Don't Litter on the Beach or in the Water. You might be here for a week, but we are here everyday. Please keep our state beautiful

I live in Florida. You can tell the locals from the tourists when the temperature gets under 70F (22C) The tourists are wearing shorts and t-shirts and the locals are bundled up with sweaters or hoodies.

I’m a Floridian, and I approve of this message.

Don’t drive slow in the left lanes!!

I disagree with your comment about the critters here not liking the tourists. the critters think they're delicious.

Like if u live in Florida

Being from Florida, this is amusing. Also, pub subs.

I do have a couple tips for people who are thinking of going to Florida 1. I highly suggest learning the proper way to run away from an Alligator along with knowing how to spot one in the water. I was at a lake one time sitting in the grass when I saw something coming out of the water. It turned out to be a massive Alligator but luckily I escaped because I was taught as a child how to run away from one (which is zig zag btw) 2. In Florida we have these supermarkets called Publix and they're amazing. Not only do they have amazing sandwiches but they're actually really fun to shop at and the people there are always really nice. 3. Don't expect people to be good drivers. Florida drivers suck ass. They don't use their turning signals, they run red lights and they honk at you for no reason. 4. Be prepared for any kind of weather. Florida's weather can change very quickly. It can be sunny and beautiful outside one minute and then be raining with thunder and lightning the next. 5. Learn how to fight off a shark. Here in Florida we have a good amount of sharks so it doesn't hurt to at least learn the proper way to defend yourself if you do get attacked by one. You usually want to punch the shark in the nose and begin to scratch and even pull out it's eyes. The shark should swim away. 6. If you plan on renting a boat to go out on the water, please be careful of the manatees because many manatees suffer injuries from boats. Also don't be scared of them. They are very friendly and will often come up to you and say hi. 7. Don't talk about Donald Trump. Even if you are with him or against him there will always be a shit ton of people who will get up in your face and begin to yell and threaten you. 8. This is kind of a strange one but don't honk your horn a lot. I know this sounds stupid but here in Florida if you honk your horn at someone you can get shot. Trust me it has happened many times. 9. Bring some sort of product that will tame your hair. The humidity in Florida is so god damn annoying. I stg I can blow dry my hair and then the second I step outside, my hair looks like a lions mane. 10. Since Florida is surrounded by a lot of water, marine biology is kind of a big thing. Try finding some research centers because they are always super fun and you get to meet all the cute little animals Trust me on this. I have lived in Florida my whole life.

Don't stand still in the grass - we have fire ants every where, and they are both sneaky and give painful bites.

As a lifelong Floridian, I would also recommend to bring insect repellent/bug spray. There are mosquitoes EVERYWHERE, as well as other pests like fire ants. Also, South Florida only has 2 seasons: Summer and Hurricane season.

The most dangerous part of Florida is the driving. They are terrible drivers.

As a Key West native, here are some tips for visiting our little island: •Don’t pronounce the word “conch” as “canch” with a hard ch sound; it’s a dead give away that you’re a tourist. Locals pronounce it “konk” with a hard k sound. • When you’re on Duval St, don’t cross the street on red lights in front of cars. It’s dangerous, annoying to drivers, and you’re going to get a very angry honk or a very rude gesture. • Uber and Lyft were banned in Key West, but they are now legal and very efficient, so feel free to use one if you need it. • We have lots of native wildlife like iguanas, chickens, lizards, anoles, and lots of stray cats. Don’t stop on the middle of a sidewalk or street to take a picture of a chicken- you’ll see a hundred other ones on your trip. • Most of the streets that run horizontally through Duval St are alternating one ways, meaning that one street is a one way going downtown, and the next street goes uptown. Don’t drive the wrong way down a one way. •THROW AWAY YOUR TRASH. Key West is a fragile island ecosystem, so don’t let your plastic cups, straws, and beer bottles get into the ocean or streets. Just remember, as much as you love to vacation here, there are people who love living here twice as much, so be respectful.

Don’t underestimate the heat and humidity. I have friends from desert states (Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico) who visit Florida and see the 95° weather and think that’s nothing compared to the 110° they’re used to. Yeah, it’s 95°, but humidity is killer. It’s almost always 80+% and near 100% humidity isn’t rare. For reference, 95° weather with 90% humidity feels like 117°. And you sweat. Too damn much. When I was in Vegas, it was 105° and I felt downright cool compared to what I’m used to. Something I’ve heard is, “Dry heat will kill you. Wet heat will make you wish it DID kill you.”

