A practical guide that explains and translates the terms used in the history, gastronomy, flora, fauna and the most prominent characters of the State of Florida.
FOOD
Apalachicola Oysters (oysters, oysters): From northwest Florida come these exquisite oysters, delicious raw in their shell or fried, roasted, in stews or in an irresistible seafood soup. 90% of Florida’s oysters are harvested in Apalachicola.
Catfish: While there are several types of Florida catfish, they are all easily recognizable by the hirsute appendages they have around their mouths, which resemble cat whiskers. Channel catfish is considered one of the tastiest freshwater fish thanks to its sweet white and tender flesh.
Citrus: Florida is known not only for its sun-ripened oranges, but also for its tangerines, grapefruits, lemons and limes. Enjoy these delicious juicy fruits natural or creatively prepared in the form of sour seafood sauce, savory sauce or tropical ice cream.
Conch Fritters: “Conch” (pronounced “konk”) is a sea snail or edible marine mollusk found in the warmer waters of the sea. Snail meat has a mild, sweet clam-like flavor and is commonly ground and mixed with spices, meatballs formed, and battered to make fritters. It is also served in a tomato-based or raw soup, marinated in salad to make a “conch salad”. Snail fritters, as well as other presentations of this seafood, are extremely popular in South Florida and especially in the Keys.
Cuban Sandwich: This tasty toasted sandwich is a favorite food of South Florida, where many Cuban immigrants settled since the early twentieth century. It is made with slices of pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickled pickles, ingredients that are placed inside a Cuban bread spread with butter, then heated and crushed with a sandwich press.
Datil Pepper (Chile or chili): Spicy, spicy, spicy! The Menorcans migrated to St. Augustine in 1777 and brought the seeds of their yellow pepper, one of the most potent on the planet. Today it is a key ingredient of the cuisine of the St. Augustine.
“Floribbean” Cuisine: Florida’s melting pot of cultures has given rise to this succulent hybrid cuisine, a combination of Caribbean and Latin American flavors, classic American and European traditions, fresh Florida produce and the marine specialties of the sun-shining state.
Largemouth Bass: Perhaps the most famous type of black bass, this is not only the most popular fish in Florida’s freshwater fishery but is also a mouth-watering snack. The meat is white, tender and low in oil, and the best preparations are fried or baked.
Florida Lobster: This warm-water crustacean is also called barbed or rock lobster. Unlike its New England counterpart, it has no claws, so most of its succulent meat is on the tail.
Grits: Similar in texture to pudding, “grits” are dried, ground and husked ears of corn that are boiled and served with eggs as part of a good traditional Southern breakfast. The flavor is enhanced with salt, pepper and butter and is a good complement to eggs. Cheese grits are a classic ingredient of Southern food along with fried fish and hush puppies (see below).
Grouper: A firm white-fleshed fish that is delicious roasted, “blackened” with spices, or fried into strips called grouper fingers. The fresh grouper sandwich is a favorite snack for Floridians and visitors alike.
Gulf Shrimp: Our Gulf of Mexico shrimp is tender and sweet. Everywhere you will find shrimp cocktail, scampi al mojo de ajo or shrimp with lime al tequila, served to your liking.
Hush Puppies: These crispy torpedo-shaped cornmeal fritters are a Southern tradition and are usually served at lunch or dinner with fish, oysters, shrimp or fried scallops.
Key Lime Pie: Key limes, a tiny sour yellow variety are what give this foot that flavor of sun and tropical breeze. Don’t be fooled by imitations; the real lime cake of the Keys is yellow, not green!
Mahi Mahi: Also known as Dorado or Dolphinfish (not to be confused with porpoise), mahi mahi is a lean and sweet fish. You can enjoy it golden, baked or roasted.
Rock Shrimp: A succulent and delicate shrimp from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Rock shrimp is a deep-water variety of pink, brown and white shrimp, is smaller, cooks faster and tastes like lobster.
Snapper: The locals call him Snapper and with him they prepare tasty steaks prepared in various ways: pan-browned, stuffed with crab meat, encrusted with cashews, roasted, baked or grilled. Firm, sweet and succulent, its flavor inspires endless recipes and culinary presentations.
