Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20181110010804/@comment-29709319-20190125024402

January 25: National Florida Day, National Opposite Day, National Irish Coffee Day, and National Big Wig Day.

🇺🇸Florida is Spanish for "land of flowers". Florida is the 22nd-most extensive (65,755 sq mi or 170,300 km2), the 3rd-most populous (21,312,211 inhabitants), the 8th-most densely populated (384.3/sq mi or 148.4/km2) of the U.S. states. Jacksonville is the most populous municipality in the state and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. Florida's $1.0 trillion economy is the fourth largest in the United States. If it were a country, Florida would be the 16th largest economy in the world, and the 58th most populous as of 2018. Florida's, Nickname: The Sunshine State, Motto: In God We Trust, State song: "Old Folks at Home, State Anthem: "Where the Sawgrass Meets the Sky", Capital: Tallahassee, Largest city: Jacksonville, Largest metro: Greater Miami. Florida's highest point is Britton Hill at 345 ft (105 m) (and the lowest highpoint of any U.S. state). It's lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean at sea level. Living insignia; Amphibian: 🐸Barking tree frog, Bird: 🕊Northern mockingbird, Fish: 🐟Florida largemouth bass, 🐟Atlantic sailfish, Flower: 🌸Orange blossom, Insect: Zebra longwing, Mammal: 🐱Florida panther, manatee, 🐬bottlenose dolphin, 🐴Florida Cracker Horse, Reptile: 🐊American alligator, 🐢Loggerhead turtle, 🐢Gopher tortoise, Tree: 🌳Sabal palmetto. Inanimate insignia; Beverage: 🍊Orange juice, Food: 🍊Key lime pie, Orange, Gemstone: 💎Moonstone, Rock: 💎Agatized coral, Shell: 🐚Horse conch, Soil: Myakka. Florida was the first region of the continental United States to be visited and settled by Europeans. The earliest known European explorers came with the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León. Ponce de León spotted and landed on the peninsula on April 2, 1513. He named the region Florida ("land of flowers"). The Spanish introduced Christianity, cattle, horses, sheep, the Castilian language, and more to Florida. In 1565, the settlement of St. Augustine (San Agustín) was established under the leadership of admiral and governor Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, creating what would become one of the oldest, continuously-occupied European settlements in the continental U.S. and establishing the first generation of Floridanos and the Government of Florida. Spain maintained strategic control over the region by converting the local tribes to Christianity. Florida attracted numerous Africans and African Americans from adjacent British colonies who sought freedom from slavery. In 1738, Governor Manuel de Montiano established Fort Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose near St. Augustine, a fortified town for escaped slaves to whom Montiano granted citizenship and freedom in return for their service in the Florida militia, and which became the first free black settlement legally sanctioned in North America. In 1763, Spain traded Florida to the Kingdom of Great Britain for control of Havana, Cuba, which had been captured by the British during the Seven Years' War. The British divided and consolidated the Florida provinces (Las Floridas) into East Florida and West Florida. The British government gave land grants to officers and soldiers who had fought in the French and Indian War in order to encourage settlement. The British built good public roads and introduced the cultivation of sugar cane, indigo and fruits as well as the export of lumber. Neither East Florida nor West Florida sent any representatives to Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence. Florida remained a Loyalist stronghold for the duration of the American Revolution. Spain regained both East and West Florida after Britain's defeat in the American Revolution and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783, and continued the provincial divisions until 1821. Defense of Florida's northern border with the United States was minor during the second Spanish period. The region became a haven for escaped slaves and a base for Indian attacks against U.S. territories, and the U.S. pressed Spain for reform. Americans of English descent and Americans of Scots-Irish descent began moving into northern Florida from the backwoods of Georgia and South Carolina. Though technically not allowed by the Spanish authorities and the Floridan government, they were never able to effectively stop them. These migrants, mixing with the already present British settlers who had remained in Florida since the British period, would be the progenitors of the population known as Florida Crackers. In 1810, parts of West Florida were annexed by proclamation of President James Madison, who claimed the region as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Seminoles based in East Florida began raiding Georgia settlements, and offering havens for runaway slaves. The United States Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory, including the 1817–1818 campaign against the Seminole Indians by Andrew Jackson that became known as the First Seminole War. The United States now effectively controlled East Florida. Control was necessary according to Secretary of State John Quincy Adams because Florida had become "a derelict open to the occupancy of every enemy, civilized or savage, of the United States, and serving no other earthly purpose than as a post of annoyance to them. Florida had become a burden to Spain, so Madrid decided to cede the territory to the United States through the Adams–Onís Treaty, which took effect in 1821. Andrew Jackson, on behalf of the U.S. federal government, served as a military commissioner with the powers of governor of the newly acquired territory for a brief period. On March 30, 1822, the U.S. Congress merged East Florida and part of West Florida into the Florida Territory. In 1830, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act and as settlement increased, pressure grew on the U.S. government to remove the Indians from Florida. Seminoles offered sanctuary to blacks, and these became known as the Black Seminoles. In 1832, the Treaty of Payne's Landing promised to the Seminoles lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida. Some Seminoles remained, and the U.S. Army arrived in Florida, leading to the Second Seminole War (1835–1842). On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state to join the United