I've lived in Florida my whole life and here are my most important pieces of advice: It rains every afternoon in Florida during the summer (but only for a few minutes) Like he said NEVER mess with the wildlife especially if you are in the keys don't touch the coral reefs! Do the stingray shuffle while on the beaches especially during the summer. You don't want to hurt the stingrays or yourself. Lastly, if you're a tourist and you come in the summer, wear sunscreen!! I always see tourist with the most unfortunate sunburn lines so reapply every 60 minutes at least

Some advice from a "real" live Floridian: The busiest time of the year is March and April (spring break). Summer is second busiest. Slowest months are September, January and May. Trust me, I work in the industry. Also, it rains all goddamn summer. And not always just for 10 minutes, that's a bullshit myth. Unless it rains early, in that case it will probably soon pass so don't pack up and leave just yet, the sun will be back soon. So yes, wake up and get out early. The later in the day it rains, the bigger and longer the storm. Some years are wetter than others. We are also the lightning capital so be prepared to freak out. Every year a few golfers get struck and a couple kids get eaten by gators. It's just the way it is. Driving: the left lane is the fast or passing lane so stay clear. Don't gawk and point at everything just follow the signs, they are big and clearly marked. Also, you are ALLOWED to turn right on a red light unless indicated otherwise. We have lots of natural springs that are clear and ice cold for a cheap and fun alternative to the parks. I think that covers it. Oh yeah, remember to tip your waiter and bartender, we depend on it. Plus, that way you will get into heaven.

"Don't go swimming in fresh water at night" as I was always told as a child

Be very prepared for the humidity it's no joke. At all.

DON'T tell us how you do it up north. DON'T act like you own the place. DON'T litter. *DON'T* forget to visit your nearest Publix. Drive the speed limit, please I grew up here.

No. 14 *DON’T MESS WITH FLORIDA MAN!!!*

And be prepared to walk if you go to the parks. A lot. These parks are far larger than they look. And your legs may even have a red rash (Golfer's Rash, sometimes known as Disney Rash as it's known in that area.) on them from the amount of walking you're gonna do. If you experience it, it's nothing major, it's a reaction to the blood vessels of the skin to the heat, humidity, and excessive walking. Once you get back in your room, take a cool bath, elevate your legs and apply a wet, cool towel to the rashed area. If it gets irritating or itches, apply an anti-itch with cooling relief as that will help it more than standard anti-itch creams. Also remember everyone is in the park likely for the same reason as you. Chances are, they're on vacation and/or their to enjoy themselves too. They paid the same price, if not more, than you did to be there. Can't count the amount of people I came across this year that think because they paid money, no on else did, and that they own the place and you're just in the way of them. DON'T be that person. Be respectful and mindful of your fellow park goers, especially of disabled individuals in the park. Those scooters don't stop on a dime and I can't count the amount of people foolishly walking in front of them, even after seeing them, that have gotten themselves run over doing so. P.S. Seagulls are jerks and they will brazenly steal damn near anything they think may be food. Be very careful of placing down small objects nearby them, especially unattended. And if you see a convenience store named 'Wawas' give them a stop. A great pitstop for food/drink.

wait I live in florida why I'm I watching this

Florida Native, family has been over 100 years! Your videos explain Florida so well! Proud to have "good" tourists such as yourself come to my beautiful state!

Your can turn right on a red light people!

America: don't sleep in Mexico: don't go outside

As a native Floridian, *DON'T* go to Key West (or any Keys down there) in July, take my word for it. *DON'T* forget to drive from Miami to Key West. It's the most beautiful drive in America. *DO* visit the Keys in September. I did it for my 7th birthday, and it's an unforgettable experience. *DON'T* go to Florida in the middle of a hurricane. You saw what happened down here. I currently live in Japan now, and I'll admit, I can't survive a year without Publix fried chicken xD.

DON'T forget that Florida has a panhandle, with lots of beautiful beaches and really cool attractions.