Stone Crab Claws: The custom is to remove the tongs from the crustaceans and return them to the sea. The claws are a celebrated seasonal delicacy that can be enjoyed from October to May.
FAUNA
Alligator (Cayman): This is the official reptile of the state, averages 1.80 to 3.60 meters long and can run with incredible speed. Alligators can be seen safely in many of our parks and wildlife refuges. Keep a safe distance from these animals.
Anhinga: Nicknamed “the snake bird”, this enigmatic creature swims with its body submerged, revealing only its head and its long snake-like neck on water. It uses its pointed yellow beak to harpoon fish when swimming underwater in rivers, swamps and ponds.
Armadillo: If at night you hear a sound like that of an elephant crushing palm leaves with its legs, it is very likely that it is a 2-kilo armadillo. Armadillos look like small dinosaurs, and thousands of years ago they were one meter tall and weighed about 270 kilos. (Nowadays mature armadillos are only about 40 cm long, not including the tail, and weigh 3.5 to 8 kilos.)
Bald Eagle: A national symbol since 1782, this true American bird is the only eagle native to North America. The Southern variety prefers to nest in Florida — the Prairie Lakes Unit of Three Lakes — has the highest concentration of nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states.
Bobcat (Red Lynx): The English name of the red lynx is “bobcat”, for its tail in the form of “bob” or atusada. These fascinating felines are larger than domestic cats and have very sharp teeth and claws. The red lynx prefers wooded or grassy areas, but can be seen alongside lonely roads at dawn and dusk, hunting small rodents.
Crocodile (Crocodile): They have narrower snouts than alligators, become somewhat larger and avoid contact with humans. These rare prehistoric animals live in the Everglades and the Upper Keys.
Dolphin : Warm-blooded mammals that breathe out of water, with communication skills and social style. They have a perpetual smile and like to fiddle along the fast boats. You can see them from our shores or from boats between Pensacola and the Florida Keys. The dolphin is the state’s saltwater mammal.
Double-crested Cormorant: Similar in appearance to the anhinga, the cormorant is related to the pelican and prefers salt water to fresh water. The pouch of its throat expands to be able to receive a fish up to 30 cm long! These amazing birds can dive up to 30 meters and stay underwater for more than a minute.
Flamingo (Flamenco): It’s hard to imagine Florida without flamingos; They are even the symbol of the state lottery. But the truth is that you will have more chance to see the variety of plastic on a lawn than the real bird in the wild. You’ll see plenty of flamingos in state parks, sanctuaries, and zoos, where these non-Florida birds have found happy homes.
Florida Black Bear: This beauty has curved claws to climb the trees of the national forests. Black bears eat honey, bees, fruits, nuts, twigs and small animals. See them safely from the walkway at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples. Keep a safe distance from these animals and never feed them.
Florida Panther: Emblematic animal of the state of Florida, this cunning feline is actually a subspecies of the puma. Although elusive and rarely seen, panthers are generally found in the pine forests, coastal bushes and mixed swamp forests of the Everglades as well as adjacent wildlife refuges, including, of course, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Naples.
Florida Sandhill Crane: This bird is more than a meter tall and has a hauntingly beautiful squawk. He is a non-immigrant resident who can be seen in both urban and rural areas. Florida cranes form a pair for life and live about 30 years.
Florida Scrub Jay (Blue Magpie): Avian species that lives exclusively in the state of Florida. It is about 30 cm long from head to tail, its crestless head is blue, as are its wings and long loose tail feathers. It is protected by the federal government and can be seen in state parks, forests and wildlife refuges.
Gopher Tortoise: Land turtles look like sea turtles, but they can’t swim… don’t “throw” them back into the water! Burrows burrowing in sandy soils are used by more than 350 species of animals, including weasels, rabbits and vipers.
Great Blue Heron: With its long neck, this royal bird, gangly and large, reaches 1.20 meters in height, and a wingspan of 1.80 meters. It uses its large beak to harpoon fish, frogs and vipers in rivers, swamps and lakes. Not only is the heron blue, its eggs are blue too.
