Florida is the most southern of all U.S. states other than Hawaii and is a unique blend of societies. The northern part of the state is part of the cultural region of [wiki=52ee55074f1808ed43a232b2ec149b95]The South[/wiki], where you will find traditional southern cooking, entertainment, dialect, and lifestyles, much as you would expect to find just north in [wiki=9551b0ba9065686deec4929aed874936]Georgia[/wiki], [wiki=213fe69502445ed67ae8b99d22838802]Alabama[/wiki], and the Carolinas. Generally, the more south you go in the state, the more unlike the South it seems; you should not expect to experience 'southern' culture everywhere, although southern culture can be found in every region of the state, it is not always the most prominent. Cities such as Tampa and Orlando offer the feel of many different cultures. There are a lot of southerners in these areas, as well as people who are not from the state (midwest, northeast), whereas Miami is unique in seeming like a cross between an American metropolis and a major Latin American city (like Caracas, Rio, or Sao Paulo). There are some Seminole Indian reserves and villages throughout southern Florida (namely in the Everglades) and their indigenous culture can be experienced by visiting a gift shop and browsing arts and crafts. The southernmost Florida Keys offer yet another flavor, full of the slow paced and casual atmosphere of true beach life. All in all, Florida is its own region of the [wiki=f253efe302d32ab264a76e0ce65be769]United States[/wiki] in its own right.
The Florida State Fair held every February near Tampa is the best event to attend to sense the varying cultures. The fairgrounds are host to a "cracker" village similar to the villages that were found in rural Florida in the 19th century. It hosts an exposition of counties, where each Florida county has a display and a representative to answer questions. In addition, the fair has animal displays and shows, an exhibition dedicated to citrus, various dance & cheerleading competitions, and a large selection of rides and games. A few weeks later, nearby Plant City host the Strawberry Festival, usually the last few days of February and first week of March. Plant City is the "Strawberry Capital of the US" and almost every food vendor at the festival offers several dishes featuring strawberries.
Driving near Plant City in February and March, one can find many roadside vendors offering flats(~$10-12) and half-flats(~$5-8) of strawberries. Another common dish found at roadside vendors in north and central Florida is boiled peanuts-a southern dish usually found in "regular" and "cajun" flavors, which taste nothing like roasted peanut. Florida's Natural, a company that sells fruit juice, has a great roadside "welcome center" along US 27 in Lake Wales that includes a display and video on the history of citrus growing in Florida and offers samples of several flavors of juice.
Florida's coastline is world class, with several gorgeous beaches, bays, and estuaries lying on the coast. The Floridian landscape is flat, with many lakes and wetlands throughout most parts of the state. The only exception is parts of the center in Highlands, Polk, Lake, and a few other counties where rolling hills are common. The highest point in the state is 345ft (105m) and Sugarloaf Mountain in Lake County is the highest point on the peninsula at 312ft (95m). Florida's cities tend to be big, sprawling, and well developed. For such a highly populated area there are fortunately still several areas of wilderness left (although they are often found sitting right next to a large city). Many rural parts of the state grow citrus and sugar cane, but farmland tends to be far out from the usual tourist areas. The [wiki=cf4cef3ba9deea6bc5e4a758efd98cf4]Florida Panhandle[/wiki] and [wiki=b7e23bf4d7379171610d89c67030666e]North Florida[/wiki] is mostly farmland and pine trees, but as you travel south, you'll see more wetlands and urbanization. The [wiki=cb1e3c5c70ca92896b8e0e5a33b0e5f3]Florida Keys[/wiki], a small chain of subtropical islands, have their own unique geography, surrounded by the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida is known around the world for its balmy weather. The climate varies from humid subtropical (like the rest of the southern states) in the north (from Pensacola down to Tampa) to semi-tropical in the south (from Fort Myers to Key West). The state's generally mild winters have made it a haven for retirees year-round and temporary residents during the winter known as "snowbirds". Summers can be long and hot, with the interior being a few degrees warmer than the immediate coast. Coastal areas also experience gentle breezes during the summer, and the beach is usually the coolest, least humid place to be. During the winter, coastal areas are warmer, slightly, than inland areas. The Atlantic side of Florida is noted for milder, more moderate weather, as opposed to the Gulf side, which is drier and cooler during winter, and hotter and muggier in summer, than the Atlantic coast.