If you’re from Florida, you probably like hurricane season just as much as me ⛈

I lived in Florida for 4 years I'll offer a few other recommends: (1) The lighting in Florida is very dangerous and in the area I lived in, near Melbourne and Cocoa Beach, there were one or two tourists killed each year on the beach by lightning. If there are Thunderstorms, get away from the water and the Beach. (2) If you don't see lots of people swimming far away from the shore, there is often a good reason. One of those reasons is that there are schools of fish, like Bluefish, away from shore that sharks swim through to get a meal and the sharks may end up biting you. Blue fish are also pretty mean: there was a Coco Beach surfer who had some of his toes and fingers bitten off by a school of Bluefish. (3) Most people who are bitten by sharks in Florida die of blood loss and not the bite itself. (4) In the warmer West Coast waters smaller groups of Barracuda often come very close to shore and mingle in among the solo bathers and swimmers. Barracuda are attracted by shiny attire like watches and jewelry and quick movement. If you are ever in the middle of a school of Barracuda do not panic or make jerky movements that will cause them to attack: move slowly toward shore and get out of the water. They are vicious with fanged piranha-like teeth. (4) There are lots of dangerous animals including Panthers (rare), rattlesnakes (very common in grass areas), Sharks, Bluefish, Barracuda and you should assume alligators are a risk anywhere there is fresh or brackish water. The one animal I found dangerous but hard to recognize as dangerous are snapping turtles. Unless you know what to look for you won't distinguish harmless turtles from the snapping turtles and snapping turtles are vicious and dangerous to you. (5) Watch out for the Fire Ants. These are not the harmless little Ants that you see in colder climates. Rather, they are vicious, will attack you in swarms, climbing up your legs (think what they will eventually bite as they climb higher) and leave burning white welts that hurt like hell all over. Don't walk around in bare feet in grass or sandy soil areas where there are mounds or holes: I have stepped on Fire Ant colonies a number of times unaware only until I felt the searing pain of their attacks.

The biggest "don't do" is come visit and decide to move here. We are FULL. Visit and leave. Sincerely, Florida Natives

another tip DON'T mess with the sandhill cranes! from- a Floridian.

Also from a "native": DON'T forget the mosquito repellant. Florida is a swamp with lakes and beaches. This video is absolutely correct about the insane traffic here. DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE! JUST STOP! STOP IT! PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD! I commute every day and I've been rear-ended three times by people who were texting or otherwise distracted. And likewise, "DON'T get on Interstate 4 after the parks like Universal and Disney let out. The highway becomes a parking lot. And if you are stuck in that, DON'T get on your phone/text! It's times when people are crawling in traffic that they get distracted by their toys and hit each other. If the clouds decide to cut loose with one of Florida's characteristic five-minute "frog-drowner" rainstorms, DON'T drive with your hazards on-that's Florida state law. If you feel nervous about driving, pull over and stop with your hazards on. Also, if your wipers are going, your headlights should be on-also Florida state law. Another weather tip: If you start hearing loud claps of thunder, even if it's still sunny, go inside a car or enclosed building. The Orlando/Tampa area is known as the Lightning Capital of the US. We get a lot of ground strikes here. You won't get this during peak Tourist Season, but in the summer, expect regular thunderstorms between 3 and 7 pm. Finally, DON'T miss out on the local specialties: the Cafe Con Leche, the traditional Cuban Sandwich, and the Publix Sub sandwiches. Those are cheap and delicious.

“Don’t forget the seasons” What seasons? The “seasons” here are hot and hotter.

DON'T forget to drive the amazing road from Miami to Key West! will take roughly 4-6 hours depending on stops, but it is one of the most beautiful drives in the states with the famous 7-mile bridge over amazing clear, shallow waters!

Don't come here and talk about how great the north is. 1) You are here because the north is cold af. 2) Stop talking so fast.

Quick tips from someone who has lived in Florida all his life Be careful on the roads the drivers are insane, and it’s the locals that are the worst ones. However, you may have to be aggressive if you want to get anywhere. Don’t litter! Tourists usually are pretty respectful of our beaches, but the snowbirds aren’t liked because they feel like they own the place. Disney is overrated and overpriced unless you get the year long passes. I’d suggest universal studios islands of adventure or Busch Gardens Tampa especially if your kids like rides and are over the age of 9. They have much better roller coasters and it’s less crowded. If you want just a beach vacation think about the emerald coast area. Destin and Fort Walton Beach are up there with Clearwater. Sand isn’t quite as good but the water is better and it’s much less well known and therefore less crowded/litter. I live in Tampa near Clearwater but much prefer the beaches in northwest Florida. However, you’ll want to avoid Panama City during spring break. Although they have taken steps to control that. Also, with the recent hurricane that came through it would be good to support that area. It’s pretty close to New Orleans so you can make that part of your vacation too.