Horse Conch (Conch): It is native to the marine waters surrounding Florida and can grow to a length of more than 60 cm. Called “Horse Conch”, it is dyed with orange dyes and acts as an external skeleton of the soft-bodied animals that inhabit it.
Deer Cay (Deer): At a distance you could confuse these tiny deer with dogs, because they weigh only 40 kilos and measure nothing more than 75 cm in height. Most deer live in endangered coastal hills in the Key Deer National Refuge Keys in Big Pine Cayo, but they can also be seen in neighboring cays. They are most active at dawn and dusk.
Manatee (Manatee): These gentle vegetarians, also known as “sea cows”, grow up to 3 meters long, weigh about 450 kilos and are related to the elephant. Manatees seek warm waters in the winter and can be seen in rivers, inlets, springs and near power plants. The manatee is the state’s marine mammal. When sailing, be aware of areas marked “NO WAKE,” and if you’re swimming or going on a snorkeling tour to see the animals, be sure to obey the rules related to contact with manatees.
Mockingbird: It lives here all year round and is famous for imitating the songs of other birds. Its Latin name means “imitator of many languages”.
Northern Right Whale: The magnificent sight of a whale splashing in the water is not something that is easily associated with Florida. But right whales chose these northeastern coastal waters, almost exclusively, to give birth in the winter months. They are one of the most endangered species of large mammals in the world.
Opossum (Weasel): Florida’s only marsupials, the size of a domestic cat, have long hairless tails, small ears and pink noses. If they are threatened, they become totally soft and look dead, hence the saying “become the weasel”. They are common in residential and suburban areas, and are most active at night.
Osprey (Seahawks): These birds of prey can be found wherever there are fish. They are such expert fishermen that in centuries past it was believed that they simply cast a spell that made the fish belly up. This bird is easily recognized by its impressive wingspan and white internal plumage.
Pelican: The large pouch under their beak, not only serves to identify them among all seabirds, but to accumulate 3 times the amount of fish that fits in their stomach. These robust birds live on beaches, waterways and at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Vero Beach.
Roseate Spoonbill (Roseate Spoonbill or Duck-faced Flamingo): This beautiful native lives mainly in South Florida. The “real” pink bird has a long flattened beak with a rounded spoon-like tip and its body is bright fuchsia with a red patch on the shoulder and, aspects that make this bird unrepeatable.
Sailfish: It can reach speeds of 95 km/h. The size and weight of the specimens found in the waters of Florida reach 2 meters and 50 kilos. In 1934, Floridian author Ernest Hemingway (see “Historical Figures” below) caught a 2.80-meter sailfish off Key West.
Sea Turtle: Mothers travel great distances to return to nesting grounds on both coasts of Florida, although most are found from Titusville to Sebastian Inlet. Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, which runs from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso, has the densest population of sea turtle nests in the Western Hemisphere.
Sharks: Several species are native to Florida, from the Cat and Lemon to the Hammerhead and Sardinian. Sharks are dangerous animals and should be avoided, although most species are not aggressive against humans and will avoid coming into contact. Deaths from unprovoked shark attacks are rare, according to statistics compiled by the International Shark Attack File. The odds of having an interaction with a shark can be reduced if one stays close to shore, avoids water during darkness or gloom, as well as wearing shiny jewelry and not entering the water if you bleed from a wound. For more information on sharks, visit the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Department of Ichthyology website: www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks.
FLORA
Australian Pine: The towering pine trees that adorn many of Florida’s beaches and coastal areas provide a romantic backdrop and refreshing shade. Unfortunately they are not native, they were brought here in the late twentieth century, had a negative impact on the native flora and fauna, and that is why their cultivation was prohibited.
