I live in Florida. You can tell the locals from the tourists when the temperature gets under 70F (22C) The tourists are wearing shorts and t-shirts and the locals are bundled up with sweaters or hoodies.
As a lifelong Floridian, I would also recommend to bring insect repellent/bug spray. There are mosquitoes EVERYWHERE, as well as other pests like fire ants. Also, South Florida only has 2 seasons: Summer and Hurricane season.
Jean-Paul de la Fuente I think I'm immune to mosquitoes. As many times as I've been in Florida I don't remember ever getting bitten by one. Including in Key West when they were going to town on my friend.
Gambit X ehh I live in Jacksonville, and the hurricanes here aren’t bad. And, since we’re not used to coldness, anything 65 degrees or lower needs a jacket.
I've lived in Florida my whole life and here are my most important pieces of advice: It rains every afternoon in Florida during the summer (but only for a few minutes) Like he said NEVER mess with the wildlife especially if you are in the keys don't touch the coral reefs! Do the stingray shuffle while on the beaches especially during the summer. You don't want to hurt the stingrays or yourself. Lastly, if you're a tourist and you come in the summer, wear sunscreen!! I always see tourist with the most unfortunate sunburn lines so reapply every 60 minutes at least
eethan m XD while it may be painful to the tourist to get the sunburns, it’s still funny when a child ,ales a design on there back and they walk out like a lobster XD. And the critter thing, they hate tourist, but live the locals
Cam 9 As a Florida Native I've never gotten a sun burn because its always sunny here and I have enough melanin to protect my skin. But still people who live here get sun burned I dont understand it either.
Don’t underestimate the heat and humidity. I have friends from desert states (Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico) who visit Florida and see the 95° weather and think that’s nothing compared to the 110° they’re used to. Yeah, it’s 95°, but humidity is killer. It’s almost always 80+% and near 100% humidity isn’t rare. For reference, 95° weather with 90% humidity feels like 117°. And you sweat. Too damn much. When I was in Vegas, it was 105° and I felt downright cool compared to what I’m used to. Something I’ve heard is, “Dry heat will kill you. Wet heat will make you wish it DID kill you.”
Your sweat doesn't evaporate when it's extra humid, so no cooling effect. You just stay wet, and hot. Luckily, I do pretty well in it...I think it's easier for skinny people, maybe.
I grew up in a house with no air conditioning in Miami. The schools weren’t air conditioned either back then. When I look back I can’t believe I survived. 🥵
@@ericbrandon8699 fr…the middle school i went to (like 45 minutes from miami) air conditioning was always broken and you feel like you’re in a slow cooker
Makazeh That makes sense. If you're born here in Florida you just start to get used to it. The griminess and feel of the humidity here is really different then most places. The humidity makes it feel even hotter here, especially in the summer.
zl NO PAIN lz I was born and raised in Florida and I love it here EXCEPT for the heat. I want seasons! I want a winter that lasts for more than 2 weeks!
Florida Native, family has been over 100 years! Your videos explain Florida so well! Proud to have "good" tourists such as yourself come to my beautiful state!
DON'T tell us how you do it up north. DON'T act like you own the place. DON'T litter. *DON'T* forget to visit your nearest Publix. Drive the speed limit, please I grew up here.
As a native Floridian, driving the speed limit is unacceptable. If you're not going 5-10 over, someone will be riding your ass, including the majority of cops.
I do have a couple tips for people who are thinking of going to Florida 1. I highly suggest learning the proper way to run away from an Alligator along with knowing how to spot one in the water. I was at a lake one time sitting in the grass when I saw something coming out of the water. It turned out to be a massive Alligator but luckily I escaped because I was taught as a child how to run away from one (which is zig zag btw) 2. In Florida we have these supermarkets called Publix and they're amazing. Not only do they have amazing sandwiches but they're actually really fun to shop at and the people there are always really nice. 3. Don't expect people to be good drivers. Florida drivers suck ass. They don't use their turning signals, they run red lights and they honk at you for no reason. 4. Be prepared for any kind of weather. Florida's weather can change very quickly. It can be sunny and beautiful outside one minute and then be raining with thunder and lightning the next. 5. Learn how to fight off a shark. Here in Florida we have a good amount of sharks so it doesn't hurt to at least learn the proper way to defend yourself if you do get attacked by one. You usually want to punch the shark in the nose and begin to scratch and even pull out it's eyes. The shark should swim away. 6. If you plan on renting a boat to go out on the water, please be careful of the manatees because many manatees suffer injuries from boats. Also don't be scared of them. They are very friendly and will often come up to you and say hi. 7. Don't talk about Donald Trump. Even if you are with him or against him there will always be a shit ton of people who will get up in your face and begin to yell and threaten you. 8. This is kind of a strange one but don't honk your horn a lot. I know this sounds stupid but here in Florida if you honk your horn at someone you can get shot. Trust me it has happened many times. 9. Bring some sort of product that will tame your hair. The humidity in Florida is so god damn annoying. I stg I can blow dry my hair and then the second I step outside, my hair looks like a lions mane. 10. Since Florida is surrounded by a lot of water, marine biology is kind of a big thing. Try finding some research centers because they are always super fun and you get to meet all the cute little animals Trust me on this. I have lived in Florida my whole life.
That's a myth about gators, they usually aren't that aggressive (if they hiss at you, then run away). You don't have to zig zag, just run like the wind, they will tire easy. Assuming a gator has been fed by people & is hungry enough, chances are it would see you long before you see it. Stay away from any water body at night (when gators & sharks are active)
But most importantly DO NOT feed wild gators! Don't care if it's the cutest most harmless looking little guy, it will grow up, it will get big and will knock some doors down looking for more people to feed him
As a Key West native, here are some tips for visiting our little island: •Don’t pronounce the word “conch” as “canch” with a hard ch sound; it’s a dead give away that you’re a tourist. Locals pronounce it “konk” with a hard k sound. • When you’re on Duval St, don’t cross the street on red lights in front of cars. It’s dangerous, annoying to drivers, and you’re going to get a very angry honk or a very rude gesture. • Uber and Lyft were banned in Key West, but they are now legal and very efficient, so feel free to use one if you need it. • We have lots of native wildlife like iguanas, chickens, lizards, anoles, and lots of stray cats. Don’t stop on the middle of a sidewalk or street to take a picture of a chicken- you’ll see a hundred other ones on your trip. • Most of the streets that run horizontally through Duval St are alternating one ways, meaning that one street is a one way going downtown, and the next street goes uptown. Don’t drive the wrong way down a one way. •THROW AWAY YOUR TRASH. Key West is a fragile island ecosystem, so don’t let your plastic cups, straws, and beer bottles get into the ocean or streets. Just remember, as much as you love to vacation here, there are people who love living here twice as much, so be respectful.
I was born in Key West, family moved to Dade City when i was 1, I'm 16 now, and I've only ever visited maybe 4 times. I'd love to come back, visit family, and visit the old Dairy Queen. I remember walking from my Aunt's house to the DQ one night when i was visiting. Beautiful place.
DON'T forget to drive the amazing road from Miami to Key West! will take roughly 4-6 hours depending on stops, but it is one of the most beautiful drives in the states with the famous 7-mile bridge over amazing clear, shallow waters!
elcomcf awesome! The crown jewel is at the End -- Key West. known for Hemingway, Key Lime Pie, cigars, parties, lgbt, and coral reefs. book a night as close to Old Town as possible. one must do is sunset in Mallory Square, show up early. the drive from Miami is scattered with smaller, more laid-back keys. so that's where you do some searches to see if there's anything that piques your interest. good luck and have fun!
That would be US-1. And the hidden gem is the bar on Card Sound road called Alabama Jacks. Best fritters in the keys. Try and find it, you won't regret it.
And be prepared to walk if you go to the parks. A lot. These parks are far larger than they look. And your legs may even have a red rash (Golfer's Rash, sometimes known as Disney Rash as it's known in that area.) on them from the amount of walking you're gonna do. If you experience it, it's nothing major, it's a reaction to the blood vessels of the skin to the heat, humidity, and excessive walking. Once you get back in your room, take a cool bath, elevate your legs and apply a wet, cool towel to the rashed area. If it gets irritating or itches, apply an anti-itch with cooling relief as that will help it more than standard anti-itch creams. Also remember everyone is in the park likely for the same reason as you. Chances are, they're on vacation and/or their to enjoy themselves too. They paid the same price, if not more, than you did to be there. Can't count the amount of people I came across this year that think because they paid money, no on else did, and that they own the place and you're just in the way of them. DON'T be that person. Be respectful and mindful of your fellow park goers, especially of disabled individuals in the park. Those scooters don't stop on a dime and I can't count the amount of people foolishly walking in front of them, even after seeing them, that have gotten themselves run over doing so. P.S. Seagulls are jerks and they will brazenly steal damn near anything they think may be food. Be very careful of placing down small objects nearby them, especially unattended. And if you see a convenience store named 'Wawas' give them a stop. A great pitstop for food/drink.
These are great tips. I'm a central Floridian who worked at theme parks for years, and tourists definitely need to remember to drink water and wear sunscreen. The Florida sun/humidity combo is no joke. would also like to add that tourists should take thunderstorms seriously, even if there's no rain. Dark clouds and thunder will always equal lightning in florida. Don't stay on the beach or in a pool if you are hearing thunder.
@@sajop87 Or swim in any water where you can't see the bottom. Murky water hides the gators. Just saw some idiots last week at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Park and Alligator Preserve who nearly got themselves killed. They saw a couple of baby alligators by some reeds near the shore by a pier and went around as they wanted to get a closer look. I warned them to stay away as mom was sure to be nearby. They poopooed me saying they didn't see her anywhere. Well yeah she was, in the shallow but muddy water not four feet from them.
As a native Floridian, *DON'T* go to Key West (or any Keys down there) in July, take my word for it. *DON'T* forget to drive from Miami to Key West. It's the most beautiful drive in America. *DO* visit the Keys in September. I did it for my 7th birthday, and it's an unforgettable experience. *DON'T* go to Florida in the middle of a hurricane. You saw what happened down here. I currently live in Japan now, and I'll admit, I can't survive a year without Publix fried chicken xD.
Ugh you had to bring up their chicken. I've been in Switzerland for 1 1/2 and haven't visited FL or the US. I'm actually thinking about paying a friend in FL to send me a Publix sub. Now I'm going to have to pay them to send chicken because you brought up their chicken.
Some advice from a "real" live Floridian: The busiest time of the year is March and April (spring break). Summer is second busiest. Slowest months are September, January and May. Trust me, I work in the industry. Also, it rains all goddamn summer. And not always just for 10 minutes, that's a bullshit myth. Unless it rains early, in that case it will probably soon pass so don't pack up and leave just yet, the sun will be back soon. So yes, wake up and get out early. The later in the day it rains, the bigger and longer the storm. Some years are wetter than others. We are also the lightning capital so be prepared to freak out. Every year a few golfers get struck and a couple kids get eaten by gators. It's just the way it is. Driving: the left lane is the fast or passing lane so stay clear. Don't gawk and point at everything just follow the signs, they are big and clearly marked. Also, you are ALLOWED to turn right on a red light unless indicated otherwise. We have lots of natural springs that are clear and ice cold for a cheap and fun alternative to the parks. I think that covers it. Oh yeah, remember to tip your waiter and bartender, we depend on it. Plus, that way you will get into heaven.
Down here in the southwest part of the state it is busiest from November to April. My own town's population seems to triple in size during those months. Our summer rains usually last at least 2 hours sometime between 4:30 and 9 pm. The rest seems the same.