These are great tips. I'm a central Floridian who worked at theme parks for years, and tourists definitely need to remember to drink water and wear sunscreen. The Florida sun/humidity combo is no joke. would also like to add that tourists should take thunderstorms seriously, even if there's no rain. Dark clouds and thunder will always equal lightning in florida. Don't stay on the beach or in a pool if you are hearing thunder.

The biggest don't is, never go to Florida in the summer. it is too hot and humid.

Extra tips: Check on special events, don't book your quiet, relaxing beach vacation in Daytona Beach during Bike Week. or in Key West during Fantasy Fest. Remove all bumper stickers from your car. No matter what they say, someone will be offended enough to key your paint. Same goes for overly political T-shirt slogans. Hawaiian shirts are for Hawaii. Please. You were warned about sharks and gators, but before you go to the beach, read up on jellyfish and rip currents. Also, if you hear thunder, get off the beach & under cover. Florida is the people-struck-by-lightning capital of the world.

Don't miss the sunsets!! I totally agree. They are stunning

Don’t stand on the sand dunes. Don’t stand on the sand dunes. Don’t pick the sea oats. Don’t ignore the sea turtle markers. Oh, and *Don’t stand on the sand dunes.*

I’ve lived in St. Petersburg Florida my whole life. I hate when tourist season starts Omg they drive so damn slow. Wtf.

During summertime, try to get things done before 10am. That's when the florida heat really starts up.

As a native lmao thank you for bringing up snowbirds... but it’s mostly just wrapped up with every tourist during the “winter” season

My wife and I visit the gulf coast every year for a week.we are from New York state,not the city.Its great to get away from the cold and shit weather for at least a little bit.We love the people down there and have always treated them with respect.Have never had a bad stay,or bad food for that matter!

And please do your sight seeing driving in between the work commute hours. You'll have all day to drive 20 mph after we get to work.

An Additional don't idea about critters: In the Keys, don't mess with or hit a Key Deer! It IS YOUR FAULT, and you WILL be procecuted. In Key West; Don't mess with the chickens, the goats or the six toed cats that are walking freely in the streets. You will be reprimanded. In the Keys, you can get by with many things, but don't mess with the critters.

DON'T feed the animals. Especially the gators. When you feed them they become used to people and they get aggressive. In most cases when a gator attacks someone, it's because people had been feeding it. But all animals will become more bold and aggressive if they're used to being feed. Even squirrels. Don't feed ANY animals.

DON'T MESS WITH THE CRANES. We've worked hard to bring them back. I remember them being everywhere as a small child then they disappeared for many years then in recent years they came back. They're also protected and you may get in trouble if you're caught injuring or harassing them. Also, look up Florida road trip destinations. We have a lot of hidden little gems everywhere that get lost in the shadows of major theme parks. I've lived here all my life and I'm still discovering amazing new places.

Don't tell Floridians, "YOU ARE DOING ______ WRONG. I'LL SHOW YOU MY WAY/ THE RIGHT WAY.

Don't foget the Panhandle. Yes, we are part of Florida. Don't forget March is Spring Break. Lots of drunk college kids. Also, talking on the phone won't get you pulled over.

I've had 8 Florida trips from the UK. There's so much to do I could have another 8. Regarding time-share, DON'T agree to go to a free presentation in exchange for a gift or vouchers. In car-rental places I used there was an overly-friendly smiley chap in a little corner 'selling' these presentations. Loved the Brits (because they are too polite to say a flat No, straight off and walk away) Just walk away. DON'T be surprised if you child completely freaks out the first time they see a Mickey character in Disney World. You know it's a chap in a suit, but the child has just been accosted by a six-foot rat. And, most importantly, adding to the advice about sunscreen, buy a wide-brimmed sun-hat, like a bush-hat. DON'T rely on a baseball cap, as you can get sunstroke waiting in line for the attractions. When you return your rental car at the end of the trip, give the sun-hat to the poor chap working there. They never seem to have a hat.

As a Floridian I must make a correction. Alligators are actually scared of humans, but yeah, people messing with them cause them to lose their fear and this people are eaten. But also watch out for the Waves, some are more intense than you might think.