Azalea: With spectacular masses of flowers and colors, the shape of this plant and its evergreen foliage make it a preferred plant for landscaping. Azaleas grow abundantly throughout Florida, except in the southern tip of the state. In Southwest Florida, brightly flowering beds appear during the fall months, while in the center and north of the state they are seen from winter to spring. Bougainvillea (Bugambilia, Buganvilia, Trinitaria, Verania or Santa Rita): This tropical vine blooms in the southern half of Florida and glows in color almost year-round, particularly in winter and spring. Its flowers can be bright fuchsia, deep purple, vermilion or white. Bougainvillea/Santa Rita is also known as the paper flower.
Epiphytes (Epiphytes or Lichen): Also known as epiphytes grow on the branches, trunks and leaves of trees, and include orchids, cacti, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. They only need air and rain to nourish themselves.
Frangipani (Franchipán or Plumeria rubra): Also called a temple shrub, the franchipan has intensely fragrant spiral-shaped flowers that appear from spring to fall. The flowers of these lovely shrubs that grow up to about 6 meters tall are known worldwide because they are used on Hawaiian leis.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus): These tropical beauties produce bright flowers in a variety of colors. The most common are scarlet, yellow and orange, but they have a wide range of color combinations and hues. Although individual flowers usually last as little as one or two days, the flowering season covers almost the entire year.
Gumbo Limbo (Nursery or Tourist Tree): Its feather-like leaves are mounted on an attractive bright red rough bark. Fast-growing and salt-tolerant, it grows strongly with little or no care. In South Florida it is called “the tourist tree” because of its peeling red skin, a not-so-subtle reminder for visitors to apply sunscreen every day!
Live Oak: One of the trees most closely related to the south, especially when covered in Spanish moss (see below). These trees that offer a magnificently wide shade, can grow up to 15 meters in height with a branch extension of more than 45 meters. Slow-growing but long-lived, perennial oaks comprise most of Florida’s historic trees, some of them more than 300 years old. The acorns they produce are rich food for birds, squirrels and other animals.
Longleaf Pine: A majestic tall tree, with perennial foliage in the form of fine needles. Marsh pines can reach heights of 30 meters and live for hundreds of years. In the past they covered millions of hectares, but land development, invasive plants and other factors greatly reduced their scope; However, reforestation efforts promise to provide more of these splendid trees in the future.
Magnolia Tree: The leaves of this evergreen tree are as attractive as its striking white flowers; long, thick and a bright dark green whose underside is velvety. Its fragrant flowers are beautiful as a picture and appear in the spring and summer. The tree can grow from 20 to 30 meters in height, with a trunk 60 to 90 cm in diameter.
Oleander (Oleander or laurel): Oleander is a flowering bush or sapling with long dark green leaves and a large number of single or double flowers, sometimes fragrant, in shades of white, pink, red or yellow. They are found along many of Florida’s roads and highways, and make a pleasant presence while driving.
Orange Blossom : White flower of waxed appearance, with exquisite fragrance, orange blossom is the flower of the state. Millions of these flowers perfume the air of Central and South Florida each spring when the orange trees are in bloom.
Red Mangroves: Of the three types of mangrove that grow in Florida, red is the best known. It normally grows along the water’s edges and can be easily identified by its reddish, tangled roots. These roots have given mangroves the nickname “walking trees” because they appear to be standing or walking on the surface of the water.
Sabal Palm : It grows in any type of soil and is found throughout the state. It is also called cabbage palm because it is sometimes harvested to take advantage of the tender hearts of heart of palm, a tasty artichoke-like vegetable served in salads.
Saw Palmetto: A hardy fan palm tree that can grow in clusters of 6 meters or more in diameter, the Florida palm tree is found in very diverse places, from seaside sand dunes and dry brush to pine forests, coastal hills, humid forests and swamps.
Sea Grapes: This native, salt-tolerant plant grows on many of Florida’s beaches and helps stabilize sand dunes. It has thick round leaves and produces clusters of grape-like fruits that are consumed by various birds and mammals. Its protective mantle provides a habitat for animals such as songbirds, lizards, land turtles and sea mice.
Sea Oats: They are wild silky-stemmed plants found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They are the most common grass plants in the dunes and help protect Florida’s beach dunes from erosion.
