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There's something relentlessly optimistic about Florida. Florida's nickname, "the Sunshine State," says it all. Ponce De Leon first introduced Europeans to the state; at the time he was sure that the key to everlasting youth was somewhere in Florida's swamps. Visitors to Florida in the late 19th and 20th centuries were equally sure Florida would provide a warm, beach respite from the winters up North. Today, people from every walk of life land in Florida, positive that whatever they're looking for can be found between the state's Spanish accented urban areas and rural orange groves.
It hardly matters who you are or where you're from. Young families with younger children flock to central Florida's ring of theme parks, around Orlando, from all over the world just to escape from it all; "it all" being reality. Florida's a magnet for older Americans as well. With January highs in the 70s and a low cost of living, Florida's master planned communities are a different sort of Disneyworld. In fact Florida's appeal is so magnetic, the tourist-friendly state gets its share of unwanted visitors each year; hurricanes, often more than one a season.
There are a couple facts you'll want to keep in mind:
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The population of Florida is 15,982,378. Florida's capital is Tallahassee.
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Looking at a map, Florida seems pretty far south. But Florida isn't the southernmost U.S. state - Hawaii is.
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The popular sports drink Gatorade is named after the University of Florida Gators, the team the drink was first developed for.
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The first ATM machine specifically designed for rollerbladers to use while skating was installed in Miami, Florida.
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Clearwater, Florida has the highest rate of per capita rate of lightening strikes of all U.S. cities.
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Bus trips and cruises are big business in Florida, but so is space travel. America's space shuttles are launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida and Titusville is known as "Space City, USA."
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In Key West, Florida chickens are classified as a "protected species." And in Pensacola, it's illegal to be caught downtown without at least $10 in your wallet.
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