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All Articles for : historical_sites
A Vintage Cape Canaveral Tour
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex pays tribute to circa-1960s space culture, especially in its collection of rare memorabilia at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Tags: Cocoa_Beach, Titusville, Kennedy_Space_Center, historical_sites, history,
Fun Under Five Bucks
Whether you want to sightsee, brush up on some history or just relax on a white-sand beach, Florida offers a wide variety of activities from which to choose that are all under $5.
Tags: nature, family, history, historical_sites, historic_districts, art, culture, tours, Scenic_Highway,
Pensacola's Underwater Treasures
Divers went down. Target 2 turned out to be a ship that carried bricks and probably dates from just before the Civil War. Target 17 turned out to be the mother lode, the X on the treasure map, the find of the century.
Tags: history, museums, historical_sites, diving, Pensacola,
The Spirit of Luxury at the Belleview Biltmore
Ten French doors led into a large enclosure housing the art-deco tiled indoor pool, complete with elegant columns, potted palms and lounge chairs. There was also a fully equipped exercise room and full service salon on-site.
Tags: Clearwater, resorts, luxury, history, historical_sites, tours,
Finding the Real Florida
Long before Pilgrims got their feet wet arriving at Plymouth Rock, Florida had a Spanish city named St. Augustine, complete with settlers, soldiers and plenty of parties on payday.
Tags: history, historical_sites, St_Augustine, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Everglades_National_Park,
Historical Hotspots in Florida's Capital
Each January, 150 varieties of camellias burst into full bloom and the Maclay House, a historic hunting lodge turned winter residence turned museum, opens for tours (through April). It's a sure sign that spring has sprung in Tallahassee.
Tags: Tallahassee, history, historical_sites, museums, gardens,
Florida's Grand Dames
The 1920s ushered in the golden years. Stocks were high, dresses were short and Florida grew some of its most regal hotels.
Tags: hotels, resorts, history, historical_sites, Mount_Dora, St_Augustine, Clearwater, Palm_Beach, Apalachicola, Charlotte_Harbor, Sebring, Key_West, Lakeland, Jacksonville, Tampa, Coral_Gables, Delray_Beach, Boca_Raton, Clewiston, St_Pete_Beach,
Following the Seminole Trail
Why not take my family on a driving tour of all the Seminole historic sites in Florida? What better way to learn about our state than to combine a history lesson with a family vacation?
Tags: history, historical_sites, culture, Inverness, Islamorada, Clewiston,
Art All Around Us
One of the oldest Colonial buildings in St. Augustine, the Prince Murat House, is named for Prince Achille Murat (Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew) and contains antiques that have some historical connections to the Murat family.
Tags: architecture, Miami, tours, historical_sites, Pensacola, Seaside, Lakeland, Sarasota, Palm_Beach, Boca_Raton, Winter_Park, St_Augustine, canoeing, kayaking,
Daytona Luxe
Iron security gates guard the restored home and its regally appointed guest accommodations (think cedar-lined closets, antique furnishings and gold-plated bathroom fixtures), all within walking distance of the beach.
Tags: historical_sites, Daytona_Beach, luxury, art, shopping, history, bed_and_breakfasts, spas, culture, lighthouses, beaches, museums,
Where the Posh Play
Get a sense of Palm Beach’s wealth simply by driving along the island’s avenues, trying to guess which fortress wall or towering, maniacally manicured hedge conceals which celebrity home.
Tags: luxury, shopping, museums, Palm_Beach, hotels, historical_sites, art, driving_tours,
Shipwrecked
I’m talking Florida shipwrecks, where crystalline waters harbor wrecks teeming with marine life, and the history books have plenty of colorful stories to tell.
Tags: snorkeling, Florida_Keys, Key_West, Key_Largo, Daytona_Beach, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, boating, historical_sites, history, diving,
Life in the Slow Lane
At the nearby Yearling Restaurant, I got acquainted with some cheese grits, super-sized hush puppies and tender morsels of batter-fried ’gator tail. Clever displays of memorabilia and the house musician, veteran bluesman Willie Green, make this rustic roadhouse an irresistible diversion.