While coastal breezes are a welcome relief from the scorching temperatures, they are also the cause of the most notorious Florida weather feature: thunderstorms. While the storms are often brief, they are common, and anyone visiting Florida during the rainy season (mid-June to September) should plan a few activities indoors in the afternoon as a backup plan. Florida's thunderstorms occur everyday during the rainy season and typically form 20-30mi inland and either move toward the center of the state or toward the coast. While most simply cool the air bringing a welcome relief to stifling temperatures, these storms produce considerable amounts of dangerous lightning and sometimes hail, high winds (50mph+), and tornadoes. See the "stay safe" section for thunderstorm safety. Many attractions such as Disney World have multiple attractions available even during downpours. It is common to be in a rain shower yet be in the sun at the same time. It is also an interesting contradiction that rain can be occurring just a few miles inland from the coast, while those at the beach experience a beautiful day. Cold weather occasionally affects Florida, even as far south as Miami and the Keys. Mainland South Florida has recorded frosts and even snow flurries before that damage tropical plants and kill many animals, such as non-native iguanas, pythons and tegu lizards. The Florida Keys, due to being surrounded by water, have never had frost or snow flurries, but still do get chilly weather for a few days every winter. Water temperatures can also become chilly-even in South Florida-in winter.
Average Annual Temperatures:
Summer:
93°F (26.9°C) (North Florida)
90°F (28.2°C) (South Florida)
Winter:
53°F (11.7°C) (North Florida)
70°F (20.3°C) (South Florida)
The above temperatures are average temperatures throughout the day. During the summer, high temperatures on the peninsula are usually around 90 on the coast and mid 90s inland...with lows ranging from around 80 on the coast to mid 70s inland. During the winter, temperatures are much more variable. It is best to consult the individual city page for temperatures during the winter. The spring is the driest time of the year, which can lead to wildfires nearly every May and early June.
The six-month hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 and Floridians have learned to be ready when a storm threatens the area. If you plan on visiting during the summer, stay abreast of the news and weather advisories. Information is available from the National Hurricane Center [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov].
Orlando International Airport - your choice airport for [wiki=d3de10f4a857250732014d604fab6075]Disney World[/wiki] or the other attractions in [wiki=53e51c38f0337be6fcbaf80a85b3690d]Central Florida[/wiki]. Located south of Downtown [wiki=d4d2ea493b6a2460e9b9f00712e0a234]Orlando[/wiki], this airport offers car rentals and free shuttles to Disney World for visitors.
*Miami International Airport - the biggest airport for travel in [wiki=6e11a53905437828c980c8fb592009fc]South Florida[/wiki], and the best option for trips to the [wiki=780e43bcd9637660628189abbbf5ac35]Everglades[/wiki] or [wiki=0f5de708d2f6808ffb0c3893b2b8964a]Miami's[/wiki] beaches.
*Tampa International Airport-serves the Gulf Coast, namely the Tampa Bay area. Has a direct flight operated by British Airways to/from London Gatwick. Also international flights to Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the Cayman Islands. Rated #1 US Airport overall.
*Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport - the fourth largest airport in Florida and another valid option with many domestic low fare carriers.
Other large airports can be found in: Jacksonville, Pensacola,Fort Myers, Tallahassee, St.Petersburg/Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Key West, Gainesville, Melbourne, and Sanford. Be aware that there are many more airports throughout Florida that may get you closer to your ultimate destination; watch out for these smaller airports while researching your destination.
Amtrak Auto Train carries passengers and automobiles between [wiki=41daed0d9058e8f94df84dfdabea4513]Lorton[/wiki], [wiki=c8b287075ce4f11c834d2a0ada967ddc]Virginia[/wiki] and [wiki=c2af313effbcebd5995bf8a5182bc67d]Sanford, Florida[/wiki], effectively serving as a car-rail link to Florida from the [wiki=9a8995d0e0d1775d0891f404e43911d7]Washington, D.C.[/wiki] Metro Area.
*Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor (Trains 91-92 and 97-98 respectively) - both routes begin in [wiki=d97e023dce2bb237a0d44f46d8ee9438]New York City[/wiki] and end in [wiki=0f5de708d2f6808ffb0c3893b2b8964a]Miami[/wiki]. While the two routes are slightly different, within the borders of the state of Florida, the routes are exactly the same. This option can get you from most East Coast cities to Miami, or many Florida cities in between.