My wife and I visit the gulf coast every year for a week.we are from New York state,not the city.Its great to get away from the cold and shit weather for at least a little bit.We love the people down there and have always treated them with respect.Have never had a bad stay,or bad food for that matter!
@ jeb stuart...think it might have something to do with your name?!?!...just kidding...just kidding!...prolly has more to do with ur use of the R word....respect....thank you!
I lived in Florida for 4 years I'll offer a few other recommends: (1) The lighting in Florida is very dangerous and in the area I lived in, near Melbourne and Cocoa Beach, there were one or two tourists killed each year on the beach by lightning. If there are Thunderstorms, get away from the water and the Beach. (2) If you don't see lots of people swimming far away from the shore, there is often a good reason. One of those reasons is that there are schools of fish, like Bluefish, away from shore that sharks swim through to get a meal and the sharks may end up biting you. Blue fish are also pretty mean: there was a Coco Beach surfer who had some of his toes and fingers bitten off by a school of Bluefish. (3) Most people who are bitten by sharks in Florida die of blood loss and not the bite itself. (4) In the warmer West Coast waters smaller groups of Barracuda often come very close to shore and mingle in among the solo bathers and swimmers. Barracuda are attracted by shiny attire like watches and jewelry and quick movement. If you are ever in the middle of a school of Barracuda do not panic or make jerky movements that will cause them to attack: move slowly toward shore and get out of the water. They are vicious with fanged piranha-like teeth. (4) There are lots of dangerous animals including Panthers (rare), rattlesnakes (very common in grass areas), Sharks, Bluefish, Barracuda and you should assume alligators are a risk anywhere there is fresh or brackish water. The one animal I found dangerous but hard to recognize as dangerous are snapping turtles. Unless you know what to look for you won't distinguish harmless turtles from the snapping turtles and snapping turtles are vicious and dangerous to you. (5) Watch out for the Fire Ants. These are not the harmless little Ants that you see in colder climates. Rather, they are vicious, will attack you in swarms, climbing up your legs (think what they will eventually bite as they climb higher) and leave burning white welts that hurt like hell all over. Don't walk around in bare feet in grass or sandy soil areas where there are mounds or holes: I have stepped on Fire Ant colonies a number of times unaware only until I felt the searing pain of their attacks.
Don't forget Sand Spurs on bare feet. But hurts and when u pull them out. They hurt more. Wear ur flip flops. also Walgreen's and CVS has great flip flops for sale.
Don't think every beach is filled w babes. Florida is a meca for old people just chillin on the beach. Also as mentioned fire ants and the lightning will mess you up. And be prepared to meet a ton of people originally from up north. Lived there for 8 years and only had like 2 friends that were Florida born. Btw go FSU
You sound like you stay inside all day and you are scared of everything😂, and bluefish\barracuda don’t attack people btw, the only time you can be injured by them is if you hold them wrong.But you are correct about ants, they are so annoying
Quick tips from someone who has lived in Florida all his life Be careful on the roads the drivers are insane, and it’s the locals that are the worst ones. However, you may have to be aggressive if you want to get anywhere. Don’t litter! Tourists usually are pretty respectful of our beaches, but the snowbirds aren’t liked because they feel like they own the place. Disney is overrated and overpriced unless you get the year long passes. I’d suggest universal studios islands of adventure or Busch Gardens Tampa especially if your kids like rides and are over the age of 9. They have much better roller coasters and it’s less crowded. If you want just a beach vacation think about the emerald coast area. Destin and Fort Walton Beach are up there with Clearwater. Sand isn’t quite as good but the water is better and it’s much less well known and therefore less crowded/litter. I live in Tampa near Clearwater but much prefer the beaches in northwest Florida. However, you’ll want to avoid Panama City during spring break. Although they have taken steps to control that. Also, with the recent hurricane that came through it would be good to support that area. It’s pretty close to New Orleans so you can make that part of your vacation too.
Great job! If I didn't know any better I'd say you live here. I love that your first Don't was "Don't mess with the critters!" That one is so important, and it goes two ways. It's not just that the animals will attack you (cuz they absolutely will. They aren't cuddly Disney creatures), but also we usually get a story at least once or twice a year about people (usually tourists) that found a baby dolphin, or a turtle or something and they harass it with selfies or try to ride it and the poor thing ends up dying. Just look at the animals. Take a picture. Admire from afar. please don't pull them out of their environment or try to take pictures with them. Great PSA! Awesome video as always!
@@johnstewartmd4691 They clog traffic, they drive up the price of real estate making it difficult for working class people to get a decent place, and they barely tip. They're a nuisance.
Also from a "native": DON'T forget the mosquito repellant. Florida is a swamp with lakes and beaches. This video is absolutely correct about the insane traffic here. DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE! JUST STOP! STOP IT! PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD! I commute every day and I've been rear-ended three times by people who were texting or otherwise distracted. And likewise, "DON'T get on Interstate 4 after the parks like Universal and Disney let out. The highway becomes a parking lot. And if you are stuck in that, DON'T get on your phone/text! It's times when people are crawling in traffic that they get distracted by their toys and hit each other. If the clouds decide to cut loose with one of Florida's characteristic five-minute "frog-drowner" rainstorms, DON'T drive with your hazards on-that's Florida state law. If you feel nervous about driving, pull over and stop with your hazards on. Also, if your wipers are going, your headlights should be on-also Florida state law. Another weather tip: If you start hearing loud claps of thunder, even if it's still sunny, go inside a car or enclosed building. The Orlando/Tampa area is known as the Lightning Capital of the US. We get a lot of ground strikes here. You won't get this during peak Tourist Season, but in the summer, expect regular thunderstorms between 3 and 7 pm. Finally, DON'T miss out on the local specialties: the Cafe Con Leche, the traditional Cuban Sandwich, and the Publix Sub sandwiches. Those are cheap and delicious.
I live in Jacksonville, and you totally missed out on mentioning Cape Canaveral and NASA. Titusville and Cocoa Beach are right next door and are cool little places to travel through. I went there on a trip during my freshman year of high school and I've always wanted to go back. Also, don't forget the Keys and the 7-mile bridge. I spent a week in Key West back in 2009 (I think it was during Spring Break) and while the humidity was extremely awful during my trip, the island has wondrous historical properties all within very decent walking distances. For my city, Jacksonville itself has stuff that you already mentioned, such as lots of nature preserves, beaches, art and natural history museums, and if you ever wanted to golf, it's definitely the place you!
We lived right near cocoa and did activities in Titusville and surrounding cities almost every day. It's crazy how many things there are to do over there!
I've visited Florida many many many times so I watched this to see how your tips stack up. all very good information. a tip from me for anyone reading, yes Florida can be very expensive if you do the big touristy things like Disney, but it can also be a very cheap trip if you go do nature stuff instead. a lot of the beaches are free or have a small fee, the natural spring parks are a favorite of mine and are cheap to enter, the Everglades is also low cost generally. point is, of you're a big fan of nature like I am then you can do a lot for not much more money than the travel and hotel expenses
Ya but they are protected under law here if a remember correctly. You can get Gator Nuggets here though they sell them at the more traditional restaurants here.
Yes, he nailed it 100% on visiting Florida. We live here. We have done the tourist thing all over this state past 30+ years. Spot on. Be sure you get what he says.
Charles Schutz That's very sound advice! Our normal Summer temps are in the mid to upper 90's, and humidity levels 80-87% daily. The best months are November-April👍🏼😊😊
DON'T MESS WITH THE CRANES. We've worked hard to bring them back. I remember them being everywhere as a small child then they disappeared for many years then in recent years they came back. They're also protected and you may get in trouble if you're caught injuring or harassing them. Also, look up Florida road trip destinations. We have a lot of hidden little gems everywhere that get lost in the shadows of major theme parks. I've lived here all my life and I'm still discovering amazing new places.
Extra tips: Check on special events, don't book your quiet, relaxing beach vacation in Daytona Beach during Bike Week. or in Key West during Fantasy Fest. Remove all bumper stickers from your car. No matter what they say, someone will be offended enough to key your paint. Same goes for overly political T-shirt slogans. Hawaiian shirts are for Hawaii. Please. You were warned about sharks and gators, but before you go to the beach, read up on jellyfish and rip currents. Also, if you hear thunder, get off the beach & under cover. Florida is the people-struck-by-lightning capital of the world.
David Scott Ok I’ve lived in Florida my whole life, I don’t think it’s a standard in Florida to get your car keyed just cause you have political bumper stickers. I’ve never even heard of that happening here.
My tip: know your naval flags. Know what the flags mean at lifeguard posts and the flags on ships. If you go to the beach, always be looking for ships in the distance. If you see one, you aren't safe. Also, please beware if you do anything related to nature. The traps alligator hunters use are designed to kill, you need to know how to spot them. There are also old sea mines from the civil war along some of the quieter beaches. If there's a sign that says don't go in the water, that means don't go close to the water., the general rule is always 20 feet. Also, quick sand on the beaches is no joke. If you don't know what a sandbar is and how to avoid one, you probably shouldn't be on the beach. If you step into one, you'll start sinking very fast, so know what you're doing. There are also loose patches of grass everywhere. Those are snake pits. It might look like regular grass but it's completely hollow underneath, they will crumble if you hit them lightly with a long branch. And yes, the locals are crazy. Florida is a quite mentally unstable region, any wrong gesture can spell trouble. Also, everyone here conceal carries a gun. And please wear long pants. Nobody here wants to see your jorts.
As a former Floridian there are a couple of things I was surprised you did not mention: yes, the beaches are free but parking is not and that is expensive and most beaches do not have lifeguards. And, between April and November, do the "sting ray shuffle" when in the water. Watch out for the love bugs in May and September and the "stand your ground " Floridians at all times - seriously, drive with extreme courtesy. Unless you know exactly where you are going stay on the interstate in urban areas. The best part of Florida is natural Florida and they do have a great state park system but in the summer months, the weather is unbearable and very unpredictable.
Im not surprised he forgot the Rays, not living here its probably not something he's encountered much. And most places have paid parking in some areas, so not terribly surprising to a tourist I wouldn't think. And if visiting places like Miami, you may need to parallel park at a meter.
As a local, these are great tips highly recommend all of these. Also make friends with the locals if you are nice we most likely will be friendly back and recommend places to eat or things to do that are not on the 10 ten things to do in Florida list. Also please note your trip will not be perfect don’t expect it to be. It will rain there will be traffic things will happen but if you go with the flow and make the best out of it, then it might be the best trip ever!
Don't foget the Panhandle. Yes, we are part of Florida. Don't forget March is Spring Break. Lots of drunk college kids. Also, talking on the phone won't get you pulled over.
