Margaritaville or California dreaming? Does Sunshine State top Golden State?

Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post
·3 min read
Is it Florida? Or is it California? Both have many lighthouses, and a number of other common features. But the two states' governors say they are radically different.
Is it Florida? Or is it California? Both have many lighthouses, and a number of other common features. But the two states' governors say they are radically different.
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The Ron DeSantis-Gavin Newsom feud begs the question: Which state is better?

Tourism

Let's start here, since it's such a big industry. In prep-pandemic 2019, the last year in which any kind of statistics really mattered, California drew 286 million U.S. and foreign travelers, who spent $144 billion, according to Visit California. In that same span, Florida hosted 131 million domestic and international visitors, who spent $99 billion, according to Visit Florida.

Advantage: Golden State

Theme parks

DeSantis has been hating on Disney, but Newsom kept California's tourism meccas on a prolonged shutdown so neither one has been totally friendly to the attractions business. But Florida has four Disney parks, double that of California, plus a better Universal Park (and an extra one of them, Islands of Adventure) and SeaWorld. And that doesn't even include Busch Gardens and other locales.

Advantage: Sunshine State

The Grizzly Giant tree in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park, California.
The Grizzly Giant tree in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park, California.

National Parks

California has Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Channel Islands, etc. Yeah, the Everglades is unique, and Dry Tortugas is remote enough, but this one isn't even close.

Advantage: Golden State

Huntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach, California

Beaches

Huntington and Laguna are Surf City USA, no doubt. California lists a 1,264-mile coastline to Florida's 825 miles of sandy beaches. But the operative word here is sandy. And temperature. Southern California water temps are in the 60s, versus Florida's range in the 80s. Plus, who really likes seeing oil rigs from the shoreline?

Advantage: Sunshine State

Oranges

It's been Florida's staple crop, and they are displayed on the license plates. But the state's citrus industry is in steep decline, and those California navel oranges at Publix are really juicy. Plus, California has Napa Valley grapes and wines ... and the tastier Hass avocado (compared to our Fuerte).

Advantage: Golden State

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center, on July 14, 2022.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center, on July 14, 2022.

Aerospace

California's 820,000 direct and indirect jobs and $181 billion industry make Florida's look like a dwarf planet. But nothing's cooler than seeing those rockets blast off. And that's the Kennedy Space Center. And that's before the Artemis moon rocket lifts off.

 Advantage: Sunshine State

California may have more sports titles, but they don't have what Florida has: the Miami Dolphins' Perfect Season in 1972.
California may have more sports titles, but they don't have what Florida has: the Miami Dolphins' Perfect Season in 1972.

Sports

California's professional trophy totals, 43 in football, basketball, baseball and hockey, top Florida's 11 in those same sports. Yes, they've been at it a lot longer, but even if you count just this century, their hardware tops ours, even with a Perfect Season.

Advantage: Golden State

A loggerhead sea turtle returning to sea in north county.
A loggerhead sea turtle returning to sea in north county.

Cool wildlife

Sticking with the sports theme given the affinity in Florida to name teams after native species. California has much wildlife: cougars, sharks and humpback and blue whales. But we've got much easier access to wildlife, like manatees, dolphins and several species of sea turtles. And here's the clincher: The California bear is extinct, but the Florida panther is still around. For the moment.

Advantage: Sunshine State

Florida offers some unique city spots, like Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.
Florida offers some unique city spots, like Ocean Drive in Miami Beach.

Cool city spots

Florida's got the Miami Beach Art Deco Historic District, Tampa's Ybor City and Key West's Duval Street. California has Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Park and Observatory, Lombard Street, Muir Woods, Balboa Park ... yeah why even continue.

Advantage: Golden State

Traffic

They have freeways, we have expressways. They also have 39.4 million people while we have a population of 21.2 million. In this race to the slowest, Florida is better by being less bad, not as gridlocked or congested. We'll take it.

Advantage: Sunshine State

Road trips

California has the Golden Gate Bridge. Florida has the Seven Mile Bridge. They've got Big Sur. We've got the road to Mile 0. Ok, yeah, I tried.

Advantage: Golden State

Taxes

California's income tax ranges from 1% to 12.3%, and the sales tax rate is 7.25% to 10.75%. Yes, you can make all kinds of arguments about their education infrastructure and other services. But no one in Florida really wants to lose as much as a month's salary to a state income tax.

Advantage: Sunshine State

Natural disasters

California has Earthquakes and wildfires. We got hurricanes. Call it a draw at this point.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Californians are moving to Florida, but is Sunshine State truly better?