Top 10 SURPRISING Things I Learned Traveling Around Florida for 3 Months

[@JDLbased]

It's not just Miami. They'll honk at you in Destin too. Moved here a few months ago. Insane drivers, gorgeous beaches, friendly people as long as they're not driving, and more trucks than Texas

[@DanielDavis1973]

Growing up around Jax, we used to have a saying about Florida: The farther south you go, the farther north you go. Refers to the snowbirds and transplants migrating to south Florida. You can also invert the South and North and be equally true. Jax was actually the largest city in the state prior to that rush of migration (up until around the 50s) but it sort of stayed stagnant compared to the other metro areas which allowed it to get left behind. When I went to UCF it amused me that the only free expressway in the Orlando area is I-4. There are 3 things (and only 3 things) I miss since I moved to Seattle in 2006. Thunderstorms, Publix, and my family

[@LABoyko]

@DanielDavis1973. Nothing amusing about paying to use roads built with taxpayer $$. The toll road phenomenon is creepy, un-American.

[@bobbear4437]

@@LABoyko Florida is Republican, they hit you with fees, usages taxes instead of taxes, but then even those are going up now!

[@clairekennedy8767]

Would love a video on Sarasota area

[@yoland5837]

A pub sub is waiting for you the next time you come back home to Florida mate

[@ChaosTherum]

As much as I've enjoyed Seattle when I've traveled there, I just couldn't imagine living outside the south. It pains me that I'm planning to move to Tennessee since all the transplants have destroyed housing prices, I love this state and I deeply identify as a Floridian but at the very least I'll still be around other southerners. I can't imagine living on the west coast, or up north I just feel so out of place.

[@BlackMagickMike]

How am I watching these videos about highways and I don't even like driving that much anymore. Your voice and story-telling is somehow magnetic. Good job!

[@copiouscat]

I miss florida so much. Its my FOREVER home.

[@aaronmccracken7351]

4:55 -- actually pronounced Duh-NEE-din (and the Greek town you're probably thinking of is Tarpon Springs, a few miles further north). Dunedin's got a nice downtown too though. I love living in the Bay area but it's getting so damn expensive.

[@111danish111]

His pronunciation is correct for the New Zealand town.

[@MrWelfarehater]

Dunedin has always been somewhat pricey. The locals refer Clearwater, which is not cheap as a slum. Downtown is nice because of zoning. You will notice that most of the chain restaurants and economy motels are on Highway 19, or in Clearwater.

[@MirzaAhmed89]

​@@111danish111 no.

[@chrisjb308]

@@111danish111 Hey buddy, sorry that's incorrect. As a Dunedin N.Z. local for the best part of 15 years (however I'm currently living in the States). Both places are pronounced the same (obviously not taking into account accent). I've checked with a buddy from Florida and I watch a bit of baseball (spring training) so I hear the name said frequently and have taken note. We kiwi's pronounce it Da NEE din . Not DUNE.. This being said a student in my class loves to take the piss and pronounce it like Mike in the video.

[@gtracer6629]

Can you say Dun Eden. Like in Scotland.

[@canadianpirateanders9951]

Gulf coast is my favorite. So chill and no big city bs

[@semineil]

I grew up near PC.

[@mikel7782]

As a native Floridian, thanks for the kind review. This does cover a couple of angles looking at our State but misses a lot about the great places to go and admire the beauty and things to do other than just the big metro cities and beaches. While I don't consider myself a nature enthusiast nut, I know I would be selling any friend visiting from up north short if we didn't visit any of the springs, Spanish Forts, cool river and lakeside fish camps, State Parks, etc.... A lot of places have overbuilt, but there is still a LOT of nice remote areas. I just got to say. I'm pretty proud of the Sunshine State.

[@w-josh]

25:24 I always thought it was crazy seeing a sign for Tampa all the way in Atlanta

[@billr8564]

Excellent video as usual! I'm a transplant from 66 years in New Jersey and, while I have yet to experience a lot of areas in Florida besides the Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas, I found many of your comments right on track! I, too, am an engineer and certified land use planner, and completely agree with your assessment of the haphazard land use planning within most regions of the state. I am a resident (full time) of the Treasure Coast and find myself mystified by how the planning can be coordinated and uncoordinated at the same time. Many businesses and restaurants have interconnected drive accessibility, which is one thing that NJ does not do well. But, at the same time, development is occurring in every inch of open land, facility reuse is not a thing, and there is little regard for surrounding uses and transportation system when it comes to new sites. One of the Treasure Coast's biggest offenders is Port Saint Lucie, which is a nice area for seniors and fast growing, but the growth is haphazard and the transportation system is choking with few improvements planned. But every inch is being built upon, with construction getting closer to the roads. Incidentally, the Turnpike in that area 8s way too narrow, with only 2 lanes.

[@YngvarTheStag]

Even funnier about Deltona: as large as it is, it does not have its own police force and relies solely on the Volusia County Sheriff's Office for any law enforcement needs. And there's a lot of need.

[@cubfanbudman8878]

Something else I’ll add that Florida is famous for: Auto Racing. The 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the Daytona 500, The GP of St. Pete, F1’s GP of Miami, and of course when NASCAR visits Daytona again in August and Homestead in October.

[@fldon2306]

Five Flags in Pensacola and New Smyrna Speedway as well!

[@mikel7782]

Hey! About Daytona.. Shhh... Yes the State is filling up quick. Sometimes less is more.

[@Distress.]

