Category Archives: florida history

Christmas At The Florida Parks: What’s New and Best

The end of Thanksgiving means that Florida’s major theme parks are featuring Christmas decorations and special events, many regular annual attractions that bring huge crowds.  So what’s new and what is outstanding this year? Walt Disney World:  The Christmas crowds … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, dining, disney, Florida Food, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, Restaurants, Tampa, Universal Studios, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s Not Your Dad’s Kennedy Space Center Anymore

If you haven’t been to the Kennedy Space Center in recent years, you will shocked to see how the educational-entertainment complex has “rocketed” into the twentieth-first century in terms of tourist attractions. The VAB is the most amazing building in … Continue reading →

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

Florida Keys Open For Business With Some Repairs Ongoing

No area was hit harder by Hurricane Irma than the Lower Florida Keys as the Category 4-5 storm ripped across the low-lying Keys between Marathon and Key West.    Potential visitors around the world saw on news reports waves of sea … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, conservation, dining, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, food, Historic Buildings, Hurricanes, keys, mcbobleonard, Restaurants, small towns | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Shortcut Road: Jacksonville to Ocala: US301

My family started coming to Florida from New England during the Christmas holiday in the late 1950’s – before the Interstate Highway system was completed.  Our “short-cut route” to get from the East Coast of Florida to the West Coast … Continue reading →

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

Halloween Special: Florida’s Most Haunted House Awaits

As a historian I sit quietly while scores of television shows and movies and books describe flying saucers and uprisings from demons and zombies and witches and of course the Great Yeti hanging out at Disney Animal Kingdom when he … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, florida education, florida history, ghosts, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, museums, travel, Wierd Florida | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Back Road Travels: Lake Wales – The Gem of Rustic US-60

Most people going from Tampa Bay to the lower Florida East Coast will take I-4 and the Florida Turnpike although there is I-75 down the West Coast to Alligator Alley.  If you want a more rural route with small towns … Continue reading →

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

Florida’s Fall Food Festivals Start The Season

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 →

Posted in florida history | Leave a comment

Marco Island and Goodland Have Survived The Wrath of Hurricane Irma

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

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

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