Spanish Moss: The gray lace-shaped clusters that cover the oaks are known as Spanish moss. They get their nourishment from the air and rain, not from trees.
Yellow Alamanda : An intricate vine of prolific flowering, it unfolds large bright yellow flowers. It is seen cascading down over garden walls or fences. It is also called golden trumpet, angel trumpet or golden button.
HISTORICAL FIGURES
Addison Mizner: He changed the face of Florida architecture by introducing a combination of Spanish and Italian styles known as the Mediterranean Renaissance. His homes, hotels and clubs define the style of Palm Beach and Boca Raton and, over the years, he has influenced other architects in creating the romantic arches, flattened exteriors, front porches, red tiles and flowery patios we see throughout the state.
Andrew Jackson: As a U.S. Army general, Andrew Jackson led troops into Florida in 1812 to destroy the peaceful Indian villages and African-American settlements of Alachua County. He launched the First Seminole War in 1817, burning the villages of that ethnic group and seizing St. Marks and Pensacola. As president he authored the “Indian Elimination Act” of 1830, which expelled or killed nearly all Indians except a certain group whose descendants maintain reservations in Florida today. (See “Miccosukee Tribe” and “Seminole Tribe” below.)
Ernest Hemingway: One of America’s great adventurers and writers, Ernest “Papa” Hemingway wrote many of his works from his home in Key West. His works are considered classics of American literature and include For Whom the Bell Tolls, To Have and Not to Have, and The Old Man and the Sea, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. His Key West mansion, with its lush gardens and “pet fountain” now comprise an unmissable museum that is also home to some 60 cats, many of them descendants of his original six-toed felines.
Henry Flagler: Key figure for the development of the east coast of Florida and particularly St. Augustine, Flagler organized the construction of the Florida East Coast Railroad, which stretched from South Daytona to Palm Beach and Key West. He established steamship lines, dredged the port of Miami, and built palatial hotels. He also made anonymous donations to build schools, churches and hospitals. Flagler invested more than $40 million in Florida and, more than anyone else, was the author of its growth.
Hernando de Soto: Spanish conquistador who explored Florida and the Southeastern United States in search of gold and silver. In 1539 he landed on the west coast with 600 troops, servants and staff, 200 horses and a party of mercenaries. From here, the army set about subduing the natives and confiscating their valuables. De Soto died without finding the riches he sought.
Jose Gaspar: “Gasparilla,” as he called himself, was one of the most notorious pirates to hit Florida’s west coast. Its undiscovered treasure is thought to be buried on its shores. Captiva Island owes its name to the women it held captive there, and Tampa celebrates the annual Gasparilla Festival, which includes a fascinating depiction of the daredevil pirate’s invasion.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings: He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Yearling and several important books about Florida’s early days. She is considered one of the best writers in the state. His 27.5-acre property on Cross Creek is a microcosm of the country, culture, and Cracker architecture that characterizes ancient Florida (see “Miscellaneous” below). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Miccosukee Tribe (Miccosukee tribe): The Miccosukee and Seminole Indians (see below) were among the first to settle in Florida in the 1700s. Constantly forced to disperse in different areas of the state, the Miccosukees are currently a small but thriving community living on three reservations in and near the Everglades. Visit The Miccosukee Village in the heart of the Everglades to learn about the history, culture and lifestyle of this tribe through craft demonstrations, a museum, airboat rides and other activities.
Ponce de Leon: Florida owes its name to this Spanish soldier and colonial governor. He discovered the peninsula during Easter in 1513 and named it “La Florida” in honor of the Spanish Easter celebration: “Pascua Florida” (flower festival). Ponce de Leon explored the entire state in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth, and allegedly found it in St. Augustine.
Seminole Tribe: The Seminole Indians of Florida are descendants of the 300 who managed to elude capture undertaken by the U.S. military. in the IXX century. Today, more than 2,000 Seminoles live on six reservations in the state, located in Hollywood, Big Cypress, Brighton, Immokalee, Fort Pierce and Tampa.