Dont forgot the daily races on any of the highways in Miami

[@fldon2306]

@@Distress. true, the palmetto and us-27 past hialeah…. all racetracks!

[@thedirtybubble9613]

Florida has just as much of a racing history as North Carolina does. They used to race on the beaches of Daytona Beach back in the 1940s before Nascar was established. That's actually how they got the Daytona International Speedway.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

Nice video! A couple thoughts from a former Florida resident: The reason places like Lehigh Acres are so awful is that they were never intended to be developed. They're basically land scams. The owner divided it into tiny lots and sold them to people in the Midwest on installment plans. Lehigh Acres really started developing after 2000, during the first housing boom, but they weren't built too well and suffered problems with bad drywall ruining the plumbing (look up Chinese drywall). Cape Coral is really popular with Germans, for some reason, and has been since the 1980s, so there's been a direct flight from SW Florida Int'l to Germany for decades. Cape Coral is trying to build the infrastructure of a real city now, adding sewer and water service to most homes. As you can imagine, 100,000 homes on wells and septic tanks won't work for long. Finally, if you are renting a car, don't get the SunPass sticker. It might be worth getting the SunPass PRO, which comes with suction cups. It's $15 + tolls, but if you're there for any length of time, it's cheaper than the transponders the rental car agencies install in their cars, which come with a daily "service fee" plus the toll charges.

[@bigj200016]

Two of the things I learned about Florida. First it’s inverted. By that I mean the further south you go, the more northern it feels. But the further north you go, if feels more southern. Second, FL is a very big state, even though most people don’t think as FL as being as big as it is.

[@jonathankleinow2073]

In high school and college, I made the drive from Fort Myers to St. Louis or Kansas City many times. I remember how long it took to get out of Florida on I-75. It felt like forever. Then I'd spend the night somewhere between Atlanta and Chattanooga, and drive through TN, KY, IL, and MO within a few hours the next day.

[@tylerkriesel8590]

South Florida dose not feel like Minnesota or New York, idk wtf your on about with that.

[@jjmccurry8357]

I spent my first 35 years living in Central Florida. Big J is correct. Florida is the second largest state east of the Mississippi River behind Georgia.

[@Distress.]

@@tylerkriesel8590 Culturally south florida is very disconnected from the rest of the south due to the mix of immigratns from the northeast and latin america.

[@tylerkriesel8590]

@@Distress. ya I’m aware of that. But I don’t spend time in Miami or the keys and think, “wow this place looks like Minnesota or New York with all the palm trees! 🌴 and I just love how the Hispanic people sound like people from New York with “I’m whoken hea! And Minnesota with “ohhh YA, you betcha donca know!” South Florida feels like south Florida, with Latin American influence. It doesn’t feel anything like the northeast or Midwest.

[@rayfridley6649]

One aspect about Florida is the two time zones present. While most of the state is in the Eastern zone, the Western panhandle is in the Central Time zone, one hour behind Eastern. The border between them is west of Tallahassee, south of the Alabama state line.

[@Lionofjudah2013]

As a native from Orlando, Downtown Orlando is DEFINITELY not sleepy downtown area. You got plenty of clubs , bars , restaurants, movie theater , Dr.Philips performing arts theater, lake eola park the Orlando magic and the Orlando city soccer team that play in Downtown.. That to me sounds like a vibrant Urban core.

[@queencityking6145]

DUDE!!! At 16:20, you literally panned over where I used to live years ago! I know you're from NC, but did you live and/or grow up near Ballantyne, S Charlotte, Marvin/Waxhaw area? So uncanny that you happen to scope out that exact area during your B-roll 😅 it made me pull over and double take while I was driving!!

[@eth39232]

Thanks! I lived in Daytona Beach 1986 to 1993 and have been back to Florida many times since then (Panhandle, Delray Beach and south), and Daytona Beach is still my favorite area. Close to Orlando when needed but not too large and hectic, except for Bike Week and Daytona 500.

[@MileageMike485]

Appreciate the support! What do you think about New Smyrna Beach? I didn't have time to stop there but the downtown area looked pretty interesting.

[@eth39232]

@@MileageMike485 I haven't spent much time in NSB except to go to Boston's Fish House numerous times before my closest friend died in 2012, as it was his favorite restaurant, but NSB is a very pleasant community.

[@JonathanCLacy]

Totally agree with you about the single-family housing. I think it takes up 90% of our housing, which forces us to spread super wide, need cars, and spike our housing prices. Outside of that, I love this state and am thankful to call it home. Thanks for the video!

[@bobbear4437]

Better than living in a condo or appt!

[@joelrebollar7055]

@@bobbear4437 To me the privacy a traditional house provides isn't worth the added expenses and costs of driving, which is forced upon most who buy a home.

[@ace20016]

1)As a born, raised, and still resident of Florida, you pretty much nailed it Mileage Mike. Also thanks for shouting out my home and current region, The Space Coast. 2)When are you coming back to record or re-record parts of Florida? Because Florida is growing like wildfire. Even in the Space Coast, we are growing.

[@MileageMike485]

Not sure. Maybe early 2024 for the winter but we'll see.

[@JamesR1986]

My great aunt lives in Deltona. She originally lived in Massachusetts, didn't make a lot of money but was still able to spend her final couple of decades in the sunshine state. I think that is main attraction of The Florida Model, cheap, single family homes, beaches, no snow (and nothing else). I wonder how long that proposition will hold up as the state becomes more and more crowded and insurance prices continue to rise. Not my cup of tea but I'm starting to get it more and more.

