1. Selfies At The Beach—In February
When the rest of the country is shoveling snow and dealing with things like the snowpocalypse, Floridians are posting photos of themselves at the beach. It’s one of their guilty pleasures.
2. Disneyland All Day, Every Day
No matter where they live in Florida, they aren’t far from the greatest place on earth - Walt Disney World. You’re more likely to hear that they haven’t been to the beach in months, than to hear they haven’t been to Disney World in months. They take full advantage and why wouldn’t they? Florida residents can get an annual pass that allows them entry into four theme parks and discounts on dining, merchandise, tours and more - and they LOVE Mickey.
3. Publix Subs For Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner
Forget Subway and Miami Subs. Ask any Floridian where to get the best sub on the planet and they will gush over the subs at Publix, their local grocer. The bread is warm and crusty, the veggies are fresh and tasty, and the meats and cheeses are Boar’s Head. You will not meet a single Floridian who doesn’t love a Publix sub. When they find out you haven’t had one, they will literally drive you there and help you make the best order.
4. Knowing Their Teams Will Always Win
Whether it’s major league, minor league, college sports, the auto racing tracks, or being the home of for Major League Baseball spring training - they love their Florida teams with a crazy fierceness. Seriously, they are crazy. Don’t knock their teams unless you want to rumble…. especially the Heat, Gators and Dolphins.
5. Open Air Restaurants Are A Godsend
Unless it’s the sweltering heat of July and August, when they are sure to be found inside an air conditioned restaurant, Floridians love to dine and drink in the great outdoors or at an open air restaurant, preferably with either an ocean view or along a waterway.
6. Super Fresh Seafood Is Never Far Away
It doesn’t really get much fresher than this. The seafood in Florida is fresh out of the sea and fresh off the boat. Shrimp, crab, lobster, alligator, grouper, snapper…. the list goes on and on. Floridians know what’s in season when, so they always get the freshest oysters and the sweetest stone crab claws.
7. And Fresh Fruit Comes Straight From The Backyard
Any time of year they can simply walk outside and pick fresh oranges, avocados, coconuts, mangoes, pink grapefruit, lemons and limes. They are absolutely spoiled when it comes fresh, backyard fruit.
8. Knowing Their Cuban Food Is The Best In The Country. Period.
The best cuban food in the country is in Florida. They can get great cuban food all over the state, but of course for the best-of-the-best they need to take a trip down to Miami. There’s nowhere else to get the best fried plantains, beans, rice and juicy shredded meats and the famous Cuban sandwich.
9. A Day Trip To Key West Is A Cinch
For most people in the country, taking a trip to the Florida Keys involves lots of planning, a possible plane flight to Miami, and then renting a car and driving down. For Floridians, it’s as simple as jumping in their car and heading down. They go for romantic getaways, weekend trips, and just to get their party on.
10. All The Art Deco Style Architecture
Floridians love their art deco. It goes perfectly with the palm trees and heat. From the Ritz Theater in Jacksonville and the Temple Beth-El in Pensacola, to the Old West Palm Beach National Guard Armory and Miami Beach Architectural District (not to mention the entire city of Miami), art deco is peppered throughout the state.
11. Throwing Awesome Hurricane Parties
The first thing Floridians do when they hear there’s a hurricane warning is NOT stock up on water, milk, bread and eggs. Instead, they stock up on alcohol and start planning the party.
Here’s the logic: If a hurricane does pass through, it’s better that you are with a bunch of friends with plenty of drink and hopefully a generator. It’s pretty sound logic. Then there are the post-hurricane parties. Of course you need to celebrate still being alive.
12. Cuban Coffee
Floridians state-wide love their Café Cubano. Some of the best is found in both Tampa and Miami. They love it with demerara sugar (brown sugar) and served in a styrofoam cup or a plastic demitasses. It’s great that Florida loves Cuban coffee so much. That means that when you’re visiting, you can get superb Cortaditos, Café con leches and Coladas.
13. Music Is The Best When It’s On The Beach
Music, alcohol and dancing by the beach? Floridians love it. Any chance they get to party beachside is a chance taken. Of course they have all the large beachside festivals all over the state, but there’s also drum circles on the beach and all the awesome restaurants, bars, clubs and resorts that make sure they can hear awesome music, while drinking and dancing in the sand -- best Florida activities ever.
14. … And So Are Weddings
It’s really a no-brainer that they love beach weddings so much. It doesn’t matter what coast of Florida, north or south, east or west - if a Floridian is getting married, even if they live smack dab in the middle of state, nowhere near a beach - they are getting married on a beach. The only prerequisites are that it not be during hurricane season and not take place at 3pm, when the gods open the heavens and dump rain, every single day.
