I don’t think you can say that Florida is far from the Caribbean if you have lived in the state for long.
Florida has some beaches with the Caribbean atmosphere.
In addition, I believe there are many similarities between Key West, a good part of South Florida, and the Caribbean.
However, none of these places extended to the Caribbean Sea.
The Florida peninsula and Keys share borders with the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
What Part of Florida is Most Tropical?
The Florida Keys are the most tropical in the state, and is regarded as America’s tropical paradise.
Whenever I crave for a tropical vacation that would cost me less, I head to the Keys.
The Keys provides me with a vibrant history and quirky culture.
The Keys is located some distances away from Cuba.
Now, my question is where the name Caribbean came from.
Which of the Caribbean belongs to America?
I
s there any Caribbean culture practiced in Florida?
I will give you the answers to these questions as I progress.
Caribbean Blues
What does the Caribbean mean?
Firstly, the big body of water known as the Caribbean Sea shares border with the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side and the Gulf of Mexico on the northwestern side.
It is important to know that the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea joined with other bodies of water to form the same watershed area, but the Caribbean Sea does not include the Gulf of Mexico.
It is a sea on its own.
Secondly, the Caribbean is a part of the geographical territory called the Americas.
Hispaniola and Cuba are Caribbean islands that are close neighbors to North America, while other Caribbean islands like Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, the ABC islands are close neighbors to South America.
The entire region has the same latitudes as Central America.
People see the Caribbean as a collection of tropical islands, they do not know that the whole region is larger than just a side of it.
However, there are reasons behind the popularity of the tropical Caribbean islands.
They are among the most quiet places in the world.
The Caribbean islands consist of the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles.
The big islands in the northwestern side of the Caribbean like Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico, make up the Greater Antilles.
The smaller islands such as St.
Kitts, Anguilla, St.
Maarten, and St.
Lucia at the eastern side of the Caribbean make up the Lesser Antilles.
Many Caribbean islands are foreign territories.
For instance, the ABC islands and a part of St.
Maarten belong to the Dutch.
Martinique.
St.
Barts, Guadeloupe, and the remaining side of St.
Maarten belong to the French.
Jamaica belonged to England initially, but the citizens got their independence in 1962.
Today the island belongs to its citizens.
Although Florida and the Caribbean are close neighbors, Florida is not a part of the Caribbean.
Florida and its Keys do not in any way extend to the Caribbean Sea or region.
The whole of Florida belongs to North America notwithstanding its beaches are tropical.
Although Florida is not among the Caribbean, it does not stop it from being tropical.
Florida is where you go for warm weather, blue skies, and sunny beaches.
Where is the tropical part of Florida?
Miami-Dade, Collier, Monroe, Broward, and Palm Beach counties have tropical climates.
Furthermore, a small eastern part like Orlando and Jacksonville enjoys at least 2,400 sunshine annually.
Generally, you will find the tropical zone at the southern side of a west-east line that runs from Bradenton, at the southern side of Lake Okeechobee shore to Vero Beach.
The places on the northern side of this line are subtropical.
The entire of Florida experiences summer the same way.
Do you want to spend your vacation in a place in America that has the cool environment of the Caribbean; you can get that in so many places in Florida.
I will highlight some of the best places for you.
Bahia Honda State Park
The blue waters of this park are nice for pictures.
It has a perfect tropical atmosphere, warm weather, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
The park is vacationers’ choice, so make your booking now.
Captiva Island
Captiva island is adjacent to Sanibel.
It features unique vibes and nice sandy beaches.
This island is among the hidden treasures of Florida.
The Florida Keys
This is a side of Florida I cannot afford to miss.
The Keys look every inch Caribbean.
You will see beautiful beaches, clear blue waters, and a laid-back atmosphere in Islamorada and Key Largo.
You will find Key West on the southern side.
It is the best destination for vacationers that want total relaxation in a Caribbean atmosphere.
Florida and the Caribbean Culture
Tropical food, fruity drinks, sandy beaches, and easy-going life are the things that always come to mind when Caribbean culture is mentioned.
It is only in the Keys I can l witness this culture in Florida.
Everything about the Keys is different from the rest of the other coastal towns of Florida.
The easygoing lifestyle on the Keys is different from the lifestyle on the Florida mainland.
If Caribbean kind of restaurants, food, and drinks are what you mean by Caribbean culture, they are plenty everywhere in Florida.
You will see different kinds of Caribbean businesses in populated cities in Florida.
You will see Cuban and Jamaican dishes all over Florida.
Most of the people living inSouth Florida either have extended families in the Caribbean or are migrants themselves.
This made real Caribbean Culture be seen everywhere in South Florida.
Where is the most tropical water in Florida?
Bahia Honda Beach has the most tropical water in Florida.
The beach is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Florida.
It is in the lower Keys of Florida and some of its waters are the clearest.
No one lives on the island, so visiting there is getting closer to nature.
You will feel a more tropical climate in the southern regions of Florida because it is nearer to the equator, but the climate in central and northern regions is Subtropical.
The high temperature of Florida during the summertime is a result of its high humidity.