[@tyreerhodes2316]

No snow but a lot of hurricanes and intense storms

[@radanju3]

@tyreerhodes2316 Worth it. Snow is cancer.

[@stuartaaron613]

I'm a former New Yorker (Long Island) who has lived down here (Palm Beach County) for almost 5 years now. One thing that makes driving in Florida different almost everywhere else is that besides the infamous Florida drivers, you also have drivers from many other states, all of whom have their own idiosyncrasies. A joke I heard when I moved here is this: "How do you know when its Autumn in Florida? When the license plates change." One nice thing about Sun Pass that changed recently is that you can now use it in many other states. This I believe happened when Florida started allowing E-Z Pass to be used on Florida toll roads.

[@DTD110865]

As a former Long Islander in Florida myself, I can tell you this was going on long before SunPass Plus included the E-ZPASS.

[@russellseilhamer4552]

I moved out of Palm Beach County in 2007 and never looked back. I live in Hollidaysburg PA and I’m a homeowner. Just impossible for me to make it on my own in South Florida. Hated the heat and humidity with a passion. I remember sitting at lights every quarter of a mile. Endless shopping plazas, bumper to bumper traffic. No relief from the stifling heat. When we moved to PB county in 1983, interstate 95 hadn’t been completed yet though the county, every major road was 2 lanes , now most of them are 8 to 10 lanes. For a long time, PB county was the fastest growing county in the US. Housing became unaffordable. I don’t feel crowded here, it’s easy to get anywhere quickly, it’s affordable and I love the seasons and my location is great. 4 hours from Philly, 2 from Pittsburgh, 5 hours from New York or Cleveland or Buffalo, the Poconos are 2 hours away and the scenery here is priceless

[@thedirtybubble9613]

@@russellseilhamer4552 Have considered PA myself. Thanks for the cool info. 👍

[@bobbear4437]

@@russellseilhamer4552 You can have the winters, and the cold fall and springs up north! I'll be sitting in our back yard lanai in my shorts on Christmas morning!-))) Florida is mostly for retires, and those that service them, everyone else has it tough!

[@KaitlinSchoepe]

ME TOO I GO TO ORLANDO

[@stephen_dmg2003]

there's literally a part of orlando called altamonte springs and there are two publix directly across the street from each other. no joke.

[@Clancysway]

The one at Palm Springs Center is better than the other ;)

[@ryanvandy1615]

Florida’s interstates and highways have a very distinct sound compared to in other states.

[@ReallyNoAlex]

Fr the escambia bay i-10 bridge makes the most shrieking noise I’ve ever heard from a road

[@DonLefFL]

Gunfire

[@jjmccurry8357]

@@DonLefFLlmao

[@KaonashiJP]

As native Floridian of over 20yrs, this video pretty much covers it all..well done! Anyone looking to re-locate, this would be the video to watch.

[@FsnGoldandSilver]

Let’s not forget Jupiter was the missing link for 95. It stayed unconnected for decades. The most dangerous segment of the interstate highway system is near Fort Lauderdale Airport. That deserves some recognition in its own right.

[@cyrilhudak4568]

Everyone loved getting off I-95 at Palm Beach Gardens and taking the Turnpike to Ft Pierce. I still do, to this day to shave off that extra 20 miles. 😁

[@itzamia]

As a Jacksonville native, I was wondering how our review would go. Just as I figured 🤣 Jacksonville is an industrial/military city. They could do more to spice it up and make it a place people would want to visit when first getting into the state, but instead they got rid of Rockville, and moved that to Daytona, have been slow on getting with the times, but Jax Beach is nice. It's nothing crazy but they have some good restaurants out there, and have shows every now and then.

[@DylanJetson]

as someone from miami in jacksonville for work i am not impressed tbh

[@thechambersfamily0813]

Jax is not that much worst than any other state

[@itzamia]

@@thechambersfamily0813 When I was in Tampa a few years ago, I almost couldn't tell the difference.

[@kelj4517]

I live in the South Alabama “Panhandle” region of Florida 🤣🤣🤣. You’re spot on with your assessment! My family tree starts in Alabama and a lot of my family moved to the Panhandle over the decades.

[@SpookyEng1]

😅and we like it that way!❤

[@highginx]

I Visited Florida for the first time this year! Flew from CA and Stayed with my friend in his apartment in Daytona Beach for a week and he took me all the way down to Miami and to Tampa as well ❤

[@ralphmtsu]

It is not just in South Florida where you better go as soon as the light turns green. We honk the horn in Panama City as well-- especially if it is an out of state car who is lost.

[@redbonetony22]

same here in tampa, get off your phone and go.

[@j.mieses8139]

Great Video. I lived in various parts of FL for 25 years before relocating to VA fours years ago (extended family still there). This was indeed a very well researched video. I found myself smiling at some of your comments as I pretty much agreed with most of them. I am glad you mentioned Lakeland in your video as this was the last place I lived in the state before moving and the house next to mine was owned by snowbirds! Great town. Keep up the good work!

[@Csizzorhandz]

The shot of the golf cart ripping around you in Panama City made me LOL. I’ve never been there but I live in Dunedin (pronounced more like “done - eatin” btw) where golf carts are legal on local streets not on major roads. Looks like it’s a little wilder up there.

[@ArtieMcDonald]

Was watching this while on Dinner break and enjoying a Pub-sub.

