Happy National Florida Day! What makes the Sunshine State special?

Writer: Paul Dolan
Published: Updated:
Florida
(Pexels / MGN)

Startling headlines about the Sunshine State go viral occasionally, but Jan. 25, also known as National Florida Day, serves as a reminder of what our unique state has to offer beyond 15-second sensationalism.

From warm weather and beaches to state parks and amusement parks, Florida has something for everyone to enjoy.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are 174 award-winning state parks, trails and historic sites for visitors and residents to enjoy.

Take an airboat tour of the Everglades to see massive alligators or go canoeing down the peaceful and crystal-clear waters of Ichetucknee Springs State Park.

Celebrate National Florida Day by visiting our beaches, which visitors from around the world flock to year after year.

According to U.S. News Travel, you can find some of the best beaches in Florida at Siesta Key, Santa Rosa Beach, Marco Island and Delray Beach.

After spending 30 minutes at any of these beaches, you will understand why we are nicknamed the Sunshine State.

For family fun or thrill seekers, check out Walt Disney World Resorts or Universal Resorts in Orlando, Busch Gardens in Tampa, the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral or LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven.

The Sunshine State’s culture is one-of-a-kind. Go out and explore what the beautiful state has to offer and celebrate National Florida Day.

Below is a list of fun Florida facts from CBS Miami.

  • Wherever you are in Florida, you are never more than 60 miles away from the ocean.
  • The average Florida temperature ranges from 65 to 70 degrees in the northern region and 74 to 77 degrees in the southern region.
  • No dinosaur fossils have ever been found in Florida.
  • The only place on the planet where crocodiles and alligators live together is in the Florida Everglades.
  • Every public building in Florida has an outward opening door due to strong winds during hurricane season.
  • Florida is the flattest state in the United States of America. Florida is so flat, in fact, that its highest point is the lowest high point of any state in the U.S. At just 345 feet, Britton Hill, Florida’s highest peak, is lower than many of Miami’s skyscrapers.
  • Florida got its name from Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de LeΓ³n, who named it “La Florida,” meaning “land of flowers.”
  • Florida has the longest coastline in the continental U.S.
  • Florida is the only state that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Florida is the southernmost point in the continental U.S.
  • Greater Miami is the only metropolitan area in the country with two national parks. Miami is home to Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park.

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