This is some hard hitting journalism backing up this scientific fact.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/florida-best-state_n_4981731.html
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Florida? The state certainly has its fair share of madness -- there's the Miami cannibal attack of 2012, the 2013 case of the mother-daughter porn duo, and Gov. Rick Scott's staunch opposition to Obamacare, which has left 764,000 low-income adults in the statewithout health insurance.
But even with all that, there are many reasons to love the Sunshine State. From our awesome culture, to the amazing food, to the gorgeous scenery, there are plenty of things about Florida that make it just plain awesome.
1. Everyone is jealous of Florida's weather.
And that was a warm day for New York this month. While the northern part of the country spent this winter dealing with the never-ending Polar Vortex, most people in Florida are just hanging out in very comfortable temperatures ranging from the 60s (at the lowest!) to the high 70s. Seriously, that's usually how low it gets in the winter. Florida may have to deal with a lot of Spring Breakers, but how can you blame those people? We get to wear shorts and t-shirts 365 days a year.
2. Miami is the only major American city founded by a woman.
In 1875, Julia Tuttle first laid eyes on Miami when her father moved into the area as a homesteader. Tuttle decided to move to Miami herself and bought several acres of land. Miami officially became a destination when she convinced multi-millionaire Henry M. Flagler to extend his east coast railroad line to the area. Tuttle believed the Miami area had the potential to become a great city that would act as a trade center between North America and South America. And she was right.
3. Florida's varying landscapes and cultures make it easy to take a weekend vacation without ever leaving.
Florida is big. It's so big that a four-hour drive will get you from Disney World in Orlando to the shores of Miami Beach, and that's only traversing a small part of the state. Florida's rich and diverse culture presents a unique opportunity to only drive a few hours and feel like you're in a whole different place. And that's a wonderful thing.
4. There are "hidden springs" with underwater caves you can snorkel in.
It's easy to understand why Ponce de Leon thought Florida's natural springs were the "fountain of youth." They are simply breathtaking. There are close to 900 freshwater springs in Florida, ranging from small ones emitting a little more than a trickle of water, to Silver Springs, the largest spring in Florida, which emits over 550 million gallons of water per day. Experiencing one of these springs is like entering a new world -- you can swim in underground caves! Even better, the water temperature at the springs averages 70-75 degrees year-round.
5. Florida has Cape Canaveral, the place that launches spacecraft into the sky.
When America decided to launch its space program, Cape Canaveral's location in central Florida proved to be the perfect place due to its close proximity to the Equator, which allows rockets to take advantage of Earth's velocity if they head eastward for orbit. NASA began building the Kennedy Space Center in 1962, and since then it's been the home of the Apollo space program and the location of many shuttle launches. Unfortunately, the space shuttle program was retired in 2011, but the site is still launching rockets, even if people aren't in them.
11. Rainstorms rarely last longer than a couple of hours in Florida.
If there's one word to describe Florida's weather, it would be "unpredictable." One moment you could be tanning in the sun, and the next you'll be running to find shelter to escape pouring rain. The good news is that the rain will usually not last long. Rainstorms are caused by intense heat building up over the Everglades, resulting in afternoon downpours. But after a few minutes to a couple of hours, that sun is shining again.
12. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the country.
That's right. In 1565, before Jamestown and before Plymouth Rock, the Spanish landed at St. Augustine, making it the nation's oldest city. St. Augustine can also call itself the only city in the U.S. with a street pattern and architectural environment that reflects Spanish origins.
13. The next time you're on a commercial flight, you should thank Florida.
In 1914, on New Year's Day, aviator Tony Jannus became the first pilot to carry a paying passenger in a plane. Jannus took Abe Pheil, the mayor of St. Petersburg, on a 23-minute flight across a 21-mile stretch of the Tampa Bay. It was the world's first commercial airline flight and would set the trend for the multibillion-dollar industry that exists today.
16. The diversity of wildlife and nature in the Everglades will blow your mind.
There is so much life and beauty in the Everglades, it's no wonder it's the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in the country. It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and is home to the most important breeding ground for wading birds in North America. These are just a few of the reasons we should pay more attention to trying to preserve this ecosystem.