[@Bobbysworld22]

Tampa has a place called Ybor City it’s a neighborhood within the downtown area. It’s always packed due to the historic Cuban area. From bars, nightlife to shopping and dinning no shortage of things to do. Also downtown Tampa has a popular waterfront area as well. I’m surprised you didn’t mention either of these. Tampa has a decent Downtown.

[@MileageMike485]

Oh yeah I did check out Ybor, forgot to mention it in the video.

[@redbonetony22]

@@MileageMike485 oh ybor, i used to live in ybor in my late 20s, big fun.

[@MasonWright1234]

I first visited Florida back in 2013 in the Florida panhandle but back in Oct 2021 it was my first time visiting Jacksonville Florida. I visit Orlando back in January

[@miltonmiller]

Good video. I live in Florida for some 15 years and know the state very well, and I think your video covers it quite well.

[@katherinecabrera4448]

Ahhh!! Born and raised in Miami (kendall neighborhood) and went to Orlando for college, i honestly loved this video!! I’m currently living in Boston for my masters and i can’t wait to move back down to the sunshine state next year 🙌🙌 i love florida !!!

[@moneyonfleek1992]

DALE!

[@jambule1229]

The Toll Roads in Orlando are egregious 😂 Good vid!

[@walpoleandworcester]

Good to know when I’m down in South Georgia again. I wanted to visit Jacksonville and Orlando myself! I’ve been to Panama City though.

[@carlobasta3587]

Tallahassee is lower Georgia. Pensacola is Lower Alabama, also known as L.A.

[@--_--IMP--_--]

Well, you are sort of partly right. My sister lives in Tallahassee and people there also joke about being in Lower Alabama, even though Tally is technically a few miles southeast of the Florida/Alabama state line. Most people there head northeast to Thomasville when they want to go to Georgia. The entire panhandle is colloquially referred to as Lower Alabama, although the coastal towns don't feel quite as much like Alabama as the more interior towns. Ironically enough, Pensacola itself is much less like Alabama than the rest of the panhandle; it is more like Memphis than Dothan. Places like Chipley and Cottondale and Wewa and Blountstown are *much* more Alabama than Pensacola is.

[@ralphmtsu]

@@--_--IMP--_-- Panama City is getting to be very Orlando like with Front Beach becoming another International Drive.

[@redbonetony22]

@@--_--IMP--_-- lets agree PC Beach is the beach of the south, and tallahasse is in south georgia.

[@realcokejam]

I was waiting for you to mention The Villages when you talking about cities and their development.

[@johnpatterson4272]

Interesting take on the modern Florida driving experience. Well researched and well articulated by you. I like your experienced take on the locals driving habits and your juxtaposition of population vs development vs toll hwy. mentality in and around established urban centres. Cape Coral comes up frequently in Canadian realtor searches for near-affordable Florida properties. Thanks for the heads-up on Leehigh Acres. Well done.

[@Leg239]

We have a ton of Canadians and Germans in Cape Coral

[@ACasualCustomer]

I'm from Manhattan and i'm staying in for 6 months. I'm on my third month and this video is spot on. I like it here, it's pretty walkable, been doing fine with out a car

[@dbackscott]

I used to live in southern Deltona. The place was so dull that I was losing my mind, and I’m not a particularly exciting person myself. I still live in the Orlando area (near Oviedo and UCF), and I’m much happier here.

[@mistermoneyman8899]

Mileage Mike, Mario here from St Petersburg Florida, 1 year transplant from Buffalo N.Y. and Ohio. NEW to your channel.... I LOOOOOOOOVVVVVVE this video!!! As the owner and operator of a MOVING company here in Tampa, and travel ALL over the Florida star, YOU are 💯% SPOT ON with EVERYTHING!!! LOVE your brutal honesty and sarcasm.... Hilarious!!!

[@HaleyBenedict-wl6zi]

Excellent breakdown of Florida. Great information. I'm from Miami, went to Florida State, and now live in central Florida.

[@ghayes220]

Just came across your channel. Thus far, I've watched your NJ Turnpike and 3 months in Florida videos. I lived d in Hudson County NJ, until 44, then 17 years in Orlando. Even lived in Pembroke Pines, north of Miami for a few months. Your take on both states is accurate. Subscribed.

[@chriswhalen4155]

Recently visited my parents, who just moved to Melbourne, and was kind of scouting it for a potential move. It’s undeniably beautiful and on paper a great place to live but with all the new development and endless big box stores it all felt artificial, like everything was just put there in the last decade. Because of this it felt very clean and resort like but lacked character. For now I think I’m good with having Florida as a built in vacation.

[@ace20016]

Brevard County aka the Space Coast didn’t start growing til the John F Kennedy Space Center was built. Along with air conditioning and mosquito spray becoming a thing. -Brevard County resident

[@InstinktzBTW]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention Universal Orlando resort becoming a major powerhouse rivaling Disney. They’re becoming somewhat of a Twin city. And not mentioning Daytona International Speedway. Such architecture many marvel.

[@tescomealdeals4613]

Nice video, I would like to point out though that there are tons of other things to do in Orlando, and the city isn’t just the Southwestern portion with Disney. In fact, most locals like to stay away from this area unless absolutely necessary. Also, you should mention The Villages, which effectively act as Hell’s Waiting Room.

[@LABoyko]

@tescomealdeals4613. If it's "Hells Waiting Room," I'm thankful he did not mention it.

