The Ultimate Florida Bucket List

Florida is more than retirement communities, golf courses, and crazy traffic. Whether you're a Florida native or just a visitor, the state is ripe with adventure opportunity for all.

How many of these can you say you have done?

Visited a beach on each coast

You can't begin a Florida bucket list without talking about the beaches. Florida is the southernmost U.S. state and just so happens to be a peninsula lined with hundreds of miles of world-class beaches. You're on your way to being a true Floridian if you visited the big waves of the Atlantic side such as Cocoa Beach, or the beautiful serenity of the Gulf Coast like Siesta Key.

Miami Beach

Speaking of beaches, are you really a Floridian if you haven't cruised or strolled down the iconic Ocean Drive on South Beach?

Visited the Southernmost Point

Key West is a destination with something for everyone. There are some things that are must do in the area, and visiting the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S. is one of those things.

Cooled off in a natural spring

21 of Florida's State Parks have a spring located within them and may be the largest collection of freshwater springs on the planet. With temperatures ranging in the sixties and low seventies, a float or a dip in a Florida spring is a perfect way to cool off on a hot day in the Sunshine State.

Professional sports quadfecta

Florida's size and tropical weather makes it the home of many professional sports teams. Amongst these are three NFL teams and two MLB, NHL, and NBA teams. In recent years Florida has even expanded its professional sports teams to soccer and lacrosse. There are also several baseball teams spring training

Have you been to all four major sporting events? Bonus if you've been to an auto race, spring training, or soccer and lacrosse events!

Theme Parks

Orlando is known as the "Theme Park Capital of the World" and there sure isn't a shortage to choose from. You might be a Floridian if you've visited some (or all) of the theme parks.

Kennedy Space Center

You may be a Floridian if you've visited NASA's primary launch center of human spaceflight in Merritt Island, FL. Mega bonus if you have witnessed one of the 135 space shuttle launches from KSC!

Saw a Florida Manatee, Flamingo, and Gator

Florida is home to over 500 native species which include panthers and sharks but perhaps the most iconic is the endangered "land-cows," Flamingos, and the American Alligator. A Florida bucket list is not complete without checking off a sighting of both a manatee and a gator.

Visited Florida National Parks

Florida has three official National Parks; Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas and eight other monuments, seashores or memorials. How many have you visited?

Visited St. Augustine

If you haven't visited one of Florida's oldest cities that is full of beautiful Spanish colonial architecture, you can't really call yourself a Floridian.

Ate these foods

You can successfully call yourself a Floridian if you have dined on the following fine cuisine:

• Fresh Seafood - Stone Crabs, Grouper, Catfish, Scallops, Shrimp, Oysters, etc.
• Gator
• Cuban Sandwiches
• Key Lime Pie

Had a Florida orange directly from the tree

Citrus is a major part of Florida's economy. You might be a Floridian if you have picked a sweet and juicy orange from the branch of a tree, peeled it and took a bite.

Shopped at Publix

Publix is a Florida based supermarket chain that is slowly bleeding up the coast. The cult-like following of the store is not without reason because of their excellent fresh food and customer service.

Attended a "Hurricane Party"

Florida is in a vulnerable geographic position to Atlantic based tropical storm activity and has been the subject to many dangerous storms over the years. Floridians are known to ride out inclement weather and use time off from work and school to fellowship. 

How did you do?

If you have checked off most (or all) of the items above, you can officially call yourself a Floridian! What are some things that you consider to be just Florida things that we may have missed? Comment below!