*Dont* try and pretend you live in florida *Dont* Forget sunscreen *Dont* forget to watch out for critters like he said *Dont* be mean to the troopers, Honestly, Be nice and they may let you off with a warning.

I hate the snowbirds. They don't pay attention to anyone on the road and think they own Florida when they're here and all us residents have to make way for them. Snowbirds just don't think the traffic rules are for them. Yup, us locals get frustrated but while tourists don't really bother us since most don't drive anyway, the snowbirds are the most annoying!

When in the Daytona area, don't drive like your on the speedway! When here for bikeweek, remember that people live in these neighborhoods you revving you loud assed motorcycle through!

The last time I went to Everglades it was a stop from a rode trip to have a break and have fun... we walked out and they said " thanks for feeding the mosquitoes

As a former Floridian there are a couple of things I was surprised you did not mention: yes, the beaches are free but parking is not and that is expensive and most beaches do not have lifeguards. And, between April and November, do the "sting ray shuffle" when in the water. Watch out for the love bugs in May and September and the "stand your ground " Floridians at all times - seriously, drive with extreme courtesy. Unless you know exactly where you are going stay on the interstate in urban areas. The best part of Florida is natural Florida and they do have a great state park system but in the summer months, the weather is unbearable and very unpredictable.

I was in Florida for two months now I'm back in Vancouver Canada. So depressing. I miss Siesta Key.

from a person that’s lived in Florida my whole life. This is like 90% true so listen up!

Be nice to the people who are serving you.

I love how there’s a separate video for Florida alone in the US.

I've lived here my whole life. Great tips, Wolter. Don't touch or harass the animals, especially manatees, turtles and dolphins, as that can lead to heavy fines and sometimes an arrest.

Lol love this! I used to live near Clearwater and I agree - don’t mess with the critters ❤️

OR be the person watching this who lives in Florida. We also have the common sense to not screw around with Sharks and Aliigators.

I was born and raised in Florida love it here! Lakeland (between Tampa and Orlando) is a beautiful city has swans from the Queen of England and the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

left lane on roads is a passing lane don't stay in it.

Moved from Michigan to Venice FL in 1986 still love it and my son too who is 34 great job beautiful wife and 3 grandbabies not boring PERFECT

DON'T leave you car in the sun for a long time when you open that door boi you get fried

I live in Jacksonville, and you totally missed out on mentioning Cape Canaveral and NASA. Titusville and Cocoa Beach are right next door and are cool little places to travel through. I went there on a trip during my freshman year of high school and I've always wanted to go back. Also, don't forget the Keys and the 7-mile bridge. I spent a week in Key West back in 2009 (I think it was during Spring Break) and while the humidity was extremely awful during my trip, the island has wondrous historical properties all within very decent walking distances. For my city, Jacksonville itself has stuff that you already mentioned, such as lots of nature preserves, beaches, art and natural history museums, and if you ever wanted to golf, it's definitely the place you!

I lived in Florida for 8 months, and I recommend airboat rides and NASA.

I've lived in Florida all my life and my favorite State Park is definitely "Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park". You have the beaches on one side, immaculately clean fishing piers on the other side, an amazing lighthouse constructed in 1825 with tours inside, two restaurants, a marina, and a far away view of "Stiltsville" (bring your binoculars or zoom camera) Stiltsville was constructed in the 30's and 40's a collection of homes built on stilts in the middle of the water in the era of Al Capone to evade the law since when being on the ocean international law prevails. From dozens of homes there are only around 7 left due to the passage of time and hurricanes. There are also nature trails, rental bikes and quadricycles with shielding from the sun, amazing scenic views and an overall excellent place for photography. This state park is in the island of Key Biscayne close to Miami, Florida. Key Biscayne itself has many other attractions and beautiful beaches.

More driving/road tips: the left lane is for passing ONLY. If you see people passing you on the right side of your car, it means get the f*^k OVER! When you get caught in a flash thunderstorm-do NOT use your hazard lights. Not only is it dangerous, it’s ILLEGAL here. Just don’t. Put on your wipers, headlights, and that’s it. And lastly-while we locals appreciate your $$, we appreciate your kindness and consideration even more. We LIVE here. Don’t come into our home and trash up the place. We don’t do that to you.