[@lobos320]

The Villages is an incarnation of hell on Earth. Putting mindless suburbs in previously rural area. Destroying nature and bringing Ina bunch of people who have no concern for the future of Florida

[@patrickevans6712]

Judge not . . .

[@darrinbrunner6429]

Wow! Great video. I was considering moving to Florida until recently.

[@danyartigajr4839]

One thing you missed are the many natural springs there are in the state if you want to avoid the sea water. They are all over the state specifically in north, panhandle and central Florida.

[@jjmccurry8357]

And they are truly heaven on earth on a hot humid Florida summer day

[@LABoyko]

Yeah, he really messed up by not covering every last damned aspect of FL in a 29-minute video. Comment section is loaded with Floridians kvetching about all the "important" things he missed about a state you used to love, but now hate because of all the New Yorkers who moved there after you moved there. (One of my better rants. Very cathartic.)

[@mouton1053]

Amazing to hear an outsider's perspective on the state I've been born in raised in. One disagreement: give more credit to Jacksonville! It's not just a sleepy town, there are a lot of unique regions with their own style. You mentioned San Marco but also Riverside with its iconic Five Points, the beaches (not just "Jacksonville Beach", the rest of them are included too!) with another beautiful piece of A1A running through it, and even Downtown has interesting things to do with beautiful river views to boot. It's an excellent hub to other areas such as Gainesville, St Augustine, and even Orlando if you're willing to make a day of it. And with the largest municipal parks department in the country there is plenty of green space to break up urban monotony. Even Jacksonville has beauty if you know where to look! Excellent video as always Mike, thanks for visiting us in the Sunshine State! :)

[@quinnweimer-ludin3934]

Jacksonville is very underrated! I agree with you. It’s the perfect mix of stuff happening with quiet suburbs and rural settings, low country and also beaches. Small but beautiful downtown on the river. I love coming to Jax

[@virginiansupremacy]

if i lived anywhere in florida it'll either be the panhandle or jax

[@verios44]

I also live in the Jacksonville FL area. One thing that people disregard easily is medical, IT, and logistics in this city. Medical, you have more hospitals and clinics than can be counted in this city, many of them world renowned. Like Baptist Health has recently opened a new cardiology wing dedicated to aphib preventituve care. First in the nation. For IT, there are more data centers and dev companies than most realize. For logistics, CSX has their main hub here and Jaxport is quickly becoming one of the largest container ports in the state. It helps when your county is the soze of NYC and only 1.5 mil inhabitants. Plenty of space.

[@TeamAbrams]

Years ago Jacksonville was definitely more "south GA" feeling but these days? I don't know...as a transplant to this area from NY I've noticed the nicer areas at least becoming a lot more like NY lately. There is a ton of building going on with new businesses, homes, and roads going up every where you look and a lot more people on the roads, it's getting a lot more expensive than it was before COVID, and the southern accents are definitely less noticeable compared to ten or even five years ago, lol...I liked this area because it had its own weird charm to it and I absolutely hated South FL but as times goes on I am seeing less and less difference between there and here. I am actually looking at Arizona personally as the east coast is getting to be a bit too much for me to handle.

[@virginiansupremacy]

@@TeamAbrams so now instead of south georgia, it is Atlanta Beach.

[@ph5915]

Great video! I grew up as a youngster from about ages 3.5 to 13 (with a gap year in Guam), mostly all over South FL. I vaguely remember Cocoa Beach, Titusville but a set of grandparents lived in Sarasota and we lived the longest time in Homestead, approx '70-'74. That was a very long period of not moving. Even as a youngster, I did not handle heat & humidity well. Yes I was often outside doing the typical era boy stuff, riding bikes, building forts, exploring the town, baseball, football in a vacant lot. Found out after we left in the winter up to Baltimore County that I had had allergeries to just about everything...And you know, in south FL, none of the plants die or go dormant in the winter. Plus, the cloud of gnats hovering around my face all the time irritated the heck out of me. And, there was the childhood traumas of a quick tempered, chain smoking, alcolohic step dad that didn't like me... So, I don't have any fond memories. In July of '05 I was back for a work related training trip, and it was a horrid swamp week extraordinaire. My brother moved there 5 yrs ago now but I've never visited. Voluntarily I can't stomach it. Plus the politics. Taking away people's rights, etc. Whenever I've seen pictures, videos, TV or movies, I know for a fact you can't see the humidity. LOL. Conversely I was also out in the Bay area and also Sacramento area in CA., and the temperature was the same, but it was very low humidity and it felt GREAT, totally different. Plus the mountain views...Yeah! But FL...Cannot recommend. LOL.

[@sarimali1399]

I can't believe someone visiting DP noticed the absurdity of the two Publix's right in front of each other, this has been the butt of jokes with me and my friends forever lol. Living in the heart of Orlando's tourist area my whole life, I am so used to the life here I often forget how other areas of the state are incredibly different. It must have been so much for you to go on this trip, and I look forward to more videos such as this for the rest of the states! Going on a tour of each of the US states is a dream vacation for me and if you make a guide to make it easier for us to do so, that would be incredible haha. Keep up the great videos!

[@ace20016]

You do realize there’s two Publix’s across the street from each other in Altamonte Springs at the SR 436/Palm Springs Dr intersection near the Altamonte Mall

[@ralphmtsu]

@@ace20016 I was about to say the same thing. It just makes so you don't have to make a left turn to get into one of the stores.

[@MileageMike485]

Oh yeah it was definitely expensive. Very fun to see everything and worth every penny though.

