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

The Forgotten Weekend Florida Vacation Spot

Posted on January 13, 2021 by floridatraveler

When people schedule their Gulf Coast Florida vacations, very few consider Punta Gorda as a town to stop.  The nearest beach is over thirty-minutes away.  There are no famous historical landmarks.  But they may be making a mistake. PUNTA GORDA, … Continue reading →

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Christmas – A Florida Story

Posted on December 16, 2020 by floridatraveler

This is the time of year that blogs talk about Christmas and perhaps the joys of having families get together and experiencing snowflakes and cocoa filled with marshmallows.   This year, 2020, a lot of people will be separated from … Continue reading →

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The Craziest Things About Key West

Posted on December 9, 2020 by floridatraveler

There are more than hundreds of crazy things about Key West so these are my favorite crazy things about Key West, that little island at the end of the Florida Keys that is as close to Havana as Miami. Key … Continue reading →

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Coral Gables – City Beautiful – Past and Present

Posted on October 11, 2020 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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 by floridatraveler

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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