Stephen Foster, who wrote "Old Folks at Home," Florida's state song, never even saw the Suwannee River, nor did he ever step foot in Florida. An average annual commercial harvest of Apalachicola Bay oysters produces enough meat to cover a football field three deep. Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard is touted as the world's longest continuous sidewalk. It is a popular waterfront gathering place for joggers and in-line skaters. Once a year, thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. It's the annual Mullet Toss hosted by Flora-Bama Beach Bar in Pensacola. It's just "a silly excuse for a huge beach party."
The Seven Mile Bridge, that crosses between Marathon and the Lower Keys, was built in 1982 - in pieces - then shipped to the Keys to be assembled. The first commercial airline service between two U.S. cities was established between St. Petersburg and Tampa in 1914. DeFuniak Springs is home to one of the two naturally round lakes in the world. Ft. Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because it has 185 miles of local waterways. Florida's highest natural point is 345 feet, located near Lakewood in Walton County. The Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site in North Florida commemorates the largest battle fought in Florida during the American Civil War.
The United States city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita is Clearwater. Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed. Young aviator Tony Jannus made history on January 1, 1914 when he flew the world's first scheduled passenger service airline flight from St. Petersburg's downtown yacht basin to Tampa. Dr. John Gorrie of Apalachicola invented mechanical refrigeration in 1851. Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented the first suntan cream in 1944. He accomplished this development by cooking cocoa butter in a granite coffee pot on his wife's stove.
The state of Florida is the part of the southeastern region of the United States of America. Florida is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Alabama in the northwest, and Georgia in the northeast. The Spanish and British inhabitants occupied the state of Florida before it was sold to the United States in the year 1819. Today, Florida's major economy comes from tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. During the 1991 Gulf War the busiest military port in the country was Jacksonville. From this location the military moved more supplies and people than any other port in the country.
Florida is lined with museums and entertainment venues up and down both coasts and everywhere in between. Visitors can grab tickets for rock concerts, Broadway-style shows, dinner theater, and much more, in major cities like Tampa, Sarasota, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and others. Other cultural sites include incredible art museums (check out the Ringling Museum in Sarasota), history museums (found in nearly every county), aviation museums (like the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola), and science museums (including Tampa's excellent Museum of Science and Industry).
Some interesting Florida laws state: Doors of all public buildings in Florida must open outwards. It is illegal to sell your children. Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner. A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing. If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. In Big Pine Key it is illegal to molest a Key deer. In Broward County, persons may not be "inappropriately attired" who work at hot dog stands. Florida. It's not just a destination. It's a whole new way of life. Come join the fun in the sun.
The Seven Mile Bridge, that crosses between Marathon and the Lower Keys, was built in 1982 - in pieces - then shipped to the Keys to be assembled. The first commercial airline service between two U.S. cities was established between St. Petersburg and Tampa in 1914. DeFuniak Springs is home to one of the two naturally round lakes in the world. Ft. Lauderdale is known as the Venice of America because it has 185 miles of local waterways. Florida's highest natural point is 345 feet, located near Lakewood in Walton County. The Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site in North Florida commemorates the largest battle fought in Florida during the American Civil War.
The United States city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita is Clearwater. Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was first developed. Young aviator Tony Jannus made history on January 1, 1914 when he flew the world's first scheduled passenger service airline flight from St. Petersburg's downtown yacht basin to Tampa. Dr. John Gorrie of Apalachicola invented mechanical refrigeration in 1851. Miami Beach pharmacist Benjamin Green invented the first suntan cream in 1944. He accomplished this development by cooking cocoa butter in a granite coffee pot on his wife's stove.
The state of Florida is the part of the southeastern region of the United States of America. Florida is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Alabama in the northwest, and Georgia in the northeast. The Spanish and British inhabitants occupied the state of Florida before it was sold to the United States in the year 1819. Today, Florida's major economy comes from tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture. During the 1991 Gulf War the busiest military port in the country was Jacksonville. From this location the military moved more supplies and people than any other port in the country.
Florida is lined with museums and entertainment venues up and down both coasts and everywhere in between. Visitors can grab tickets for rock concerts, Broadway-style shows, dinner theater, and much more, in major cities like Tampa, Sarasota, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, and others. Other cultural sites include incredible art museums (check out the Ringling Museum in Sarasota), history museums (found in nearly every county), aviation museums (like the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola), and science museums (including Tampa's excellent Museum of Science and Industry).
Some interesting Florida laws state: Doors of all public buildings in Florida must open outwards. It is illegal to sell your children. Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner. A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing. If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. In Big Pine Key it is illegal to molest a Key deer. In Broward County, persons may not be "inappropriately attired" who work at hot dog stands. Florida. It's not just a destination. It's a whole new way of life. Come join the fun in the sun.
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