[@JLmad100]

Recall from last visit was told that Publix has agreement with state that No Other grocer can move into an area unless Publix has choice of "first refusal" in that area. Plans are that Kroger and WalMart have positioned warehouses where customers can order direct from them w/o going through an actual storefront.

[@nickpalance3622]

There are two Waffle House restaurants next each other … near Four Corners? I’d seen it on the interwebs and my memory tells me I actually passed by it the other month.. was it on US-27 near US-192 IIRC?

[@stuartwaldrip9280]

Great channel! I appreciate the perspective. I was stationed in Orlando for a few years. A group of us would travel to the Space Coast whenever there was a shuttle launch. I was able to see several.

[@MileageMike485]

What branch were you in that has a presence in Orlando?

[@JumboFPS]

I’m from Tampa! I enjoyed hearing your opinions!

[@TheHonorableAngelinaNordstrom]

I've never been to Florida before. The clip that you shared are very cool. Thank you for giving us your analysis of Florida. 3 months is a feat to stay in a different state to shoot content. Amazing!! I was wondering if you went to the Everglades while you were in Florida. By the way, I love your voice in your videos. ❤ I can listen to you speak about your travels all day. ❤ I hope that you travel to Chicago and Memphis one day and give an analysis on both.

[@actfg7672]

@The Honorable.....Chicago, illinois can't comparable to Florida

[@TheHonorableAngelinaNordstrom]

@@actfg7672 and you and your lil opinions cannot compare to me! No one was speaking to you! I SAID WHAT I SAID!!! 🗣️

[@actfg7672]

@@TheHonorableAngelinaNordstrom ...I didn't said any sh!t ill to you why you are talking sh!t to me, you need to shut your azz up ......MOFO....

[@BloodRider1914]

As a more urbanist-minded person who loves cold weather, Florida is kind of a nightmore for me, but I do love the vibrancy and diversity of Miami no matter how awful its weather is.

[@xoxxobob61]

Come down to Miami from Late November to March for the Weather. It's not Humid, lots of Sun & doesn't get above 90 f degrees.

[@judis8972]

Didn't really choose your videos but you speak so interestingly that I've returned time and again Thank you

[@antiamericangraffiti]

Born and raised Floridian here. Our state has A LOT of issues but dammit I can't stay mad for too long. Truly and unique and special place!

[@Keith_X]

Jacksonville native here. One you didn’t mention fernandina beach. It’s like a less busy st Augustine.

[@IanOnTheDL]

I moved to Florida about a year ago to be closer to my immediate family (was living in Indiana at the time.) I thought with no state income tax and a more right leaning state government it would save me some money. Dead wrong! My car insurance basically doubled by moving here and most things just seem to be more expensive in general. I don't think I'll stay more than another year. The drivers in the state (not just Miami) are awful. I see it everyday as I work in highway maintenance.

[@al99795]

hard to beat the midwest on cost of living

[@MrWelfarehater]

@@al99795 yes you are absolutely right, if the Midwest could get the job thing right, people would flock back there like it happened after World War 2.

[@bernitagarrett9899]

Hey from Orlando. Another great Florida vid! The one thing that I hollered at was when you said you better be ready to go at a green light cuz they will be on that horn! The accuracy was exact! 😂 I’ve been here for YEARS & I’m still not use to that. But I do find myself having anxiety at light in fear that someone will honk at me so I’m always ready! 😭😭😭

[@FsnGoldandSilver]

Hey Mike, love your channel. I love to geek out on highway design. Could you cover the expansion of the FL Turnpike? They’re doing interesting things there.

[@rlg1976x]

I'm liking these commentary videos a lot! You can't forget about the Canadian snowbirds--though not sure how much of that has recovered post-COVID. Can't wait until you make it to Alaska and Hawaii.

[@MileageMike485]

Definitely looking forward to Hawaii. Hopefully next year.

[@brstoffel]

Excellent overview of the state for one who hopes to tour there soon (that would be me). Love your video and commentary.

[@MileageMike485]

Thanks

[@St3althWarrior03]

Here in the Sarasota area, the most outstanding issue I have, having lived here my whole life is the rapid development that this town has never seen in decades in the form of towering apartment/condo buildings popping up literally everywhere in and out of the city, as well as cookie cutter subdivisions and expansion away from the coast into what once was rural land. Many exceptions have been made by the city and county governments to allow these developments to get through the system much quicker and with less opposition. Notable examples being Lakewood Ranch in Manatee County, as well as Lakewood Ranch wannabes in Sarasota County. Our own airport, SRQ, had to fight the City over an approved apartment complex, basically at the end of its main runway Luckily SRQ won that but continues to happen elsewhere. Self-storage complexes are also popping up everywhere, with one right outside my neighborhood entrance. Many of our local roads are struggling with the ever-increasing amount of traffic. I-75 is getting the attention it needs by the FDOT but the massive amount of interchange construction currently at Exits 223 and 205 causes even more problems with traffic which spills onto our local roads and highways. The current political landscape is a whole other story. Red tide is becoming a regular event. Hurricanes like 2022’s Category 5 Hurricane Ian almost wiped us out. They paved paradise and put in a parking lot.

[@MileageMike485]

Sounds about right. City and county politicians usually want growth at any and all cost then kick the can down the road on how to deal with it later. Anything for that new tax revenue.