Just my 2 cents: Take the airboat rides to see the gators. Most of the nice beaches (IMO) are in the Keys. Come with a plan/schedule on what you want to see and have a good idea of distances so you can plan accordingly. Everything inside the tourist areas is way more expensive than outside. Public transportation like in Europe is limited. Trains are for moving coal and cargo in the Central Florida area. Plan on using Uber (which **cannot** go into the airports, btw!!) to move around or rent a car. Have cash to pay tolls (not sure if credit cards are accepted, tolls go from $1 USD and up) . Locals use Epass (Orlando area) or Sunpass (everywhere else) to pay tolls. Can't tell how many times locals and tourists jump from one lane to another because they got in the Epass/Sunpass lane. The whole toll thing can be very confusing for tourists (it's a pain for the locals too). Highly recommend to use GPS in phone if possible! Also be careful with other tourists who take the wrong exit and throw their cars into your lane trying to avoid it. We drive a "little" bit fast in Central Florida and the further south you go, the worse the driving becomes. High season in the parks can be anytime there are American holidays or days off (MLK day, Thanksgiving, Easter etc), not just late December, early January. If you're in Central FL or east of it, check rocket launch schedules from Kennedy Space Center, and if you get lucky you might get to see a giant building-size tube with a blinding flame on the bottom rising up into the sky at the speed of sound. Love the videos! Now back to work! =)
I've lived in central Florida since 1992, and I would add/clarify two things. 1) Hurricane season last from June through November, but the peak time is August and September. Hurricanes don't watch calendars, so we've had them before June and after November from time to time, but on average, they are far more frequent in Aug/Sept. If you are visiting during those times, pay attention to weather reports and forecasts-especially if you are staying on the beach, but know that those storms are notoriously difficult to predict. You will hear a lot about a "cone" which is the region within which the forecasters are saying the eye of the storm might go, but that cone changes at least a little with every weather update. The eye of the storm is the key thing in a strong storm (category 3 and higher). You really don't want to be anywhere near the eye. That's where the strongest winds are, and the eye can spin off tornadoes. Wind speed goes down the farther you are from the eye. If you staying on a beach and it looks like the eye might come close to you, go inland because the storm surge is an equally serious danger along the coast. If you are fascinated and want to experience a hurricane, that's your call (I've been through a number of them, and they are not fun. 2004 was awful). However, if you are not near the eye, being in a hurricane is just like experiencing a windy rainy day. The storm may be the size of Texas, but only those near the eye are going to have a really bad day in terms of wind damage. If the storm stalls out on top of you, however, it's a completely different story. Then you can be facing serious flooding (e.g. Harvey in Houston in 2017). A tropical storm with weak wind can be devastating if it stalls simply because of the rainfall amounts. One other thing tourists need to know is to stay inside not only during the storm but also after the storm passes. Every time one comes through, somebody gets killed because they are walking around after it passes and step in water where a downed live power line has fallen or they get hit and killed by falling tree branches. Don't go exploring after a storm. Wait a few days if you are in a hard hit area, and go out only if absolutely necessary. Let the power crews do their job getting power lines cleaned up and power restored. If you go driving around after a strong one, you also need to know you are risking a flat tire or more than one flat tire. These storms leave roads covered with shingles and shingle nails and a lot of other kinds of debris, often under standing water where you can't see it. 2) If you are a tourist and planning to drive in central Florida, do some online researching with Google maps or some other sites and know where you are going before you get in the car. I don't know how many times I've seen someone cut across multiple lanes of heavy traffic at high speeds because apparently they noticed their exit at the last second. And if you plan on driving on I-4 anywhere within 50 miles of Orlando to get somewhere, leave as early as possible. I-4 turns into a parking lot pretty quickly every morning (even with the drop in tourism caused by COVID). There is currently a lot of construction on I-4 intended to alleviate some of this, but until it's complete, the traffic gets thick and slow, and even when it's done, it may still be pretty heavy.
I experienced my first one last year and am still ashamed I stayed in our apartment because my mom refused to leave me in Sarasota and it didn't even hit us hard but the wind still reminded me mother nature has no limits or mercy. I put my mother's life at-risk inadvertently and still feel awful for being so selfish. DONT STAY , GO ANYWHERE SAFER IF POSSIBLE. YOU CANT CHANGE YOUR MIND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
Don't sleep in is golden advice!! Sunrise Beach walks are the best! I try and bring a bag to collect trash always, it feels good to leave with a hefty bit & know you did your part for the day.
As a Floridian I must make a correction. Alligators are actually scared of humans, but yeah, people messing with them cause them to lose their fear and this people are eaten. But also watch out for the Waves, some are more intense than you might think.
I've lived in Florida all my life and my favorite State Park is definitely "Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park". You have the beaches on one side, immaculately clean fishing piers on the other side, an amazing lighthouse constructed in 1825 with tours inside, two restaurants, a marina, and a far away view of "Stiltsville" (bring your binoculars or zoom camera) Stiltsville was constructed in the 30's and 40's a collection of homes built on stilts in the middle of the water in the era of Al Capone to evade the law since when being on the ocean international law prevails. From dozens of homes there are only around 7 left due to the passage of time and hurricanes. There are also nature trails, rental bikes and quadricycles with shielding from the sun, amazing scenic views and an overall excellent place for photography. This state park is in the island of Key Biscayne close to Miami, Florida. Key Biscayne itself has many other attractions and beautiful beaches.
For many years my wife and I and 3 daughters stayed in Sanibel and we stayed at a 18 story condo at the entrance to sanibel. The sunsets were unbelieveable.
I hate the snowbirds. They don't pay attention to anyone on the road and think they own Florida when they're here and all us residents have to make way for them. Snowbirds just don't think the traffic rules are for them. Yup, us locals get frustrated but while tourists don't really bother us since most don't drive anyway, the snowbirds are the most annoying!
My husband is stationed in NY and trust me they think they own FL even when they're here. I hate even mentioning that I'm from FL cause it becomes a competition of who is more of a "local" but they find out real quick they can't bullshit a Florida native.
What are you saying guys? I would do anything to move to one of those depressing places where snows in winter. I live 15 years ne'er Disney and it's too much.
my lucky The grass is always greener on the other side. People who live in Tropical Weather (south) tend to want more varied seasons and people who live further north where it gets below 0 and feels like death some days would give anything to live somewhere hotter. There is no perfect place to live, however San Francisco Cal is most likely the BEST all year round weather here in America but it comes at a pretty price so most people can't really enjoy it and are slaves to their jobs. We want what we don't have, the key is to look at the bright side or say screw it and just move.
Oliver M how do u like Florida. I'm downtown Vancouver myself and have never been. This winter was horrible and I want a very safe place to go. Is siesta key safe? You know what I mean. We can walk day and night without issue here. Are there areas like that in florida?
I was born and raised in Florida love it here! Lakeland (between Tampa and Orlando) is a beautiful city has swans from the Queen of England and the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Good! As a resident of Clearwater, my main rule: Any body of water more than ankle deep, assume there is a gator on there and act accordingly. Tarpon Springs is wonderful. Get off the main street at the Sponge Docks and see where the locals live and interact. It's so cool to hear people speaking Greek. The Pinellas Trail is the best! Take magnesium, potassium and salt tablets EVERY DAY!
I've lived here my whole life. Great tips, Wolter. Don't touch or harass the animals, especially manatees, turtles and dolphins, as that can lead to heavy fines and sometimes an arrest.
An Additional don't idea about critters: In the Keys, don't mess with or hit a Key Deer! It IS YOUR FAULT, and you WILL be procecuted. In Key West; Don't mess with the chickens, the goats or the six toed cats that are walking freely in the streets. You will be reprimanded. In the Keys, you can get by with many things, but don't mess with the critters.
lee pagnini The chickens/roosters that roam around in Ybor I believe are protected too...basically dear tourists keep your hands to yourself unless it's a petting zoo or touch-tank type environment.
Other reasons of getting up early is watching the sunrise and also nice weather sometimes before it gets too hot. I'm not from Florida (Indiana), but have been there 4 times in the past year. I always love getting up super early and hitting the beach to chill while it's still "quiet".
The last time I went to Everglades it was a stop from a rode trip to have a break and have fun... we walked out and they said " thanks for feeding the mosquitoes
I always loved hurricane season in Florida. Not because of the hurricanes ( Hurricane Charlie was my first hurricane ever and it was terrifying) but because those were the only times you could actually feel a breeze and a temperature drop below 80C. *Pure Heaven.* Heat and humidity combined, was the one major downside of living in Florida for me ,more so since I came from a moderate climate, with four regular seasons. I never adjusted and I hated it.
Where did you live? Because I live in Punta Gorda and the only time we have high humidity is in the summer after the evening thunderstorms and we often have days during the winter in the 60s and 70s during the day and in the 40s and 50s at night. I used to live in Michigan most of my life and would never go back to the old four seasons crap. Yeah Charley was a real bastard though. Only thing Irma did was break a solar light in my back yard, did take part of my neighbor's lanai roof though.
I'm a Florida native and I didn't know about Bok Tower Gardens until I saw it in a AAA guidebook. Now, years later I live a 10 minute drive from it. It's a about a 15-20 minute drive from Legoland. Beautiful gardens with a 1920's art deco carillon tower. I have a year pass and love to hike there, go to the walk&wines, concerts, or cafe for lunch.
I've had 8 Florida trips from the UK. There's so much to do I could have another 8. Regarding time-share, DON'T agree to go to a free presentation in exchange for a gift or vouchers. In car-rental places I used there was an overly-friendly smiley chap in a little corner 'selling' these presentations. Loved the Brits (because they are too polite to say a flat No, straight off and walk away) Just walk away. DON'T be surprised if you child completely freaks out the first time they see a Mickey character in Disney World. You know it's a chap in a suit, but the child has just been accosted by a six-foot rat. And, most importantly, adding to the advice about sunscreen, buy a wide-brimmed sun-hat, like a bush-hat. DON'T rely on a baseball cap, as you can get sunstroke waiting in line for the attractions. When you return your rental car at the end of the trip, give the sun-hat to the poor chap working there. They never seem to have a hat.
I will never like hurricane season lol. When Irma was coming it was like the end of the world was coming lol. Thankfully it weakened, and didn’t hit the Tampa Bay Area hard. I know Miami got it bad though.
Hurricane season is legit! I remember hitting the library the day before and my brother and I figuring out the best spot to place the latern so we could both read! I think the biggest downside of Irma was the power outage, we went almost a week, and the generator was busy being hooked up to the fridge and freezer to keep the food cold, so we just melted during the day.
LOL I've been staring at that car at 11:21 for almost two decades. I work over by Sea World in Orlando and practically every other time I go out for lunch I end up sitting with him at a traffic light. Gotta admire his dedication!
Also the road courtesy is; slower traffic stay right. Florida has no efficiency system to their traffic hiccups. There's a lot of things that can/should change here.
Fuzzy Fighter 5 left lane is the locals lane. We go 80-100 to get to work on time cuz all you damn tourists and snowbirds slow regular traffic to a crawl. Seriously stay the hell out of the left lane on the interstates unless you absolutely MUST pass. Cuz we don’t wanna be late for work because you think 75 is fast.
We love visiting the Orlando area... we typically rent a house with a few bedrooms and its own pool about 1/2 hour drive west of D'World. Split the cost a couple ways and it's very reasonable. Throw the kids in their beds at 8:00 then the adults adjourn to the pool with cold drinks and a baby monitor. Actually that's what we do for most of our vacations.... rent a house or apartment in the area we are visiting. There's no better way to immerse yourself in the culture than buying groceries in a foreign land.
DON'T feed the animals. Especially the gators. When you feed them they become used to people and they get aggressive. In most cases when a gator attacks someone, it's because people had been feeding it. But all animals will become more bold and aggressive if they're used to being feed. Even squirrels. Don't feed ANY animals.
Cool! I'm glad you mention Gainesville and the Florida Gators team but you forgot to tell people about the amazing springs we have here in north central Florida. I've been living in Fl. For 21 years and I've only been to Disney once, The Springs, the beach and Football, are the best things to do in FL.