I DO NOT recommend Miami if you are a tourist looking for a nice relaxing vacation but if you're looking for crowded dirty beaches with a bunch of Cuban boomboxes turn all the way up go for it

It's EXTREMELY expensive to visit Florida, but it's well worth it. Hawaii would have to be the same way (even though I have never been there). The best thing to NOT do (as to that don't) is to NOT have a daily vacation budget (you MUST have a daily budget). Since I've been to Florida around 100 times or so, I plan to visit Hawaii for at least two weeks, and I refuse to go without a daily spending budget. NEVER EVER EVER EVER buy a timeshare. A timeshare is NOT an investment, they are absolute RIPOFFS.

For many years my wife and I and 3 daughters stayed in Sanibel and we stayed at a 18 story condo at the entrance to sanibel. The sunsets were unbelieveable.

Dude I'm from florida and everything you say it's on point!! And plus I love going in a staycations in florida thanks

I live in Northeastern Florida, visit the spring our have a tour of the aquafier. To do this, come around springtime to early fall since most will be closed during winter. Swim with fish, go hiking on trails, watch a few turtles swim by. Just make sure all your kids are good swimmers. Most of the springs won't have lifeguards, yet the water can be moving, deeper, colder, and treacherous. Great for selfies though! You can also learn scuba diving. If you come during winter months on a cold for Florida day, you can possibly swim with the manatees. Also, you can find a lot of cheap motels in tiny towns following the springs and find great fried fish, alligator tail, and frog legs.

Just my 2 cents: Take the airboat rides to see the gators. Most of the nice beaches (IMO) are in the Keys. Come with a plan/schedule on what you want to see and have a good idea of distances so you can plan accordingly. Everything inside the tourist areas is way more expensive than outside. Public transportation like in Europe is limited. Trains are for moving coal and cargo in the Central Florida area. Plan on using Uber (which **cannot** go into the airports, btw!!) to move around or rent a car. Have cash to pay tolls (not sure if credit cards are accepted, tolls go from $1 USD and up) . Locals use Epass (Orlando area) or Sunpass (everywhere else) to pay tolls. Can't tell how many times locals and tourists jump from one lane to another because they got in the Epass/Sunpass lane. The whole toll thing can be very confusing for tourists (it's a pain for the locals too). Highly recommend to use GPS in phone if possible! Also be careful with other tourists who take the wrong exit and throw their cars into your lane trying to avoid it. We drive a "little" bit fast in Central Florida and the further south you go, the worse the driving becomes. High season in the parks can be anytime there are American holidays or days off (MLK day, Thanksgiving, Easter etc), not just late December, early January. If you're in Central FL or east of it, check rocket launch schedules from Kennedy Space Center, and if you get lucky you might get to see a giant building-size tube with a blinding flame on the bottom rising up into the sky at the speed of sound. Love the videos! Now back to work! =)

Ive lived here for 33 years. This video is on point. Nice job!!

Southern hospitality is alive and well in Florida! Great content here!

So accurate ... i live in tampa ans raised in miami and he is right on.

Great job! If I didn't know any better I'd say you live here. I love that your first Don't was "Don't mess with the critters!" That one is so important, and it goes two ways. It's not just that the animals will attack you (cuz they absolutely will. They aren't cuddly Disney creatures), but also we usually get a story at least once or twice a year about people (usually tourists) that found a baby dolphin, or a turtle or something and they harass it with selfies or try to ride it and the poor thing ends up dying. Just look at the animals. Take a picture. Admire from afar. please don't pull them out of their environment or try to take pictures with them. Great PSA! Awesome video as always!

I love the backroads here especially Jacksonville to Gainesville is just the best

Great video, spot on! I’ve lived in Miami 28 years, wish I’d had all this information before moving to Miami from Chicago.