[@ElTrokeroLokochon]

Capitalist society requires growth, unfortunately most US development is not designed to handle growth causing urban sprawl, more cars on the road, congestion, negatives, and more negatives. Most of us Americans are oblivious to how our suburbs/zoning are hurting us more than benefitting us.

[@LABoyko]

Development is about a lot more than just tax revenue. Since you worked in government, Mike, you know exactly what I mean.

[@LABoyko]

Spoken like a true brainwashed leftist. Capitalist societies do not require constant development, population growth. You could not be more misguiided.

[@svn5994]

Don't forget the Selby Garage disaster.

[@bucsfan2565]

Next time you should visit a natural spring and swim in it. Excellent video.

[@KevinArchitect]

Thanks again Mike, us business travelers thank you! FL honors other toll road passes, like EZpass, worth researching folks.

[@PELGRP]

Moved to Fort Lauderdale 30 years ago. It’s been like being on vacation forever.

[@caleer8567]

living around Orlando I-4 my whole life I just figured that was just how Interstates worked but it never seemed that bad, though it was better to avoid at certain times of the day.

[@MileageMike485]

It's not too bad now in Orlando except near resort areas.

[@caleer8567]

​@@MileageMike485 Ya I couldn't understand why they stopped ultimate i4 right before the worse part of all I-4, but then they announced beyond i-4 ultimate and that should smooth things out greatly.

[@anricofrancois8258]

I use to stay in Port St. Lucie in in Fort Pierce and I can honestly say I learned a lot and I loved it.

[@davidhoj]

Been in that Champions gate traffic many times before Also, right about Cape Coral Family moved out of there finally

[@melissamedina2363]

We started visiting Florida (from NJ) for our yearly family vacation in the late 1970s. My parents loved it there and so did I. My favorite area was Ocala and Silver Springs. We also visited many of the regions you mentioned. Florida feels like my second home.

[@andrearoberts1953]

After seeing this, Montana and Wyoming are looking REALLY good to me.

[@Ridingthewaves305]

I was born, raised and live in key west. I’m 32 and know quite a bit about Florida. I would like to talk about Ocala, it used to be a really small town and no one really lived there or had reason to go there. Its explosion in popularity over the last decade is incredible. It really shows how the state is still growing and people migrating here

[@jeffbowen4]

As a proud fourth generation Floridian, I approved this message!

[@Alexrocksdude_]

The “extra space” on the map killed me 😂

[@towlifechannel3679]

Man you nailed it 👌🏼 Hit every part of Florida with facts I love my sunshine state

[@kristiemiller4752]

Glad to see you enjoyed Saint Pete!!! I have to show some love that’s my city, even though now I live in Clearwater. Dunedin, how do you pronounce? It has the emphasis on a long E! In Lakeland, I think money would consider it. It’s own place. Especially people who are from here. You did a wonderful job on this video. Keep them coming.

[@redbonetony22]

LA (lower alabama) is west of the apalachicola river. we called the eastern panhandle especially around tallahassee, south georgia. we joked that the state capital was in georgia all the time when explaining the differences between the panhandle and say, miami, tampa, and orlando to friends from other states that never been to south (or peninsula) florida.

[@Luvforoneanother]

👍Tallahassee area and SW Georgia is connected in so many ways.

[@andreas4307]

Very fun video. I've lived in Florida for decades and it certainly is unique. I'm a little surprised you didn't go to the Villages. If you thought Cape Coral and area was terrifying in terms of how it's built out, you should see what they have up there. 90-year olds driving golf carts and no sidewalks...weeeehhhaaaa. Thanks.

[@wompa70]

The Orlando lakes are stocked by the state fish and game division. Not just as food for migratory birds but so that residents can fish. Lots of families do that on the weekends and evenings. I grew up in Plant City, More or less half way between Tampa and Lakeland. Before 1988 (when I left) the fight wasn't for who got Lakeland but for who didn't. lol PCB golf cart, for sure. I moved back to Florida for 2010-2012. I lived on the south-west side of Orlando and worked in Winter Park. Toll roads cut the commute time in half. Cape Coral deserves its own video. If I moved back I'd have to live on the space coast. Close enough to Port Canaveral to be able to Uber to the cruise ships.

[@NintendoGamer2600]

I went to Destin when I was very little, and it was beautiful! Even though I did get sunburned.

[@flarrfan]

My favorite name for the Panhandle is Lower Alabama, or LA... ;)

[@donaldcarey114]

Baha Alabama.

[@KRON1990]

Absolutely would love to get on I-69 in Texas and follow it to Michigan for a new scenic view.

[@ZergRushJohnny]

4:55 I've heard non-natives and recent arrivals pronounce place names like Ocala and Pinellas all kinds of ways, but in 34 years I have somehow never ever heard Dunedin (dun-EED-in) pronounced that way, so props for the surprise. For what it's worth, Dunedin is more Scottish in its roots; the Greek area is Tarpon Springs.

[@SwiftGlitchers]

Nice video I just moved to St Pete and I’m an engineer on the bridge shown at 25:40

[@5.9.5]

Glad to hear someone talk about Port Orange!