GreatestOfTheGreats messing with alligators or even getting close is wrong, bottom line. Also getting drunk all day in the sun is gonna make you super sick. Being on your phone while driving is also stupid and wrong
I am a north florida girl... gainesville and jacksonville/orange park... i go to st augustine and see the forts and those beaches are the best!! Theres a rock beach near marineland and if u drive through st augustine and go to villano beach... so many shells and sharks teeth!! So many!!also in gainesville a drive through campus is quite fun and i LOVE walking along lake alice is super cool, a ton of gators and turtles and fish! If u want to see closer go to the santa fe zoo. Super cool and they have great tours! Go to the spings the itchnetucknee(however u spell it) can be floated down and u see all kinds of wildlife and blue springs has a platform into the spring its super cool.
When in the Daytona area, don't drive like your on the speedway! When here for bikeweek, remember that people live in these neighborhoods you revving you loud assed motorcycle through!
Don’t stand on the sand dunes. Don’t stand on the sand dunes. Don’t pick the sea oats. Don’t ignore the sea turtle markers. Oh, and *Don’t stand on the sand dunes.*
Excellent video! I spent 1 week there at the Wyndham Clear Water Beach, last year. The Owners side. It was a fantastic vacation. Nice to see all your photography of the island.
*Dont* try and pretend you live in florida *Dont* Forget sunscreen *Dont* forget to watch out for critters like he said *Dont* be mean to the troopers, Honestly, Be nice and they may let you off with a warning.
DON'T: Drive around Miami Beach in the middle of the afternoon (if you actually want to get to the beach sometime this century.) DO: Visit Viscaya and the Coral Castle! :)
I live in Florida and I completely agree with everything you said. You nailed it ! I would also like to add if you are a tourist in FL please stick to the right lane in traffic because local people are in a hurry to get to work and have no time for casual driving. In other words: "get off the road !"
After living in Florida for a few years I've learned to take hurricane warnings seriously. If they even hint of "Evacuate" don't wait until it's mandatory, by then you may get stuck in route in your vehicle, not fun! You wouldn't plan to go on a cruise when a hurricane is on the way, same goes for visiting or 'sticking around" for a hurricane party, people have died this way. When walking through grass or through dunes to the beach, better to protect the feet with some type of foot wear, usually flip flops or sandals during the warmer months because sand spurs are very unforgiving! They can also be painful to dig out should they get really stuck in feet. Going barefoot is fun and feels great! Just watch where you walk. As mentioned by others, don't forget sunscreen, or proper sun coverage. Even after my years of living there, I sometimes forget to wear it, then get too much and have to doctor a sunburn. Any more than 30 minutes to an hour of exposure, and as the locals say: "Better lotion up or get fried!" The snow white sand is highly reflective of the sun even on a cloudy day. After living in Central Florida I also learned to take an umbrella where ever I went. Just because it looks sunny out doesn't mean it will stay sunny. Sometimes It even rains like clock work in some towns. Visiting or living in Florida was and is fun, just do the research and be prepared. I like these comments others have posted, comparing notes is fun.
More driving/road tips: the left lane is for passing ONLY. If you see people passing you on the right side of your car, it means get the f*^k OVER! When you get caught in a flash thunderstorm-do NOT use your hazard lights. Not only is it dangerous, it’s ILLEGAL here. Just don’t. Put on your wipers, headlights, and that’s it. And lastly-while we locals appreciate your $$, we appreciate your kindness and consideration even more. We LIVE here. Don’t come into our home and trash up the place. We don’t do that to you.
Dude your saying how people in Florida should act. Not how we actually act. The hazards a constantly used during every thunderstorm. And the passing lane is non existent, most of us just go around people w.o a second thought.
@@bdpbernz622 We do but it is annoying as all hell to have to. I'm retired and drive like a maniac (or so I'm told) but I do not get on major routes in rush hours so as not to add to the heavy traffic. It is easier for all if those that don't need to be in it stay out during those times.
I was born & raised in s.Tampa but now live in Colorado. I really do miss being there, but last time I visited I couldn’t handle the heat anymore lol so that’s another thing to consider when u go to Florida, be prepared to sweat your ass off!!
Thank you for helping us Floridians out with the tourist. living in Titusville next to the wildlife refuge we do get a little tired of seeing them trying to poke the Alligators with a stick.
That sunset is 🔥🔥🔥. I love me some Tampa and stay away from the amusement parks. Beaches:free, all the botanical gardens:free or very cheap. River walk:free. I’d recommend renting/getting a car. First year we Uber’d everywhere. That was a big mistake. Great vids Mark! I especially like your Tampa and Europe focused videos. Way to throw your wife under the bus. Evil time shares. I’m from Minneapolis and really enjoyed your Duluth vids. I’d recommend getting up to grand Marais/ lutsen/tofte area. You will literally feel your blood pressure go down and it’s a lot of fun up there. Not far from the border either
Over here north of West Palm Beach I get Basilisk lizards (running on hind legs) in my backyard by the pool, sandhill cranes in the driveway and little lizards everywhere. Never had a problem with the cranes tho, outside working on my bike they walk by around 10 feet away and we exchange glances peacefully XD
...I was in the 1980's in FLORIDA....Awesome times....Been to... Sea World...Bush Gardens....Sunken Gardens...Disney.....The Cape....Key West.....Naples....Fort Lauderdale....Tampa....Sarasota....Ft.Myers....
I visit Florida every two years and I suggest bringing a sweatshirt and pants, even in Florida. One year we came and it was freezing and crisply began to snow a little. So don’t doubt it will be cold, prepare (mostly just in winter)
I live in Florida. You can tell the locals from the tourists when the temperature gets under 70F (22C) The tourists are wearing shorts and t-shirts and the locals are bundled up with sweaters or hoodies.
Kimberly W yea lol
No shit about that
Actually, it's the opposite; the transplants are generally freezing.
70 ia freezing balls. I dont even set my a/c that low because ill wake up sick the next day.
Y’all wild lol
As a lifelong Floridian, I would also recommend to bring insect repellent/bug spray. There are mosquitoes EVERYWHERE, as well as other pests like fire ants. Also, South Florida only has 2 seasons: Summer and Hurricane season.
Gambit X True, can't believe he forgot that one
Jean-Paul de la Fuente I think I'm immune to mosquitoes. As many times as I've been in Florida I don't remember ever getting bitten by one. Including in Key West when they were going to town on my friend.
Gambit X ehh I live in Jacksonville, and the hurricanes here aren’t bad. And, since we’re not used to coldness, anything 65 degrees or lower needs a jacket.
floridian seasons:
hot
hotter
hurricane
lovebug
Speaking about love bugs, when I was in prekindergarten my entire playground was covered on love bugs
I’m a Floridian, and I approve of this message.
Same
I've lived in Florida my whole life and here are my most important pieces of advice:
It rains every afternoon in Florida during the summer (but only for a few minutes)
Like he said NEVER mess with the wildlife especially if you are in the keys don't touch the coral reefs!
Do the stingray shuffle while on the beaches especially during the summer. You don't want to hurt the stingrays or yourself.
Lastly, if you're a tourist and you come in the summer, wear sunscreen!! I always see tourist with the most unfortunate sunburn lines so reapply every 60 minutes at least
eethan m XD while it may be painful to the tourist to get the sunburns, it’s still funny when a child ,ales a design on there back and they walk out like a lobster XD. And the critter thing, they hate tourist, but live the locals
eethan m who tf gets sunburns
Cam 9 As a Florida Native I've never gotten a sun burn because its always sunny here and I have enough melanin to protect my skin. But still people who live here get sun burned I dont understand it either.
melanin doesn't mean complete protection from skin cancer. dark skin get skin cancer too.
Frogicornity Was Here im from st pete and live in north pine county now and im black and just have never gotten one
I disagree with your comment about the critters here not liking the tourists. the critters think they're delicious.
Don't forget, they probably have a bigger mouth than you do, including the mosquitoes.
Hahaha, nice one
LOL
yes because everyone that isnt a tourist have already rotted with the state, new people, new food
Lol
Don’t underestimate the heat and humidity. I have friends from desert states (Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico) who visit Florida and see the 95° weather and think that’s nothing compared to the 110° they’re used to. Yeah, it’s 95°, but humidity is killer. It’s almost always 80+% and near 100% humidity isn’t rare. For reference, 95° weather with 90% humidity feels like 117°. And you sweat. Too damn much. When I was in Vegas, it was 105° and I felt downright cool compared to what I’m used to. Something I’ve heard is, “Dry heat will kill you. Wet heat will make you wish it DID kill you.”
Your sweat doesn't evaporate when it's extra humid, so no cooling effect. You just stay wet, and hot. Luckily, I do pretty well in it...I think it's easier for skinny people, maybe.
As a Floridian I can confrim this is 100% true.
I grew up in a house with no air conditioning in Miami. The schools weren’t air conditioned either back then. When I look back I can’t believe I survived. 🥵
SOOO TRUE.
@@ericbrandon8699 fr…the middle school i went to (like 45 minutes from miami) air conditioning was always broken and you feel like you’re in a slow cooker
Don't stand still in the grass - we have fire ants every where, and they are both sneaky and give painful bites.
Ruth Anderson , oh yes! we had them in Savannah too.
Ruth Anderson ikr ouchh
if the food is good ,the ants can bite me ! :)
Yeah those damn fire ants are a real pain.
Ruth Anderson i would like to visit clean water next year FEB.
Don’t drive slow in the left lanes!!
OMG this.
Thank you
Especially if you have plates from another state, that'll really get us going
That’s something you should follow EVERYWHERE
@@parryplaguedoc Yes, but it's very bad here.
Like if u live in Florida
Vero Beach 772 in the house 🇺🇸💪🇺🇸💪
I’M FROM THA 9.5.4.!!!! 🙌🔥
Lauderdale in the house 💪💪
He spelled “don’t” incorrectly. We gotta lock him up for that.
@soflo23，LMAO. I live in Palm Beach.
Be very prepared for the humidity it's no joke. At all.
Makazeh Really? Why is that?
Makazeh That makes sense. If you're born here in Florida you just start to get used to it. The griminess and feel of the humidity here is really different then most places. The humidity makes it feel even hotter here, especially in the summer.
zl NO PAIN lz I was born and raised in Florida and I love it here EXCEPT for the heat. I want seasons! I want a winter that lasts for more than 2 weeks!
Shelby Best It's longer if you go to Central or north Florida though
Jean-Paul de la Fuente I’m in Lakeland! We got a collective maybe two weeks of sub 50 daytime temps. I miss it.
Florida Native, family has been over 100 years! Your videos explain Florida so well! Proud to have "good" tourists such as yourself come to my beautiful state!
Being from Florida, this is amusing.
Also, pub subs.
Caitlin Marie Publix chicken is the best
@@claysoggyfries....Check out the Apalachicola Oysters....and yes I capitalized Oysters...they deserve it!
DON'T tell us how you do it up north.
DON'T act like you own the place.
DON'T litter.
*DON'T* forget to visit your nearest Publix.
Drive the speed limit, please
I grew up here.
laurel jade Publix is the best
laurel jade public rocks
As a native Floridian, driving the speed limit is unacceptable. If you're not going 5-10 over, someone will be riding your ass, including the majority of cops.
I love Publix- best store ever
I love Publix- best store ever
I do have a couple tips for people who are thinking of going to Florida
1. I highly suggest learning the proper way to run away from an Alligator along with knowing how to spot one in the water. I was at a lake one time sitting in the grass when I saw something coming out of the water. It turned out to be a massive Alligator but luckily I escaped because I was taught as a child how to run away from one (which is zig zag btw)
2. In Florida we have these supermarkets called Publix and they're amazing. Not only do they have amazing sandwiches but they're actually really fun to shop at and the people there are always really nice.
3. Don't expect people to be good drivers. Florida drivers suck ass. They don't use their turning signals, they run red lights and they honk at you for no reason.