Three Interstate highways connect Florida with adjacent states
*Interstate 95 enters Florida from [wiki=9551b0ba9065686deec4929aed874936]Georgia[/wiki] just north of Jacksonville and parallels the Atlantic coast (never more than 25 miles) until its southern terminus south of the Miami CBD. Interstate 95 provides the most convenient route for persons from the Atlantic Coast, New England, and the Canadian maritime provinces. Jacksonville, [wiki=b9ba402708377da865974926d834d2a4]Daytona Beach[/wiki], and the Miami-Ft.Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area are all serviced by I-95, with access to Orlando provided via I-4
*Interstate 75 also enters Florida from Georgia and passes through the center of the state until the Tampa Bay area, after which it follows 10-20mi inland from the Gulf of Mexico until Naples, after which it heads due east to Ft.Lauderdale. Interstate 75 is most convenient for travelers arriving from Atlanta and the Midwest.
*Interstate 10 enters Florida from [wiki=213fe69502445ed67ae8b99d22838802]Alabama[/wiki] near [wiki=54601e41f7bbced489f47b4ed79c75f0]Pensacola[/wiki] and passes through the center of the Panhandle and through northern Florida until its terminus in Jacksonville. Interstate 10 is most convenient for travelers from Louisiana, Texas, and areas further west.
Additional major highways entering Florida include,
*US 1 enters Florida north of Jacksonville and snakes along the east coast between Interstate 95 and the Intercoastal Waterway/Atlantic Ocean. Unlike I-95, US 1 continues past Miami and is routed over a series of bridges connecting the Florida Keys to its terminus at Key West.
*US 231 enters Florida from Alabama (where it connects with Interstate 65 in Montgomery) and crosses the Panhandle north-south to its southern terminus at Panama City. US 231 provides convenient access to the Panhandle from the Midwest (via I-65).
*US 98 enters Florida near Pensacola and remains close to the Gulf of Mexico coast until the base of the Florida peninsula("Big Bend" area). Unlike I-10 to the north ,which runs through the interior of the peninsula and away from the coast, US 98 provides convenient access to the coast and this section is very scenic. After the Panhandle, US 98 runs diagonally across the peninsula to West Palm Beach, running through primarily rural areas.
*US 27 enters Florida from western Georgia, provides access to the state capital, Tallahassee, before routing through mostly rural areas of the peninsula. Between the Florida Turnpike and Miami, US 27 is a primary trucking route through the center of the state and, while two or three lane and having high speed limits, this route can be a hassle dealing with trucks and large volumes of traffic through this section.
*US 301 enters Florida just north of Jacksonville and was once the main route from the Northeast to Florida. It is a very scenic alternative to I-95 with a lot less traffic. Exiting at Santee, SC motorists can follow US 301 through SC and Georgia (past the first welcome center opened in 1962) and connect to I-95 in Jacksonville for East Coast destinations or join I-75 at Ocala for Tampa and Gulf Coast destinations.
Florida is possibly the largest state for [wiki=33705032f9f8fc5b55aedee04ed80de2]cruise ship[/wiki] embarkation in the United States. [wiki=837401163f7951e64d78c60d1d1ea477]Port Canaveral[/wiki], [wiki=4eaac66449fd6ba1a10d5870044e1a4c]Tampa[/wiki], and [wiki=0f5de708d2f6808ffb0c3893b2b8964a]Miami[/wiki] are all popular ports for embarkation, with cruises heading throughout the Caribbean. There are also many casino cruises that depart from [wiki=21b8029e1cdd9d12928c037f628ecea5]Pinellas County[/wiki] and [wiki=6e11a53905437828c980c8fb592009fc]South Florida[/wiki].
Bus service is provided by Greyhound [url=http://www.greyhound.com],]Megabus [url=http://us.megabus.com/[/url],]and RedCoach [http://www.redcoachusa.com[/url] that connect the major cities in Florida. There are a number of local and regional Public Transportation organizations that offer inter-city bus services throughout the state.
