Category Archives: florida history

The Best Florida Literary Landmarks To Visit

Visiting the homes of famous people can give you an insight into what inspired their creativity and success.   This is certainly true about Florida-based writers. The greatest attraction is Cross Creek, the rustic farm cottage where Marjorie  Kinnan Rawlings … Continue reading

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Florida’s Outdoor Building Murals Have Become Big Attractions

More and more Florida towns and cities of all sizes are recognizing that giant building murals not only can become attractions even in the least attractive areas of town, they also teach locals and visitors about the history and people … Continue reading

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Most Romantic Things To Do At Walt Disney World

It’s quite difficult to get to be very romantic  when every inch of the World seems packed with camera-toting tourists accompanied by screaming, crying kids.  I’m not a big fan of crowds so I am leaving out parades, special events … Continue reading

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The Dickman Family of Ruskin

I just recently refinanced two houses in Tampa and I noticed that the real estate growth in Florida, particularly in upscale properties, is still going strong.  Downsizing is also on the rise and I noticed several estates up for sale … Continue reading

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Florida In Summer Means More “Springs” Days

It’s summertime in Florida and millions are speeding  to the Sunshine State’s 663 miles of real beaches to escape the heat and humidity.  This makes sense since no place in Florida is more than an hour and a half drive to … Continue reading

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Less Crowded, Less Expensive Summer Beach Alternatives

Summer is beach time in the Sunshine State for Floridians, but not only are as many tourists now coming to Florida in summer as in winter, there is a higher percentage arriving by automobile. If your pocketbook is a little low … Continue reading

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Florida Is Losing Its Old Landmarks

The destruction of the Belleview Biltmore, the largest and oldest wooden hotel in the United States, is another reminder to me that if you can’t preserve a historic structure as a new beginning, it will probably be lost for future … Continue reading

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New Resorts and Renewed Resorts Headline Florida’s Summer

As a preservationist, I am pleased when developers renovate an older hotel up to modern standards, but I really get excited when the strip down and rebuilding results in awarding winning new hotels.  Miami Beach has two new resort hotels in … Continue reading

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Florida’s Best Beachfront Bed and Breakfast Spots

May and June are great months to spend on Florida’s beaches – the water has warmed up and the summer crowds, dominated by families, have not descended upon the Sunshine State.   Here are some of my favorites: Fernandina Beach, in … Continue reading

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The Legend and Myth of the Highwaymen

There are two historic buildings in Fort Pierce that pay tribute to Florida’s most popular impressionistic landscape artist – the Albert Ernest “Bean” Backus House and the Bean Backus Art Gallery, dedicated to his work. Bean Backus: Dean of Florida … Continue reading

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