No, Christopher Columbus did not discover Florida. While Columbus is often credited with discovering the New World in 1492, his journeys primarily took him to the islands in the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas and Hispaniola.
Florida was actually explored and named by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León in 1513. He was seeking the Fountain of Youth and landed on the coast of what is now Florida. The name ‘Florida’ comes from the Spanish word ‘florido,’ meaning ‘flowery’ or ‘full of flowers,’ which was inspired by the lush vegetation he observed upon arrival.
In summary, while Columbus played a pivotal role in the European exploration of the Americas, it was Ponce de León who was the first European to set foot in Florida.