GEOGRAPHY
Alligator Alley: It means Alligators Alley and is also called Everglades Parkway, a nickname given to the section of Interstate 75 that runs between Naples on Florida’s west coast to near Fort Lauderdale on the east coast. A large portion of the highway runs through the Everglades, and alligators frequent the waterways that run alongside the road.
Bays and Inlets: A bay is a body of water that is partially enclosed by land, but with a wide mouth that allows access to the sea, such as Tampa Bay, Biscayne Bay and Matanzas Bay. An inlet is a small bay or narrow band of water that enters the land or is between two islands, such as Jupiter Inlet, Ponce de Leon Inlet and Venice Inlet.
The Big Bend: Also known as Middle Florida, The Big Bend includes the ten counties that straddle Florida’s two great rivers: the Apalachicola to the west and the Suwannee to the east.
Cultural Coast: Sarasota County in Southwest Florida maintains a thriving calendar of cultural activities that includes ballet, symphony, theater and opera, as well as countless art galleries and museums, including the famous John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Sarasota is also known as the Cultural Capital of Florida.
Emerald Coast (Costa Smeralda): The deep emerald green waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico along Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island provide a spectacular contrast against its sugar-white beaches.
First Coast: Headquarters of St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States, The First Coast stretches south of Georgia and Fernandina Beach to Ormond Beach, and includes the quaint seaside town of Amelia Island.
Gold Coast: The area from Jupiter to Miami is known as The Gold Coast and glows with movie stars, musicians and other representatives of the rich and famous. With their sunny beaches, world-class shopping malls and fabulous nightlife, these cities shine for the fascinating things to see and do.
Intracoastal Waterway (ICW): It is a system of artificial and natural channels that give way in protected conditions for commercial and pleasure boats. Florida’s ICW stretches across the state on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and is a delightful vantage point for exploring coastal communities from a boat. Key or Cayo: A low island, near the coast, formed mostly by sand or coral.
Nature Coast: Due to its abundance of wildlife and natural areas from Bayonet Point to Homosassa Springs and from Crystal River to Steinhatchee. Outdoor recreational activities include golf, snorkeling, swimming, canoeing, and fishing in lakes, rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Overseas Highway: The southernmost stretch of U.S. Highway 1 links the Florida Keys to each other with a series of bridges that offer expansive views of natural beauty and wildlife, brilliant sunrises and spectacular sunsets.
Panhandle: Northwest Florida, generally referred to as the Florida Panhandle, includes the state’s 16 westernmost counties and the cities of Tallahassee (the state capital), Pensacola, and Panama City.
Space Coast: The Space Coast stretches from south of Ormond Beach to Vero Beach on Florida’s east coast, encompassing Daytona Beach, Cocoa Beach, the Canaveral National Coast, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Cape Canaveral, home of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
Sun Coast (Costa del Sol): While this term describes all of Florida’s dazzling coastlines, it refers specifically to the 20 barrier islands in the Clearwater/St. West Central Petersburg of the state. The Costa del Sol includes Fort De Soto Park, recently named the best beach in North America by coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman, also known as “Dr. Beach.”
Tamiami Trail: It is the name of U.S. Highway 41 in Florida, a 437 km north-south extension connecting the cities of Tampa and Miami. Residents simply call it “The Trail.”
The Cays: It refers to the Florida Keys, a row of islands southeast of the Florida peninsula from Key Largo south to Key West.
Treasure Coast: Florida’s Treasure Coast stretches from Vero Beach in the north to Boca Raton in the south and encompasses Martin, St. and Boca Raton counties. Lucie, Indian River and Palm Beach. The name alludes to the gold-laden Spanish galleons thought to have sunk off the coast during the seventeenth and seventeenth centuries. Even today, valuable artifacts from these ships are still being recovered by both amateurs and professional treasure hunters.
SEVERAL
Beach Flag System: The colorful flags seen on Florida beaches serve the purpose of promoting safety by warning beach visitors of water conditions. Blue or green represents calm and safe waters for swimming; Yellow, means minor dangers, such as slight waves or currents; Red, warns of highly dangerous conditions, that the waters are closed to the public; and Violet means the presence of marine pests, which can include jellyfish, rays or dangerous fish. The absence of a flag does not necessarily mean that the water is safe. Check with the beach staff.
