What is it like to live in Florida? We asked one person who lives there, Eric Bland, to tell us how he felt about living in a state with lots of theme parks, beaches and restaurants.

Are there lots of hurricanes in Florida?

Yes, it seems the hurricanes grow in number each year. This past hurricane season 2004, there were a few hitting one weekend after the next. Although there was no school or work during these times, there were also periods of time without power.

There are times when the hurricanes are big enough that everyone must evacuate certain areas. When you return home, it may not be there any longer. The main concern is that everyone is safe.

Hurricanes can bring families closer together, so they are not all bad. Once living in Florida for a few years, you get used to the hurricane seasons.

Florida has many theme parks and beaches. Do you have any favourites?

In Florida, boating and beaches are very popular. Many families spend the weekend boating, fishing, diving, and enjoying the large ocean so close by.

Many others attend the beach, which borders the entire state. I enjoy going to the beaches closest to where I live. All the beaches here are nice.

Miami (South) Beach is a big tourist beach in the South Florida area. There are many clubs, shops, and famous people that visit South Beach.

Ft. Lauderdale Beach is another popular beach, that is less expensive, and a little less crowded. It is a popular spring break attraction, along with many other events hosted Air & Boat shows.

Theme parks in Florida are a fun place to spend time. As a kid growing up, I always liked the water slide parks.

Orlando has numerous theme parks including the famous Disney World parks. With so many theme parks there, it can be hard to enjoy them all in one trip. Many theme parks give discount to people who resides in Florida.

Burger King started in Florida, so is all the food nice in Florida?

Food is a big part of the lifestyle in Florida. Going out to dinner is common to many families on a regular basis.

There are many food chains such as Burger King, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Subway on almost every block. Fast food is as popular as gas stations.

There are many varieties of restuarants including Sushi (my personal favorite), Italian, Steak and Barbeque, and many others. There are many resturants overlooking the water along the beach. There are also many sports bar, seafood and boating dock resturants where people travel by boat to go for dinner.

Are there a lot of Spanish people in Florida?

The Spanish culture is heavily populated in the Miami area. Miami's majority population is Spanish, along with many other cultures that make Miami a very diverse place to live. It is a place with large mix of people from many cultural backgrounds.

Is Florida really “the flowery land” as the Spanish settlers described it?

Florida can be considered a land of flowers with all the nice landscapes throughout the state. Many people take great pride in the flowers, trees, and overall landscape around their homes. Mango trees are one of my favorites.

Golfing is also another popular event in south florida. There are hundreds of golf courses throughout the state.

One of the greatest parts of florida is the sunny weather, and warm temperature year round. That is why Florida is known as the "The Sunshine State".