Thursday, May 30, 2013

Not So Well Known Facts about the State of Florida

By Jony Mozen


Stephen Foster, who wrote "Old Folks at Home," Florida's state song, never even saw the Suwannee River, nor did he ever step foot in Florida. An average annual commercial harvest of Apalachicola Bay oysters produces enough meat to cover a football field three deep. Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard is touted as the world's longest continuous sidewalk. It is a popular waterfront gathering place for joggers and in-line skaters. Once a year, thousands of Floridians stand at the state line and toss dead fish into Alabama. It's the annual Mullet Toss hosted by Flora-Bama Beach Bar in Pensacola. It's just "a silly excuse for a huge beach party."

The Benwood, on French Reef in the Florida Keys, is known as one of the most dived shipwrecks in the world. Safety Harbor is the home of the historic Espiritu Santo Springs. Given this name in 1539 by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. He was searching for the legendary Fountain of Youth. Its natural springs have attracted attention worldwide for their curative powers. Niceville is home to the famous Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival celebrated the third weekend in October.

Venice Florida is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. Collecting prehistoric sharks teeth has been a favorite pastime of visitors and residents of the Venice area for years. The Florida Museum of Hispanic and Latin American Art in Coral Gables, is the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the preservation, diffusion, and promotion of Hispanic and Latin American Art. The Pinellas Trail, a 47-mile hiking/biking trail connecting St. Petersburg with Central and north Pinellas County, is the longest urban linear trail in the eastern United States. Titusville, known as Space City, USA, is located on the west shore of the Indian River directly across from the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

The history of Amelia Island, Florida includes flags of 8 different rulers.. 2012 is a big year for Florida. It's the 500th anniversary of the landing of Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon and 450 years since the French Huguenots landed and tried to settle Florida around Jacksonville. Gatorade was first developed by University of Florida for their college football team the Florida Gators. The Florida Gators are known as a perennial powerhouse in many sports. UF is located in Gainesville, Florida.

Two birds synonymous with Florida get their pink color from the shrimp they eat. The Flamingo and the Roseate Spoonbill both turner darker and darker pink the more shrimp they eat. Some of the best spots to see these birds are on the Gulf Coast of Florida and in the Florida Everglades.. In 1950, Florida was the least populated Southern state. At the time, 44% of Florida's population was African-American. Key Lime Pie is a delightful confection that had its start in the Florida Keys. In fact, nearly every restaurant in the Keys, especially in Key West, serves this dessert. The key lime tree arrived in Florida in the 1500s and recipes for the pie began appearing as early as the late 1800s, though it became really popular in the 1930s. Some restaurants make it with graham cracker crust, others with pastry crust. Either way, it's a Florida must-have several times over.

Some interesting Florida laws state: Doors of all public buildings in Florida must open outwards. It is illegal to sell your children. Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner. A special law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing. If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. In Big Pine Key it is illegal to molest a Key deer. In Broward County, persons may not be "inappropriately attired" who work at hot dog stands. Florida. It's not just a destination. It's a whole new way of life. Come join the fun in the sun.




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