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

Seven Women Who Changed Florida History

Posted on August 23, 2016 by floridatraveler

One hundred years ago Florida was the only state in the South with less than one million residents, but things would soon change in every aspect of society in Florida.  Many people played major roles in Florida history – here … Continue reading →

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New Hotel Boom Hits South Florida

Posted on August 16, 2016 by floridatraveler

Florida has 370,000 hotel rooms in 16,374 hotels.  It is the only state that is covered by three AAA travel guides. Despite these statistics the Great Recession slowed down new hotel construction particularly outside South Florida.  Today huge hotel projects … Continue reading →

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The Story of Florida Starts With Two Myths

Posted on August 9, 2016 by floridatraveler

The first thing any Florida school child learns about their home state is probably:  While searching for the Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon discovered Florida. That’s not just a myth.  It is a Double Myth!  Here is the real … Continue reading →

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Pass-a-Grille: The Original Tampa Bay Beach Town

Posted on August 1, 2016 by floridatraveler

PASS-A-GRILLE BEACH, the Southernmost of Pinellas County’s barrier beaches, was the first beach community on the Gulf of Mexico to develop as a weekend residential spot for successful Tampa and St. Petersburg residents. Originally, home to fishermen, homesteaders, and lumber men like Zephaniah Phillips, the island … Continue reading →

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Florida’s Pirate Legacy: Myth or Reality?

Posted on July 26, 2016 by floridatraveler

Being next to the Great Spanish Gold Fleet routes and the tropical waters of the Caribbean, Floridians love their stories of pirates and buried treasure as much as any region of the United States.  No less than 17 cities celebrate … Continue reading →

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Floridians Love Their Shell Game

Posted on July 18, 2016 by floridatraveler

When people visit Florida, they expect to find good seafood and they are usually not disappointed.  We Floridians love our grouper sandwiches and have competitions to locate the best sandwich in our area. But Floridians really have a thing about … Continue reading →

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Things No One Told You About Florida

Posted on July 12, 2016 by floridatraveler

In the forty years I have taught college students about Florida, there are some facts and information that always surprise the students.   Here are some things that most Floridians are ignorant of or have a false impression. Florida Was Once … Continue reading →

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Florida’s Military Museums Honor Our Veterans and More

Posted on July 6, 2016 by floridatraveler

There are 1.5 million Floridians who served in the United States Armed Forces so it is not surprised that there are dozens of memorial gardens and local museums to honor the military past and present.  My father met my mother … Continue reading →

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Florida’s Best State Parks With Great Beaches

Posted on June 28, 2016 by floridatraveler

Florida has miles and miles of great beaches, but more and more of them are lined with condos and multi-storied hotels.  If you want a Florida beach with a wonderful all-natural view, you might consider a Florida State Park. For … Continue reading →

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Florida and Alligators – A Love-Hate Relationship

Posted on June 19, 2016 by floridatraveler

Last week was a very negative week for the Sunshine State and particularly for Orange County (Orlando) with the mass assassination at the Pulse nightclub and the killing of a two year old Nebraska boy by an alligator at the … Continue reading →

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