States of America. The state was admitted as a slave state and ceased to be a sanctuary for runaway slaves. As European settlers continued to encroach on Seminole lands, and the United States intervened to move the remaining Seminoles to the West. The Third Seminole War (1855–58) resulted in the forced removal of most of the remaining Seminoles, although hundreds of Seminole Indians remained in the Everglades. American settlers began to establish cotton plantations in north Florida, which required numerous laborers, which they supplied by buying slaves in the domestic market. By 1860, Florida had only 140,424 people, of whom 44% were enslaved. There were fewer than 1,000 free African Americans before the American Civil War. The confederal union received little help from Florida. The largest engagements in the state were the Battle of Olustee, on February 20, 1864, and the Battle of Natural Bridge, on March 6, 1865. Both were Confederate victories. The war ended in 1865. In 1885, Florida created a new constitution, followed by statutes through 1889 that disfranchised most blacks and many poor whites. Disfranchisement for most African Americans in the state persisted until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s gained federal legislation in 1965 to enforce protection of their constitutional suffrage. In 1939, Florida was described as "still very largely an empty State." Subsequently, the growing availability of air conditioning, the climate, and a low cost of living made the state a haven. In the 1960s, many refugees from Cuba fleeing Fidel Castro's communist regime arrived in Miami at the Freedom Tower, where the federal government used the facility to process, document and provide medical and dental services for the newcomers. As a result, the Freedom Tower was also called the "Ellis Island of the South." With a population of more than 18 million, according to the 2010 census, Florida is the most populous state in the southeastern United States and the third-most populous in the United States. After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, a large population of Puerto Ricans began moving to Florida to escape the widespread destruction. Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans arrived in Florida after Maria dissipated, with nearly half of them arriving in Orlando and the large populations also moving to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The climate of Florida is tempered somewhat by the fact that no part of the state is distant from the ocean. With an average daily temperature of 70.7°F (21.5°C), it is the warmest state in the U.S. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109°F (43°C), which was set on June 29, 1931 in Monticello. The coldest temperature was -2°F (-19°C), on February 13, 1899, in Tallahassee. Florida rarely receives measurable snowfall. However, on rare occasions, a combination of cold moisture and freezing temperatures can result in snowfall in the farthest northern regions. Frost, which is more common than snow, sometimes occurs in the panhandle. Florida is known as the lightning capital of the United States, as it experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the country. Florida has one of the highest average precipitation levels of any state, in large part because afternoon thunderstorms are common in much of the state from late spring until early autumn. Florida is the most hurricane-prone state. Of the category 4 or higher storms that have struck the United States, 83% have either hit Florida or Texas. From 1851 to 2006, Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major—category 3 and above. In 1992, Florida was the site of what was then the costliest weather disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Andrew, which caused more than $25 billion in damages when it struck during August; it held that distinction until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina surpassed it, and it has since been surpassed by six other hurricanes. Andrew is currently the second costliest hurricane in Florida's history. Agriculture is the second largest industry in the state. Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of the economy, and Florida produces the majority of citrus fruit grown in the United States. Other products include sugarcane, strawberries, tomatoes and celery. The state is the largest producer of sweet corn and green beans for the U.S. The state has a near monopoly on saw palmetto berries, an alternative medicine used to treat prostate and urinary disorders. Phosphate mining, concentrated in the Bone Valley, is the state's third-largest industry. The state produces about 75% of the phosphate required by farmers in the United States and 25% of the world supply, with about 95% used for agriculture (90% for fertilizer and 5% for livestock feed supplements) and 5% used for other products. Florida has the largest collection of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne buildings in both the United States and the entire world, most of which are located in the Miami metropolitan area, especially Miami Beach's Art Deco District, constructed as the city was becoming a resort destination. Florida overall was ranked the 7th best state in America for educating students at all levels by U.S. News & World Report in 2018. The Florida College System comprises 28 public community and state colleges. As of 2017, the University of Central Florida, with over 64,000 students, is the largest university by enrollment in the United States. In 2016, Florida charged the second lowest tuition in the nation for four years, $26,000 for in-state students, to $86,000 for out-of-state students. This compares with an average of $34,800 nationally for in-state students. Sports: Florida has three American Football League(NFL) teams, the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars. There are two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. The National Basketball Association has two NBA teams, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. There are two National Hockey League (NHL) teams, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning. And there is two (MLS) Major League Soccer teams, Inter Miami CF and Orlando City SC. NASCAR (headquartered in Daytona Beach) begins all three of its major auto racing series in Florida at Daytona International Speedway in February, featuring the Daytona 500, and ends all three Series