Things I Noticed in Florida

I recently visited Florida to tour colleges and noticed both similarities and differences between Florida and Massachusetts. I will discuss many categories that include comparisons such as weather, environment, location, and time of year.

As I landed at the Orlando airport, I already felt a difference: the weather. Unlike in Massachusetts, it was well into the 70s for the temperature. As someone who hasn’t seen the sun since the summer, I had sunscreen just in case.

The cold of New England is so bitter and lasting that I almost forget that people feel this warmth year round. It amazes me how one short flight can completely change the weather. On the other hand, one similarity I noticed is the impact of the wind. With a slight breeze, it can feel a lot cooler, just like in New England on windy and cold days.

The environment and nature in Florida has drastic differences. One major factor I noticed were the smooth roads without potholes or bumps. The drive was a lot easier for the car, but the traffic in Orlando can be packed, just like driving on main highways in New England.

I also find that this traffic can stem from the popularity of the vacation destination. With Disney World and Universal so close by, people are coming from all over to spend a couple days in the parks. 

Spring break was also in full swing with college kids traveling and many southern high schools do one break in March instead of two small ones like our school, one in February and the other in April.

While traveling on these busy highways, the palm trees and greenery are hard to miss. The highway is filled with all sorts of plants, trees, and the hotels that so many travelers stay in for work or vacation. The New England highways do not have much on the sides of the roads and are either filled with snow or leafless trees during the winter.

This correlates with the happiness we have because life and growth in nature reminds us of new opportunities and beginnings. The warmth influences more people to be outside and try new things as well as be productive.

While I visited Orlando, Port Charlotte, and Fort Myers, they all had many popular food locations including some that we have up in New England. Some examples are: Playa Bowls, Chipotle, McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. These are just some examples, but there are also different ones that are less common in the North such as Waffle House and Cracker Barrel. 

I also went to this restaurant in Orlando called Bahama Breeze and I really enjoyed the seafood as well as the aesthetic of the inside decorations. It was very pretty and peaceful, and I definitely recommend this to anyone visiting. There are multiple locations as well. 

With many different aspects of both, the East Coast has a variety of destinations all waiting to be visited. So next time you travel to a new place, how does it compare to back home?