Florida Life

Take a Walk! According to author and Florida hiker Sandra Friend, there are so many places to take in Florida’s natural beauty on foot that you could spend a lifetime taking one step in front of the other and never grow tired. Having written over 2500 pages on the subject and completed over 600 hikes, Friend is a trustworthy source on where to set foot in the Sunshine state. Friend’s website, www.floridahikes.com contains a wealth of information and personal touches as to where the best p... Read Full Post

Under the "My Safe Florida Home Program" Florida homeowners stand to save some money on their homeowner's insurance premiums. The My Safe Florida Home program was designed to help Floridian homeowners learn how to harden their homes to better protect themselves and their families from windstorm damage. By registering at the website below you can sign up for a free inspection which is valid only on single-family, site-built homes. An certified inspector will come out to the home and conduct th... Read Full Post

Largo, just south of Clearwater, in the Tampa Bay area of Floirda has strong community pride. A page on their city website states: "Help Shape Your Largo". It's a page where you can go and take a survey answering specific questions about Largo and how you would like to see it shaped in the coming years. The City of Largo is working toward developing a community brand. They are trying to get a stronger identity with the Tampa Bay Community. When you take the survey you will be asked a series o... Read Full Post

Recently, Zagat surveyed more than 7,000 frequent fliers who ranked large U.S. airports on quality and service. Zagat has been in the business of surveying for over 26 years in more than 70 markets. In their recent survey project for airports in the United States, Tampa International Airport came in the number 1 spot. The survey covered 7,498 frequent fliers who rated 84 airlines and 46 major airports. Each airline was separately rated on its premium and economy service for both domestic and ... Read Full Post

The Florida Association of Realtors published some interesting stats today. They say that according to economist Hank Fishkind, Florida's population growth will grow next year (2007) by 325,000 people. (The U.S Census Bureau latest estimate for total population in Florida stands at roughly 18 million people.) Recorded statistics from the years 2000 to 2006 average an additional 350,000 people per year are added to the Florida population. New births are included in those figures but only accou... Read Full Post

Many Floridians travel out of Florida and to the north over the holidays to see family or snow. Thanksgiving and Christmas is always what you make it, but many people have a hard time associating Santa Claus with 80 degree weather. If your holiday plans take you away from Florida, be sure to take some simple precautions for your home so that it is not obvious you are away. 1. Grass grows year round in Florida, make sure your lawn is getting mowed while you are gone. 2. Stop your mail delivery... Read Full Post

If one wants to make money long term, then real estate is always the preferred investment option. Investing in real estate in Florida, an investment hot spot, is a different ball game altogether. There can be returns of up to 30% on investment in properties and given that this state lies at the very pinnacle of the real estate food chain, things are bound to look up even more. The key to being successful in such an investment is to know what you are getting into before you are knee deep in it... Read Full Post

Did you know that Florida is home to over 150 state parks? One of the most uniquely beautiful is Bahia Honda, located in the Florida Keys. Home to one of the best beaches in the United States and the entire world, Bahia Honda welcomes thousands of visitors each year. As with a lot of the best places to visit in Florida, we once again must pause and thank Henry Flagler for putting this beautiful landmark on the destination list of many travelers to the Sunshine State. During the construction o... Read Full Post

Moving to a new home is an exciting experience. When the move means you will be relocating to a new area, the experience becomes an adventure. There won't just be a new house to settle into, but new roads to navigate, new schools to research, new people to meet, new towns to explore -- a whole new world for you and your family. Then there’s the daunting task of packing and organizing the move. One could get pretty overwhelmed in a short period of time. Below are some suggestions and tips to... Read Full Post

If you're new to Florida, then you've probably already realized how diverse culture is in the Sunshine State. The cost of living, schools, and people will vary from the Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama connections of life in the Panhandle, to Latino influences in the most southern tip. The good news about getting adjusted to life in Florida is that you're not alone. Most of the people who live there have relocated from another state; therefore, you are surrounded by millions who know exactly wh... Read Full Post