We just returned from a glorious few days in beautiful, sunny Florida & I couldn’t be more in love – or more homesick – for my home state. While I was born in Cleveland, I spent my most formidable years in the Sunshine State, spending afternoons riding roller coasters at Busch Gardens, weekends soaking up glorious Gulf Coast beach, & evenings stuffing my face with Cuban food. There are many warm, semi-tropical places to visit in this country, but none is better than the 27th state.
Here are 5 reasons why I love Florida…
1. You have the Gulf & the ocean & they couldn’t be more different
I grew up a proud “Gulf side” Tampa girl, with the calm waves lapping the shore, the dynamite nightly sunsets & an endless amount of Gulf shrimp & grouper. In fact, during the years I lived in Florida, I only visited the “ocean side” a few times, mostly on school trips to the Kennedy Space Center or Orlando.
But then, after college, a good friend of mine moved from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale & I went to visit him the first time. Turns out the other side of the state is just as great! Huge waves to jump in on the white sand beaches & pretty sunrises to wake up to.
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I still like the vibe on the Gulf side better – I think it’s more chill & the shelling is better & the nightly sunset celebrations is something that never gets old. But the east coast is definitely growing on me.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
2. All that amazing food
Florida is such a mashup of cultures, it’s no wonder that the food scene here is legendary. From right off the boat grilled seafood, to some of the best Cuban food outside of Havana, this state has it all. You can venture into the northern part & stuff yourself silly with southern classics like gumbo & freshly baked biscuits.
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Of course, there are all those poolside & beachside drinks to sip…
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And, duh, Publix subs.
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3. Gorgeous sunsets & sunrises
This state has got them both!
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
4. Outdoor activities year round
Hiking in the interior of the state, amongst the rolling hills & in the state forests, will have you in disbelief that you’re in the sunshine state. SUP has become the big thing & kayaking has always been a big thing. And then, of course, there’s beach strolling, which is a year round sport.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
5. It’s both the south… & the north
Hardly anyone in Florida is from Florida (I’m thinking through my Florida friends & exactly one of them was born there). I’m not just talking about snow birds! Like me, many of us who claim native status were born in the north & fled south to escape the winter. Beyond that, though, the state is incredibly diverse geographically. The seven hours that separate Tallahassee from Miami mean an entirely different ecosystem.
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
(C) Christina Saull – All Rights Reserved
Thank you for this Christina.
My husband and I are contemplating a move to Florida, but want to make sure it is a good move for our 4-year-old as well. After terrifying myself with all the “Reasons Not to Move to Florida” hits I found just by searching “Move to Florida,” I switched up the search terms to “I Love Florida,” and am having better luck. We are not afraid of heat, bugs, gators, hurricanes, or bad drivers, but we are a little concerned with education and cost of living. I’ve heard it’s less down there, but you don’t really “know until you go,” so I was wondering if you could offer any advice about those two things?
We are looking in the Palm Harbor/Tampa area, as that is where some of our family lives, and some of the better Florida public schools are (at least that is what the Internet is telling me).
Thanks in advance!
I lived in Tampa from 7th grade through graduating high school. Having not lived there in over 15 years, it’s hard to give advice on cost of living – I would look at one of the many cost of living calculators available online. It is certainly less than living in the NE and no state income tax is fine.
I definitely noticed a difference in education moving from the north to the south, but it wasn’t bad and all my friends who were born and raised in Tampa are certainly doing well for themselves. I think it’s like anywhere else – you get out of it what you put into it. I took all honors/AP classes and entered college as equally qualified as my peers from north schools. But that was also 15 years ago, so I have no idea how it is now.
The bugs are plentiful and huge and they will be in your house (along with lizards and the occasional snake) :)