Tag Archives: nature

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 →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, dining, environment, Florida Food, florida history, florida vacations, mcbobleonard, Restaurants, small towns, travel | 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

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 →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, conservation, environment, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, food, Historic Hotels & Inns, mcbobleonard, museums, Restaurants, small towns, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in adventure vacation, attractions, conservation, environment, florida education, florida history, florida vacations, mcbobleonard, Recreational Experiences, travel, Wierd Florida | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My Favorite Florida Museums Are Quite Diverse

Posted on January 27, 2018 by floridatraveler

Florida has over 400 museums and historic sights for residents and visitors looking for an experience on a rainy or bad beach day.  For a fraction of the cost of visiting a theme park or in many cases no cost, … Continue reading →

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

Florida’s Immigrant Experiences Are Great Tourist Sights

Posted on December 12, 2017 by floridatraveler

Florida is one of the most diverse states in the nation and its history of immigration provides visitors and residents alike with many attractions that reflect this story. I have spent many decades teaching in Tampa’s historic Ybor City, which … Continue reading →

Posted in adventure vacation, art, attractions, florida education, florida history, Florida parks, florida vacations, Historic Buildings, Historic Forts, mcbobleonard, museums, Restaurants, Tampa, travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Shortcut Road: Jacksonville to Ocala: US301

Posted on November 4, 2017 by floridatraveler

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

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

Posted on October 19, 2017 by floridatraveler

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