Discover the Sunshine State: Top 13 Fun and Exciting Facts About Florida for Kids!

1. Oldest Settlement and Free Community

Hold on to your oranges, history buffs, because Florida's got a double whammy secret for you: St. Augustine is not only the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States, but it's also home to the first legally sanctioned free community of former slaves, Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose, established in 1738!
Source => citystaug.com

2. Miami's "Mother" Julia Tuttle

If anybody ever accuses Miami of having "mommy issues," they're not wrong: Its "Mother" Julia Tuttle convinced rail tycoon Henry Flagler to extend his tracks there in 1896. No trains, no Miami. So, she's kind of a big deal: Julia Tuttle, dubbed the "Mother of Miami," played an instrumental role in the city's founding, persuading Henry Flagler to extend his railroad to the area after a devastating frost wiped out much of Florida's orange groves. Thanks to her efforts, Miami was incorporated on July 28, 1896, making it the only major American city founded with the help of a woman.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that crocodiles and alligators have their own preferred habitats in the Everglades? Discover how these reptiles share the territory and maintain a harmonious coexistence! 🐊✌️🌊

=> Fun Facts about The-Everglades

3. Sugar-White Sand Beaches

Why did the sand blush in Florida? It's sugar-white and pure-ified! Thanks to its quartz-rich travels from the Appalachian Mountains: Northwest Florida's beaches boast 99% pure silica quartz sand, making them cool to the touch and the perfect place to wiggle your toes in without fear of a scorching summer heat underfoot.
Source => valdostatoday.com

4. Key West's Spooky Nickname

Don't let the skeletons in Florida's closet scare you away from paradise: Key West, nicknamed "Bone Island," gets its spooky moniker from the Spanish term "cayo hueso" due to its history of human remains possibly left behind by tribal battles or ritual funeral practices.
Source => hauntedkeywest.com

5. Jules' Undersea Park Adventures

Did someone say underwater clean-up crew? At Jules' Undersea Park, you can dive right into a wet 'n wild episode of 'Extreme Fish Tank Makeover': This Florida gem not only offers certified divers the chance to test new gear, but also to participate in the Underwater Maintenance Distinctive Specialty for environmental protection. Earning your diving stripes by navigating through a lagoon filled with fascinating wildlife and artifacts, you'll be learning and laughing all the way to the Jules' Undersea Lodge, a media darling with past guests like The Today Show and National Geographic.
Source => jul.com

6. Christmas Town All Year Round

In Florida, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas all year round: The town of Christmas, located on Highway 50, got its name from a fort established on Christmas day, which later became just the town when a post office was opened in 1892! This festive village even features a permanent Christmas tree, jolly Santa statue, reindeer, and nativity scene, while the post office embraces the season with a special slot just for letters to Santa.
Source => roadsideamerica.com

7. Ancient Floridian Fort

Once upon a Floridian fort, where 450-year-old walls chatted about Atlantic trade and conquistador escapades: Castillo de San Marcos, in St. Augustine, claims the title of oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States, with interactive virtual tours, history-filled videos, and kid-approved educational materials to boot!
Source => nps.gov

8. Hemingway Look-Alike Contest

Got a penchant for beards and booze? You just might have a shot at glory in Key West: Florida hosts the annual Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, where folks from around the globe sport their best Papa-esque attire in hopes of being crowned the most Hemingway-esque of them all. This spirited competition is part of the Hemingway Days celebration, honoring the literary icon's fruitful years in Key West, during which he penned masterpieces like "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "To Have and Have Not."
Source => npr.org

9. Colorful Florida Tree Snails

Hold on to your shells, it's going to be a slow ride: The Florida tree snail, a rainbow-hued, hermaphroditic slowpoke, is munching away at lichens and fungi in the Florida Keys. But beware; habitat loss and fire ants may leave its slow and steady existence in jeopardy!
Source => myfwc.com

10. Treasure Hunting in Florida

Ahoy, aspiring pirates and booty hunters! If you've been itching to find some "X marks the spot" action, Florida might be the land of your "arrrr-chaeological" dreams: Home to a smorgasbord of hidden treasures like the Ashley Gang's buried loot, Spanish gold bars on St. George Island, and Billy Bowlegs' pirate treasure on Santa Rosa Island, Florida has all the makings of a treasure hunter's paradise! Just be sure to grab ye permissions and permits before setting sail on your swashbuckling adventures.
Source => treasureseekr.com

11. Florida's Native American Tribes

Before their tribes went viral in the worst way: Florida was home to many Native American tribes like Apalachee, Calusa, and more, but they faced tragic ends due to infectious diseases introduced by European explorers. Thankfully, the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes are still around to keep their traditions alive!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. World's Largest Bat Houses

Batter up, Florida style: The University of Florida is home to the world's largest occupied bat houses, housing thousands of multi-species winged wonders who swoop out each night to satisfy their insatiable appetite for insects.
Source => floridamuseum.ufl.edu

13. Moon Launches from Florida

Next time you're "over the moon," remember to thank Florida for the lift: every astronaut who has ever set foot on the Moon took off aboard a Saturn V rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which now serves as an interactive museum filled with space-race history and NASA relics.
Source => kennedyspacecenter.com