in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Daytona also has the Coke Zero 400 NASCAR race weekend around Independence Day in July. The 24 Hours of Daytona is one of the world's most prestigious endurance auto races. Golf: The PGA of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, the PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, and the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. Tennis: The Miami Open is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier Mandatory tennis event, whereas the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships is a ATP World Tour 250 event. Visit some of the more than 150 Florida State Parks. The only three-time winner of the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal award for state park systems. Amusement parks, especially in the Greater Orlando area, make up a significant portion of tourism. Walt Disney World Resort is the most visited vacation resort and the biggest and most renowned theme park in the world consisting of four theme parks, 27 themed resort hotels, 9 non–Disney hotels, two water parks, four golf courses and other recreational venues. Major theme parks: 1️⃣Disney's Animal Kingdom is a zoological theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is the largest theme park in the world, covering 580 acres (230 ha). The park is dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and animal conservation. Disney's Animal Kingdom is divided into seven themed areas: 🍁Discovery Island, 🍁Pandora–The World of Avatar, 🍁Africa, 🍁Rafiki's Planet Watch, 🍁Asia, 🍁DinoLand U.S.A., 🍁Beastly Kingdom. In 2017, Disney's Animal Kingdom hosted about 12.5 million guests, ranking it as the third-most-visited theme park in North America and the sixth-most-visited theme park in the world. The park also uses biodegradable paper straws and prohibits plastic straws, lids and balloons. Everything in this park is dedicated to providing a safe and stress-free environment for the real animals. 2️⃣Disney's Hollywood Studios spans 135 acres (55 ha), the park is dedicated to the imagined worlds from film, television, music, and theatre, drawing inspiration from the Golden Age of Hollywood. It is divided into six themed areas inspired by fantasized iterations of existing locations found in Hollywood and Los Angeles. There will be a seventh themed area opening in 2019. 🍁Hollywood Boulevard is lined with themed streetscape facades and venues selling Disney merchandise and park services. 🍁Echo Lake includes three major attractions based on characters and films created by George Lucas and produced by Lucasfilm. 🍁Grand Avenue is themed as a gentrified historic district inspired by the real location of the same name in downtown Los Angeles. 🍁Toy Story Land is inspired by Pixar's Toy Story series. The 11-acre (4.5 ha) area is themed to Andy's backyard with three attractions, each hosted by characters from the series. 🍁Animation Courtyard is home to attractions based on films and characters created by Walt Disney Animation Studios. 🍁Sunset Boulevard, inspired by the real thoroughfare of the same name. It has two outdoor amphitheaters. The covered Theater of the Stars hosts Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, a stage show featuring highlights from the animated film. The larger open-air Hollywood Hills Amphitheater is the home of Fantasmic!, a nighttime show featuring Mickey Mouse and many other Disney characters in a story with fireworks, lasers and water effects.3️⃣Magic Kingdom opened as the first part of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971. It covers 107 acres (43 ha) and is divided into six themed "lands." It is designed like a wheel, with the hub in front of 📍Cinderella Castle. Pathways spoke out from the hub and lead to the six Lands of the Magic Kingdom: 🍁Main Street, U.S.A. is lined with shops selling merchandise and food. The decor is early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood and the film Lady and the Tramp. 🍁Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands. It is themed to resemble the remote jungles in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific, with an extension resembling a Caribbean town square. 🍁Frontierland guests can relive the American Old West, from the romanticized cowboys and Native Americans, to exploring the mysteries of the Rivers of America. 🍁Liberty Square is inspired by a colonial American town set during the American Revolution. The Liberty Belle Riverboat travels down the park's Rivers of America. 🍁Fantasyland is themed in a medieval-faire/carnival style, in the words of Walt Disney: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." 🍁Tomorrowland is set in an intergalactic city, a concept of the future as seen from around the 1950s: rockets, UFOs and robots, etc. Classic attractions include: Space Mountain, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, the Tomorrowland Speedway, Stitch's Great Escape!, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. 4️⃣Epcot is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely technological innovation and international culture, and is often referred to as a "permanent world's fair". And spanning 305 acres (123 ha). Epcot is divided into two main themed areas: Future World and World Showcase. 🍁Future World consists of a variety of avant-garde pavilions that explore innovative aspects and applications including technology and science, with each pavilion featuring self-contained attractions. Future World also serves as the park's main entrance and features the park's iconic landmark, Spaceship Earth. The current pavilions and attractions located in Future World include the following: Spaceship Earth, Innoventions, Mission: Space, Test Track, The Seas with Nemo & Friends (Turtle Talk with Crush), The Land (Soarin' and Living with the Land), Imagination! (Journey into Imagination with Figment) and Festival Center (Seasonal operation; formerly Wonders of Life). 🍁World Showcase is a large area reminiscent of a permanent world's fair containing 11 pavilions, each themed and dedicated to represent a specific country. The pavilions surround the World Showcase Lagoon, a large manmade lake located in the center of World Showcase with a perimeter of 1.2 miles (1.9 km). In clockwise order, the 11 pavilions are: 🇺🇸United States, 🇯🇵Japan, 🇲🇦Morocco, 🇫🇷France, 🇬🇧United Kingdom, 🇨🇦Canada, 🇲🇽Mexico, 🇳🇴Norway, 🇨🇳China, 🇩🇪Germany and 🇮🇹Italy. 