4. Be prepared for any kind of weather. Florida's weather can change very quickly. It can be sunny and beautiful outside one minute and then be raining with thunder and lightning the next.
5. Learn how to fight off a shark. Here in Florida we have a good amount of sharks so it doesn't hurt to at least learn the proper way to defend yourself if you do get attacked by one. You usually want to punch the shark in the nose and begin to scratch and even pull out it's eyes. The shark should swim away.
6. If you plan on renting a boat to go out on the water, please be careful of the manatees because many manatees suffer injuries from boats. Also don't be scared of them. They are very friendly and will often come up to you and say hi.
7. Don't talk about Donald Trump. Even if you are with him or against him there will always be a shit ton of people who will get up in your face and begin to yell and threaten you.
8. This is kind of a strange one but don't honk your horn a lot. I know this sounds stupid but here in Florida if you honk your horn at someone you can get shot. Trust me it has happened many times.
9. Bring some sort of product that will tame your hair. The humidity in Florida is so god damn annoying. I stg I can blow dry my hair and then the second I step outside, my hair looks like a lions mane.
10. Since Florida is surrounded by a lot of water, marine biology is kind of a big thing. Try finding some research centers because they are always super fun and you get to meet all the cute little animals
Trust me on this. I have lived in Florida my whole life.
It's_ Alex good job if I ever visit which one day I will. I avoid all lakes and oceans as I can't swim very well. Fear of deep water.
That's a myth about gators, they usually aren't that aggressive (if they hiss at you, then run away). You don't have to zig zag, just run like the wind, they will tire easy. Assuming a gator has been fed by people & is hungry enough, chances are it would see you long before you see it. Stay away from any water body at night (when gators & sharks are active)
But most importantly DO NOT feed wild gators! Don't care if it's the cutest most harmless looking little guy, it will grow up, it will get big and will knock some doors down looking for more people to feed him
Its_Alex - Don’t mention Donald Trump? I thought Florida is a conservative State? Republican governor?
Barbara Winsor District based.
As a Key West native, here are some tips for visiting our little island:
•Don’t pronounce the word “conch” as “canch” with a hard ch sound; it’s a dead give away that you’re a tourist. Locals pronounce it “konk” with a hard k sound.
• When you’re on Duval St, don’t cross the street on red lights in front of cars. It’s dangerous, annoying to drivers, and you’re going to get a very angry honk or a very rude gesture.
• Uber and Lyft were banned in Key West, but they are now legal and very efficient, so feel free to use one if you need it.
• We have lots of native wildlife like iguanas, chickens, lizards, anoles, and lots of stray cats. Don’t stop on the middle of a sidewalk or street to take a picture of a chicken- you’ll see a hundred other ones on your trip.
• Most of the streets that run horizontally through Duval St are alternating one ways, meaning that one street is a one way going downtown, and the next street goes uptown. Don’t drive the wrong way down a one way.
•THROW AWAY YOUR TRASH. Key West is a fragile island ecosystem, so don’t let your plastic cups, straws, and beer bottles get into the ocean or streets.
Just remember, as much as you love to vacation here, there are people who love living here twice as much, so be respectful.
I was born in Key West, family moved to Dade City when i was 1, I'm 16 now, and I've only ever visited maybe 4 times. I'd love to come back, visit family, and visit the old Dairy Queen. I remember walking from my Aunt's house to the DQ one night when i was visiting. Beautiful place.
DON'T forget to drive the amazing road from Miami to Key West! will take roughly 4-6 hours depending on stops, but it is one of the most beautiful drives in the states with the famous 7-mile bridge over amazing clear, shallow waters!
Bucky Barnes Any particular must do's on that trip? We're doing it in the last week of March!
elcomcf awesome! The crown jewel is at the End -- Key West. known for Hemingway, Key Lime Pie, cigars, parties, lgbt, and coral reefs. book a night as close to Old Town as possible. one must do is sunset in Mallory Square, show up early. the drive from Miami is scattered with smaller, more laid-back keys. so that's where you do some searches to see if there's anything that piques your interest. good luck and have fun!
elcomcf you can stop on every island down to the keys and fond something.....
+elcomcf go on the ghost trolley in key west
That would be US-1. And the hidden gem is the bar on Card Sound road called Alabama Jacks. Best fritters in the keys. Try and find it, you won't regret it.
And be prepared to walk if you go to the parks. A lot. These parks are far larger than they look. And your legs may even have a red rash (Golfer's Rash, sometimes known as Disney Rash as it's known in that area.) on them from the amount of walking you're gonna do. If you experience it, it's nothing major, it's a reaction to the blood vessels of the skin to the heat, humidity, and excessive walking. Once you get back in your room, take a cool bath, elevate your legs and apply a wet, cool towel to the rashed area. If it gets irritating or itches, apply an anti-itch with cooling relief as that will help it more than standard anti-itch creams.
Also remember everyone is in the park likely for the same reason as you. Chances are, they're on vacation and/or their to enjoy themselves too. They paid the same price, if not more, than you did to be there. Can't count the amount of people I came across this year that think because they paid money, no on else did, and that they own the place and you're just in the way of them. DON'T be that person. Be respectful and mindful of your fellow park goers, especially of disabled individuals in the park. Those scooters don't stop on a dime and I can't count the amount of people foolishly walking in front of them, even after seeing them, that have gotten themselves run over doing so.
P.S. Seagulls are jerks and they will brazenly steal damn near anything they think may be food. Be very careful of placing down small objects nearby them, especially unattended. And if you see a convenience store named 'Wawas' give them a stop. A great pitstop for food/drink.
These are great tips. I'm a central Floridian who worked at theme parks for years, and tourists definitely need to remember to drink water and wear sunscreen. The Florida sun/humidity combo is no joke. would also like to add that tourists should take thunderstorms seriously, even if there's no rain. Dark clouds and thunder will always equal lightning in florida. Don't stay on the beach or in a pool if you are hearing thunder.
Oh and every single lake in Florida has Gators. Avoid tall grass, be careful around boat docks, and DON'T swim in a lake at night.
Great safety tips! Thank you
@@sajop87 Or swim in any water where you can't see the bottom. Murky water hides the gators. Just saw some idiots last week at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Park and Alligator Preserve who nearly got themselves killed. They saw a couple of baby alligators by some reeds near the shore by a pier and went around as they wanted to get a closer look. I warned them to stay away as mom was sure to be nearby. They poopooed me saying they didn't see her anywhere. Well yeah she was, in the shallow but muddy water not four feet from them.
As a native Floridian,
*DON'T* go to Key West (or any Keys down there) in July, take my word for it.
*DON'T* forget to drive from Miami to Key West. It's the most beautiful drive in America.
*DO* visit the Keys in September. I did it for my 7th birthday, and it's an unforgettable experience.
*DON'T* go to Florida in the middle of a hurricane. You saw what happened down here.
I currently live in Japan now, and I'll admit, I can't survive a year without Publix fried chicken xD.
Yall are killing me, I am going to have to go surfing this weekend and get some chicken before I got out-
Ugh you had to bring up their chicken. I've been in Switzerland for 1 1/2 and haven't visited FL or the US. I'm actually thinking about paying a friend in FL to send me a Publix sub. Now I'm going to have to pay them to send chicken because you brought up their chicken.
Publix is Florida's number 1 attraction. EAT ONE OF THIER SUBS AND YOU'LL FORGET ABOUT SUBWAY,JIMMY JOHNS, ETC.
Me and my neighbor go on thanksgiving and eat dinner there
glass of milk (
wait I live in florida why I'm I watching this
I was thinking that same thing.
Same.
Stress free games same
Me to just curious i guess lol Vero Beach life 🇺🇸💪🇺🇸💪
To make sure it’s accurate... 😂
Some advice from a "real" live Floridian: The busiest time of the year is March and April (spring break). Summer is second busiest. Slowest months are September, January and May. Trust me, I work in the industry. Also, it rains all goddamn summer. And not always just for 10 minutes, that's a bullshit myth. Unless it rains early, in that case it will probably soon pass so don't pack up and leave just yet, the sun will be back soon. So yes, wake up and get out early. The later in the day it rains, the bigger and longer the storm. Some years are wetter than others. We are also the lightning capital so be prepared to freak out. Every year a few golfers get struck and a couple kids get eaten by gators. It's just the way it is. Driving: the left lane is the fast or passing lane so stay clear. Don't gawk and point at everything just follow the signs, they are big and clearly marked. Also, you are ALLOWED to turn right on a red light unless indicated otherwise. We have lots of natural springs that are clear and ice cold for a cheap and fun alternative to the parks. I think that covers it. Oh yeah, remember to tip your waiter and bartender, we depend on it. Plus, that way you will get into heaven.
Down here in the southwest part of the state it is busiest from November to April. My own town's population seems to triple in size during those months. Our summer rains usually last at least 2 hours sometime between 4:30 and 9 pm. The rest seems the same.
The most dangerous part of Florida is the driving. They are terrible drivers.
MrRedskins0021 this is really true!
MrRedskins0021 Accurate
Lol your not kidding my barber drives five miles an hour and just stopes I’m the middle of the toad
Over-excited adults. Saw one swerve across 3 lanes on the I4 at the first Disney sign (there are 7).
VERY accurate
I meet at least one crazy driver each day
My wife and I visit the gulf coast every year for a week.we are from New York state,not the city.Its great to get away from the cold and shit weather for at least a little bit.We love the people down there and have always treated them with respect.Have never had a bad stay,or bad food for that matter!
@ jeb stuart...think it might have something to do with your name?!?!...just kidding...just kidding!...prolly has more to do with ur use of the R word....respect....thank you!
I lived in Florida for 4 years I'll offer a few other recommends:
(1) The lighting in Florida is very dangerous and in the area I lived in, near Melbourne and Cocoa Beach, there were one or two tourists killed each year on the beach by lightning. If there are Thunderstorms, get away from the water and the Beach.
(2) If you don't see lots of people swimming far away from the shore, there is often a good reason. One of those reasons is that there are schools of fish, like Bluefish, away from shore that sharks swim through to get a meal and the sharks may end up biting you. Blue fish are also pretty mean: there was a Coco Beach surfer who had some of his toes and fingers bitten off by a school of Bluefish.
(3) Most people who are bitten by sharks in Florida die of blood loss and not the bite itself.
(4) In the warmer West Coast waters smaller groups of Barracuda often come very close to shore and mingle in among the solo bathers and swimmers. Barracuda are attracted by shiny attire like watches and jewelry and quick movement. If you are ever in the middle of a school of Barracuda do not panic or make jerky movements that will cause them to attack: move slowly toward shore and get out of the water. They are vicious with fanged piranha-like teeth.
(4) There are lots of dangerous animals including Panthers (rare), rattlesnakes (very common in grass areas), Sharks, Bluefish, Barracuda and you should assume alligators are a risk anywhere there is fresh or brackish water. The one animal I found dangerous but hard to recognize as dangerous are snapping turtles. Unless you know what to look for you won't distinguish harmless turtles from the snapping turtles and snapping turtles are vicious and dangerous to you.
(5) Watch out for the Fire Ants. These are not the harmless little Ants that you see in colder climates. Rather, they are vicious, will attack you in swarms, climbing up your legs (think what they will eventually bite as they climb higher) and leave burning white welts that hurt like hell all over. Don't walk around in bare feet in grass or sandy soil areas where there are mounds or holes: I have stepped on Fire Ant colonies a number of times unaware only until I felt the searing pain of their attacks.