The legal driving age is 15 if you have a learners permit. 16 on a restricted license, and 18 on a unrestricted license. Anyone 16 and under cannot drive between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one year, unless with a driver who is 21 or older. Anyone aged 17 cannot drive between 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. for one year, unless with a driver who is 21 or older.
Car rental agencies abound in Florida and many are available at every major airport. Orlando, in particular, known as the "Car Rental Capital of the World". With Florida being the most visited state in the US, car rental rates here are among (if not the) highest rates in the country.
Like many Southern and Eastern states, Florida chose to use tolls to fund the construction of most of its expressway system rather than raising property, sales, income, or gas taxes. As a result, visitors can look forward to paying a lot of tolls, especially on Florida's Turnpike or in Orlando, where the city's entire expressway system (except Interstate 4) was built as tollways. More and more toll roads are switching over to cashless tolling, which means you should consider getting a rental car with a [url=https://www.sunpass.com/index]SunPass[/url] transponder, for which the car rental agency will likely charge you a daily fee on top of the tolls. If you don't have a transponder and drive onto such toll roads anyway, then the car rental agency will likely charge you exorbitant "convenience fees" to straighten out the resulting mess.
'Florida's major highways include:
*Interstate 4 crosses diagonally from [wiki=4eaac66449fd6ba1a10d5870044e1a4c]Tampa[/wiki], heads east through [wiki=79f7b489273e23f886aec90a60c7d809]Plant City[/wiki] & [wiki=5d25eecbbd670f62d8a126cf05b1f939]Lakeland[/wiki], then heads northeast past [wiki=72936a3fd76d95fe1b0208eae561ce08]Kissimmee[/wiki], [wiki=1f1e96ce0bcc86858b99954169d89056]Walt Disney World[/wiki], [wiki=d4d2ea493b6a2460e9b9f00712e0a234]Orlando[/wiki], and ends at Interstate 95 near [wiki=b9ba402708377da865974926d834d2a4]Daytona Beach[/wiki]. Interstate 4 is the most traversed highway in Florida and due to the large volume of traffic, high speeds (70 outside of urban areas), construction (which is almost complete), and large number of tourists it is the most dangerous highway in the state, in terms of the number of accidents.
*Interstate 95 enters Florida from Georgia north of Jacksonville and travels near the Atlantic coast (never more than 20mi or so), past St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and ends at US 1 just south of downtown Miami.
*Interstate 10 enters Florida from Alabama near Pensacola and travels across the Panhandle, past Tallahassee,and through north Florida to its terminus in Jacksonville.
*Interstate 75 enters Florida from [wiki=9551b0ba9065686deec4929aed874936]Georgia[/wiki] and runs south through [wiki=a4b9debb8d48dade0a75841659816f9d]Gainesville[/wiki], [wiki=dfc25db9bee13679c2f4a0e6c3b88f16]Ocala[/wiki], just east of [wiki=4eaac66449fd6ba1a10d5870044e1a4c]Tampa[/wiki], then parallels the Gulf coast past [wiki=388cf89ce343fac0290caa09591c1740]Bradenton[/wiki], [wiki=2a2fd28e9d3a61f3731a35e79b3c6ee4]Sarasota[/wiki], [wiki=8668f0bbca818dc3424421b895e40595]Fort Meyers[/wiki], [wiki=3c3487274d4de2cc5fa74d73599e1c26]Naples[/wiki], and then crosses due east across the [wiki=780e43bcd9637660628189abbbf5ac35]Everglades[/wiki] swamp (a section known as 'Alligator Alley') to the Miami suburbs.
*Florida's Turnpike is a toll road that runs from Interstate 75 south of Ocala, through Orlando, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and ending south of Miami. It provides the easiest access to Orlando and southeast Florida for persons entering the state via I-75 or I-10.
*Interstate 275 is a secondary interstate that runs from I-75 north of Bradenton, past downtown St. Petersburg & downtown Tampa, before rejoining I-75 north of the Tampa area. Interstate 275 crosses the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, 5.5mi (8.8km) long and with a 193ft(58.8m) clearance, across the mouth of Tampa Bay and later across the Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay. Note: Interstate 75 does not provide access to these areas, it passes through rural/suburban areas 10 miles (at closest) from Tampa. I-4 approaches Tampa from the east, but ends at I-275 just before downtown.