Conch: (pronounced “konk”) is not only a substantial marine mollusk (see Conch in “Food”), but it is also the term used to describe the native of West Cay.
Cracker: This term refers to the first settlers of the state, these cowboys who thundered their long whips to herd cattle and oxen. Today it refers to anyone who was born in Florida.
Cracker Architecture: A style created by the first settlers of nineteenth-century Florida that evolved over time from a one-room wooden structure to multiple rooms and structures separated by a “dogtrot” or hallway. The “Cracker” homes have high ceilings, tin roofs, shaded porches and plenty of windows to take advantage of the cool breezes.
Fire Ants: These are big red ants that sting! They create mounds of earth where they make their nests; Do not step on the mounds because that will bother the ants and they will soon bother you! However, if you leave them alone, they are not aggressive.
Green Flash: A flash of emerald green light that can appear on a cloudless horizon at the beginning of sunrise and at the end of sunset. It is called a “flash” because it only lasts a few seconds.
Gulf Stream: Warm and fast, it comes from the ocean off the coast of South Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. As it moves eastward, it forms the North Atlantic Current, which brings to northwestern Europe the temperate temperatures that make flora and fauna grow.
Mosquitoes (Mosquitoes): Annoying and potentially dangerous, mosquitoes are tiny winged insects that carry disease and inject itchy chemicals. They multiply in the heat and humidity and come out in groups during the rainy summer months. They are capable of up to 65 km to just sting you, and their mouths are designed to easily pierce your skin! When outdoors, use insect repellent on your clothes as well as on your skin to prevent biting.
No-see-ums: Although they are known as Sand Flies, these tiny biting insects live on the coasts, especially in the summer months. They are called “no-see-ums” because they are almost invisible; They are so tiny that they can fly through the holes of a mosquito net door or window. But don’t worry, they won’t bother you if you put on insect repellent.
Old Florida: This term describes Florida before theme parks, condominiums and other commercial developments. Old Florida still exists in the state’s small towns and quiet fishing villages, large areas of nature and beautiful state parks. It also encompasses the simplest pleasures, such as watching the sunsets and paddling in gentle rivers.
Red Tide: It’s a periodic massive influx of toxin-producing seaweed, which makes Gulf waters appear red and suffocates fish. People suffering from asthma or other respiratory disorders should avoid areas of red tide, as they can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and difficulty breathing.
Sandspurs: Seeds that look like small spiny spheres. They grow strongly in grassy or sandy areas; Wear shoes to avoid feeling the stinging of their pointed spines.
Snowbird: Anyone who lives here for a season to escape the cold and snow of other parts of the country, as well as birds that migrate south in winter. Snowbirds are usually here from November to April, or from Thanksgiving to Easter.
Stingray Shuffle: Drag your feet as you enter the waters of the Gulf, and you will avoid injuring yourself by accidentally stepping on a poisonous stingray. Rays bury themselves in the shallow waters near the coast and are not aggressive, but will attack if they feel threatened. Shuffling (locals call it stingray shuffle) alerts them to swim out, which fulfills the dual mission of keeping them and you out of harm’s way.
Turtle Walk: Turtle Walk or Watch is a state-organized evening event, which usually occurs in June and July, when the public has an opportunity to observe sea turtles making their nests and laying their eggs on our shores. For the dates of these lookouts, visit https://myfwc.com/seaturtle/.
Victorian/Gingerbread Architecture: An elaborate style that encompasses a number of Victorian-era architectural influences – especially the Queen Anne period – prevalent in Key West. Here you’ll see vibrantly colored homes, some with turrets, flake-like exterior cladding, gabled roofs, and the ornate handcrafted moldings known as “gingerbread.”
Y’all: An expression used when addressing more than one person, this contraction of “you all” is a friendly Southern expression, as when saying “y’all come back!” (We hope you all come back!)
Source: https://www.visitflorida.com/es/articles/2010/january/1447-glosario-de-teacuterminos.html