Also, sand spurs. Watch out for sand spurs. UGH
Don't forget Sand Spurs on bare feet. But hurts and when u pull them out. They hurt more. Wear ur flip flops. also Walgreen's and CVS has great flip flops for sale.
Don't think every beach is filled w babes. Florida is a meca for old people just chillin on the beach. Also as mentioned fire ants and the lightning will mess you up. And be prepared to meet a ton of people originally from up north. Lived there for 8 years and only had like 2 friends that were Florida born. Btw go FSU
@@BriansArtforAnimals nooo
Go Gators
You sound like you stay inside all day and you are scared of everything😂, and bluefish\barracuda don’t attack people btw, the only time you can be injured by them is if you hold them wrong.But you are correct about ants, they are so annoying
Quick tips from someone who has lived in Florida all his life
Be careful on the roads the drivers are insane, and it’s the locals that are the worst ones. However, you may have to be aggressive if you want to get anywhere.
Don’t litter! Tourists usually are pretty respectful of our beaches, but the snowbirds aren’t liked because they feel like they own the place.
Disney is overrated and overpriced unless you get the year long passes. I’d suggest universal studios islands of adventure or Busch Gardens Tampa especially if your kids like rides and are over the age of 9. They have much better roller coasters and it’s less crowded.
If you want just a beach vacation think about the emerald coast area. Destin and Fort Walton Beach are up there with Clearwater. Sand isn’t quite as good but the water is better and it’s much less well known and therefore less crowded/litter. I live in Tampa near Clearwater but much prefer the beaches in northwest Florida. However, you’ll want to avoid Panama City during spring break. Although they have taken steps to control that. Also, with the recent hurricane that came through it would be good to support that area. It’s pretty close to New Orleans so you can make that part of your vacation too.
Don't miss the sunsets!! I totally agree. They are stunning
No. 14
*DON’T MESS WITH FLORIDA MAN!!!*
the saying fits better as “DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS”
@@melisadedic6674...ask Bundy bout that!
Great job! If I didn't know any better I'd say you live here.
I love that your first Don't was "Don't mess with the critters!" That one is so important, and it goes two ways. It's not just that the animals will attack you (cuz they absolutely will. They aren't cuddly Disney creatures), but also we usually get a story at least once or twice a year about people (usually tourists) that found a baby dolphin, or a turtle or something and they harass it with selfies or try to ride it and the poor thing ends up dying.
Just look at the animals. Take a picture. Admire from afar. please don't pull them out of their environment or try to take pictures with them.
Great PSA!
Awesome video as always!
I’ve lived in St. Petersburg Florida my whole life. I hate when tourist season starts Omg they drive so damn slow. Wtf.
Its because florida roads are different and stop lights are different
I live in Northeast Ohio. Getting stuck behind an out of stater during winter is slow.
The speed limit everywhere in Pinellas is 35 mph or less, what do you expect?
They leave a bunch of money behind. That means jobs. Give them following distance and be sweet.
@@johnstewartmd4691 They clog traffic, they drive up the price of real estate making it difficult for working class people to get a decent place, and they barely tip. They're a nuisance.
Also from a "native":
DON'T forget the mosquito repellant. Florida is a swamp with lakes and beaches.
This video is absolutely correct about the insane traffic here. DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE! JUST STOP! STOP IT! PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD! I commute every day and I've been rear-ended three times by people who were texting or otherwise distracted.
And likewise, "DON'T get on Interstate 4 after the parks like Universal and Disney let out. The highway becomes a parking lot. And if you are stuck in that, DON'T get on your phone/text! It's times when people are crawling in traffic that they get distracted by their toys and hit each other.
If the clouds decide to cut loose with one of Florida's characteristic five-minute "frog-drowner" rainstorms, DON'T drive with your hazards on-that's Florida state law. If you feel nervous about driving, pull over and stop with your hazards on. Also, if your wipers are going, your headlights should be on-also Florida state law.
Another weather tip: If you start hearing loud claps of thunder, even if it's still sunny, go inside a car or enclosed building. The Orlando/Tampa area is known as the Lightning Capital of the US. We get a lot of ground strikes here. You won't get this during peak Tourist Season, but in the summer, expect regular thunderstorms between 3 and 7 pm.
Finally, DON'T miss out on the local specialties: the Cafe Con Leche, the traditional Cuban Sandwich, and the Publix Sub sandwiches. Those are cheap and delicious.
DON'T forget that Florida has a panhandle, with lots of beautiful beaches and really cool attractions.
Destin is beautiful!
Don't come here and talk about how great the north is. 1) You are here because the north is cold af. 2) Stop talking so fast.
And, especially don't say "well, up North we did such and such..." No one cares what you did up north, you're not in the north.
Thomas Fitzgerald i loved Florida for the good weed cocaine and the good blow jobs in ft Lauderdale excellent gay parks every where
U right. It's cold as hell and I'm ITCHING to get to Florida. That's why I can't wait to graduate and get licensed in Florida
😂😂😂😂😂 lmao..
Snape Snape Severus Snape you’ll regret that after 2 years living here
“Don’t forget the seasons”
What seasons? The “seasons” here are hot and hotter.
Kaitlyn Allergy season, Lovebug season and hurricane season
if you head for the panhandle , some years there are ice storms, usually its only kinda cold for a week or so tho. but it really can be cold up here.
North Central Fl can get very cold as well, we have seen snow, ice storms etc.
Kaitlyn I’ve seen it get down to 30 degrees in south Florida, and it’s the coldest 30 degrees I’ve ever felt.
@Kaitlyn...try the seasons in Minneapolis; winter and construction.
I live in Jacksonville, and you totally missed out on mentioning Cape Canaveral and NASA. Titusville and Cocoa Beach are right next door and are cool little places to travel through. I went there on a trip during my freshman year of high school and I've always wanted to go back. Also, don't forget the Keys and the 7-mile bridge. I spent a week in Key West back in 2009 (I think it was during Spring Break) and while the humidity was extremely awful during my trip, the island has wondrous historical properties all within very decent walking distances. For my city, Jacksonville itself has stuff that you already mentioned, such as lots of nature preserves, beaches, art and natural history museums, and if you ever wanted to golf, it's definitely the place you!
Dammit, man! Don't send them here!
ponte vedre is the real golf area send them there least my side of town alone
We lived right near cocoa and did activities in Titusville and surrounding cities almost every day. It's crazy how many things there are to do over there!
I've visited Florida many many many times so I watched this to see how your tips stack up. all very good information. a tip from me for anyone reading, yes Florida can be very expensive if you do the big touristy things like Disney, but it can also be a very cheap trip if you go do nature stuff instead. a lot of the beaches are free or have a small fee, the natural spring parks are a favorite of mine and are cheap to enter, the Everglades is also low cost generally. point is, of you're a big fan of nature like I am then you can do a lot for not much more money than the travel and hotel expenses
I agree,Florida's natural attractions is the way to go.Disney,universal, etc is nothing but a rip off tourist trap.they legally rob you
Your can turn right on a red light people!
Right..
Not always.
Refer to the too, too wonderful town of Miami Gardens....
Matthias Not where a sign states: No turns on red. For example going west on Stirling rd onto I95 north in Dania.
Don't even need your blinker, just honk the horn!!
And please do your sight seeing driving in between the work commute hours. You'll have all day to drive 20 mph after we get to work.
For real tho...
The biggest "don't do" is come visit and decide to move here. We are FULL. Visit and leave.
Sincerely,
Florida Natives
Guns and Ink yes! There's nothing I hate more than a Yankee that doesn't know what he/she is doing!
TheWildOne534 They have no idea what they're doing down here. Especially driving, the damn gas pedal is on the RIGHT SIDE of the Floor board!!!
Just send money.
RonMac08 agreed
YANKEE? im from atlanta georgia..and were moving to florida next month
During summertime, try to get things done before 10am. That's when the florida heat really starts up.
As a native lmao thank you for bringing up snowbirds... but it’s mostly just wrapped up with every tourist during the “winter” season
another tip DON'T mess with the sandhill cranes! from- a Floridian.
I dunno how you Floridians do it but I'm a Coloradan and we shoot and eat those birds
Ya but they are protected under law here if a remember correctly. You can get Gator Nuggets here though they sell them at the more traditional restaurants here.
Vegan?
Yes, he nailed it 100% on visiting Florida. We live here. We have done the tourist thing all over this state past 30+ years. Spot on. Be sure you get what he says.
The biggest don't is, never go to Florida in the summer. it is too hot and humid.
Charles Schutz I live in south Florida and it is hot and humid year round
i live in Norway and it is cold,dark and wet 9 mnds a year...but we love it hehe
Charles Schutz ur funny floridas lit in summer
Charles Schutz no
Charles Schutz That's very sound advice! Our normal Summer temps are in the mid to upper 90's, and humidity levels 80-87% daily. The best months are November-April👍🏼😊😊
DON'T MESS WITH THE CRANES. We've worked hard to bring them back. I remember them being everywhere as a small child then they disappeared for many years then in recent years they came back. They're also protected and you may get in trouble if you're caught injuring or harassing them.
Also, look up Florida road trip destinations. We have a lot of hidden little gems everywhere that get lost in the shadows of major theme parks. I've lived here all my life and I'm still discovering amazing new places.
Great video, spot on! I’ve lived in Miami 28 years, wish I’d had all this information before moving to Miami from Chicago.
Extra tips:
Check on special events, don't book your quiet, relaxing beach vacation in Daytona Beach during Bike Week. or in Key West during Fantasy Fest.
Remove all bumper stickers from your car. No matter what they say, someone will be offended enough to key your paint. Same goes for overly political T-shirt slogans.
Hawaiian shirts are for Hawaii. Please.
You were warned about sharks and gators, but before you go to the beach, read up on jellyfish and rip currents.
Also, if you hear thunder, get off the beach & under cover. Florida is the people-struck-by-lightning capital of the world.
David Scott Ok I’ve lived in Florida my whole life, I don’t think it’s a standard in Florida to get your car keyed just cause you have political bumper stickers. I’ve never even heard of that happening here.
My tip: know your naval flags. Know what the flags mean at lifeguard posts and the flags on ships. If you go to the beach, always be looking for ships in the distance. If you see one, you aren't safe.
Also, please beware if you do anything related to nature. The traps alligator hunters use are designed to kill, you need to know how to spot them. There are also old sea mines from the civil war along some of the quieter beaches. If there's a sign that says don't go in the water, that means don't go close to the water., the general rule is always 20 feet.
Also, quick sand on the beaches is no joke. If you don't know what a sandbar is and how to avoid one, you probably shouldn't be on the beach. If you step into one, you'll start sinking very fast, so know what you're doing.
There are also loose patches of grass everywhere. Those are snake pits. It might look like regular grass but it's completely hollow underneath, they will crumble if you hit them lightly with a long branch.
And yes, the locals are crazy. Florida is a quite mentally unstable region, any wrong gesture can spell trouble. Also, everyone here conceal carries a gun.
And please wear long pants. Nobody here wants to see your jorts.
As a former Floridian there are a couple of things I was surprised you did not mention: yes, the beaches are free but parking is not and that is expensive and most beaches do not have lifeguards. And, between April and November, do the "sting ray shuffle" when in the water. Watch out for the love bugs in May and September and the "stand your ground " Floridians at all times - seriously, drive with extreme courtesy. Unless you know exactly where you are going stay on the interstate in urban areas. The best part of Florida is natural Florida and they do have a great state park system but in the summer months, the weather is unbearable and very unpredictable.
Im not surprised he forgot the Rays, not living here its probably not something he's encountered much. And most places have paid parking in some areas, so not terribly surprising to a tourist I wouldn't think.
