About that Sunshine: Yes, this is the Sunshine State but don't overdo it unless you own stock in a skin-cancer treatment facility!

Don't be fooled by the temperature. Thanks to the sea breezes that pump in ocean-cooled air from both coasts, Florida gets no hotter in summer than the midwest U.S. But we are much closer to the equator than the rest of the U.S. and that means the sun is more directly overhead, with less atmosphere to pass through. The problem is ultraviolet light, which burns the skin and which is much more intense here than elsewhere in the continental U.S.

The time-to-burn, for a pale Caucasian, in Florida in the summer is—we are not kidding—a little over ten minutes. And darker-skinned people who have no prior exposure to the intense ultraviolet in Florida will burn too.

So put on sunscreen before venturing outside, and reapply as needed if you go into the water, if you perspire a lot, or after the suggested time on the bottle expires.

Sunglasses that cut out most UV-A and UV-B rays are also a good idea. We would rather that you spent your money enjoying our travel destinations than on having cataracts removed.

A word about automobiles: The temperature inside a parked car with windows rolled up can easily exceed 150 degrees Fahrenheit / 66 degrees Celsius. And, because of the afternoon rainstorms, few people leave the windows down. So do not leave your pet in the car, even with the windows cracked. And it is a felony to so much as walk away from a car with an infant in it.

So, enjoy the sunshine today but do not regret it tomorrow!