15. … Not To Mention Sunrises
It starts out peaking from below while the moon still hangs low, and paints the sky in cotton candy pink, oranges and bright rainbow hues until it lights up the world in a soft, pale yellow… yeah, it’s no wonder Floridians get up early to take jogs along the beach in the early morning.
16. Casinos Are Like Theme Parks For Adults
In the 1920’s, it was greyhounds and thoroughbreds, today it is still that, but now they have the lottery, slot machines, poker and video poker. Casinos and gambling in general is a pastime for Floridians. It’s like stamp collecting or going to the movies. It’s a pleasure and their favorite adult thrill ride.
17. Never Wanting To Get Out Of The Water
It’s hard to keep Floridians out of the water. Whether they’re on jet skis, sea kayaks or surf boards, or just paddle boarding, boogie boarding, snorkeling or scuba diving, they are constantly enjoying the abundance of water throughout the state.
18. Exotic Cars, The Faster The Better
Not everyone in Florida has a fast exotic car, but it’s safe to say that everyone either wishes they had one, or loves to gawk at them, since they are literally everywhere. Even the Walt Disney World Speedway has ‘The Exotics Course’, featuring exotic cars by Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and more.
19. Downward-Facing Dog In The Great Outdoors
The logic is this: Why do yoga in an indoor space when you can do it outdoors, with fresh air, sunshine, and possibly a spectacular view? They’re also into stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga, which involves keeping your balance on the board while doing headstands. Don’t try that at home, it takes amazing balance.
20. Key Lime Pie Is The Only Dessert That Matters
Key lime pie originated in Key West and is the official pie of the state of Florida. You can get various versions of this delicious pie all over the state, sometimes with graham cracker crust, sometimes nestled in a pastry crust, and depending on the chef, it’s either topped with a dollop of rich, whipped cream or light and airy meringue. Everyone here has their favorite style of key lime pie, their favorite recipe for making it themselves, and their favorite place to buy it premade.
21. Trying To Catch “The Big One”
Floridians love to fish. I’m not talking about taking grandpa to sit on the dock of the bay to catch minnows, though they do that too, but they are experienced anglers and take fishing very seriously. Sport fishing, charter fishing, deep sea fishing...you name it, they are crazy about it. To them, there’s no better way to spend the day.
22. Golfing At A Different Course Every Day Of The Week
If they’re not fishing, they are golfing. Florida is home to The PGA (Play Golf America) headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens with over 27,000 members. There’s countless gorgeous golf courses all over the state, with eight diverse regions of golf. The Sunshine State offers more golf courses than any other destination in the world. That should tell you something.
23. Being Boating Bosses
Florida has thousands of miles of lakes, rivers and coastal waters, perfect for taking the boat out and enjoying the sunshine. Fort Lauderdale is the ‘Yachting Capital of the World’ and home to International Boat Show each year. From Tampa Bay to Pensacola and Destin, Florida has some of the best boating in the world and Floridians are the lucky ones that get to enjoy it in their own backyard.
24. Farmer’s Markets All Year Long
Fresh seafood, fruits, veggies, artisan-made foods and outdoor farmer’s markets are popular worldwide, but Floridians get to enjoy their farmer’s markets all year long. Admit it, you’re a little bit jealous.
25. Making Shopping An Olympic Sport
Sure, America loves shopping, but not quite as much as Floridians. Florida is home to two of the top ten largest malls in the country, countless outlet malls, quite possibly more strips malls than anywhere else in the country, and plenty of open-air malls. Shopping is an activity in Florida. It’s exercise. If you can’t make it to the gym, just head to the mall, where you’re sure to get in miles of walking and come home with everything you need. Multitasking is a good thing.
26. Miami—You Either Love It Or Love To Hate It
Floridians, admit it, you love Miami. Some gush over their love for it (those below a certain invisible line drawn across the state), others hold it in disdainful contempt (those above that same invisible line), but everyone ends up in Miami from time to time, for various reasons: a show, party, music, shopping, to go to South Beach, for Art Basel, to catch a game… Miami might be the city Floridians love to hate, but there’s still a bit of love there.
27. Sunsets—A Whole Different Awesome Than Sunrises
Not to be confused with the famous Florida sunrise, the sunsets in Florida are just as spectacular and much beloved. I’ve had to pull over more than once just to watch the sun descend from the sky and take in the last colors of the day before the dark, open sky is littered with a sea of sparkling stars.
What do you love about living in Florida? Tell us in the comments below! 
