1. College Football Shuts This State Down
There’s no crazier time in Florida than during college football season. Whether someone is cheering for FSU, UF, FIU, USF, the U, or any other team in the Sunshine State, people know to clear their schedule on game days.
2. It’s Not All Sun And Games
While most out-of-towners assume that Florida is home to perpetually perfect weather, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
While there’s plenty of sun, there’s also a ton of hard rain, wind, and lightning. It’s not quite the tropical paradise it’s known to be when the hurricane weather hits.
3. Driving Is Always A Risky Move
Sometimes it seems as if common road rules don’t apply in the Sunshine State. Not only are there a ton of transplants (each used to driving in a state with its own set of rules), there’s wacky weather and overcrowded roads.
Plus, keep in mind that the second something starts falling from the sky, it’s almost as if everyone forgets how to act behind the wheel.
4. Do Not Molest The Gators
If an out-of-towner is in for a quick visit, make sure that they know that the signs warning people not to bother gators are no joke.
While these giant reptiles rarely attack people that are just minding their own business, when they feel threatened, they’re known to get quite aggressive.
5. It’s Acceptable To Buy Seafood From A Truck
While most Americans would never even think of buying seafood from a truck, Floridians know the best place to get it is directly from the source.
Each morning, fishing boats bring their latest haul to the shore looking for customers. Not only is this seafood cheaper, it’s also the freshest that money can buy.
6. Florida Is Basically Three States
While it’s all united under that same name on a federal level, there are three distinct areas of Florida that slowly change as one drives further south.
The first area most out-of-towners encounter is Northern Florida. It’s basically an extension of rural Georgia. Next comes Central Florida, known for attracting tons of tourism to the state. Finally, there’s the southernmost part of the state, famous for its beautiful beaches and Cuban influence.
7. Floridians Hate To Love The Tourists
If you ask a Floridian how they feel about all of the tourists, they’ll probably admit that they’re not big fans. However, while visitors may add to overcrowding, the tourism industry can bring over $75 billion to the state annually, something no local can complain about.
8. But Everyone Still Hates Spring Breakers
Most Floridians would agree that spring break time is the worst season of the year, as their beautiful coastlines become filled with drunk college kids and all of the ridiculousness that comes with them.
From loud music to illicit drugs to copious amounts of trash, there aren’t a lot of reasons to love springs breakers in this state.
9. Hush Puppies Have Nothing To Do With Dogs
Many meals in Florida come with a side of hush puppies. Out-of-towners need to fear not, these delicious bite sized snacks have nothing to do with everyone’s favorite furry friend. They’re actually just deep-fried balls of cornmeal batter and they’re as delicious as they sound.
10. It’s Always Flip-Flop Season
Out-of-towners shouldn’t be too shocked when they see someone in Florida sporting a bikini during Christmas vacation. Locals around these parts love to take advantage of their year round warm temperatures.
Whether it’s a pair of flip-flops, swim suits, or a tank top, the time of year doesn’t dictate whether or not beachwear hits the streets.
11. English Can Seem Like A Second Language At Times
Thanks to Florida’s close proximity to our neighbors to the South, Latin American and Caribbean cultures have a huge impact on local life. The further South in Florida an out-of-towner goes, the more Spanish they’ll need to know.
12. Jaguars, Dolphins, And Bucs…Oh My!
When it comes to professional football, Floridians are met with a difficult choice. With three different NFL teams in the Sunshine State, most people tend to cheer for whatever team is closest to them.
13. It’s Not The Devil Rays Anymore
After the 2007 MLB season, the baseball team in Tampa Bay changed their name from the Devil Rays to just the Rays in attempt to reference Florida sunshine instead of the manta ray. Confusingly, the logo stayed the same, causing most longtime fans to keep using the old name.
14. But Really, Everyone Cares Most About Basketball
When it comes to sports in Florida, most locals are just thankful that the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic call the Sunshine State home. Both teams have had plenty of success in the NBA during recent years, bringing quite a bit of pride to this state.
15. The Mosquito Might As Well Be The State Bug
In a place with so much water and so much warm weather, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that mosquitos tend to thrive in the Sunshine State. If an out-of-towner is headed to Florida for a visit, make sure they don’t leave their bug spray behind.
16. And, Seriously, Watch Out For Fire Ants
It’s important to watch where you’re standing in Sunshine State, especially if you’re wearing flip-flops. With multiple types of fire ants frolicking around in the Florida dirt, not paying attention can leave you with several painful bites.