And if visiting places like Miami, you may need to parallel park at a meter.
The love bugs are harmless please don't kill (on purpose) them there's no reason to
NJintheImagination i
NJintheImagination well if you go the siesta key in Sarasota the parking is free.siesta key is the best beach in florida
Love bugs have not been as much of an issue lately
As a local, these are great tips highly recommend all of these. Also make friends with the locals if you are nice we most likely will be friendly back and recommend places to eat or things to do that are not on the 10 ten things to do in Florida list. Also please note your trip will not be perfect don’t expect it to be. It will rain there will be traffic things will happen but if you go with the flow and make the best out of it, then it might be the best trip ever!
"Don't go swimming in fresh water at night" as I was always told as a child
Imaspecofdust why?
Ivett Calvillo it's when the Gators and other critters are hunting. Stay out of the fresh water after dark until after sunrise.
Sarah P ohh okay thank you !
Don't swim in fresh water
.that's why I never swim in fresh water because of it. Why I watching this I live in Florida.
Don't foget the Panhandle. Yes, we are part of Florida. Don't forget March is Spring Break. Lots of drunk college kids. Also, talking on the phone won't get you pulled over.
+Ralph Swindler I meant using your phone. Like texting and such
Wolters World Aloha I used to live on Clearwater Beach for 5 years 860 Mandalay Avenue
I forget the panhandle and I live in Florida.
Unless they're behind in the monthly ticket quota.
Ralph Swindler
L
Southern hospitality is alive and well in Florida! Great content here!
Just my 2 cents:
Take the airboat rides to see the gators. Most of the nice beaches (IMO) are in the Keys. Come with a plan/schedule on what you want to see and have a good idea of distances so you can plan accordingly. Everything inside the tourist areas is way more expensive than outside.
Public transportation like in Europe is limited. Trains are for moving coal and cargo in the Central Florida area. Plan on using Uber (which **cannot** go into the airports, btw!!) to move around or rent a car. Have cash to pay tolls (not sure if credit cards are accepted, tolls go from $1 USD and up) . Locals use Epass (Orlando area) or Sunpass (everywhere else) to pay tolls. Can't tell how many times locals and tourists jump from one lane to another because they got in the Epass/Sunpass lane. The whole toll thing can be very confusing for tourists (it's a pain for the locals too). Highly recommend to use GPS in phone if possible!
Also be careful with other tourists who take the wrong exit and throw their cars into your lane trying to avoid it. We drive a "little" bit fast in Central Florida and the further south you go, the worse the driving becomes.
High season in the parks can be anytime there are American holidays or days off (MLK day, Thanksgiving, Easter etc), not just late December, early January.
If you're in Central FL or east of it, check rocket launch schedules from Kennedy Space Center, and if you get lucky you might get to see a giant building-size tube with a blinding flame on the bottom rising up into the sky at the speed of sound.
Love the videos! Now back to work! =)
Honestly almost every beach in florida is 10x better than everywhere else.
I've lived in central Florida since 1992, and I would add/clarify two things. 1) Hurricane season last from June through November, but the peak time is August and September. Hurricanes don't watch calendars, so we've had them before June and after November from time to time, but on average, they are far more frequent in Aug/Sept. If you are visiting during those times, pay attention to weather reports and forecasts-especially if you are staying on the beach, but know that those storms are notoriously difficult to predict. You will hear a lot about a "cone" which is the region within which the forecasters are saying the eye of the storm might go, but that cone changes at least a little with every weather update. The eye of the storm is the key thing in a strong storm (category 3 and higher). You really don't want to be anywhere near the eye. That's where the strongest winds are, and the eye can spin off tornadoes. Wind speed goes down the farther you are from the eye. If you staying on a beach and it looks like the eye might come close to you, go inland because the storm surge is an equally serious danger along the coast. If you are fascinated and want to experience a hurricane, that's your call (I've been through a number of them, and they are not fun. 2004 was awful). However, if you are not near the eye, being in a hurricane is just like experiencing a windy rainy day. The storm may be the size of Texas, but only those near the eye are going to have a really bad day in terms of wind damage. If the storm stalls out on top of you, however, it's a completely different story. Then you can be facing serious flooding (e.g. Harvey in Houston in 2017). A tropical storm with weak wind can be devastating if it stalls simply because of the rainfall amounts. One other thing tourists need to know is to stay inside not only during the storm but also after the storm passes. Every time one comes through, somebody gets killed because they are walking around after it passes and step in water where a downed live power line has fallen or they get hit and killed by falling tree branches. Don't go exploring after a storm. Wait a few days if you are in a hard hit area, and go out only if absolutely necessary. Let the power crews do their job getting power lines cleaned up and power restored. If you go driving around after a strong one, you also need to know you are risking a flat tire or more than one flat tire. These storms leave roads covered with shingles and shingle nails and a lot of other kinds of debris, often under standing water where you can't see it. 2) If you are a tourist and planning to drive in central Florida, do some online researching with Google maps or some other sites and know where you are going before you get in the car. I don't know how many times I've seen someone cut across multiple lanes of heavy traffic at high speeds because apparently they noticed their exit at the last second. And if you plan on driving on I-4 anywhere within 50 miles of Orlando to get somewhere, leave as early as possible. I-4 turns into a parking lot pretty quickly every morning (even with the drop in tourism caused by COVID). There is currently a lot of construction on I-4 intended to alleviate some of this, but until it's complete, the traffic gets thick and slow, and even when it's done, it may still be pretty heavy.
I experienced my first one last year and am still ashamed I stayed in our apartment because my mom refused to leave me in Sarasota and it didn't even hit us hard but the wind still reminded me mother nature has no limits or mercy. I put my mother's life at-risk inadvertently and still feel awful for being so selfish. DONT STAY , GO ANYWHERE SAFER IF POSSIBLE. YOU CANT CHANGE YOUR MIND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM
Don't sleep in is golden advice!! Sunrise Beach walks are the best! I try and bring a bag to collect trash always, it feels good to leave with a hefty bit & know you did your part for the day.
As a Floridian I must make a correction. Alligators are actually scared of humans, but yeah, people messing with them cause them to lose their fear and this people are eaten. But also watch out for the Waves, some are more intense than you might think.
I've lived in Florida all my life and my favorite State Park is definitely "Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park". You have the beaches on one side, immaculately clean fishing piers on the other side, an amazing lighthouse constructed in 1825 with tours inside, two restaurants, a marina, and a far away view of "Stiltsville" (bring your binoculars or zoom camera) Stiltsville was constructed in the 30's and 40's a collection of homes built on stilts in the middle of the water in the era of Al Capone to evade the law since when being on the ocean international law prevails. From dozens of homes there are only around 7 left due to the passage of time and hurricanes. There are also nature trails, rental bikes and quadricycles with shielding from the sun, amazing scenic views and an overall excellent place for photography. This state park is in the island of Key Biscayne close to Miami, Florida. Key Biscayne itself has many other attractions and beautiful beaches.
For many years my wife and I and 3 daughters stayed in Sanibel and we stayed at a 18 story condo at the entrance to sanibel. The sunsets were unbelieveable.
America: don't sleep in
Mexico: don't go outside
I hate the snowbirds. They don't pay attention to anyone on the road and think they own Florida when they're here and all us residents have to make way for them. Snowbirds just don't think the traffic rules are for them. Yup, us locals get frustrated but while tourists don't really bother us since most don't drive anyway, the snowbirds are the most annoying!
My husband is stationed in NY and trust me they think they own FL even when they're here. I hate even mentioning that I'm from FL cause it becomes a competition of who is more of a "local" but they find out real quick they can't bullshit a Florida native.
Not so much fun having them up here in the summer, either..... and they set up residence in Florida and dodge the taxes, yet use our services.
Snowbirds aren't the problem anymore all the morons that have moved down here for the last five years are the problem now.
JL - Welcome to CO. Transplants R US.
MikiSunshineCat exactly these snowbirds rented a house next to mine and brought kids and they were playing the loudest music
Lol love this! I used to live near Clearwater and I agree - don’t mess with the critters ❤️
They will get you :)
I was in Florida for two months now I'm back in Vancouver Canada. So depressing. I miss Siesta Key.
Or if you were out towards Pitt Meadows/ Maple Ridge, it snowed like crazy today. Dewdney Trunk was ice covered from 224th to 203rd.
What are you saying guys? I would do anything to move to one of those depressing places where snows in winter. I live 15 years ne'er Disney and it's too much.
my lucky The grass is always greener on the other side. People who live in Tropical Weather (south) tend to want more varied seasons and people who live further north where it gets below 0 and feels like death some days would give anything to live somewhere hotter. There is no perfect place to live, however San Francisco Cal is most likely the BEST all year round weather here in America but it comes at a pretty price so most people can't really enjoy it and are slaves to their jobs. We want what we don't have, the key is to look at the bright side or say screw it and just move.
Oliver M how do u like Florida. I'm downtown Vancouver myself and have never been. This winter was horrible and I want a very safe place to go. Is siesta key safe? You know what I mean. We can walk day and night without issue here. Are there areas like that in florida?
Of course there are lol. We live on a barrier island off the east coast and I feel safe walking here whenever.
I was born and raised in Florida love it here! Lakeland (between Tampa and Orlando) is a beautiful city has swans from the Queen of England and the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Good! As a resident of Clearwater, my main rule: Any body of water more than ankle deep, assume there is a gator on there and act accordingly. Tarpon Springs is wonderful. Get off the main street at the Sponge Docks and see where the locals live and interact. It's so cool to hear people speaking Greek. The Pinellas Trail is the best! Take magnesium, potassium and salt tablets EVERY DAY!
I've lived here my whole life. Great tips, Wolter. Don't touch or harass the animals, especially manatees, turtles and dolphins, as that can lead to heavy fines and sometimes an arrest.
An Additional don't idea about critters: In the Keys, don't mess with or hit a Key Deer! It IS YOUR FAULT, and you WILL be procecuted. In Key West; Don't mess with the chickens, the goats or the six toed cats that are walking freely in the streets. You will be reprimanded. In the Keys, you can get by with many things, but don't mess with the critters.
lee pagnini The chickens/roosters that roam around in Ybor I believe are protected too...basically dear tourists keep your hands to yourself unless it's a petting zoo or touch-tank type environment.
Drive cautiously and slowly in Oviedo, please do not hit the chickens
Other reasons of getting up early is watching the sunrise and also nice weather sometimes before it gets too hot. I'm not from Florida (Indiana), but have been there 4 times in the past year. I always love getting up super early and hitting the beach to chill while it's still "quiet".
The last time I went to Everglades it was a stop from a rode trip to have a break and have fun... we walked out and they said " thanks for feeding the mosquitoes
I always loved hurricane season in Florida. Not because of the hurricanes ( Hurricane Charlie was my first hurricane ever and it was terrifying) but because those were the only times you could actually feel a breeze and a temperature drop below 80C. *Pure Heaven.* Heat and humidity combined, was the one major downside of living in Florida for me ,more so since I came from a moderate climate, with four regular seasons. I never adjusted and I hated it.
Tashka Gc
And when they canceled school my teachers couldn't assign homework lol
It's called the calm before the storm.
Where did you live before? You can't underestimate the Heat here.
I just noticed this. You said 80C. I hope you mean 80 F. If you mean 80 C well that would be 176 F. No one would be alive if is was that temperature.
