Record Tourism / Cheaper Prescription Drugs / Top Restaurants

Published: Sat, 02/23/19

1. The Sunshine State welcomed an all-time record number of visitors in 2018 with 126.1 million out-of-state visitors according to VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation. Despite the red tide affecting Florida beaches and Hurricane Michael punching through the Panhandle in October, the state topped its 2017 visitor total by 6.2 percent. - Florida Trend

2. You can plan on eating good when you come to Florida. According to AAA, Florida ranks second in the US for the most Four Diamond restaurants, with 54 out of 656, and fifth in the nation for Five Diamond restaurants, with 3 out of 67. - Sun-Sentinel

3. FedSmith named Florida one of the Top 7 states to retire to on a federal pension. Other states include Georgia, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and S. Dakota. - FedSmith

Set on over 1,200 scenic acres, amongst three spectacular lakes and nature preserves, Lake Ashton offers an unparalleled retirement lifestyle in the heart of Florida! This award winning, gated community is tucked between Tampa and Orlando in the beautiful cities of Winter Haven and Lake Wales. Single-family homes and lots packages from $199,000, new model homes and a full-service sales and design center, Lake Ashton new homebuyers are assured the perfect recipe of luxury and lifestyle.

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4. The Florida Strawberry Festival begins Thursday, February 28. The festival is an 11-day community event celebrating 's Hillsborough County’s strawberry harvest. Each year over 500,000 visitors enjoy the headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, rides, exhibits, and, of course, its strawberry shortcake. - Florida Strawberry Festival

5. Still not quite sure what to make of this one. WalletHub voted Florida the second most “Sinful” state in America. The site ranked all states across 43 key immorality indicators. Nevada claimed the top spot. - WalletHub

6. More than just human Florida residents got the memo about the state’s python elimination program. Check out this massive alligator doing his part to reduce the invasive Burmese python population. - Fox4

The Floridian Club of Sarasota is a unique community custom-tailored to the lifestyle of active adults seeking their next adventure. The spacious, low-density community consists of single-story villas and multi-story bungalows designed for individuals ages 55 and better. With 2-10 year lease options, you are welcome to stay as long as you like and come and go as you please. Perhaps best of all, living at The Floridian Club of Sarasota includes maintenance both inside and outside of your home as well as a full-time on-site Activities Coordinator dedicated to making sure the social opportunities are abundant daily.

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7. So you buy a house in Florida and hire a home inspector. What can you expect them to find? Repair Pricer, a repair cost company, drew estimates from 50,000 home inspections of the top ten common home defects and the corresponding price for repair as well as the top five most expensive repairs. - Florida Realtors

8. Prescription drugs in Florida might be about to get a whole lot cheaper. That's if Florida's new governor Ron DeSantis gets his way. He was in The Villages this week to announce his plans to import FDA-approved drugs from Canada. - WFTV

9. The temps are still just right for Florida camping. Florida travel writer, Julio Poletti, lists his top eight camping spots in South Florida and beyond. - Herald-Tribune

10. Last but not least this week, any Golden Girls fans out there? Fans of the hit '80s sitcom will get a chance to take a cruise next year based entirely on the show. - NBC6

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