22. The state mammal is the manatee, and manatees are some of the gentlest creatures ever.
Manatees, also known as sea cows, are some of the calmest and gentlest animals. Their disposition has also made them one of the most endangered species in the country. Fun fact: Manatees are the only surviving marine mammals that eat only plants. Oh, and did we mention that they are so cute?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/florida-best-state_n_4981731.html
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Florida? The state certainly has its fair share of madness -- there's the Miami cannibal attack of 2012, the 2013 case of the mother-daughter porn duo, and Gov. Rick Scott's staunch opposition to Obamacare, which has left 764,000 low-income adults in the statewithout health insurance.
But even with all that, there are many reasons to love the Sunshine State. From our awesome culture, to the amazing food, to the gorgeous scenery, there are plenty of things about Florida that make it just plain awesome.
1. Everyone is jealous of Florida's weather.
And that was a warm day for New York this month. While the northern part of the country spent this winter dealing with the never-ending Polar Vortex, most people in Florida are just hanging out in very comfortable temperatures ranging from the 60s (at the lowest!) to the high 70s. Seriously, that's usually how low it gets in the winter. Florida may have to deal with a lot of Spring Breakers, but how can you blame those people? We get to wear shorts and t-shirts 365 days a year.
2. Miami is the only major American city founded by a woman.
In 1875, Julia Tuttle first laid eyes on Miami when her father moved into the area as a homesteader. Tuttle decided to move to Miami herself and bought several acres of land. Miami officially became a destination when she convinced multi-millionaire Henry M. Flagler to extend his east coast railroad line to the area. Tuttle believed the Miami area had the potential to become a great city that would act as a trade center between North America and South America. And she was right.
3. Florida's varying landscapes and cultures make it easy to take a weekend vacation without ever leaving.
Florida is big. It's so big that a four-hour drive will get you from Disney World in Orlando to the shores of Miami Beach, and that's only traversing a small part of the state. Florida's rich and diverse culture presents a unique opportunity to only drive a few hours and feel like you're in a whole different place. And that's a wonderful thing.
4. There are "hidden springs" with underwater caves you can snorkel in.
It's easy to understand why Ponce de Leon thought Florida's natural springs were the "fountain of youth." They are simply breathtaking. There are close to 900 freshwater springs in Florida, ranging from small ones emitting a little more than a trickle of water, to Silver Springs, the largest spring in Florida, which emits over 550 million gallons of water per day. Experiencing one of these springs is like entering a new world -- you can swim in underground caves! Even better, the water temperature at the springs averages 70-75 degrees year-round.
5. Florida has Cape Canaveral, the place that launches spacecraft into the sky.
When America decided to launch its space program, Cape Canaveral's location in central Florida proved to be the perfect place due to its close proximity to the Equator, which allows rockets to take advantage of Earth's velocity if they head eastward for orbit. NASA began building the Kennedy Space Center in 1962, and since then it's been the home of the Apollo space program and the location of many shuttle launches. Unfortunately, the space shuttle program was retired in 2011, but the site is still launching rockets, even if people aren't in them.
11. Rainstorms rarely last longer than a couple of hours in Florida.
If there's one word to describe Florida's weather, it would be "unpredictable." One moment you could be tanning in the sun, and the next you'll be running to find shelter to escape pouring rain. The good news is that the rain will usually not last long. Rainstorms are caused by intense heat building up over the Everglades, resulting in afternoon downpours. But after a few minutes to a couple of hours, that sun is shining again.
12. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the country.
That's right. In 1565, before Jamestown and before Plymouth Rock, the Spanish landed at St. Augustine, making it the nation's oldest city. St. Augustine can also call itself the only city in the U.S. with a street pattern and architectural environment that reflects Spanish origins.
13. The next time you're on a commercial flight, you should thank Florida.
In 1914, on New Year's Day, aviator Tony Jannus became the first pilot to carry a paying passenger in a plane. Jannus took Abe Pheil, the mayor of St. Petersburg, on a 23-minute flight across a 21-mile stretch of the Tampa Bay. It was the world's first commercial airline flight and would set the trend for the multibillion-dollar industry that exists today.
16. The diversity of wildlife and nature in the Everglades will blow your mind.
There is so much life and beauty in the Everglades, it's no wonder it's the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in the country. It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and is home to the most important breeding ground for wading birds in North America. These are just a few of the reasons we should pay more attention to trying to preserve this ecosystem.
22. The state mammal is the manatee, and manatees are some of the gentlest creatures ever.
Manatees, also known as sea cows, are some of the calmest and gentlest animals. Their disposition has also made them one of the most endangered species in the country. Fun fact: Manatees are the only surviving marine mammals that eat only plants. Oh, and did we mention that they are so cute?