I live in Florida... I don’t mess around with them birds

I've lived in central Florida since 1992, and I would add/clarify two things. 1) Hurricane season last from June through November, but the peak time is August and September. Hurricanes don't watch calendars, so we've had them before June and after November from time to time, but on average, they are far more frequent in Aug/Sept. If you are visiting during those times, pay attention to weather reports and forecasts-especially if you are staying on the beach, but know that those storms are notoriously difficult to predict. You will hear a lot about a "cone" which is the region within which the forecasters are saying the eye of the storm might go, but that cone changes at least a little with every weather update. The eye of the storm is the key thing in a strong storm (category 3 and higher). You really don't want to be anywhere near the eye. That's where the strongest winds are, and the eye can spin off tornadoes. Wind speed goes down the farther you are from the eye. If you staying on a beach and it looks like the eye might come close to you, go inland because the storm surge is an equally serious danger along the coast. If you are fascinated and want to experience a hurricane, that's your call (I've been through a number of them, and they are not fun. 2004 was awful). However, if you are not near the eye, being in a hurricane is just like experiencing a windy rainy day. The storm may be the size of Texas, but only those near the eye are going to have a really bad day in terms of wind damage. If the storm stalls out on top of you, however, it's a completely different story. Then you can be facing serious flooding (e.g. Harvey in Houston in 2017). A tropical storm with weak wind can be devastating if it stalls simply because of the rainfall amounts. One other thing tourists need to know is to stay inside not only during the storm but also after the storm passes. Every time one comes through, somebody gets killed because they are walking around after it passes and step in water where a downed live power line has fallen or they get hit and killed by falling tree branches. Don't go exploring after a storm. Wait a few days if you are in a hard hit area, and go out only if absolutely necessary. Let the power crews do their job getting power lines cleaned up and power restored. If you go driving around after a strong one, you also need to know you are risking a flat tire or more than one flat tire. These storms leave roads covered with shingles and shingle nails and a lot of other kinds of debris, often under standing water where you can't see it. 2) If you are a tourist and planning to drive in central Florida, do some online researching with Google maps or some other sites and know where you are going before you get in the car. I don't know how many times I've seen someone cut across multiple lanes of heavy traffic at high speeds because apparently they noticed their exit at the last second. And if you plan on driving on I-4 anywhere within 50 miles of Orlando to get somewhere, leave as early as possible. I-4 turns into a parking lot pretty quickly every morning (even with the drop in tourism caused by COVID). There is currently a lot of construction on I-4 intended to alleviate some of this, but until it's complete, the traffic gets thick and slow, and even when it's done, it may still be pretty heavy.

As a native Floridian, I can confirm that these are correct... especially about the critters. Most of the US's deadliest critters reside in Florida.

You are so informative. Thanks for this one!!

...I was in the 1980's in FLORIDA....Awesome times....Been to... Sea World...Bush Gardens....Sunken Gardens...Disney.....The Cape....Key West.....Naples....Fort Lauderdale....Tampa....Sarasota....Ft.Myers....

Moving to this area in a few weeks. From CT. So excited. Thank you, definitely some great advice!

This video was very helpful because soon I will be visiting Florida and I’m super excited!😁

All the tips from this video and the comments seem really helpful considering I’m going there this Friday for a week. Thanks a lot💯👍🏽

Remember, anywhere you see water, such as rivers or ponds, there's a very real possibility there's an alligator near by. People are killed by these creatures every single year! They're every bit as dangerous as bears. Unfortunately, you often don't see them until the last possible moment. Also, a variety of snakes, many of them quite deadly, can be found throughout the state. Most of Florida is considered sub-tropical, and it doesn't pay to go wandering around as if you're back home in Illinois! Always be aware of your surroundings, even in areas that seem suburban, and excercise caution at all times. If you're down here visiting remember--- As far as wildlife is concerned, the entire state is essentially one big wilderness preserve.

I've visited Florida many many many times so I watched this to see how your tips stack up. all very good information. a tip from me for anyone reading, yes Florida can be very expensive if you do the big touristy things like Disney, but it can also be a very cheap trip if you go do nature stuff instead. a lot of the beaches are free or have a small fee, the natural spring parks are a favorite of mine and are cheap to enter, the Everglades is also low cost generally. point is, of you're a big fan of nature like I am then you can do a lot for not much more money than the travel and hotel expenses

Don't sleep in is golden advice!! Sunrise Beach walks are the best! I try and bring a bag to collect trash always, it feels good to leave with a hefty bit & know you did your part for the day.

Excellent video! I spent 1 week there at the Wyndham Clear Water Beach, last year. The Owners side. It was a fantastic vacation. Nice to see all your photography of the island.

DON'T: Drive around Miami Beach in the middle of the afternoon (if you actually want to get to the beach sometime this century.) DO: Visit Viscaya and the Coral Castle! :)

Don't go to Hialeah.

Hi! thank you for your wonderful series of "donts" videos, at first I was not sure what you would actually say, but it is very good and I appreciate it, they are great tips! btw shout out from Illinois, travelling south asap , or when cold hits! (hope I can!)

Camping/RVing....snorkeling....awesome!