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

Webb’s Candy Factory Has Had The Sweets For Central Florida

Posted on June 1, 2014 by floridatraveler

A few miles south of I-4 on US27 in Davenport stands Webb’s Candy Shop and Ice Cream. It is a real candy factory, featuring products that tourists were enjoying eighty years ago. The store is actually the result of the … Continue reading →

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Uncle Charlie’s Ghost Still Working For Florida’s Oldest Saloon

Posted on May 25, 2014 by floridatraveler

It is appropriate that the Fernandina Beach’s Palace Saloon, the oldest continuous bar in Florida, should be haunted. It seems most of Florida’s oldest buildings have their ghost stories and guiding tourists on nightly spook walks has become a profitable … Continue reading →

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Bill Kitchen Florida’s Thrill-Master Robbed By Three Ninjas

Posted on May 18, 2014 by floridatraveler

Bill Kitchen, founder of U.S. Thrills of Windermere, Florida, has given millions of people the thrills of their lives with his amusement rides, but two weeks ago he had his own surprise when three men dressed as Ninjas robbed Kitchen … Continue reading →

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Florida Folk Festival Serves Up The Best of Sunshine State Culture

Posted on May 12, 2014 by floridatraveler

Every Memorial Day weekend thousands of people head to the Stephen Folk Center State Park in White Springs, Florida, just off I-75. It’s time for the annual Florida Folk Festival featuring three days of music, dance, folk tales, arts and … Continue reading →

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Triton Subs Puts Florida On The Underwater Map

Posted on April 25, 2014 by floridatraveler

Who cares about powerboats and kayaks when you can cruise the oceans with your own personal submarine. Better yet, place it on your big yacht and cruise the world’s oceans both above and below. TRITON SUBMARINES (http://tritonsubs.com), located at 90015 … Continue reading →

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The Redneck Yacht Club – No Boats Allowed

Posted on April 21, 2014 by floridatraveler

When my father was Sports Editor of the newspaper in Punta Gorda – it was fishing, hunting, and football …. then fishing, hunting, and football. Not anymore. Charlotte County has the Redneck Yacht Club – one of the largest and … Continue reading →

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Disney FastPass+ Causing Lots Of Controversy

Posted on April 11, 2014 by floridatraveler

Unlike a lot of Disneyphiles the idea of being able to book a FastPass+ in advance and sticking my “blue MagicBand” into the system doesn’t bother me. I’m an old cuss and I hate rushing across Disney parks to book … Continue reading →

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Fantasy of Flight Attraction Is Closing

Posted on March 29, 2014 by floridatraveler

Fantasy of Flight, the attraction at Polk City off I-4, is closing its main facilities after 18 years of service. It is another of the “real things” attractions that haven’t been able to attract enough business from the gigantic “fantasy” … Continue reading →

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The Meanest Golf Hole In Florida

Posted on March 24, 2014 by floridatraveler

What is the meanest golf hole in Florida? Is it the 18th hole at the TPC Blue Monster? Or perhaps the 8th hole at the PGA National Champions Course? They may be tough on the professional players on the tour, … Continue reading →

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Bollywood’s Film Awards Come To Tampa, Florida

Posted on March 14, 2014 by floridatraveler

Tampa, Florida, may seem an unlikely destination for the 15th International India Film Academy show, but unlike the Oscars the IIFA Awards have been given out in Toronto, Macao, Dubai, Singapore, and Amsterdam. This will be the first IIFA convention … Continue reading →

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