Things to do / Travel Guide
South Florida has a Spanish heritage, which is reflected in many of its place names. In Dade County, about half of the population is either Latin American or Caribbean. Other than the Miami metro area, where Spanish is largely spoken, the rest of South Florida is largely Caucasian, speaking mainly English.
The bulk of the population, almost 5½ million, live in the three most populated counties of this region (and of the whole state): Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. These three counties are all located off the Atlantic Coast.
In addition to sizeable African American and Jewish populations in the region, there is also another notable ethnic group in the Native American population (mostly Seminoles and Miccosukee) which resides on tribal lands in the region, including in the Everglades. Many residents of the South Florida region, particularly in the Gold Coast, are transplanted retirees, mostly former residents of the rest of the United States, especially the New York City metro area.
Except for in Dade County, most of the South Florida population is Caucasian. In Dade County, about half of the population is either Latin American (mostly Cuban) or Caribbean. There is also a sizeable African-American population in the region as well as a large Jewish community in the Miami and Gold Coast areas.
While the region was once predominately made up of senior citizens, it is now a mix of all ages, including families. There is a very strong New York influence in the Gold Coast. For the most part, the people are much more Yankee (northerners) than Southerner, despite the region's geographic location.
The main tourist-frequent areas are primarily located by the coastline. The more inland you go, where the many suburbs are, the fewer tourists you'll find.
Wherever you go in the region, with the exception of downtown Miami, the lifestyle of the locals is fairly relaxed and informal. In the Keys - especially Key West - you'll find a lifestyle ranging from laid-back to full counter-culture.
In the Miami area and the downtown areas of Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, the locals like to enjoy the nightlife.
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