5️⃣Universal Orlando Resort (Universal Studios) is composed of themed areas and attractions based on the film industry and a theme park that lets visitors "Ride the Movies." 🍁Universal Orlando consists of two theme parks (Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure), a water park (Volcano Bay), a night-time entertainment complex (Universal CityWalk Orlando), and six Loews Hotels (Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, and Universal’s Aventura Hotel). 🍁Universal's Islands of Adventure is a theme park composed of seven distinct "islands" that are themed to various forms of adventures. Visitors start off in the Port of Entry and make their way through the various islands – Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Hogsmeade, The Lost Continent, and Seuss Landing. 6️⃣SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park. It is separated into different areas, called "seas". Each with a unique themed element. 🍁Port of Entry: The main entrance of the park features a Florida-inspired theme with tropical landscaping and a large artificial freshwater marina with a Shamu-themed iconic lighthouse. 🍁Sea of Shallows: This area showcases most of the shallow water sea animal exhibits at the park as well as the Dolphin Theater. In addition, the Manta rollercoaster travels through this section.Animal exhibits in this portion of the park include cownose rays, southern stingrays, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, greater flamingos, West Indian manatees, American alligators, and brown pelicans. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals. 🍁Sea of Legends: Journey to Atlantis, a boat ride with roller-coaster elements, bases its story from the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. Also found here is Kraken, a floorless roller-coaster. 🍁Sea of Ice: Sea of Ice, originally named Antarctica, is themed around the Antarctic continent. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the sole attraction in this area. The ride exits into the penguin exhibit area. 🍁Sea of Delight includes a sub-area named The Waterfront, which resembles a seaside Mediterranean village. The park's Sky Tower ride is also here. The only land animal show at the park, Pets Ahoy, is located here inside of the Seaport Theater. Outside of the Waterfront is where the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium viewing area stands. 🍁Sea of Mystery houses the Shark Encounter exhibit and the Shark's Underwater Grill, as well as the Nautilus Theater, which is currently used for seasonal shows and events. It also includes the Sea Garden, a landscaped area with themed structures that are made from trash found on beaches. The current shark exhibit and the surrounding area has been renovated to become Shark Wreck Reef. 🍁Sea of Fun (Formerly Shamu's Happy Harbor) is a children's area hosted by Shamu, the park's orca mascot and features family activities including Shamu Express (a junior rollercoaster), a net climbing structure, and a water play area. In May 2017, it was announced that this area would be overhauled into a new Sesame Street themed land, set to open in spring 2019. 🍁Sea of Power is the host area of the SeaWorld's killer whale shows. The Shamu Stadium is located in the center with the Wild Arctic indoor pavilion nextdoor. Wild Arctic is a combined attraction which includes a motion simulator followed by an indoor animal exhibit hosting beluga whales, Pacific walrus, harbor seals, and formerly polar bears. 7️⃣Busch Gardens Tampa, is a 335-acre African-themed animal theme park. The park officially features eight roller coasters and two water rides amongst other rides and animal attractions. Their large collection of roller coasters make them, Florida’s thrill ride leader and their world-class shows provide entertainment for all ages. Their state-of-the-art animal habitats are home to more than 12,000 animals making them one of the largest zoos in North America. You can also feed some of the animals. Explore one of the largest, most highly accredited zoo facilities in the US. From some of the world’s most interesting animals to some of its most endangered, share in their passion for the animals in their care through up-close encounters and their state-of-the-art Animal Care Center, as seen on the hit TV series The Wildlife Docs. 8️⃣Discovery Cove in Orland! Guests can interact (talk, touch, play and swim) with a range of marine animals including bottlenose dolphins. Discovery Cove contains a coral reef, where guests can swim with thousands of tropical fish, Sting Rays up to 4 feet across. There is an underwater shark and tigerfish tank located behind protective glass. The park contains a free-flight aviary, which contains over 250 tropical birds including parrots, toucans, and over 30 other species of exotic birds. The heated Tropical River runs through the aviary and circles the park, allowing guests to float past an assortment of the Discovery Cove’s beaches, waterfalls, and rainforest landscape. The Tropical River runs into the park’s heated freshwater resort pool. 9️⃣Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is one of ten National Aeronautics and Space Administration field centers. The KSC Visitor Complex has a variety of exhibits, artifacts, displays and attractions on the history and future of human and robotic spaceflight. Bus tours of KSC originate from here. The complex also includes the separate Apollo/Saturn V Center and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame. 🔟Gatorland is a 110-acre (45 ha) theme park and wildlife preserve. The park is also known for its leucistic alligators. (leucistic is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes. Leucistic is not albinism. Founded 70 years ago by Owen Godwin on former cattle land in 1949, it has been privately owned by his family since then. Billed as the "Alligator Capital of the World," Gatorland features thousands of alligators and crocodiles, a breeding marsh with boardwalk and observation tower, reptile shows, aviary, petting zoo, swamp walk, and educational programs. The park is known for buying and rescuing nuisance alligators. The Breeding Marsh area of the park was used in the filming of the 1984 movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Gatorland has a zip line that travels across a pool of alligators and past several of the existing attractions. The ride is approximately 1,200 feet (370 m) long, several stories high and for riders above 37 inches (94 cm) tall. In January 2016, Gatorland made the zip line wheelchair-accessible. 