20 Best and Worst Things About Florida, According to Floridians
Florida, with its die-hard fans and haters, continues to be one of the preferred vacation spots and retirement destinations in America. According to U-Haul’s growth index, Florida experienced the second-largest number of customers seeking one-way U-Haul equipment in 2023 for the third year in a row.
I was among those who became a Florida tourist-turned-transplant. During my five-year stint in the Sunshine State, I spoke with residents and Florida transplants alike who shared their love and hate for it.
Given that U-Haul’s data shows interest in moving to Florida isn’t slowing down, these are some of the aspects people love most about living in Florida and those they wish weren’t part of the equation.
1: The Beach, Duh
It’s hard for anyone from a landlocked state or an area where the “beach” means digging your beach chair into rocks not to appreciate Florida’s sandy beaches. Florida is home to over 8,400 miles of shoreline, the second longest shoreline in the U.S. after Alaska.
2: The Weather
I know I’m going to get flak for this one. But as a New York native who rarely felt warm enough in the summer, let alone the winter, Florida’s hot, humid weather is about as big of a pro as it gets for some Floridians. Also, a newsflash to those who think Florida is always hot, frost and snow happen. The Almanac even lists frost dates for major Florida cities.
3: No Tax Man (or Woman)
There’s no state income tax in Florida. Need I say more about that being a huge reason why many residents love living in Florida?
4: Good Eats
From Cuban sandwiches to Southern-style food inspired by Florida’s neighboring states, you’ll hear many locals boast about the Sunshine State’s cuisine. If you’re on a health kick, don’t worry. Whole Foods and GreenWise operate in Florida.
5: Trash, Be Gone
A person’s perception of the amount of trash pollution there is in Florida depends on where they live or visit. But from my experience, it feels pretty under control. That doesn’t mean that Florida doesn’t struggle with trash, though; it has ten garbage incinerators, with Tampa officials pushing to add an additional incinerator to help manage the copious amount of trash that landfills are facing.
6: Outdoor Living
There’s little reason to step foot inside when living in Florida (except, perhaps, during hurricanes). Many Floridians comment on how much they love the ability to be outdoors so much, year-round. Another plus? Keeping your pool open the entire year.
7: Year-Round Gardening
Like most places, Florida has ideal and less-than-ideal growing seasons. Nevertheless, Florida’s growing season is significantly longer than northern states. Plus, you can plant orange trees, which bear fruit during the winter months.
8: Shoes Says Who?
To some Floridians, the answer about why they love living in Florida is obvious: Shoes are optional. It doesn’t get more freeing than that for people from northern states.
9: Healthy Air
As a whole, the air quality in Florida is very good. The Air Quality Index (AQI) shows that Florida is consistently in healthy air territory, with it being rare for Florida’s air quality to exceed an AQI value of 100. Numbers below 100 are typically considered satisfactory, and AQI values over 300 signify hazardous air. There’s never been an instance of Florida’s air quality officially reaching 200+.
10: Cool Trees
Okay, this could admittedly be a Florida transplant thing. But for myself and several others I know, being surrounded by palm trees and live oak trees draped in Spanish moss is a must-love aspect of Florida.
11: Count the Ways
Choosing one thing they love the most about Florida is difficult for some residents. From great fishing spots to tubing down spring-fed rivers to playing golf, Florida is a haven for people who enjoy staying active. Best of all? You can do these activities 365 days of the year if you wish, barring hurricanes.
12: Walkable
Depending on where one lives in Florida, cars are optional. According to real estate company Redfin, Miami, Hialeah, and Key West are some of the many top walkable cities in Florida.
13: Family
To some Floridians, family is their favorite thing about living in Florida. Given the influx of new residents that the Sunshine State receives, a percentage of them undoubtedly move there or stay there for family. But hey, it’s still a reason to love Florida.
14: Saunas, No More
If you’ll allow a moment of cheekiness, sauna-loving Florida transplants may find that they get to cancel their sauna appointments. Florida, especially the central and southern part, remains so hot for much of the year that sauna lovers might be able to save some money. What’s not to love?
Another Perspective
Florida isn’t all sunshine and roses. These are some of the things Florida natives and transplants dislike the most about living there.
1: The Weather
Déjà vu, anyone? While the weather is a plus for many Floridians, others downright detest the Sunshine State’s excessive heat and humidity.
2: Can Be Unaffordable
According to Forbes, Florida ranks in spot 21 for the most expensive states in the U.S. That doesn’t look so bad on paper. But in the real world, many Floridians struggle with high costs of living (looking at you, beachside vacation spots). On top of that, Florida is notorious for high car insurance premiums, and some residents have to splurge on flood and other insurance to protect their assets in the event of a hurricane.
3: Scary Animals
Alligators, pythons, and bears, oh my! Florida has its fair share of creatures that can harm humans. Long story short? Never let your dog swim in Florida ponds.
4: Tough Driving
Snowbirds might be a term that out-of-staters embrace. But for Florida residents, snowbird season is frustrating. There are about one million part-time residents that visit Florida during winter months. Couple that with a portion of the state’s 120+ million annual tourist visitors, and Florida’s roads become an unbearable mess for many.
5: Red Tide
Red tide is an algal bloom that’s harmful to marine life and can cause respiratory issues in humans. It’s an unpleasant phenomenon for coastal residents and tourists alike when red tide happens in Florida.
6: Transplants
As a former Florida transplant myself, I have first-hand experience knowing that some locals don’t love out-of-staters becoming Florida residents. I (mostly) get it. For me, it was always funny listening to one Florida transplant complain about the actions of another transplant.
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