Tags: historical_sites, Micanopy, shopping, antiques, bed_and_breakfasts, High_Springs, Cross_Creek, dining,
Country Roads
As I settle into the drive, the road twists and turns for no apparent reason. Life here is slower, unpretentious and unstructured. Indeed, if you rush, you’ll find the curves more treacherous, the road bumps louder.
Tags: Winter_Haven, museums, theme_parks, historical_sites,
Pow Wow
The attending tribes form distinct drum sections, pounding out rhythms that are at times furious, at times languid, but always steady.
Tags: culture, music, museums, history, historical_sites, Clewiston,
On The Road to Bohemia
I watched Little Miss Sunshine over a beer, a made-from scratch veggie burger and fresh-cut rosemary and parmesan fries (prepared on order in the theater’s kitchen) – delicious.
Tags: Orlando, theater, historical_sites, Winter_Park,
A Storied Journey
In Sebring, the scenic highway winds through the center of town and around Circle Park, decorated with trimmed oak and magnolia trees, flowerbeds and stylish streetlights.
Tags: Arcadia, Sebring, historical_sites, nature, driving_tours, antiques,
Off the Beaten Path
In the 1800s, Florida was an open range with no fences, so the great herds of cattle - some with as many as 50,000 head - roamed freely.
Tags: Kissimmee, Ocala, Tampa, history, historical_sites, parks, Homosassa,
Pensacola's Family Attractions
How often, after all, do you run into a pair of turkeys on the sidewalk? These full-feathered creatures seem to get a kick out of "gobbling" for giggling children.
Tags: Pensacola, zoos, family, museums, historic_districts, flight, historical_sites, art, piers,
Wild About Marathon
At the Grassy Key Dolphin Research Center, kids have a lot to get excited about, because who can resist a dolphin's smile, let alone a kiss from one of the lovable mammals? Or a chance to play – even paint – with one?
Tags: Key_West, Marathon, dolphins, family, museums, historical_sites, snorkeling, wildlife, nature,
Coastal Guardians
Visitors come for the beach, for the pier, for charter boats, a casino cruise, for the waterfront restaurants and to walk the town's canopied lanes, escapist as ever.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cape_Canaveral, Jupiter, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marathon, Miami, Ponce_Inlet, history, historical_sites, lighthouses, beaches,
Insider Tips to Florida's Beaches
And lest we forget, it's beautiful! It continually makes several of America's Top 10 lists of best beaches based on sand, water quality and facilities.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Naples, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, beaches, shelling, water_sports, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, family, wildlife, surfing, sunsets, New_Smyrna_Beach, Daytona_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, birding, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, equestrian, Sanibel_Island, Hollywood,
Tracing Florida's Native American History
De Soto's army left no monuments or headstones to mark their passing. But the De Soto National Memorial, located where the conquistador is believed to have come ashore, captures this moment in history that would ultimately shape the great European nation's role in "La Florida."
Tags: Bradenton, Charlotte_Harbor, Crystal_River, Estero, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Tampa, history, historical_sites, museums, culture,
Biking the West Coast
Henry Ford, the man behind the Model T, visited Edison's Fort Myers home in 1915 and liked the area so much, he returned the following year to purchase his own home.
Tags: Bradenton, Cedar_Key, Fort_Myers, Longboat_Key, Naples, Sarasota, Tampa, Venice, motorcycling, historical_sites, museums,
Biking Daytona and Beyond
St. Augustine's Colonial Spanish Quarter is a pedestrian maze of shops, eateries and attractions such as the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in America.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Flagler_Beach, New_Smyrna_Beach, Ocala, Orlando, Palatka, Winter_Park, St_Augustine, museums, parks, beaches, Ormond_Beach, motorcycling, historical_sites, Ponce_Inlet, lighthouses,
Step Back in Time at Kingsley Plantation
Now, nearly 200 years later, the two-story plantation house is still standing, facing the banks of the Fort George River, which flows into the Atlantic one mile away.
Tags: Jacksonville, history, historical_sites,
A-Foot in St. Augustine
Don't miss the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse and the Colonial Spanish Quarter, a living museum comprising several historic buildings and re-enactors demonstrating life during St. Augustine's early Spanish years.