1️⃣1️⃣Holy Land Experience is registered as a Christian-based theme park and registered non-profit corporation. And is a non-denominational Christian living biblical museum and church. There are approximately 43 exhibits in the park. HLE’s theme park recreates the architecture and themes of the ancient city of Jerusalem in 1st-century Judea. Church services and bible studies are conducted by ordained pastors for the general public on a weekly basis. 1️⃣2️⃣Legoland Florida encompasses 145 acres (0.59 km2), making it the second-largest Legoland park after Legoland Windsor in the UK. The theme park and water park includes 50 rides, shows and attraction. The park is designed for families with children ages 2 to 12, the resort has more than fifty rides, shows, attractions, restaurants, and shops, plus a botanical garden and water park. 1️⃣3️⃣Cypress Gardens is billed as Florida's first commercial tourist theme park. Cypress Gardens opened on January 2, 1936 as a botanical garden. Over the years it became one of the biggest attractions in Florida, known for its water ski shows, gardens, and Southern Belles. It became known as the "Water Ski Capital of the World" because it was the site of many of the sport's landmark firsts and over 50 world records were broken there. Numerous movies were filmed at the park. Other attractions: 1️⃣4️⃣Amelia Island – Historic island town and part of the Sea Islands chain of barrier islands, on the U.S. state of Florida’s Atlantic coast. It has a history of Spanish, French, British and American rule. Today it’s a popular holiday destination known for its luxury resorts, golf courses and numerous sandy beaches. It is 13 miles (21 km) long and approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) wide at its widest point. 1️⃣5️⃣Biscayne National Park protects four distinct ecosystems: the shoreline mangrove swamp, the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay, the coral limestone keys and the offshore Florida Reef. Recreational opportunities include; fishing, boating, diving, snorkeling, paddling, hiking, camping, wildlife watching, cultural exploration and the rare opportunity to experience largely undeveloped Florida Keys. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest. The park covers 172,971 acres (270.3 sq mi; 700.0 km2) and includes Elliott Key, the park's largest island and first of the true Florida Keys, formed from fossilized coral reef. 1️⃣6️⃣Canaveral National Seashore is 25 miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beach, dunes and Mosquito Lagoon is the longest expanse of undeveloped land along the East Coast of Florida and as a federally protected area will remain primarily as it is today. Year-round recreation includes fishing, boating, canoeing, surfing, sunbathing, swimming, hiking, camping, nature and historical trails. 🍁The Eldora State House is a Museum located within Canaveral National Seashore. 🍁Black Point Wildlife Drive. A six-mile self-guided scenic drive in the refuge winds through pine flatwoods and impounded marsh and provides excellent views of many species of wildlife. 🍁Turtle Mound. Located along Mosquito Lagoon in the north end of the park, this archeological site was built by Native Americans between 800 AD and 1400 AD, it consists of 1.5 million bushels (52.86 million liters) of oyster shells. At 35 feet above the surrounding landscape it yields a panoramic view that extends for miles. 🍁Seminole Rest consists of several prehistoric shell mounds dating from 2,000 BC to 1565 AD. Snyder's Mound, the largest mound at this site, is unique because few structures this large remain intact today. Two turn of the century buildings occupy the mounds and have aided in their preservation. It also has a half-mile wheelchair accessible trail with wayside exhibits. 🍁Turtle Watch During June and July after hours when the seashore is closed to the general public there are programs opened to give visitors an opportunity to learn about sea turtles and the role that the National Park Service plays in their conservation as well as the possibility of watching turtles nest and lay eggs. Open to persons eight years of age and older. Programs are limited to thirty people (6 people per group) per night and reservation are required. 1️⃣7️⃣Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas – Two 400+ year old Spanish forts in the oldest city (St. Augustine) in the country. Fort Matabzas consists of a 1740 Spanish fort called Fort Matanzas, and about 100 acres (0.4 km²) of salt marsh and barrier islands along the Matanzas River on the northern Atlantic coast of Florida. The Castillo was the first masonry fortification built within the continental United States it is therefor the oldest. It is also the best preserved and it clearly illustrates the development of European military architecture. 1️⃣8️⃣Florida Keys are so many (over 1000 islands) that they had to be classified into three major groups: 🍁The Upper Keys, 🍁The Middle Keys and 🍁The Lower Keys. The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. They’re known as a destination for fishing, boating, snorkeling and scuba diving. The southernmost city of Key West is famous for Duval Street’s many bars, Mallory Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration and the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. 1️⃣9️⃣Gulf Islands National Seashore is 12 islands stretching for 160 miles along the Gulf Coast, featuring excellent beaches, sea turtles, barrier islands, maritime forests, bayous, marine habitat and historic forts. Things To Do Outside; 🌞Bicycling: Take a spin around many of Gulf Islands' beautiful areas. 🌞Bird Watching: There are nearly 300 species of birds that spend time in the national seashore, prime bird watching area. 🌞Boating: Whether your in a motorboat, kayaking, or paddleboard, experience the seashore on the water. 🌞Camping: Spend a little more time in the park with a tent and a recreational vehicle. (On the beach.) 🌞Fishing: Cast a line in the blue-green waters of Gulf Islands. 🌞Hiking: Take a hike and see some of the best Gulf Islands has to offer. 🌞Snorkeling & Diving: Take a dive and see what you find. 🌞Swimming: Some of the best beaches along the gulf coast means some of the best swimming. Historic Forts: 🍁Bastion On The Bluff, Fort Barrancas! High on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay, Fort Barrancas stands as a monument to the legacy of America’s early homeland defense. Built with 6 million bricks, walls 4 feet thick and 20 feet high, Fort Barrancas was completed in 1844 and remains an example of military engineering and a marvel of human ingenuity. 