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17. It’s A Jungle Out There
Around the world, Florida is known for its amusement parks, nightlife scene, and pristine beaches. As a result, most out-of-towners are pretty shocked when they realize that Florida is a lot more intense than they thought.
With a tropical climate and plenty of wildlife, tons of dangerous predators like panthers, pythons, and gators are lurking around this state.
18. Don’t Hurt The Sea Oats!
While they may just look like weeds, these tall tropical plants grow near the shoreline and work to promote sand dune growth. They’re an important part of the Florida ecosystem and harming them can be punishable by law.
19. People Don’t Really Have Basements Here
You won’t find many floors underground in this state, as the water table is too high preventing deep digging. Who really needs a basement, right? They’re usually too creepy to venture into anyways.
20. Cold Weather Makes People Freak Out
The moment Florida temperatures drop into the 50s, the winter coats come out. Fortunately, winter (if you can even call it that) really only lasts about a month in most parts of the state.
Just hope there aren’t reports that a few flurries are coming, as that tends to cause widespread panic.
21. There Are These Things Called Love Bugs
Known as love bugs thanks to their tendency to stay connected for several days while mating, these pesky creatures swarm the Sunshine State.
Driving at night can become quite a messy act, as these headlight loving insects can’t help themselves from slamming their goo-filled bodies into oncoming traffic. Consider yourself warned.
22. There’s Such A Thing As A “Hurricane Day”
While kids in most states around the country look forward to snow days spent home from school, in Florida, “hurricane days” can be expected. While these days off often consist of prepping for storms and then staying safe, they still mean no school!
23. Gator Really Does Taste Like Chicken
Most out-of-towners might find eating a reptile a little strange. They’ll be happy to know that when you toss gator meat in the deep-fryer, it ends up tasting a lot like fried chicken, just a little sweeter and a little chewier.
24. Floridians Shoot For The Stars
If an out-of-towner thinks they see a rocket blasting off in the Cape Canaveral area, they might be right. Florida is home to the Kennedy Space Center, NASA’s launch complex. The sky is truly the limit here.
25. Flamingos Aren’t Just Plastic Lawn Animals
While flamingos don’t really breed naturally in Florida any longer, they can be spotted in southern areas of the everglades. However, if you don’t want to go hunting for one, the Sarasota Jungle Gardens has plenty for you to see.
26. Snowbirds Are A Different Type Of Creature Than You’d Think
The “snowbirds” in Florida have nothing to do with flying animals. Every year, tons of people from around the country flock to their winter homes in the warmer Sunshine State. While they’re not really tourists, they still act like it for the most part.
27. Key Lime Pie Really Is That Good
There’s a reason that Florida Key lime pie is famous around the entire country, it’s that delicious. If an out-of-towner is in town for a quick visit, make sure they get a slice of this local favorite.
28. People Actually Follow NASCAR Here
Home to both the Daytona Speedway and Miami Speedway, Florida is filled with race fans. Being a NASCAR fan isn’t like following the typical sport. It’s a completely different lifestyle, with huge parties built around every race that comes to town.
29. Gated Communities Are Big Around These Parts
At times, it can seem as if every Floridian in suburbia lives in a gated community. If an out-of-towner is coming to visit, they’ll definitely find all of the neighborhood security a little strange.
30. The Cows Here Look A Little Different
Manatees get plenty of love in the Sunshine State, known for being gentle giants of the bay areas. If an out-of-towner wants to get up close and personal with a sea cow, there are plenty of opportunities to swim with them around Florida.
31. You Don’t Have To Travel To Venice To See Some Canals
With over 160 miles of waterways, Fort Lauderdale is one of the coolest cities in the country. For a truly unique experience, out-of-towners should try renting a boat and taking it out for a spin.
32. There Really Are That Many Golf Courses
With over 1,200 courses throughout the Sunshine State, it seems like everywhere you turn there’s another person teeing off. However, with so much warm weather and beautiful terrain, it’s hard to blame the locals for taking to the green so much.
33. It’s Impossible Not To Smile While You’re In Florida
Truly a slice of paradise, Florida is one-of-a-kind in the United States of America. With delicious food, tons of entertainment, and near perfect weather, a trip to the Sunshine State can’t be beat.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Florida? Tell us in the comments below!
