Central Florida is a quiet region of small farming communities dominated by one town that hit the big time very, very hard: Orlando. That city is now the single most popular destination in Florida, due to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and a host of other attractions, large and small.

The economy of the region has boomed as a result, and many of the smaller communities have benefited from the boom while retaining the quiet, rural character that makes them so livable. Others have experienced considerable growth, especially in the Orlando-Tampa corridor along I-4.

Central Florida touches the Atlantic coast in just one area, but that area is a doozy: the Volusia County shoreline includes Daytona Beach, sometimes referred to as "the world's most popular beach," attracting an estimated 8 million visitors annually. The region's Gulf coast is in complete contrast: the southern part of what is known as "the Nature Coast," it is sparsely inhabited in comparison.