Tag Archives: architecture

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

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’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

BOCA GRANDE – Fishing Village Turned Resort

I have returned to my Tampa house on the Interbay area and everything is fine.  The electricity did not turn off.  However, my home office was without Internet, telephone, or TV so I had to wait until the people at … Continue reading

Posted in attractions, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, Historic Lighthouses, Hurricanes, mcbobleonard, museums, railroads, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Panama City Is Not A Beach

Compared to its glamorous beach-side little sister Panama City Beach, the town of Panama City is a large bayside residential community serving Tyndall Air Force Base to the east and the booming beach and bay suburbs to the west side. Panama City is the largest … Continue reading

Posted in attractions, florida education, florida history, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, panama city, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Manatee County: The Beaches Between

I used to live in Bradenton and it always bothered me that when I went up North I had to always say “it’s between Sarasota and Saint Petersburg.  I would also be asked in there were any beaches there for … Continue reading

Posted in attractions, conservation, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, Recreational Experiences, Restaurants, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida’s AIA Winning Structures Have Been Incredibly Diverse and Unique

Every year the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects (1912) celebrates the outstanding contributions in architecture and design in Florida and Puerto Rico.  This year’s convention will be next month in Naples and a panel of non-Florida architects … Continue reading

Posted in attractions, conservation, environment, florida education, florida history, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Hotels & Inns, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some Things Visitors Don’t Know About Walt Disney World

This will be a booming summer at Walt Disney World for Disney’s Avatar attraction has opened at Animal Kingdom to do battle with the Wizard and Dragon at Universal.   Don’t expect the tradition Fast Pass to work well if you … Continue reading

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, disney, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, mcbobleonard, Recreational Experiences, Walt Disney World, wdw | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment