10 Ways Florida is Unlike Any Other State

Posted on March 31, 2014

Florida is known for many things: great beaches, amusement parks galore, countless retirement destinations, and a culture that can only be found here. Whether you are a lifelong Floridian or simply want to know more about our state, you may not know the many different things that make our state unique. Here at Farah & Farah, we are always happy to show some Florida pride.

Here are 10 ways that The Sunshine State is unlike any other in the nation.

1. We have the most popular amusement park destination in the entire United States: Orlando. The city is home to the Walt Disney Resort and its six parks, Universal Orlando Resort’s three parks, SeaWorld Orlando’s three parks, Legoland Florida, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Holy Land Experience, and Gatorland!
2. America’s space flight launch pad is in Cape Canaveral. The John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Spaceport Florida, and SpaceX are all centered here.
3. Florida is the lightning capital of the United States, due to the average 90 to 100 days of major thunderstorms that we experience every year. Specifically, Clearwater is the U.S. city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita.
4. We have the highest average temperature in the U.S., specifically in Key West, where the average yearly temperature is 83 degrees. Even in January, the coldest it gets on average is 65 degrees.
5. We hold some of the strangest world records, including: largest strawberry shortcake (827 square feet, 6,000 pounds), biggest chocolate mousse (496 pounds), longest ice cream sundae (1,250 feet), highest number of bricks shattered in one hit (15), largest truck convoy (97 trucks), most dancers en pointe (245 people), and most beach balls in the air at one time (1355 simultaneously).
6. The largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the world is found in Lakeland. Ten buildings and two additional structures made by the architect can be found on the campus of Florida Southern College.
7. The oldest European settlement in North America is in Saint Augustine. The city was originally founded by Spanish admiral Pedro Menendez as San Agustin and was the capital of Spanish Florida for 200 years.
8. We’re home to the longest river race in the world! The Annual Mug Race of Florida has sailboats race along a one-way course tracking from Palatka to Jacksonville for a total of 42 miles.
9. There are more than 30,000 recognized lakes throughout our state. Our closest competition? Minnesota and its 11,842 lakes.
10. We have the Fountain of Youth! Well, at least that’s what Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto thought. Espiritu Santo Springs in Safety Harbor was thought to be the real thing, and is seen by many as having curative powers. Come take a dip and find out for yourself!

Have any more reasons why Florida stands alone in the United States? Farah & Farah would love to know with your comments on the Farah & Farah Facebook page!