A much-loved Florida writer chronicles the quirky, touching, and thought-provoking stories of the Sunshine State today    In Welcome to Florida , award-winning investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author Craig Pittman introduces readers to the people, creatures, places, and issues that make up the Florida of today. Through lively stories told with cutting insight and always with a joke at the ready, Pittman captures the heart of what he calls “The Most Interesting State.”              From threats to Florida’s environment to a hippo that became an official state citizen, these tales range from the moving to the bizarre. Pittman follows the escapades of crime writers, hungry predators, politicians, and developers across the state. At the core of this collection is a deep sense of admiration for the resilience of those who live here. Again and again, this book showcases the power of “ordinary Floridians fighting to save some part of the state that they hold dear.” Often, that means folks rallying to protect the state’s unique natural landscape; sometimes it means former CIA agents incorporating their own island community.              Welcome to Florida is both a love letter to and hilarious deep dive into the nation’s fastest-growing state. Imbued with Pittman’s characteristic humor and undeniable fondness for both the weird and wonderful parts of his home, this book shows why, despite some of its reputations, Florida continues to prove irresistible.   “A sharp snapshot of the current state of the state as well as a deep dive into some of the darker corners of its past. . . . Whether you’re a native Floridian or you just landed in the state, you’ll learn a lot you didn’t know from  Welcome to Florida  from a writer whose frequent, funny exasperation with the place comes from his deep love for it.”— Bay Magazine   “Showcases the many varieties of flora, fauna, and interesting characters that inhabit our state.”— Miami New Times “Pittman’s writing is breezy, tempered only by his intensive research, obvious love of history (and irony) and an urge to offer the well-rounded perspective of someone as comfortable on the back roads as in the heart of a big city.”— SEJournal   “Craig Pittman is not just a gifted writer; he is a superb historian with a quirky, insightful sense of humor that at times rivals Mark Twain.  Welcome to Florida is destined to become a classic; a Blue Highways guide to the backcountry places and characters that reflect the complexities of this unusual state.”—Randy Wayne White, New York Times bestselling author of the Doc Ford series    “A wonderfully entertaining and informative book by a deft and deeply knowledgeable writer. Florida abounds with fascinating stories, and nobody tells them better than Craig Pittman.”—Dave Barry, New York Times bestselling author of Best. State. Ever.: A Florida Man Defends His Homeland    “Craig Pittman is a Florida treasure, a truly gifted author and journalist with an eye for the absurd. Whether you love or hate the Sunshine State, you’re gonna dig this book!”—Jason Vuic, author of The Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream    “This Florida tell-all covers all the bases—the good, the bad, and the outrageous. It should be passed out, along with the free orange juice, at the state’s welcome centers and assigned to anyone making decisions about Florida’s future.”—Janine Farver, former executive director of Florida Humanities    “Demonstrates what many of us have known for years: Craig Pittman is Florida’s best environmental journalist.”—Art Levy, author of Made in Florida: Artists, Celebrities, Activists, Educators, and Other Icons in the Sunshine State   Craig Pittman is a native Floridian and an award-winning journalist. He wrote for the  Tampa Bay Times  for 30 years and now writes for the Florida Phoenix. He is the author of several books, including the  New York Times  bestseller  Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country; The State You’re In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife; and  The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid. He is cohost of the  Welcome to Florida  podcast. Pittman was named a Florida Literary Legend by the Florida Heritage Book Festival in 2020.