Unmasking the 10 Biggest Myths About Florida – Get Ready to Be Surprised!

Are you wondering if there are any myths about Florida you should know about? With so many misinformation and misconceptions swirling around, it’s hard to know sometimes what’s real and what’s not. That’s where we step in, Florida natives to help you unmask those Florida myths.

Imagine this: Florida, the land of sunshine, sandy beaches, and theme park adventures. But beneath the surface of this vibrant state lie myths and misconceptions waiting to be uncovered. In this exciting journey, we’ll peel back the layers and reveal the real Florida, beyond the stereotypes and tall tales. Buckle up, because we’re about to separate the facts from the fiction that has cast a shadow on the Sunshine State.

1. Florida Myth: Florida is All About Disney and Beaches

This myth about Florida is one that I’ve strived to debunk through this blog since the day I started it. While Disney and beaches are iconic, there is so much more to Florida!

Southwest of the Florida Keys, the stunning Dry Tortugas National Park entwines history and nature. St. Augustine, of course, is filled with history older than our country. And small towns like Zolfo Springs or Mt. Dora offer history and a small town vibe not found in Florida’s more popular cities.

Freshwater springs have captivated the attention of nature lovers in recent years. And Florida state parks are among the best in the country, preserving and protecting the state’s natural spaces and historic places for future generations. Florida’s allure goes far beyond the mouse ears and sandy shores, and we’re here for all of the “other” Florida.

2. Myth About Florida: Florida is Always Sunny

Sure, Florida boasts a lot of sunshine, but it’s not all blue skies. Hurricanes can bring torrential rain and fierce winds. Picture a rollercoaster of weather – just like life itself. Don’t be surprised if you need both sunscreen and an umbrella in your car.

And that brings up a related myth – more of a joke, really. The weather changes every five minutes. That’s not exactly true, of course. This meme-worthy joke stems from Florida’s afternoon thunderstorms. Though they usually last more than five minutes, they do bring a rather sudden change in weather from sunny to stormy and back to sunny in a matter of an hour or so.

3. Florida Myths: Florida is Only for Retirees

Florida is a dynamic state, home to diverse communities, and it’s not just a retirement destination. Imagine Miami’s vibrant nightlife, the bustling tech scene in Orlando, or the artistic community in Sarasota.

Florida caters to all ages, from young professionals to families and retirees. In fact, the average age in Florida is 42 years old. And according to this article from CNBC, Florida isn’t even one of the top ten states to retire in if you’re pinching pennies.

4. Myths About Florida: Florida is Flat as a Pancake

Florida isn’t quite that flat, but it does hold the distinction of having the lowest high elevation of all fifty states. The Sunshine State is a geological wonderland that’s more like a layered cake than a pancake. And it’s naturally graded so water quite literally rolls off the end of the peninsula.

From the rolling hills of north Florida, the land gives way to all of central Florida’s lakes with the Central Florida Ridge forming a backbone of sorts right up the middle of the state. The limestone beneath the surface acts like a filter, cleaning rainwater as it filters down through caves to the aquifers, a feature which also accounts for the thousand-plus freshwater springs found in the state.

And the Everglades? This wholly unique environment, found only in Florida, is really more of a river, hence it’s nickname “river of grass”. Before man began messing with it, the water which gathered in central Florida’s lakes slowly flowed south through a series of rivers and wetlands, emptying into Florida Bay.

5. Florida Myth: Florida is Just a Tourist Destination

We love to say, “We live where you vacation!” And while that’s true enough, Florida is more than a vacation spot.

The state has a thriving fishing industry and is often known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World. It’s home to good public universities like the University of Florida and Florida State University and is NASA’s East Coast home where tourists learn about the space program at Kennedy Space Center. And some large companies have their headquarters here, such as Publix, Jabil, RCL, and Darden Restaurants.

6. Myth About Florida: Florida has No Winter

Florida’s winter is like a cool breeze on a sunny day – mild and enjoyable. Unless you’re a native Floridian, and then it’s quite cold. There’s a meme for that, too!

While it might not be a winter wonderland with snow, Florida winter offers the ideal temperatures for outdoor activities. Because summer’s heat and humidity can be extremely dangerous, winter is when Florida comes to life. We hold more festivals, grow more vegetables, and in general get out more than during the summer.

7. Florida Myths: Florida Only has Palm Trees

Florida’s flora is as diverse as its people. Imagine towering pine forests in the Panhandle, sprawling live oaks in Central Florida, and exotic tropical fruit trees and palms in South Florida. Where palm trees are concerned, Florida has 12 native species but only two are endemic, meaning they are found only in Florida. Those are the Miami palm and the scrub palmetto.

From central Florida north, the state is home to three national forests and several state forests, totaling 14.5 million acres of forest land. If you want to see the world’s largest remaining old growth bald cypress forest, head south to Naples where you’ll find this cypress stand at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

And throughout Florida, there are large and small trees that add to Florida’s unique biodiversity. Palm trees may be a part of the scenery, but they’re just one piece of Florida’s botanical puzzle.

8. Myths About Florida: Florida is the Lightning Capital of the World

Florida’s reputation as the lightning capital of the world isn’t entirely true. That distinction belongs to Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela which has lightning storms nearly 300 nights a year.

Florida is known, however, as the lightning capital of the United States. More specifically, the area between Orlando and Tampa Bay. Thunderstorms here crop up nearly daily in the summer and bring severe lightning with them.

Unfortunately, the Tampa Bay area also has some of the most popular beaches in the United States, and beachgoers don’t often realize the danger these storms pose. Clearwater Beach and the surrounding beaches experience deaths from lightning strikes every year.

9. Florida Myth: Florida is Full of Killer Alligators

Alligators are Florida’s ancient residents. They aren’t lurking around every corner waiting to attack, but every freshwater body of water, no matter how small, can potentially be a home to a gator.

Alligators play a vital role in Florida’s ecosystem. There are an estimated 1.25 million alligators in the wild in Florida so it’s a good idea to practice caution around lakes, ponds, rivers, and freshwater canals. Always be aware of your surroundings, even if you’re just talking a leisurely walk.

10. Myth About Florida: Florida is Full of Killer Sharks

Jaws may have given sharks a fearsome reputation, but Florida’s waters aren’t a shark buffet. Shark attacks are rare, and most shark species are harmless to humans. That said, Florida has the most unprovoked shark bites in the US, and New Smyrna Beach is a hotspot for them prompting the nickname “Shark Bite Capital of the World”.

Just as you can expect alligators to live in any and all freshwater in Florida, you can expect all of Florida’s saltwater to house sharks. There are fifteen species of shark in Florida, but it’s the bull shark which most often bites humans in our waters. If sharks worry you and you still want to swim at the beach, avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when visibility is low, and sharks are more actively seeking prey.