🍁Ship Island Sentinel, Fort Massachusetts (1864)! Fort Massachusetts is shaped like a “D”; similar to some of the earlier castle forts built as part of the Second System of coastal fortifications. The fort’s design provides nearly 360 degree coverage of water and land approaches. The large casemates were designed to hold cannon while supporting an upper tier of cannon. Arches along the eastside of the fort served as support rooms for the garrison. Powder magazines held ammunition and powder for the fort’s cannon. The parade ground, served as a gathering place for troops to attend roll call and perform other duties. Three spiral staircases provided access to the barbette tier and were an efficient use of the fort’s limited space.. Earthen mounds on the barbette tier added a layer of protection for the soldiers in the fort. Cisterns were built to hold thousands of gallons of fresh water. 🍁Fort Pickens Area features many recreational opportunities, wildlife viewing, and historic sites. Fort Pickens Discovery Center: Explore indoor exhibits on the natural environment, wildlife, and history of the Fort Pickens Area. 2️⃣0️⃣Ocala National Forest is known for its large areas of sand pine scrub forest. The Juniper Springs, Alexander Springs and Salt Springs recreation areas have natural pools (over 600) and canoe runs. Hundreds of lakes and ponds include Lake Kerr and the enormous Lake George. One of many trails, the Yearling Trail winds past a sinkhole and the remains of 19th-century homesteads. Ocala National Forest covers 607 square miles (1,570 km2) of Central Florida. Water plays an important part in a variety of recreational opportunities in the forest. Activities range from canoeing, boating, fishing, skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming and the use of personal watercraft. Many hiking trails run through the forest including the Florida Trail, Salt Springs Observation Trail, Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail, St. Francis Trail, and Yearling Trail. 🌞Mountain bike bicyclists can travel along a challenging 22-mile (35 km) long ride on the unpaved Paisley Woods Bicycle Trail. 🌞The Ocala National Forest offers many locations to ride Off Road Vehicles. There are currently two trail systems that offer a variety of recreation experiences: the Ocala North OHV Trail System offers a longer experience with six distinct trail loops totaling 125 miles (201 km) and the Wandering Wiregrass OHV Trail in the Southeast portion of the forest offers shorter day-use riding with a trail length of 17 miles (27 km). A new trail system was added in 2008. It is part of the south trail system off FR 573.. A small trail 20 miles (32 km) long called the Scrubjay and a longer trail 42 miles (68 km) long called the Centennial may be accessed from trailheads off FR 573, SR 40 and the Big Scrub Campground. There are areas that are restricted to off road vehicles; a detailed forest map can help provide information on areas open to off road vehicles. 🌞There are many trails for horseback riding in the forest. Forest riding trails are actually old roads 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) wide, marked at intervals with painted spots – called blazes – on the trees. Some of the best trails include the One Hundred Mile trail and the LAM trail. 🌞The Ocala National Forest is a wildlife management area, in which hunting and fishing activities are managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A permit is required for all hunters to hunt in this area. 2️⃣1️⃣Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It encompasses 632,890 acres and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle with abundance of fresh water streams, rivers, lakes, and natural springs. The Forest provides water and land-based outdoors activities such as off-road biking, hiking, swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, horse-back riding, and off-road ATV usage. The Apalachicola National Forest has six day use areas, four of which are fee areas. 🍁Camel Lake Recreation Area has a designated swim area with a white sand beach on a beautiful lake. The site is fairly level and easily accessible to people in wheelchairs. A small boat ramp is available. Motorized boat use is limited to electric trolling motors. Three trails are nearby: the Florida National Scenic Trail, the Trail of Lakes, and the Camel Lake Interpretive Trail. A volunteer host lives on site. 🍁Fort Gadsden is the site of an historic fort and several battles. Interpretive exhibits and artifacts are displayed along a level pathway on the banks of the Apalachicola River. Picnic tables, drinking water and vault toilets are available. This area is also accessible by boat. 🍁Leon Sinks is a designated Geological Area featuring interpretive signs and views of sinkholes from a system of boardwalks and trails. The sinks at Leon Sinks are unique, fragile areas with very steep sides. Both humans and dogs have drowned in the sinks. To protect you and the sinks, a number of uses are prohibited at Leon Sinks: swimming, diving, motor vehicles (except in the parking area), hunting, mountain biking, horseback riding, and ATV and motorcycle riding. Picnic tables, a kiosk, a water fountain, and a restroom with flush toilets are available. 🍁Bicycles are welcome on public roads in the Forest, on designated motorized trails and on the designated mountain bike trail (Munson Hills Trail). The public roads are fairly level, but may be deep sand. The mountain bike trail is on sandy soil with gently rolling slopes through narrow pine trees. The trail is marked by blue blazes and divided into two loops: an 8-mile loop and a 5-mile loop. A bike rack, water fountain, and restrooms are available near the trail entrance. 🍁Hiking: The Apalachicola National Forest has approximately 85 miles of designated hiking trails, although hikers are welcome anywhere in the Forest. Pets are allowed, but must be restrained or on a leash. 🍁Part of the Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the Apalachicola National Forest. The Trail travels approximately from Southeast to Northwest through the Forest. It is unpaved for hiking, 68.7 miles total. Much of this trail is flat, dry pine and palmetto fields with occasional titi swamps. Please be aware that in periods of heavy rain, certain portions of the trail may be ankle to waist-deep in water. 