What to Expect from Moving to Florida
What to Expect when Moving to the Suncshine State
Moving day is sneaking up. How much do you know about your future home? Here are several things to anticipate when moving to Florida.
Moving to Florida
Florida the second fastest growing state in the union and the third most populated for a good reason!
It's home to DisneyWorld, amazing beaches, and some of the craziest headlines ever. You probably have a lot of questions before moving down to the Sunshine state; these are some things you'll want to know.
Keep on reading to learn more.
Rich History
Florida has a long and interesting history. Many individuals are surprised to find out that Florida was the first state to be discovered and settled by Europeans. But Europeans weren't the first people to live there. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Peoples have lived in Florida for over 10,000 years!
In 1845, Florida officially became the 27th state in the union. It went on to join the Confederacy in the civil war. For a while, Florida had a small population and wasn't considered to be an exceptional place.
But with the invention of air conditioning in the early 20th century, the population saw (and continues to see) a huge surge in growth.
In more recent history, Florida has seen itself become a haven for Cuban citizens, a tourism titan, and the site of many NASA shuttle launches.
The Weather is (Mostly) Awesome
Because of Florida's location as a peninsula in the Gulf Coast, the climate is categorized as tropical in the southern part of the state and subtropical in the northern section.
For those of you moving from a state or country that receives snowfall, you can kiss it goodbye. It almost never gets cold in Florida, although individuals accustomed to the weather often wear long sleeves or sweaters when temperatures drop below 65.
Average temperatures in the winter and spring range from the high 60's to low 80's while summers and falls are much hotter with averages sitting closer to 90 degrees.
The sunshine and warm temperatures are a major draw for those moving to Florida, but the weather can and does get extreme. Florida experiences a hurricane or tropical storm almost every year between June and November.
Florida also experiences the most rainfall of any state and the most lightning. With extreme weather possibilities in mind, it's important to hire an experienced moving crew when transporting your possessions to Florida.
Florida has a Diverse and Unique Culture
Because of its location and the huge surge in population from within the U.S. and abroad (especially the Caribbean and Latin America), Florida is a diverse melting pot of cultures and cuisine.
Places such as Miami and Tampa Bay have especially large Cuban and Latin American populations. Over 20% of Florida's population speak Spanish as a first language.
When it comes to food, there's something for everyone. Many cities have an eclectic mix of American, Cuban, Latin American, Asian, and African Cuisine.
There's a saying that goes, "The further North you go, the further South you get." If you are moving to Florida and you end up in the Northern area, you will notice that much more of the population has a Southern drawl.
If you are moving to Southern Florida or a major metro area in Central Florida, the culture is much like that of Northern cities.
You'll Always Have Something to do After Moving
There's a good reason behind why Florida is the second most popular tourist destination in the U.S.
Florida is always buzzing with a broad range of activities, many of which related to its proximity to the ocean. In fact, there is nowhere in Florida that's more than 60 miles away from it!
No matter what you want to do, you can probably find it in Florida (alright, maybe not snowmobiling or mountain climbing).
For those interested in art and history, there's plenty of museums and theaters spread out across the state to choose from. If nature is more your thing, Florida offers thousands of parks and nature reserves.
Sports fans will feel right at home in Florida. With major teams in every sport (in many cases multiple teams per sport) you'll never be too far away to catch a live game.
If you're more of an outdoors person, there's lots of nature reserves, parks, and beaches to visit. Many individuals enjoy fishing, bird watching, or just hanging out on the beach and soaking up the sun.
The Economy is Exploding (in a good way!)
Florida has one of the fastest growing economies in the United States. If you're moving to Florida, it won't be difficult for you to find employment.
Tourism and agriculture primarily drive Florida's economy. Behind these two behemoths are international trade, aerospace and aviation, and the financial sector.
With a GDP of 748 billion dollars, there's plenty of money to go around.
Another bonus of Florida is that it has no income tax. That means that every time pay period comes around, you'll have more money in your pocket.
Driving in Florida can be Nerve-Racking
Unfortunately, not every aspect Florida is a great one. Between tourists, retirees, and outright terrible drivers, Florida is a scary place to drive. People drive ridiculously slow in the left lane, nobody uses their blinkers, and traffic slows down for no apparent reason.
On top of this, Florida has more tolls than any other state. When driving on any major freeways, be prepared to shell out some money every 45 minutes or so.
If you're moving to Florida, you're going to want to hire experienced movers who can handle the dangerous and intense traffic.
Conclusion
You're going to love Florida. The beautiful weather, beaches, and endless options when it comes to food and things to do make it a worthwhile place to call home.
What you'll appreciate the most when you come down is the people. Floridians are incredibly kind and are always willing to help. You'll meet people from all over the United States and the rest of the world.
Before you know it, you'll be settled in and living the Florida life!
To make your transition as smooth as possible, give Jack Treier Moving and Storage a call. You can reach us at (717)492-4213 or fill out the contact form on our website.
We've been happily serving Lancaster, Dauphin, York, Lebanon, Berks, Cumberland, and Chester counties of Pennsylvania for over 30 years and would love to assist you in a new chapter of your life!