For Floridians, there are any number of reasons to love the state: sunsets, beaches, theme parks, palm trees — we live where people vacation.
But according to one website, Florida is far from the best state. Actually, it's the worst.
Yes, Thrillist ranked the 50 states — the list touts itself as the "definitive and final ranking" — based on "everything," and the Sunshine State came out on the bottom.
Before the list even begins, the author apologizes to his cousins in the state: "I'm sorry I couldn't help you. It appears nothing could."
Here's what the list's entry for Florida says:
"When putting together a list such as this, there can be some temptation to defy popular expectations, and go against the grain. However, Florida's awfulness resume is so staggeringly impressive that it couldn't go any other way. You were born for this. Embrace it."
It’s yet to be determined if lists such as this, which are increasingly popular online, have any real effect on a state or its ability to draw new businesses and tourists.
In fact, Florida has seen its tourism numbers leap in the past few years. Florida broke its annual tourism record in 2014. And Palm Beach County has seen a boom in hotel stays.
Sure, the state's real estate market was hit hard by the recession, but home sales are up, and Palm Beach County has seen its property values rise 10 percent over last year.
So which state is No. 1 - or the best? Michigan, which the ranking says has been mischaracterized because of Detroit's issues but actually has a wealth of strengths, including its coastline and beer offerings.
Although Florida is no slouch when it comes to beaches and brews. South Florida is home to a wealth of craft breweries, and the state has 663 miles of beaches and almost 1,200 miles of coastline.
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