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Mention Florida and most people conjure up imagines of palm trees, sandy white beaches and Mickey Mouse, so it's no surprise that America's Sunshine State is one of the most popular destinations for expats.

Florida is mainland USA's southernmost state. It is bordered by Georgia to the north and Alabama to the west. Much of the state forms a large peninsula, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Florida is a stone's throw from the Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, making it a popular port of call with many cruise lines and an ideal base for exploring the Caribbean.

Florida has the fourth highest population of all of the US states; as of 2008, the population was approximately 18.3 million people. The capital of Florida is Tallahassee, which is located in Leon County in the northwest of the state. The Tallahassee metropolitan area has a population of approximately 350,000 people. Florida's largest city is Jacksonville (with over 800,000 people), followed by Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando rounding out the top five.

Florida has 67 counties and four major regions, each with a distinct geography and personality of their own. The Panhandle borders Alabama and consists of the cities of Tallahassee, Pensacola and Panama City and boasts the mystical-sounding Emerald Coast and Forgotten Coast. In North Florida, you'll find Jacksonville; the historic city of St. Augustine; Ocala National Forest; and the Nature Coast, located on the Gulf side of the state. The landscape in Florida's northern regions is mostly dominated by farmland and pine trees. Further south, Florida is more urban. Central Florida is home to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Universal Studios Florida, Kennedy Space Center, and Daytona International Speedway, among other world-famous attractions. South Florida is famous for its beaches (particularly those in the Miami area, on the Gold Coast); the Everglades; and the tropical beauty of the Florida Keys, a chain of about 1700 islands.

Most expats are drawn to the coastal regions of Florida, especially the Gold Coast, which stretches from Palm Beach to Miami. The Florida Suncoast, which consists of the towns of St. Petersburg, Tampa, Sarasota, Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach, Venice, and Naples, is another expat hot spot. Inland, Orlando and its suburbs is a popular place to live, especially for families with young children.

Despite its location within the southeastern region of the US, Florida is not, overall, culturally Southern. While the northern regions of Florida still cling to Southern traditions, the rest of the state has its own unique culture that is reflective of its diverse population.

Floridians are generally very welcoming to newcomers, so expats and retirees usually do not have any difficulties integrating into their new communities.

While English is the first language of most Floridians, Florida's proximity to Cuba, Mexico and the rest of Latin America means that there is a large Spanish-speaking population in the state, especially in Miami.

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