a beacon.
Orlando, Florida is the home of Disney World,
Universal
Studios, Sea World, LEGOLAND, and world class
hotels
and resorts including
Disney
World Hotels and things to do
in
Orlando.
Orlando is a favorite destination during all seasons so be sure to book your reservations
well in advance and be sure to check out vacation rentals that might
suit you
better than a traditional hotel room. Hotel pricing is based on seasonal demand,
with holidays and vacation times being the busiest time with the highest prices.
Jacksonville, Florida is sometimes
called the First Coast as it is just south of the Florida-Georgia line on the
Atlantic Ocean. Jacksonville is home to
Amelia Island, a classic beach community that is a favorite for many
southeastern United States residents. Further south along the coast is Saint Augustine Beach with its historic fort and spectacular beaches.
Florida's Space Coast
Just 45 minutes directly east of Orlando, on the Atlantic Ocean, sits
Kennedy
Space Center where man's travel to space starts.
Viewers are watching history in the making with every launch of
new satellites or a trip to the space station to bring vital supplies. SpaceX
has made the launches even more exciting with its safe return of the first
rocket stages for future use.
Blue Origin has established a large presence
near the Kennedy Space Center and has started a series of test launches of its
New Glenn rocket this year. The first flight of the New Glenn rocket
successfully reached orbit, a real accomplishment for a
first flight. Blue Origin plans to reuse the first stage of its New Glenn rocket although the first
attempt at a landing fell short.
The
Kennedy Space Center with it rich history of space exploration is the
second most visited attraction in Florida. Space Coast rockets are launched from
the Kennedy Space Center and the nearby Canaveral Space Force Station.
Port Canaveral
The Space Coast is also home to Port Canaveral, the world's second busiest
and the world's highest rated cruise port. Disney Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian
Cruise Lines, and Carnival Cruise, all dock their latest and greatest
cruise ships here. Book a fantastic cruise
now at Port Canaveral.
The Space Coast is also home to Port Canaveral, located on Florida's east
coast, is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. It serves as a gateway
for travelers heading to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and beyond with renowned cruise
lines like Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Carnival. The port offers a wide range
of services, including cargo operations, fishing charters, and leisure
activities. Its strategic location near Kennedy Space Center adds a unique
allure for visitors, making it a key hub for tourism and commerce in the region.
SpaceX uses the port to dock it various barges that catch its reusable
Falcon 9 stage one rockets. Visitors to the port might see one the barges
awaiting the rocket's pickup to shuttle it back to the SpaceX facility at the
Kennedy Space Center. Several stage one rockets have been reused more than 20
times.
What fascinates you most about Port Canaveral?
Tampa, FL is one of the fast growing cities in Florida and the Tampa Bay area
includes
St. Petersburg, Bradenton, and
Clearwater
Beach. Tampa Bay features many fine
beaches, boating, and outstanding fishing from piers or charter boats. And of
course, as with all areas of Florida, quality golf courses abound.
Tampa is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL team, the Tampa Rays MLB
team, and the Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team. Tampa is also home to one of
Florida's two thoroughbred horse racing tracks,
Tampa Bay Downs.
Miami, also known as the Magic City, is truly an international city,
and one of the fastest growing areas in
the Southeast United States. Also, Miami hosts many multinational companies as an
entry to Latin America. Miami hosts the Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Marlins
(MLB), Miami Heat (NBA), and the Florida Panthers (NHL).
Key West. And don't forget the charter fishing boats, snorkeling, scuba diving,
and fabulous sunsets at Mallory Square in
Key
West. You will also want to wander down Duval Street and sip a few brews at
one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite haunts including Sloppy Joe's Bar.
Enjoy people watching and be part of the night life in Miami Beach - South Beach. Experience the exciting late night life of Miami and South Beach and
don't miss the exciting night clubs in South Florida.
