Category Archives: travel

West Volusia: The Other Side of Daytona Beach

Posted on June 4, 2018 by floridatraveler

When you mention Volusia County to tourists and even most Florida residents, their first images are of the hard packed sands of Daytona Beach and the Daytona 500 Speedway.   If you ask “What else is in Volusia?” – some will … Continue reading →

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US 19: On The Nature Coast Trail

Posted on May 27, 2018 by floridatraveler

When you hug the Gulf Coast going north from Saint Petersburg toward Tallahassee, you take US19 into the Nature Coast.  I used to go that route when I drove to Florida State University as a graduate student and back then … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, dining, diving, environment, extreme sports, Florida Food, florida history, Florida parks, Florida sports, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, keys, mcbobleonard, Recreational Experiences, Restaurants, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

LOW KEY FLORIDA SUMMER BEACH VACATIONS

Posted on May 16, 2018 by floridatraveler

There are no longer slow and busy tourist seasons for the entire State of Florida.  Each of the four quarters gets about one-quarter of the tourist trade. But the visitors destinations and mode of transportation vary.  Right now Southeast Florida … Continue reading →

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My Annual Walt Disney World Restaurant Awards

Posted on May 10, 2018 by floridatraveler

The summer family vacation season is soon arriving and that means the largest percentages of newcomers to Walt Disney World.  Most writers like to give awards at the end of the year but in the Florida food game a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, dining, disney, disney springs, Florida Food, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, food, mcbobleonard, music, Restaurants, travel, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Restaurants That Really Represent The Best of Florida

Posted on April 29, 2018 by floridatraveler

One of the favorite pasttimes of both Florida residents and visitors is going out to a restaurant.  Rather than visit the chain spots – many of which got their start inb the Sunshine State – I suggest looking for places … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, beer, dining, disney springs, Florida Food, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, food, Historic Hotels & Inns, mcbobleonard, panama city, Restaurants, small towns, Tampa, travel, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gone Florida Attractions: Miss Them or Did They Suck?

Posted on April 22, 2018 by floridatraveler

As a historian I have a great appreciation of the story and evolution of Florida tourist attractions.  Since I was a small child, my family’s annual visits to the Sunshine State brought memories of experiences at Florida attractions – some … Continue reading →

Posted in attractions, circus, conservation, dining, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, Restaurants, small towns, travel, Walt Disney World | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Off The Interstate: US 17 Along the St. Johns River

Posted on April 13, 2018 by floridatraveler

Florida is the cruise capital of the world today and the three largest cruise companies are headquartered in Southeast Florida.   Even one hundred seventy years ago, taking a Florida cruise was a major part of Florida’s first tourist industry. Only … Continue reading →

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My Favorite Florida Movie Locations

Posted on March 31, 2018 by floridatraveler

Just the other week the Academy Award show was on, but I don’t watch it since my wife and I no longer go to the flicks.  We’ll wait until the shows appear on regular television, which probably means there are … Continue reading →

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Spring Has Sprung in Flowery Florida

Posted on March 21, 2018 by floridatraveler

While my native New England is getting blasted by another terrible nor’easter and my old summer spot in Brant Rock (Massachusetts) has been flooded so many times this winter the Esplanade is starting to look like Venice (Italy), Florida is … Continue reading →

Posted in art, attractions, conservation, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, museums, Recreational Experiences, travel, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida Is Ousting Changing Clocks To Get More Sunshine

Posted on March 12, 2018 by floridatraveler

Florida lawmakers in the Sunshine State want snowbirds, tourists, and residents to get more “sunshine” on their vacations. The bill called the “Sunshine Protection Act,” would ask the United States Congress to give the state permission to make Daylight Saving … Continue reading →

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