*[wiki=d907d9c0ed5573b4bef5fd8a1f92bd50]U.S. Highway 1[/wiki] is a historic and scenic highway that originates in [wiki=95ae1fec116e5fbc40cec211e66d7eb6]Key West[/wiki] and continues up the east coast.
*State Road A1A runs parallel to US 1 and Interstate 95, but lies to the east of the Intercoastal Waterway (mainly on the barrier islands) and running mostly along the ocean.
*US 98 enters Florida from Alabama at Pensacola and travels a very scenic route along the Gulf Coast of the Panhandle, it continues diagonally across the peninsula to its terminus in West Palm Beach.
*US 27 is a well-traveled alternative to the Florida's Turnpike and runs from Miami, along Lake Okeechobee, through the mostly-rural heartland of Florida, Ocala, Gainesville, Tallahassee
*US 41' runs from Miami, makes a scenic 2-lane journey through the Everglades, and travels along the Gulf Coast, the east side of Tampa Bay, and north into Georgia.
Amtrak Silver Star and Silver Meteor (Trains 91-92 and 97-98 respectively) - This is a relatively expensive option but will suffice if other means are not possible. Both routes span from [wiki=b33a61bf95996bae77aa10d2a4ea64dc]Jacksonville[/wiki] to [wiki=0f5de708d2f6808ffb0c3893b2b8964a]Miami[/wiki]. While the two routes are slightly different, within the borders of state of Florida, the routes are exactly the same and stop at the following stations: [wiki=b33a61bf95996bae77aa10d2a4ea64dc]Jacksonville[/wiki], [wiki=3139952faa1ed9c11641e0e22d85fe88]Palatka[/wiki], [wiki=684ec52e59da7fa82a546cd626b83e2d]DeLand[/wiki], [wiki=b7b8d54b03f202aa440897435f26bfd8]Winter Park[/wiki], [wiki=d4d2ea493b6a2460e9b9f00712e0a234]Orlando[/wiki], [wiki=72936a3fd76d95fe1b0208eae561ce08]Kissimmee[/wiki], [wiki=5d25eecbbd670f62d8a126cf05b1f939]Lakeland[/wiki] (to/from the north only), [wiki=4eaac66449fd6ba1a10d5870044e1a4c]Tampa[/wiki], Lakeland (to/from the south only), [wiki=559358613862bd87d98bbf7059db6481]Winter Haven[/wiki], [wiki=255dd53a4ddcd12cda5b53d9037e6d1e]Sebring[/wiki], [wiki=1d17c0a47f24a5c00a4d5c1104426504]Okeechobee[/wiki], [wiki=bda2667796bc5d0781a8b3a9d04e9361]West Palm Beach[/wiki], [wiki=25971860e7bc0e42afa5e09bfc50c8f1]Delray Beach[/wiki], [wiki=6e793e089232792a2182dc8c2571f7f8]Deerfield Beach[/wiki], [wiki=03de63c74ab76e54cfa7d2ab20b8d9c2]Fort Lauderdale[/wiki], [wiki=8551436ff6f79d63313e696ae0c44e91]Hollywood[/wiki], and [wiki=0f5de708d2f6808ffb0c3893b2b8964a]Miami[/wiki].
A high speed ferry service operates from the cities of [wiki=39e8caa03f2866e98ec08ae300ee3f7e]Fort Myers[/wiki] Beach and [wiki=31a253b4e0aa57b478aef3dedf48d4a4]Marco Island[/wiki] to [wiki=95ae1fec116e5fbc40cec211e66d7eb6]Key West[/wiki]. The Key West Express [url=http://www.seakeywestexpress.com]].offers daily service and docks in the Historic Seaport district of Key West. The ferry ride takes approximately 3.5 hours and the Ft. Myers Beach vessel has a capacity exceeding 450 passengers and amenities aboard include; out-door sundecks, flat-screen TV's, galley service and a full bar. Additionally, the Marco Island vessel features the same amenities as well as a capacity of over 250 passengers.
Please note that this list does not include honorary consulates. Always call ahead to determine if the consulate offers the services you require such as passports, visas and other official documents as these services are increasingly being centralized at other locations. Some websites are available only in Spanish. If a country isn't shown here, it will be represented by an Embassy in Washington DC.
[wiki_table=52d8496a]