[@Flyby-1000]

I've been all over this state, whether visiting a place or driving through and I have to say Mike, you are pretty spot on with your observations. As a born and raised S, Floridian (Margate, left at 18 in '92, you couldn't pay me enough to live back down there), currently residing in St. Pete and work in Orlando (MCO), I have to say that my favorite beaches are the Emarald Coast beaches, (Pensacola across to Panama City Beach) I was stationed at Hurlburt Fld in Ft. Walton Beach 5 years and enjoyed those beaches more so than Ft. Lauderdale, Pompano, and Deerfield beaches (although I do miss the waves). Of course, some of the other unique neat beaches are Daytona and Jasonville beaches where you can drive out on the beach... As so many have mentioned, "Florida Drivers", just remember, that most of them transplanted from the Northeastern states... I may have been born in Florida, but my parents came down from New Jersey 2 years before I was born...I must have learned my "Florida Driver" skills from my parents of the NE...LOL...

[@jimgorycki4013]

I had a house in Margate. I can relate. Live in South Florida since 1972 (exception of 4 years Air Force all over the US), From Miami north up to Pompano Beach, west to Coral Springs. Too crowded. Roads congested. Infinite construction to keep up with the traffic. My mom moved to interior Central Florida Lake Placid Sebring area. Quiet there. mostly retirees. That area is starting to build up. I wouldn't be surprised that from Lakeland through Winter Haven all the way down to Avon Park Sebring area will be one big metro.

[@APDaneGL]

Did you visit Lake Placid? In 2013, Reader's Digest named it America's most interesting town. It's the caladium capital of the world. It's the Town of Murals. It's Lake Country. It has the clown college and museum. And, it has a 240 ft tower that's the tallest building around until you get to Orlando.

[@vinnygaudino5017]

I'm moving to Atlanta next month. Can you make a similar video about Georgia?

[@thepennsylvanianyoutuber8890]

Spot on for Florida. 22:36 Snowbirds can include Canadians especially Ontario people I’m a Sarasota person and all I see around here is Ontario tags and Canadians coming in every spring break and winter.

[@fldon2306]

Canadians: Pompano Beach and Sebring/Avon Park have their share from THWN!

[@LABoyko]

If you're thepennsylvanianyoutuber8890 how can you be a "Sarasota person?" Your story does not add up, thepennsylvanianyoutuber8890.

[@georgeselby3376]

Curious as to why you don't have a NCQuick Pass instead of getting a Sunpass? I've used my NC Quickpass from Maine to Florida, and NC to the Midwest. Just make sure you get a transponder one, it's the only version compatible with EZ-Pass in the NE. At first I got mine just so I could skip the cash lanes in the NE, but also appreciate you get the same toll discount as locals.

[@MileageMike485]

Didn't drive on toll roads in NC enough to get around to buying one back then. I ended up getting one last fall before heading to the northeast though to use on their toll roads.

[@georgeselby3376]

@@MileageMike485 I understand that, I think I've used mine only once in NC, but I drive to FL and the NE often enough that it made sense to get one.

[@cgimovieman]

I’ve lived in central Florida for just over 25 years this year, having visited from the Midwest 5 times befits that in the 80’s and 90’s. The state isn’t perfect. I absolutely don’t like the summer months, anywhere from mid-April through September. The heat, oppressive humidity, most violet thunderstorms and lightning, and occasional tropical storms and hurricanes? Man…thru can just wear you out. And being a person who likes forests, mountains, and streams? Florida is pretty much pancake flat, and unless you’re a beach person, you won’t be to fond of the terrain. Florida is also getting VERY crowded. But, despite all of that, it has been my home of 25+ years now, and as such it means a lot to me. I’ve lived pretty much my entire adult life here, and everything from going to college, to my guest new car, to my first home, to my first drink, to all sorts of other things have happened here. The infrastructure has continually improved, and we’ve added new pro sports franchises and other entertainment venues. And when it’s covered in snow and sometimes in negative temperatures up north or much of the rest of the continental U.S., at times it can be the only comfortable place in the entire country. Now, I absolutely love the city of Chicago, as well as the Pacific Northwest a WHOLE lot. And much of my family is still in the Midwest. But for as long as Florida has been my home now, it feels very difficult to think of ever moving.

[@obliograce3551]

Very nice, fairly inclusive (it’s a big state). One thing that caught my eye was your mention of the turbine interchange, very different form the more traditional cloverleaf design. Maybe I'm just a nerd who is fascinated by form and function, but this looks like a very interesting new idea. Unlike the cloverleaf design you can just keep going round and round if you made a mistake and redirect yourself to exit back the way you just came, but it looks to have solved the main problem with the cloverleaf, creating a bottleneck between entering and existing traffic at the same time.

[@GamingBren]

As a Floridian who plays Cities Skylines, I must admit that I cover the map in suburbs to some extent too

[@yazanfares2006]

I've been living in Florida in the Broward county area and it's nice

[@iamlsusam]

I drove to Disney a few years ago and the toll road saved a lot of time!

[@johnhughes2043]

Family moved to NW “Hollyweird” in ‘67 from the NE. Beach east, Everglades west, grew up with Seminole/ Micosukee as neighbors and friends. Davie was pretty rural with rodeos etc. Some of the best fishing both fresh & salt water anywhere in the world. Thought we’d died and went to heaven as a 13 year old! But then they “paved over paradise”. Left in ‘80 for beautiful” New Nowhere Beach” - New Smyrna Beach. Great life in the ‘80’s, sadly it’s suffering from the development decline also these days. Now live near Mt. Dora, due to work, miss my ocean though. Going to retire soon, will probably head back to Treasure or Space Coast areas, hard to get the sand out of my shoes! Great vid Mike, pretty spot on for the most part. Florida’s pretty diverse, oddly enough found NC the same way just could never leave here. Been a pretty good life all the same. Hope you come back sometime.👍