🍁Horseback Riding: The Apalachicola National Forest has one designated horse trail, the Vinzant Horse Trail in Leon County. The trail has 2 loops (which overlap): an 11-mile loop and a 23-mile loop. Although horse riders are welcome almost anywhere in the Forest (including on public roads) they are not allowed on the Florida National Scenic Trail (hiking only) or in developed recreation areas. There are few designated trailheads, so many individuals choose to park alongside a Forest road near where they want to ride. As long as vehicles do not obstruct traffic or destroy natural resources, this is permitted. Camping with horses in the general Forest area is allowed. Horses are also allowed in the primitive hunt camps (no amenities), although cleaning up after the horses is expected and appreciated. 2️⃣2️⃣Everglades National Park is a place like no other on earth – massive, vital, and delicate ecosystem protecting a great variety of plants and animals. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States after Death Valley and Yellowstone. The Park covers 1,508,976 acres (2,357.8 sq mi; 6,106.6 km2). Twenty eight miles (45 km) of trails start near the Long Pine Key campgrounds and wind through Long Pine Key, well-suited for offroad cycling through the pine rocklands in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area. Several walking trails in the park vary in hiking difficulty on Pine Island, where visitors can cross hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and freshwater sloughs. The Anhinga Trail is a half-mile self-guided tour through a sawgrass marsh where visitors can see alligators, marsh and wading birds, turtles, and bromeliads. The nearby Gumbo Limbo Trail is also self-guided, at half-mile long. It loops through a canopy of hardwood hammocks that include gumbo limbo, royal palms, strangler figs, and a variety of epiphytes. Two boardwalks allow visitors to walk through a cypress forest at Pa-Hay-O-Kee, which also features a two-story overlook, and another at Mahogany Hammock that takes hikers through a dense forest in the middle of a freshwater marl prairie. More rugged trails take visitors through mangrove swamps, along Florida Bay. Christian Point Trail, Snake Bight Trail, Rowdy Bend Trail and Coastal Prairie Trail allow viewing of shorebirds and wading birds among the mangroves. Portions of the trails may be impassable depending on the time of year, because of mosquitoes and water levels. A drive across the Everglades on US 41 is a great way to get a sense of the size and scenery of the Everglades. Stop at Shark Valley and Everglades City for great attractions and scenery. Or take an airboat ride through the swamps. Low-powered motorboats are allowed in the park; the majority of salt water areas are no-wake zones to protect manatees and other marine animals from harm. Jet skis, airboats, and other motorized personal watercraft are prohibited. Many trails allow kayaks and canoes. A state license is required for fishing. Swimming is not recommended within the park boundaries; water moccasins, snapping turtles, alligators, and crocodiles thrive in fresh water. Sharks, barracuda, and sharp dangerous coral are plentiful in salt water. Visibility is low in both salt water and fresh water areas. The Park is an important part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. It has great biodiversity and many species of birds for bird watching and bird photography. Thirty-six federally protected animals live in the Everglades, some of which face grave threats to their survival. In the United States, the American crocodile's only habitat is within South Florida. About 2,000 crocodiles live in Florida, and there are roughly 100 nests in the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. Crocodiles were reclassified from "endangered" to "threatened" in the United States in 2007. The Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. About 230 live in the wild, primarily in the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp. Four Everglade species of sea turtle including the Atlantic green sea turtle, the Atlantic hawksbill, the Atlantic loggerhead, and the Atlantic ridley are endangered. Also, the leatherback sea turtle is threatened. The Cape Sable seaside sparrow, the Everglades is the only location in the United States where this bird of prey exists. The West Indian manatee has been upgraded from endangered to threatened. Collisions with boats and habitat loss are still its biggest threats. 2️⃣3️⃣Visit the Seminole or Miccosukee Indian reservations throughout the state. Here you can find out about their history and culture, eat their food, and then gamble in the casinos on their land. The Reservations are divided into three sections. Their total land area is 128.256 sq mi (332.183 km²). The largest section by far is known as the Alligator Alley Reservation. It has a land area of 127.057 sq mi (329.076 km²). The second largest section is the Tamiami Trail Reservation. Although this section is much smaller than the Alligator Alley section, it is the center of most tribal operations. It has a land area of 712.64 acres (2.884 km²). The smallest section is the Krome Avenue Reservation. This section has a land area of only 55.04 acres (0.2227 km²). The Miccosukee Resort & Casino is on this site. Seminole Casino in Brighton: Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. It is one of six reservations held in trust by the federal government for this tribe. The Reservation has a land area of approximately 146 square kilometers or 36,000 acres and a 2000 census resident population of 566 persons. The Seminole Tribe of Florida operates the Brighton Seminole Casino here, a 27,000-square-foot casino with 375-slot and gaming machines, a seven-table poker room, and high-stake bingo seats, with full service restaurant and lounge. The Reservation also is used for part of the tribe's cattle operations, the 12th-largest in the country. The other five Seminole Tribe of Florida reservations are: 🌞Big Cypress Reservation, the largest territory, including 81.972 sq mi (212.306 km²). 🌞Hollywood Reservation (formerly called the Dania Reservation), 497 acres (2.01 km2) acres. 🌞Immokalee Reservation. 🌞Fort Pierce Reservation, a 50 acres (0.20 km2) taken into trust for the tribe in 1995 by the United States Department of the Interior. 🌞Tampa Reservation. This was just a small potion of activities to do in Florida.

