Author Archives: floridatraveler

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About floridatraveler

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

Florida’s Fall Food Festivals Start The Season

Posted on October 12, 2017 by floridatraveler

I did my annual pilgrimage to Walt Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival.  It seemed a little calm after Irma, but a visitor can pile up a huge food and beverage bill shelling out almost ten dollars a booth.  … Continue reading →

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Marco Island and Goodland Have Survived The Wrath of Hurricane Irma

Posted on October 5, 2017 by floridatraveler

Hurrican Irma arrived at mainland Florida at the island community of Marco Island and a fishing village of Goodland.  While there was extensive damage, particularly to the coastal facilities it looks like most of the area will soon be ready … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, conservation, dining, environment, florida history, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, Hurricanes, marco island, mcbobleonard, museums, Recreational Experiences, Restaurants, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida Food Truck Movement Rolls On

Posted on September 28, 2017 by floridatraveler

As our society becomes more mobile with cell phones and robotics and nanotechnology more and more people on the move to work or recreation stop to eat at fast, efficient food trucks.   In Florida the food truck revolution has not … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, art, attractions, beer, business, dining, disney springs, Florida Food, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, food, mcbobleonard, Restaurants, travel, Walt Disney World | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Florida’s Most Romantic Bed and Breakfast Spots

Posted on September 22, 2017 by floridatraveler

We hope that Key West can rebuild by the last winter tourist season for the island city challenges Fernandina Beach and Saint Augustine for the most romantic vacation spots with outstanding bed and breakfast houses. Here are some of our … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, mcbobleonard, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

BOCA GRANDE – Fishing Village Turned Resort

Posted on September 14, 2017 by floridatraveler

I have returned to my Tampa house on the Interbay area and everything is fine.  The electricity did not turn off.  However, my home office was without Internet, telephone, or TV so I had to wait until the people at … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, Historic Lighthouses, Hurricanes, mcbobleonard, museums, railroads, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Not Your Typical Florida Restaurant

Posted on September 6, 2017 by floridatraveler

While I’m busy preparing for the coming hurricane here in Florida, I thought I would cover a little less violent topic – food. Once in a while, you want something different when you go to a restaurant.  A gander at … Continue reading →

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Florida Hurricane Myths Are Many

Posted on August 29, 2017 by floridatraveler

Contrary to the image of many Northerners and visitors to Florida the summer months are the not the greatest time for Florida hurricanes.  September is often viewed as a great time to come to Florida and enjoy warm weather, amusement … Continue reading →

Posted in conservation, disney, environment, florida education, florida history, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Hurricanes, mcbobleonard, travel | Leave a comment

Panama City Is Not A Beach

Posted on August 24, 2017 by floridatraveler

Compared to its glamorous beach-side little sister Panama City Beach, the town of Panama City is a large bayside residential community serving Tyndall Air Force Base to the east and the booming beach and bay suburbs to the west side. Panama City is the largest … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, florida education, florida history, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, panama city, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking At “Florida Foods” In The Good Ol’ Summertime

Posted on August 17, 2017 by floridatraveler

When its hot and humid in Florida and I am preparing to teach a few classes – my 50th year teaching in the Sunshine State – it is hard to write a serious column. For some reason I always identified … Continue reading →

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Cassadega – Still America’s Spiritualist Town

Posted on August 10, 2017 by floridatraveler

The Travel Channel rated CASSADEGA one of the ten weirdest places in America, but considering the fact it was the only complete town that made the list, it is a fitting rating for an entire village. Cassadega is a real … Continue reading →

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