Florida

Also known by its official State nickname as “The Sunshine State”, Florida is located on the South East of the United States with its capital being Tallahassee. Florida borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Atlantic Ocean to the east and Georgia and Alabama to the North. Florida is the fourth most populous State in United States with an estimated population of about 19 million. The State covers an area of 170, 305 square kilometers.

Florida is famous for its gentle weather. The State is also known as the lightning capital because it experiences more lightning strikes than all other States in the U.S. Also, Florida experiences the highest average precipitation than most States, with the occurrence of afternoon thunderstorms from spring until early autumn. Florida is favored by many retirees because of its mild weather.

A majority of Florida’s residents speak English (their first language). However, there are other dominant languages as well, such as Spanish. Florida’s climate makes it a favorable target for many immigrants; and the Spanish and French have established themselves successfully within this State for decades.

The official currency used in Florida is the U.S Dollar. Only major financial institutions can exchange foreign currency. In Florida ATM’s are an extensive network and traveller’s cheques and credits cards are widely accepted. To avoid the hassles that come with travelling, tourists are advised to carry traveller’s cheques which are in USD.

Tourism is the largest sector in Florida and this can be attributed to the warm weather and extensive beaches which attract a lot of visitors every year.

There are many amusement parks in Florida which also invite a number of tourists yearly. Also another famous tourist attraction is the Walt Disney World Resort which consists of various theme parks and a lot of hotels.