🔁National Opposite Day is a day to have fun all day long saying exactly opposite of what you really mean. Most sources say that National Opposite Day is always observed on January 25th while other sources say it is celebrated by some on January 7th. It is also believed to be celebrated by a group of people on the 25th of each month of the year. FUN TIDBIT: Sponge Bob Square Pants even got into the act, with an episode containing the whimsical nature of this day. The origin of National Opposite Day is unknown. However, there are references dating back to President Calvin Coolidge in the 1920s. In the 1928 election, Coolidge made a statement to the press announcing, “I do not choose to run.” That statement spurred a debate and left everyone wondering if he really meant the opposite.

☕️National Irish Coffee Day! Irish Coffee is made with strong coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar and topped with a rich layer of cream. On a cold, wet day in 1942 weary travelers to the small Shannon Airport in southwest Ireland found their way to a restaurant and chef Joe Sheridan. To warm his guests, he served them hot coffee, spiked with whiskey and topped with whipped cream. The passengers asked if the beverage was Brazilian coffee. Sheridan responded that it was Irish coffee. A travel writer, Stanton Delaplane, brought Irish coffee to the United States after having it at Shannon Airport. Delaplane brought the idea to the Buena Vista Cafe on November 10, 1952. After much trial and error, sampling and a trip back to Ireland for a taste of the original, Delaplane along with Buena Vista owners Jack Koeppler and George Freeberg were able to replicate the delicious coffee and the method for floating the cream on top of the coffee. How to Make an Authentic Irish Coffee: Starting with a warm glass, fill 2/3rds full of freshly brewed coffee. Stir in a heaping teaspoon of sugar. Add 1 ounce of Irish whiskey. Adding the cream so it floats is the tricky part. According to the Buena Vista account, and at the suggestion of San Francisco’s mayor, a dairyman, cream that is 48 hours old, is best. However, others recommend whipping cream (not whipped cream) that has been lightly whipped or foamed. When the coffee has stopped swirling from stirring in the sugar, pour the foamy cream over the back of a spoon.

👒National Big Wig Day™! is both an expression of the potential inside of all of us and an entertaining opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others. To do this, we must dust off our hidden talents and bring them forth without hesitation. Be bold and even a little bit courageous. Roll up your sleeves and grab a few friends because that always makes it more enjoyable and the journey more exciting. But whatever you do, bring your Big Wig with you. Because we all have one inside us and even Big Wigs need to have fun! Call it what we will, CEO, director or pilot, we are the Big Wigs in our lives. National Big Wig Day reminds us that, regardless of title, we can make a difference and improve the lives of others through celebration. In 2016, Patty Sharkey founded National Big Wig Day™! after a bout of post-holiday blues. After going through her fabulous collection of wigs and selecting a chocolate, raspberry curly wig and taking a selfie, she posted “Happy National Big Wig Day.” Soon after the overwhelmingly positive post, Patty was struck with an inspiring cure for the blues and National Big Wig Day was born. Friends in California, New Jersey, Texas and Massachusetts hosted inaugural National Big Wig Day parties where 75% of the proceeds raised were donated to the Look Good/Feel Better division of the American Cancer Society in 2016. Each year, Sharkey nominates a Big Wig who inspires the inner Big Wig in us all. Anthony Davis, the Notre Dame Killer, was named the official Big Wig of 2016. His perseverance after a severe brain injury sidetracked his football career earned him the title of Big Wig. The 2017 Big Wig is Jo Ann Thomas, co-founder of FANtastick Horror Film Festival for providing a venue for independent filmmakers to feature their work.

⛈It's Florida day. A place I would love to go back too, just to see all the changes and see things I missed. Opposite Day, what a day for school kids. Won't they have fun with it! I don't have a problem with it any day😂! I don't drink coffee period. I'm glad the proceeds from Big Wig parties go to the Look Good/Feel Better division of the American Cancer.

Another freezing night tonight. Our wind chill factor is going to be below zero again. At least we're not as bad as some other places. I heard it was 80 degrees in Florida the other day. Lucky them.

Sending sunshine (Florida) hugs!🐶🐶💕❄️⛄️💕