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 and Its Water: Leader in Technology

Posted on February 16, 2016 by floridatraveler

Since my daughter lives in Southern California, I have watched that state’s crisis during this long drought. I also noticed that Carlsbad, California, outside San Diego, is constructing the largest American saltwater desalination plant. Florida has some of the same … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, conservation, environment, florida education, florida history, Historic Buildings, Recreational Experiences, travel | Leave a comment

Great Florida Restaurants In Funky Buildings

Posted on February 9, 2016 by floridatraveler

The only think I like better than going to a great restaurant is going to a great restaurant located in a restored or unique structure.  There is nothing wrong with your standard Florida restaurant architecture and I like places located … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, Florida Food, florida history, florida vacations, food, Historic Buildings, Restaurants, travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Florida Houseboat Vacations: Rustic or Urban

Posted on February 2, 2016 by floridatraveler

A century ago Florida tourists took slow-moving steamboats down the St. Johns and Suwannee Rivers to get a close-up view of Florida wildlife and foliage.  Today, visitors to Florida can do the same thing by renting a personal houseboat and … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Recreational Experiences | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Florida Is A Wild Animal Retirement Paradise

Posted on January 26, 2016 by floridatraveler

Ringling Brothers opened their 2016 circus season in Tampa, the company’s winter headquarters, and I noticed that each year the elephant performers are less and less. In two years all the Ringling elephants will be retired to the Center for … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, circus, disney, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Recreational Experiences | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Florida Tree House Vacations: A New Way To Look

Posted on January 19, 2016 by floridatraveler

My wife loves to watch all those vacation house TV shows with people going to exotic places and buying or renting homes.  Recently she likes to look at people buying “little houses” and “tree houses.” I don’t care to live … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, disney, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, travel, Walt Disney World | Tagged | Leave a comment

Universal’s Amazing Money Making Harry Potter Railroad

Posted on January 10, 2016 by floridatraveler

Universal decided to connect the two Harry Potter attractions located in their two adjacent parks with the Hogwart’s Express train ride, they anticipated it would increase the percentage of “Park to Park” admission tickets since you can’t visit both parks … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Recreational Experiences, travel, Universal Studios | Leave a comment

Florida Remains The Global Cruise Ship Capital

Posted on January 4, 2016 by floridatraveler

  Despite the Great Recession, Florida has continued its glowing image as the “Cruise Capital of the World.” In fact, Florida not only has the three largest ports in the world, they have increased passengers: Port of Miami (4.8 million … Continue reading →

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CROSS CREEK – STILL FLORIDA’S LITERARY ICON

Posted on December 27, 2015 by floridatraveler

If Florida writers were to select a place in the state that represents Florida’s literary image, most would select Cross Creek, the legendary farm and home of beloved Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.  Rawling’s 1939 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, museums, Recreational Experiences, travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Santa Claus Has A Great Time in Florida

Posted on December 19, 2015 by floridatraveler

Growing up in Framingham, Massachusetts meant it was a great shock when I was a small boy to learn that my parents decided to spend Christmas each winter in Florida. It wasn’t just that I was going to be separated … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, disney, florida history, florida vacations, Recreational Experiences, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged | Leave a comment

All Hail To Florida’s Historic and Funky Restaurants

Posted on December 14, 2015 by floridatraveler

Last weekend I suffered a typical Christmas time male punishment – a three hour excursion of shopping at the Tampa IKEA store.  I’m sure all the arrows and signs are designed to rescue male visitors from spending the rest of … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, Florida Food, florida history, florida vacations, Restaurants, travel, Wierd Florida | 1 Comment