Author Archives: floridatraveler

About floridatraveler

Historian and travel writer M. C. Bob Leonard makes the Sunshine State his home base. Besides serving as content editor for several textbook publishers and as an Emeritus college professor, he moderates the FHIC at www.floridahistory.org

Coral Gables – City Beautiful – Past and Present

Posted on October 11, 2020

Most visitors to Miami, do not look at Coral Gables as a destination unless they have friends or family living there.   Coral Gables is viewed as a very upscale residential community without beaches and South Beach lifestyle. Coral Gables doesn’t … Continue reading →

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The 10 Craziest Things To Do On A Florida Vacation

Posted on September 22, 2020

Most of the 100 million people who visit Florida come for the beaches, the amusement parks, the sunsets, and most of all the warmth of days when the weather is ugly elsewhere. But more and more people want adventure vacations … Continue reading →

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Greatest and Dumbest Myths About the State of Florida

Posted on September 6, 2020

When I hear Florida residents at restaurants and attractions talking about Florida, I often cringe, for while I was conceived here, I spent my childhood up North; but as a historian and writer I realize that there are so many … Continue reading →

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Don’t Kiss The Manatees At Crystal River Kings Bay

Posted on August 23, 2020

Florida manatees which are the West Indian manatees are easy to love.  They are like slow-moving islands, 12 to 15 feet in length and up to 1500 pounds.  As a vegetarian and docile creature, people in Florida want to be … Continue reading →

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The Best Dog Friendly Towns and Beaches in Florida

Posted on August 12, 2020

I read the other day that Tampa was selected by a national dog group as Florida’s most dog-friendly city.  I will not dispute that honor, but I must state that pets have it pretty good in many Florida places.  There … Continue reading →

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PANAMA CITY – NOT THE BEACH BUT THE CITY

Posted on August 8, 2020

Its is SUMMER TIME and this is the main tourist season for PANAMA CITY BEACH, the beach center for the so-called “Redneck Riviera.”  I first saw PCB as a student at Florida State University and I was amazed at the … Continue reading →

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READY OR NOT: Saint Petersburg’s New Downtown Pier Is Open

Posted on July 18, 2020

After years of complete civil war in downtown Saint Petersburg and $92 million dollars of cost, downtown Saint Petersburg’s Pier has finally opened.  As expected, the pier will continue to get mixed reviews for decades since the old pier (actually … Continue reading →

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The Florida Keys Are Not Just Scuba – Try Snorkel

Posted on July 14, 2020

A lot of people over the years have told me that the Florida Keys may be a wonderful place to boat and fishing and scuba dive, but there are no places to snorkel.  They do not realize that many scuba-diving … Continue reading →

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Vacationing and Taking Trips In The Era of the Virus

Posted on June 27, 2020

Enjoying Florida in the New Normal The rapid spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had an enormous impact on the vacation plans and travel activities of Americans and people all over the globe.  With concerns about future outbreaks, the effectiveness … Continue reading →

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THE NEW FLORIDA VACATION GUIDE: WHERE ARE THE UNCROWDED BEACHES?

Posted on June 14, 2020

Florida has 670 miles of beaches located on two major bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  Yet, if you want to avoid being wall-to-wall with other people or hate beach noise, it may seem there … Continue reading →

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