[AndySipowicz]

Tell you what...I was in Idaho not too long ago, and their beaches absolutely suck compared to ours. FL 1 - ID 0

[Coldjensens]

All states differ and there are a lot of really beautiful states. I do not think there is any meaningful way to reate one as prettier than another. Some states are not very pretty (Texas) but many of them have their own unique beauty that is unmatched elsewhere.



I lived in California for 18 years and there is a lot of really amazing cool things and incredible variety there. Michigan where i live now is prettier, but not as vaired and not as many different things to do. Even Michigan and Florida can be compared and found equal I think.



Florida beaches are large expanses of sand. Michigan beaches have dunes, lighthouses and singing sand. Also far fewer people and lot of cool dogs. There is cool fauna in both places. You will not find any moose elk or caribou in Florida, no wolves either, coyotes? Not sure there. No beaver, few if any bald eagles, not sure about deer, foxes, mink, ermine, a dozen species of hawk, maybe great blue herons? Florida has crocs, and gators, and flamingos and manatee (Florida's version of a moose I guess). The water is stunningly beautiful in both places (Lake Superior shorelines have especially clear/ turquoise and blue water).Is there cliff jumping in Florida?



New York is similar to Michigan except that ugly smells crowded wart at the bottom of the state. Kentucky has amazing caves, mountains, and forests. Utah ahs canyons and rock formations and probably the best trail I have ever been on (Zion). Arizona has the spectacular beauty of the desert (no deserts in Florida) and the highlands (Sedona, Prescott), and Grand Canyon, and petrified forest. California has some of pretty much all the things. Many are distant and when you arrive you just wait in endless lines to see stuff, but there is pretty much every kind of natural beauty that you can imagine. Deserts, beaches, islands, forests, swamps, mountains, canyons. But much of California is as ugly as most of Texas or New Mexico (both of which also have some fairly pretty areas they are just mostly ugly). Washington is pretty spectaular as is Montana. Montana is another state with a huge variety - but no beaches.

[Dave_n_Tenn]

I think Florida should invade Cuba so we can have 'mountains'.

[gatorlyn]

I think it has a good balance of those things that you mentioned, for the average person. I don’t recommend using the word “best” because it does trigger some people

[Lincolnian]

There are a number of beautiful beaches throughout the coastal US. It depends what you are looking for. For warm water and tropical temps south Florida has the year-round lock within the continental US. But during the summertime it opens up many other possibilities. Long Beach Island NJ, Cape Cod, Ocean City, Long Island, parts of Maine and New Hampshire are just a few places with great beaches.

I enjoy the Florida beaches year round. That being said, there are many days that sea lice and jelly fish keep me out of the water. Sharks have recently become a concern as well as I have experienced them searching for food in knee deep water more than a few times in the past few months. Granted they are relatively small (about 3 feet) but where young sharks wander I am sure larger ones aren't far away.

[Dave_n_Tenn]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

There are a number of beautiful beaches throughout the coastal US. It depends what you are looking for. For warm water and tropical temps south Florida has the year-round lock within the continental US. But during the summertime it opens up many other possibilities. Long Beach Island NJ, Cape Cod, Ocean City, Long Island, parts of Maine and New Hampshire are just a few places with great beaches.

I enjoy the Florida beaches year round. That being said, there are many days that sea lice and jelly fish keep me out of the water. Sharks have recently become a concern as well as I have experienced them searching for food in knee deep water more than a few times in the past few months. Granted they are relatively small (about 3 feet) but where young sharks wander I am sure larger ones aren't far away.

The sharks don't attack residents.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Lillie767

Depends on what you consider a "major offering" for entertainment.


New York's combination of theatres, concert halls, and museums for indoor entertainment is hard to match elsewhere other than London.

New York's Adirondack Mountains and Great Lakes provide extensive outdoor activities in all four seasons.

New York's international airports provide access to global many attractions.



These are more attractive to me than theme parks and bobbing in the water.

Theme parks/bobbing in the water desire easily corresponds with age too.........Offer a 10 year old FL theme parks/beach or NY to go to a museum/play and what do you think they will pick? Same offer to a 70 yr old?

I'd bet Disney does more business in a day than Broadway does in a month!

MCO (Orlando) is a busier airport than both JFK/Laguardia

I've been to Disney at least a dozen times, haven't been in 10+ years and can't see myself ever going again unless its with a young kid (like grandchild/niece/nephew). So while that isn't an attraction to me it still is for a lot of people.

I've been to more museums in DC than NY. But they were one time visits. So while having the Guggenheim nearby is nice, I'm not sure I'd be a regular. Just like if I lived near Disney, I wouldn't be a regular.

I think NY has great things to offer but along with those comes high cost of living/taxes and crappy weather 1/3 of the year.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

There are a number of beautiful beaches throughout the coastal US. It depends what you are looking for. For warm water and tropical temps south Florida has the year-round lock within the continental US. But during the summertime it opens up many other possibilities. Long Beach Island NJ, Cape Cod, Ocean City, Long Island, parts of Maine and New Hampshire are just a few places with great beaches.

I enjoy the Florida beaches year round. That being said, there are many days that sea lice and jelly fish keep me out of the water. Sharks have recently become a concern as well as I have experienced them searching for food in knee deep water more than a few times in the past few months. Granted they are relatively small (about 3 feet) but where young sharks wander I am sure larger ones aren't far away.

Just FYI..........Sharks are everywhere. 16 bites in Florida this year, 2 fatal. By contrast 54 people were killed by dogs in the US in 2022. Fido is more likely to kill you than Jaws. Alligators only killed one person in Florida in 2022.

[City Guy997S]

FL has a few parts:

1. TV Florida- Miami Beach/Tampa/Naples/Palm Beach
2. Tourist FL- Keys/Orlando/theme parks/Daytona Bike week/Nascar/Destin (aka LA, Lower Alabama)
3. Dirt poor Florida (Century Village closet sized condos, trailer parks, hillbilly towns)
4. Farming Florida/Ranches
5. Sprawl Florida - cookie cutter communities built on top of each other with maybe a golf course surrounded by brutal traffic.


Everybody moves to Florida expecting #1 but usually end up in #5

[breecat22]

The theme parks are just unreal, like Disney World and Universal Studios. Plus the nightlife around is so much fun.