We head northward into the great swampy wilderness of the Florida Everglades. Airboat Captain Jesse Kennon knows his way around these marshes and where to find their most well-known and well-feared inhabitant: the alligator!

Jesse Kennon’s family are the only permanent residents of Coopertown, and he takes on responsibilities as town mayor. A short way further up the coast lies Miami, once another small town, which underwent an almost miraculous growth to become the vibrant tourism, relaxation, and business hub we know today.

By the beaches of South Florida the lifestyle is relaxed, with plenty of time for outdoor activities. We meet Sean Reyngoudt, whose life changed when he lost a leg in an accident as a teenager. But that didn’t stop him becoming a wakeboarding champion and enjoying life to the fullest.

As well as attracting the rich and famous to its golden beaches, Florida’s great climate is also perfect for growing fruit, making the sunshine state one of the biggest producers of oranges in the world. We meet a citrus farmer who shows us some of the harvesting process.

Leaving behind the orange groves and retirement settlements of southern Florida, we travel on northwards, passing Pelican Island, America’s first ever nature reserve, and the historic rocket launch site at Cape Canaveral. Then we come to Daytona, which is popular with partying students and motorsport fanatics alike.

Daytona resident Gary Rosier has had a passion for automobiles for as long as he can remember, and meets every week with fellow enthusiasts to cruise to car shows in their classic cars. In Daytona, you can even drive your car onto the beach!

To the north of Daytona lies the city of St. Augustine, where the first Spanish settlers landed and built a fort. The area became a melting pot of peoples and cultures, gradually forming a cosmopolitan community. Today, its European heritage is still evident in its architecture.

Carl Halbirt is an archaeologist, and he couldn’t be happier with where he’s living. As he says, “St. Augustine is an archaeological gold mine.” But it’s not really treasure he’s after—a shard of pottery is a thrilling find if he can link it to the first European settlers to colonize the USA.

The first stop on this tour of the East Coast of the United States is rural Georgia, where we meet Hosley Hall, hard at work on his farm. He’s a fan of traditional southern crops and traditional vehicles, though his restored Chevy truck has an unusual agricultural twist!

Hosley Hall loves spending time on his farm, fully aware that, as an African American, his recent ancestors would not have had the option of owning land. Not far away, on Saint Simons Island, a few times a month, a charter boat captain takes funeral services out on the water.

Cap Fendig has the perfect name for his job as a boat captain. Cap offers a wide variety of trips aboard his charter boat, but particularly offers services to families who want to spread their loved ones' ashes at sea.

Bunny Wailer and other other one-time bandmates of reggae legend Bob Marley recall the rough and tumble early days of the band in Kingston. This is a must-see for all reggae fans, especially the soulful a capella chorus of "Small Axe" sung by Bunny at the end of the video!

Over the last two decades, the environmental crisis of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee has continued to worsen and dominate local headlines. The lake is the nation’s second largest freshwater lake, but due to years of missteps, it’s been producing massive amounts of toxic algae that have closed beaches, destroyed businesses and poisoned swimmers.

Florida might seem like paradise, but water contamination is a big problem, affecting not only the environment, but businesses and the health of the residents.

Agricultural and corporate interests have long dominated Florida legislature, despite protests from residents and a substantial threat to civilians.