Florida's Professional Sports Teams
Florida hosts three NFL Football Teams, the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Additionally, two NBA basketball teams
call Florida home, the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic. MLB baseball teams, the
Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays are home town favorites. NHL hockey teams can
also be found in Miami with and Tampa. MLS soccer teams are popular in Miami and
Orlando.
Public Universities in Florida
1. University of Florida (Gainesville)
2. Florida State University (Tallahassee)
3. University of Central Florida (Orlando)
4. Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton)
5. Florida International University (Miami)
6. University of South
Florida (Tampa)
7. University on North Florida (Jacksonville)
8. University of West Florida (Pensacola)
Private Universities in Florida
1. University of Miami (Coral Gables)
2' Rollins College (Winter Park)
3. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach)
4. Eckerd College (St. Petersburg)
5. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne)
6. Florida Southern College (Lakeland).
7. Nova Southeastern University (Fort
Lauderdale)
8. Stetson University (DeLand)
9. Ava Maria University (Ava Maria)
10. University of Tampa (Tampa)
Florida's gambling casinos are mainly in South Florida but three casinos associated
with the Seminole Indian Tribe are located in Tampa, Immokalee, and Brighton, Florida.
The Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino in
Hollywood, Florida is closest to Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The other
Seminole Hardrock Hotel and Casino,
is located in Tampa, FL, and is the nearest casino to Orlando, FL. and all of north Florida.
Florida hosts 27 poker rooms throughout
the state. Several are incorporated into Florida casinos, but there a many more
that operate independently. Several of
the poker rooms operate in junction with Florida Jai Alai frontons that offer
seasonal live play. All the poker rooms also offer simulcast racing and off
track betting.
Florida Horse Racing at Gulfstream Horse Track and Tampa Bay Downs
Florida's premier horse race track, Gulfstream
Park, is located midway between Miami and Fort
Lauderdale, in Hallandale, Florida. And, live thoroughbred racing is featured throughout the year. The Florida Derby,
at Gulfstream Horse Track, is considered an important qualifying race for the
Kentucky Derby. The 2023 Kentucky Derby winner, Mage,
was runner-up in the 2023 Florida Derby.
Ocala, Florida has many thoroughbred breeding farms with over 35,000 thoroughbred
horses. Triple crown winner Affirmed was an Ocala bred
thoroughbred.
Tampa Bay Downs
is the other Florida thoroughbred horse track, and of course is located in
Tampa. Live races are held December - May of each year, but simulcast races, off
track betting, and the Silk card
room keep the facility open year around. Florida Equestrian Activities
Like horses? Horseback riding is available in every area of Florida.
Rent
a horse by the hour of enjoy a guided trail ride through some of
the finest trails in the eastern United States.
Horseback riding o the beach should be on everyone's bucket list, and you won't find more places to ride on the beach than in Florida.
There are several operators that provide an excellent beach riding experience
that are located everywhere from the Florida Panhandle to Hutchinson island.
Florida is winter horse show capital of the United States with the FEI rated
Winter Equestrian Festival
(WEF) and the Adequan
Global Dressage Festival at Wellington International,
Wellington, FL. Ocala, FL
hosts the World Equestrian Center Ocala, Florida Horse Park,
and HITS
Ocala Post Time Farm horse show venues.
Additionally, Fox Lea Farm and TerraNova Equestrian Center
show venues
are located in Venice, FL and near Sarasota, FL respectively. Both venues host
rated horse shows including show jumping and dressage.
While the highest level shows are
featured in the winter season, numerous horse shows are held at each venue throughout the
year.
All of Florida's major universities support equestrian teams that compete
with other college horseback riding teams in Florida and Georgia. Depending on
each school's program, teams compete in show jumping, dressage, eventing, and western
pleasure.
Florida hosts numerous professional rodeos throughout the year in including
the iconic Homestead Rodeo and the Ocala Shrine Rodeo.
Barrel racing in Florida, a fan
favorite, can be witnessed throughout Florida with prize money attracting both
female and male riders to these weekly events.
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