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9 Things Everyone In Florida Should Avoid At All Costs

Highlights potential risks and nuisances to avoid when visiting or relocating to Florida.

Updated Jun 12, 2024

Written by 

Victoria Winkler

Planning a trip or considering relocating to Florida? While Florida offers many attractions and beautiful sights, there are a few things to avoid in Florida that you should be aware of. This guide will reveal some potential risks and nuisances that you might encounter, making you well-prepared and as resilient as the locals who navigate these challenges daily.

1. Hurricanes

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By NOAA / National Climatic Data Center [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

If you don't know when hurricane season is in Florida this is the first thing to know before visiting. The hurricane season runs from June 1 until November 30, which is quite a long time.

2. Gators

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US Fish and Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons

Be careful where you hike and go swimming, alligators are a real danger here!

3. Sinkholes

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"Sinkhole" by Scott Ehardt - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Or are we just sinking into the ocean?

4. Sharks

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Flickr/Travelbag Ltd

Shark attacks are too common for comfort on some of our beaches. Taking a sunset dolphin cruise is much safer...

5. Mosquitoes

Close-up of a mosquito perched on human skin, showcasing its detailed body and long legs.
Flickr/John Tann

Mosquitos are one of those bad things about Florida that everyone can agree on. Every year reports of West Nile Virus on the news have us breaking out the OFF.

6. Palmetto Bugs

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Gary Alpert via commons.wikimedia.org

They're like the Florida version of snow. They seem to fall from the sky, but more often in the summer rather than the winter. Just looking at this one gives me the creeps.

7. Parking in direct sunlight

A tree-lined sidewalk next to a row of parked cars in a sunny, green area.
"Parking lot landscaped with trees" by TriviaKing at English Wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Parking is direct sun is one of those things we know not to do in Florida. And we desperately hope our kids haven't forgotten any crayons in the car lately.

8. Ants

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commons.wikimedia.org/Carlos Ponte

Oh boy, do we have bugs covered in Florida.

9. Sunburn

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Flickr/Phil Kates

Ouch. This can happen even to the best of us when you're this close to the sun!

What are some other things to avoid in Florida or be prepared for in the Sunshine State? Let us know in the comments!

Now for the good parts of Florida. Check out the best things about living in Florida. And for a laugh, check out some Florida laws to know before visiting. (Be careful where you sing and what you are wearing...)

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/florida/crazy-laws-fl/

For more fascinating fun facts about Florida, check out this video about local myth and legends in Florida:

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