Where did you live? Because I live in Punta Gorda and the only time we have high humidity is in the summer after the evening thunderstorms and we often have days during the winter in the 60s and 70s during the day and in the 40s and 50s at night. I used to live in Michigan most of my life and would never go back to the old four seasons crap. Yeah Charley was a real bastard though. Only thing Irma did was break a solar light in my back yard, did take part of my neighbor's lanai roof though.
I'm a Florida native and I didn't know about Bok Tower Gardens until I saw it in a AAA guidebook. Now, years later I live a 10 minute drive from it. It's a about a 15-20 minute drive from Legoland. Beautiful gardens with a 1920's art deco carillon tower. I have a year pass and love to hike there, go to the walk&wines, concerts, or cafe for lunch.
I've had 8 Florida trips from the UK. There's so much to do I could have another 8. Regarding time-share, DON'T agree to go to a free presentation in exchange for a gift or vouchers. In car-rental places I used there was an overly-friendly smiley chap in a little corner 'selling' these presentations. Loved the Brits (because they are too polite to say a flat No, straight off and walk away) Just walk away.
DON'T be surprised if you child completely freaks out the first time they see a Mickey character in Disney World. You know it's a chap in a suit, but the child has just been accosted by a six-foot rat.
And, most importantly, adding to the advice about sunscreen, buy a wide-brimmed sun-hat, like a bush-hat. DON'T rely on a baseball cap, as you can get sunstroke waiting in line for the attractions. When you return your rental car at the end of the trip, give the sun-hat to the poor chap working there. They never seem to have a hat.
If you’re from Florida, you probably like hurricane season just as much as me ⛈
I will never like hurricane season lol. When Irma was coming it was like the end of the world was coming lol. Thankfully it weakened, and didn’t hit the Tampa Bay Area hard. I know Miami got it bad though.
As a floridan hurricanes are totally normal
Hurricane season is legit! I remember hitting the library the day before and my brother and I figuring out the best spot to place the latern so we could both read! I think the biggest downside of Irma was the power outage, we went almost a week, and the generator was busy being hooked up to the fridge and freezer to keep the food cold, so we just melted during the day.
LOL I've been staring at that car at 11:21 for almost two decades. I work over by Sea World in Orlando and practically every other time I go out for lunch I end up sitting with him at a traffic light. Gotta admire his dedication!
Moving to this area in a few weeks. From CT. So excited. Thank you, definitely some great advice!
How do you like new place?
Girl I’m making the same move. June 15, 2022!!!
I love how there’s a separate video for Florida alone in the US.
Moved from Michigan to Venice FL in 1986 still love it and my son too who is 34 great job beautiful wife and 3 grandbabies not boring PERFECT
left lane on roads is a passing lane don't stay in it.
Fuzzy Fighter 5 Unless your going at least 80
That’s the same for every state
I always do over 90 in the passing lane so I'm good
Also the road courtesy is; slower traffic stay right. Florida has no efficiency system to their traffic hiccups. There's a lot of things that can/should change here.
Fuzzy Fighter 5 left lane is the locals lane. We go 80-100 to get to work on time cuz all you damn tourists and snowbirds slow regular traffic to a crawl. Seriously stay the hell out of the left lane on the interstates unless you absolutely MUST pass. Cuz we don’t wanna be late for work because you think 75 is fast.
We love visiting the Orlando area... we typically rent a house with a few bedrooms and its own pool about 1/2 hour drive west of D'World. Split the cost a couple ways and it's very reasonable.
Throw the kids in their beds at 8:00 then the adults adjourn to the pool with cold drinks and a baby monitor.
Actually that's what we do for most of our vacations.... rent a house or apartment in the area we are visiting. There's no better way to immerse yourself in the culture than buying groceries in a foreign land.
CP140405 We Agree!!!
CP140405 I
I like
CP140405 what time of year do you visit and what rate do you get on the house?
DICK WORLD?
I'm a florida native and was expecting this to be a bad video but this is actually really solid advice.
from a person that’s lived in Florida my whole life. This is like 90% true so listen up!
DON'T feed the animals. Especially the gators. When you feed them they become used to people and they get aggressive. In most cases when a gator attacks someone, it's because people had been feeding it. But all animals will become more bold and aggressive if they're used to being feed. Even squirrels. Don't feed ANY animals.
Squirrels are vicious animals
Or be in any body of water at night. Just don't, trust me xD
Don't feed the tourists!
Cool! I'm glad you mention Gainesville and the Florida Gators team but you forgot to tell people about the amazing springs we have here in north central Florida. I've been living in Fl. For 21 years and I've only been to Disney once, The Springs, the beach and Football, are the best things to do in FL.
Disney is mostly for kids. If you don’t have children why bother.
Don't tell Floridians, "YOU ARE DOING ______ WRONG. I'LL SHOW YOU MY WAY/ THE RIGHT WAY.
Yankee: “We don’t do that in Ohiiiiiiiiooooooo.”
Me: “Fuck off”
That is annoying when tourists do that one time I was just having a bad day and some guy did that to me and I just yelled I DONT GIVE A FUCK!!!!
Katt P
Please visit, just don’t move here.
GreatestOfTheGreats messing with alligators or even getting close is wrong, bottom line. Also getting drunk all day in the sun is gonna make you super sick. Being on your phone while driving is also stupid and wrong
Yeah we will tell ya to piss off we can do our own shit.
I am a north florida girl... gainesville and jacksonville/orange park... i go to st augustine and see the forts and those beaches are the best!! Theres a rock beach near marineland and if u drive through st augustine and go to villano beach... so many shells and sharks teeth!! So many!!also in gainesville a drive through campus is quite fun and i LOVE walking along lake alice is super cool, a ton of gators and turtles and fish! If u want to see closer go to the santa fe zoo. Super cool and they have great tours! Go to the spings the itchnetucknee(however u spell it) can be floated down and u see all kinds of wildlife and blue springs has a platform into the spring its super cool.
Southside Jax myself!
As a native Floridian, I can confirm that these are correct... especially about the critters. Most of the US's deadliest critters reside in Florida.
When in the Daytona area, don't drive like your on the speedway!
When here for bikeweek, remember that people live in these neighborhoods you revving you loud assed motorcycle through!
Don’t stand on the sand dunes.
Don’t stand on the sand dunes.
Don’t pick the sea oats.
Don’t ignore the sea turtle markers.
Oh, and *Don’t stand on the sand dunes.*
What about don't stand on the sand dunes?
YOU FORGOT DON'T STAND ON THE SAND DUNES
Excellent video! I spent 1 week there at the Wyndham Clear Water Beach, last year. The Owners side. It was a fantastic vacation. Nice to see all your photography of the island.
*Dont* try and pretend you live in florida
*Dont* Forget sunscreen
*Dont* forget to watch out for critters like he said
*Dont* be mean to the troopers, Honestly, Be nice and they may let you off with a warning.
"Dont be mean to the troopers, Honestly, Be nice and they may let you off with a warning."
Unless they kill you for no legitimate reason.
Not if you have a Ferrari
If you're in a bad area, lock your doors at red lights and when you leave your car. Always.
Be kind to everyone expecting nothing in return. Rewards come unexpectedly.
Troopers are soulless individuals.
DON'T: Drive around Miami Beach in the middle of the afternoon (if you actually want to get to the beach sometime this century.)
DO: Visit Viscaya and the Coral Castle! :)
I live in Florida and I completely agree with everything you said. You nailed it ! I would also like to add if you are a tourist in FL please stick to the right lane in traffic because local people are in a hurry to get to work and have no time for casual driving. In other words: "get off the road !"
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
After living in Florida for a few years I've learned to take hurricane warnings seriously. If they even hint of "Evacuate" don't wait until it's mandatory, by then you may get stuck in route in your vehicle, not fun! You wouldn't plan to go on a cruise when a hurricane is on the way, same goes for visiting or 'sticking around" for a hurricane party, people have died this way. When walking through grass or through dunes to the beach, better to protect the feet with some type of foot wear, usually flip flops or sandals during the warmer months because sand spurs are very unforgiving! They can also be painful to dig out should they get really stuck in feet. Going barefoot is fun and feels great! Just watch where you walk. As mentioned by others, don't forget sunscreen, or proper sun coverage. Even after my years of living there, I sometimes forget to wear it, then get too much and have to doctor a sunburn. Any more than 30 minutes to an hour of exposure, and as the locals say: "Better lotion up or get fried!" The snow white sand is highly reflective of the sun even on a cloudy day. After living in Central Florida I also learned to take an umbrella where ever I went. Just because it looks sunny out doesn't mean it will stay sunny. Sometimes It even rains like clock work in some towns. Visiting or living in Florida was and is fun, just do the research and be prepared. I like these comments others have posted, comparing notes is fun.
More driving/road tips: the left lane is for passing ONLY. If you see people passing you on the right side of your car, it means get the f*^k OVER!
When you get caught in a flash thunderstorm-do NOT use your hazard lights. Not only is it dangerous, it’s ILLEGAL here. Just don’t. Put on your wipers, headlights, and that’s it.
And lastly-while we locals appreciate your $$, we appreciate your kindness and consideration even more. We LIVE here. Don’t come into our home and trash up the place. We don’t do that to you.
Dude your saying how people in Florida should act. Not how we actually act. The hazards a constantly used during every thunderstorm. And the passing lane is non existent, most of us just go around people w.o a second thought.
Couldn't have said it better🇺🇸💪🇺🇸💪
@@bdpbernz622 We do but it is annoying as all hell to have to. I'm retired and drive like a maniac (or so I'm told) but I do not get on major routes in rush hours so as not to add to the heavy traffic. It is easier for all if those that don't need to be in it stay out during those times.
I was born & raised in s.Tampa but now live in Colorado. I really do miss being there, but last time I visited I couldn’t handle the heat anymore lol so that’s another thing to consider when u go to Florida, be prepared to sweat your ass off!!
hurricane season is June 1st - November 30th...
Still have em in December
Hurricanes can be really bad in November especially early.
miamitubo Nah, fam. Hurricane season is Jan 1 - Dec 31 lmaoooo
My fav is when people come to florida around that time and complain about the rain. I just shake my head a laugh.
miamitubo more like June 1st- May 31st
Thank you for helping us Floridians out with the tourist. living in Titusville next to the wildlife refuge we do get a little tired of seeing them trying to poke the Alligators with a stick.
If they do that then they deserve to be gator chow.
That sunset is 🔥🔥🔥. I love me some Tampa and stay away from the amusement parks. Beaches:free, all the botanical gardens:free or very cheap. River walk:free. I’d recommend renting/getting a car. First year we Uber’d everywhere. That was a big mistake. Great vids Mark! I especially like your Tampa and Europe focused videos. Way to throw your wife under the bus. Evil time shares. I’m from Minneapolis and really enjoyed your Duluth vids. I’d recommend getting up to grand Marais/ lutsen/tofte area. You will literally feel your blood pressure go down and it’s a lot of fun up there. Not far from the border either
Over here north of West Palm Beach I get Basilisk lizards (running on hind legs) in my backyard by the pool, sandhill cranes in the driveway and little lizards everywhere. Never had a problem with the cranes tho, outside working on my bike they walk by around 10 feet away and we exchange glances peacefully XD
...I was in the 1980's in FLORIDA....Awesome times....Been to... Sea World...Bush Gardens....Sunken Gardens...Disney.....The Cape....Key West.....Naples....Fort Lauderdale....Tampa....Sarasota....Ft.Myers....
I visit Florida every two years and I suggest bringing a sweatshirt and pants, even in Florida. One year we came and it was freezing and crisply began to snow a little. So don’t doubt it will be cold, prepare (mostly just in winter)
So accurate ... i live in tampa ans raised in miami and he is right on.