Florida's Eight Geographic Regions

Florida is commonly divided into eight regions:

1. Northwest (Panhandle): Emerald Coast beaches, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Destin.
2. North Central: Springs, forests, Gainesville, Ocala, St. Augustine (historic).
3. West Central: Tampa Bay area – Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater, Sarasota.
4. Central: Orlando theme parks (Disney, Universal), Kissimmee, Lakeland.
5. East Central: Space Coast – Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, Vero Beach.
6. South Central: Cattle/citrus country – Fort Myers, Naples, Port St. Lucie.
7. Southeast: Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach metro – international culture, beaches.
8. Southwest: Everglades, Florida Keys (Key West), Gulf Coast islands (Marco Island, Sanibel).

Each offers distinct landscapes, economies, and lifestyles.