Surprisingly enough, the Sunshine State is not the official state motto of Florida, but it is by no doubt the most widely known unofficial one. However, Sunshine State is no misnomer. In the winter months of January and February, daytime temperature averages are in the high 60s Fahrenheit (low 20s Celsius) but reach an average of 90 (32 C) during the hottest months of July and August. The temperate conditions and plethora of outdoor activities available are precisely what attracts both tourists and snow-birds alike. Although snow-birds only spend the winter months in this balmy state, arriving from cold northern states, Canada and Europe, one thousand people move permanently to Florida every day!

There is truly something for everyone, especially regarding outside activities. Imagine, out of 1800 miles (2900 km) of coastline, 1200 miles (1900 km) of them are sandy beaches. Even non-swimmers enjoy the sunbathing and shell collecting. Water enthusiasts enjoy boating, surfing, wind-surfing, and fishing. Anything you can think of that can be done in or on the water is easily found here.

Some people visit Florida and never step on the beaches. They go for the great golfing opportunities. Florida boasts of more golf courses than any other state, with over 1200 available to choose from. Not a golfer? There are many other activities offered. Camping is popular and millions pitch their tent or park their trailer in this state every year. There are also hundreds of bike trails, some of which are converted train tracks as part of the Rails-to-Trails conservancy effort. Bike trails are also used by joggers, walkers and roller-bladers, who enjoy the scenic view and ocean breezes that most trails offer.

Nature lovers take pleasure in visiting one of the many parks that feature native flora and fauna. There are parks that specialize in palm trees, tropical flowers, tropical birds, even lizards or sea-life. There is a huge marsh outside of Miami called Alligator Alley, which is actually part of the Everglades. Alligator Alley has an interesting story behind it, since it got that name from the many alligators that can be seen when cars take the interstate that crosses from east to west. Other animals such as cranes, storks, turtles, and even jaguars can be found on Alligator Alley, so it makes a nice driving day-trip.

Theme parks are a big draw to Florida as well. Orlando has perhaps the most widely-known theme parks in the whole world, The Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center. The Magic Kingdom has everything Disney related under the sun, while Epcot Center focuses more on technological and scientific advances. The latter also has a world show-case, which allows park visitors to learn about countries and taste food from around the world. Sea-World is close by and impresses many with water shows featuring dolphins, killer whales and seals. There are many educational segments too, so it is not all fun and games. Going west from Orlando toward the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa offers Busch Gardens, a combination of an African Safari and theme parks. A one or multi-day pass permits visitors to pick and choose whether to see only the animals, or also to dare attempt the thrilling roller coaster and water rides.

World renowned museums can be found in cities such as Saint Petersburg that has the oft-visited Dali Museum. There are museums in each city that showcase local history and commerce. History buffs will want to visit living histories in cities such as Saint Augustine that reflect over four centuries of culture. Some of the first American towns and forts are still maintained and can be easily visited. In fact, there is a lot more to be seen in Florida than just sunshine!