Let me be perfectly clear…read more.. I don't think many people have enough widespread experience to write a review about an ENTIRE STATE! There are people who have lived in a state their entire lives and don't know much about any of it other than where they live. Others have visited a small area once or thrice, say Disney World for example, and have not experienced any other parts of the state, so they can't speak for any other areas. It is for this reason I feel totally authorized to give an opinion on the State of Florida! Florida is practically a second home. Not only do we have family and friends that we visit often in all parts of the state, we just like going for fun! I've literally been to every corner of the state, driven most every interstate completely from south to north and have experienced a wide range of activities, cultures and foods. I'm here to tell you Florida is AMAZING! Florida is 22nd in size, but the 2nd largest state east of the Mississippi @ 65,758 sq. miles. However, Florida has the 3rd largest population of ALL states, even beating out New York! GEOGRAPHY - All states have ECOREGIONS and many correlate with bordering states. Florida has many, but basically fall into these categories: East Gulf Coast Plain, South Atlantic Coastal Plain, The Peninsula, South Florida Plain (where the Everglades are found). FUN FACT: Florida's highest natural point is Britton Hill, which is only 345 feet above sea level. It is the lowest "high point" of any state! Grandma can get to the top of it without breaking a sweat... LOL ----- The cities and towns I've actually spent time in include: Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port St. Lucy, Jupiter, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Deltona, Sanford, Orlando, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, Sarasota, Bradenton, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, Odessa, Tarpon Springs, New Port Richey, Crystal River, Tallahassee, Apalachicola, Panama City Beach, Destin, and Pensacola... as well as stopped at many more places as we drove through like Gainesville, Ocala, Marineland, and DeLand. We've even driven the 80 mile Alligator Alley through the Everglades! NOTE: There are NO gas stations, so fill up or you will fill a gator up! Here is a condensed version of my favorite features: [ FAVORITE PLACES / ACTIVITIES ] MARINELAND - Swimming with the dolphins CRYSTAL RIVER - Swimming with the manatee TARPON SPRINGS - Dolphin Tours DISNEY SPRINGS - Atmosphere / restaurants ST. AUGUSTINE - Vibe & things to see/do WAT MONGKORATANARAM - Sunday morning brunch TAMPA'S ARMATURE WORKS - Chill out spot BUFFET @ Southern Charm (Jacksonville) ST. PETE - Vibe & murals ** [ FAVORITE AMUSEMENT PARKS ] Epcot Animal Kingdom Busch Gardens Magic Kingdom Hollywood Studios Sea World Universal Studios [ FAVORITE RIDES ] FLIGHT OF PASSAGE - Animal Kingdom CHEETAH HUNT - Busch Gardens MANTA - Sea World EVEREST - Animal Kingdom SHEIKRA - Busch Gardens KUMBA - Busch Gardens TEST TRAC - Epcot MISSION SPACE - Epcot HULK - Universal Studios *** [ FAVORITE BEACHES ] Destin Rosemary Treasure Island New Smyrna Fort Desoto Honeymoon Island [ FAVORITE LIGHTHOUSES ] in order to least favorite: St. Mark's Ponce De Leon St. Augustine Jupiter Inlet Anclote Key St George Crooked River Egmont Key St. Johns River Light ** [ FAVORITE EATS ] Churrasco Skirt Steak @ Tito's Latin Kitchen (Tampa) Drake's Last Stand sandwich @ Drake's Deli (St. Augustine) Gyro @ Mykonos (Tarpon Springs) Mango Sticky Rice @ Wat Mongkolratanaram (Tampa) Pho @ AA Garden Fusion (New Smyrna Beach) Singapore Mei Fun Noodles @ Sakura Asian Fusion (Kissimmee) Sausage & Pepper Panini @ Cristino's Coal Oven Pizza (Clearwater) Pizza @ Giordano's (Orlando) STILL ON MY BUCKET LIST: Bern's Steakhouse Devil's Den Bowman's Beach The Dali Museum Murals in Miami Dry Tortugas National Park NASA @ Cape Canaveral Ocala National Forest John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Falling Waters State Park All of these: https://www.tripstodiscover.com/iconic-foods-you-must-try-in-florida/ --- FINAL THOUGHTS There is so much more to this state than beaches & amusement parks. Amazing nature can be found here as well as delicious food! Hit the road and explore it, you won't be disappointed! 2022 / 18