Florida is famous for its sandy beaches and tourist attractions.  The state is under 200km wide, so you’re always within 100km of the ocean.  Most people live near the sea, though.

The character of the state changes as you move from south to north.

Here is an assesment of some of our cities (if you have a question about whether we cover a certain city, contact us):

The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are islands that extend south from the peninsula.  Key West, which was the home of Ernest Hemingway, is the most southerly city in the mainland U.S.   It’s only 150km from the city to Havana, Cuba.  Lifestyle in the Keys is laid back, and there scuba diving and boating are common pastimes.

Miami/Ft Lauderdale

Miami is a famous melting pot of cultures.  The city attracts celebrities and mere mortals from all over the Americas , and has a large Cuban exile population.  Nightlife in the city is unrivalled in the state – South Beach and Coconut Grove are just two centers.  South Beach is, of course, popular during the day, too.  The Everglades are nearby, so you can ride an airboat to see alligators – and even pet an alligator!

Tampa/Saint Petersburg

Tampa and Saint Petersburg are cities on the Gulf coast of the state.  The water in the Gulf tends to be much more smooth, and the beaches slope gently into the ocean.  This is a great place to take kids to the beach!  Tampa is the home of Busch Gardens, and Saint Petersburg houses the Dalí Museum and an annual Indy Car street race, the Saint Petersburg Grand Prix.

Orlando

Orlando is famous as the home of Disneyworld®, Universal Studios®, and other major theme parks.  The city attracts people from all over the world, so you’ll always find people to talk to.  Orlando is a great place to live if you want to see the state – it’s not far to the Atlantic coast, or the Kennedy Space Center .

Gainesville

Gainesville is the home of the University of Florida, and so abounds with young college students.  Everything tends to be more affordable in college towns, but you’re not more than a couple of hours by car from Orlando or Tampa .

Jacksonville

Jacksonville is in the north of the state, on the Atlantic coast.  It’s a little cooler in Jacksonville , but the beaches are still inviting most of the year.  There’s plenty to see near the city – you’re only a short drive from Daytona Beach, where you can take a car onto the sand, and you’re also near Saint Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S., and Hilton Head, a famous beach resort just over the border in Georgia .