Tags: St_Augustine, historical_sites, parks, historic_districts, walking_tours, museums, hotels,
A-Foot in Key West
Even the Southernmost Point in the U.S.A. and the island's beaches are within a half-hour's walk from Mallory Square.
Tags: Key_West, walking_tours, hotels, bed_and_breakfasts, historical_sites,
Ponce, Francis and Henry
Three decades of Spanish and British rule had made their mark on St. Augustine.
Tags: history, historical_sites, St_Augustine, tours, museums, hotels,
The Secrets of Fort Mose
Mostly comprised of former slaves from the Carolinas, Fort Mose was home to nearly 100 free blacks when it was founded more than 260 years ago.
Tags: St_Augustine, parks, , history, historical_sites,
B&B Beautiful
The Colonial Revival home is so stunning that passing cars slow down to see it. And though it's three blocks from busy Main Street, we heard nothing but songbirds during our stay.
Tags: Bartow, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, bed_and_breakfasts, parks, hotels, museums, historical_sites, romance, weddings,
Estuary Adventures in Tampa Bay
The island, a major seabird nesting area with plenty of human history as well, can be reached with an hour of hard paddling.
Tags: Egmont_Key, Tampa, wildlife, fishing, canoeing, historical_sites, parks, kayaking, hiking, St_Petersburg, nature,
West Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale
Delray Beach, a Village by the Sea, has transformed itself over the past century into one of South Florida's most vibrant communities and resort areas.
Tags: Delray_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Okeechobee, Palm_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, music, art, museums, culture, shopping, historical_sites, diving,
Lakeland, Lake Wales and Lake Placid
Spook Hill is a mysterious experience for all visitors as their vehicle appears to roll uphill backward from a neutral position!
Tags: Lake_Placid, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, museums, nature, historical_sites,
Winter Park, Mount Dora and DeLand
In typical New England fashion, the opulent residences of Winter Park are often secluded and hidden from public view. However, a scenic boat tour offers views of various mansions from the lakes and canals of the gracious and historic city of Winter Park.
Tags: DeLand, Mount_Dora, Orlando, Winter_Park, shopping, antiques, museums, art, parks, historic_districts, historical_sites,
The Florida Black Heritage Trail
As America's primary contact with Mahatma Gandhi for many years, Dr. Thurman preached about racial equality through non-violent change even before Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, DeLand, Eatonville, Jacksonville, New_Smyrna_Beach, museums, history, art, trails, driving_tours, culture, historical_sites, Fort_Pierce,
Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach
The 52-block historic district is comprised of more than 450 beautiful homes, churches, public buildings and commercial structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Fernandina_Beach, Jacksonville, history, museums, historical_sites, historic_districts, driving_tours,
Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage
Our archaeological heritage is a legacy that we are privileged to experience and obligated to protect. It is a link to people and cultures that are mostly extinct, as well as to the vibrant native cultures of the present.
Tags: Bradenton, Brooksville, Clewiston, Crystal_River, Gainesville, Sarasota, Tampa, Weeki_Wachee, tours, St_Petersburg, museums, history, historical_sites, driving_tours,
Beaches and Bastions
Sand blew in ghostly gray sheets evoking coastal struggles first waged by Spain's defenders almost 450 years ago. For all of a day, everything felt hunkered down before bursting again into sunny renewal.
Tags: Ponte_Vedra_Beach, historical_sites, museums, parks, St_Augustine,
Uncovering the Ancient and Avant-Garde in Bradenton
At Emerson Point Park, whispers and shadows of a 1,400-year-old Native American village hide amidst 195 acres of mangrove swamps and salt marshes.
Tags: Anna_Maria_Island, Bradenton, Bradenton_Beach, Cortez, beaches, art, museums, parks, fishing, historical_sites, historic_districts, antiques,
Backyards and Attics
Here history fleshes out as costumed demonstrators involve kids in colonial cooking, candle making, blacksmithing, wool spinning and the likes.
Tags: St_Augustine, parks, lighthouses, historical_sites, museums, zoos, tours, fishing, family, historic_districts, water_sports,
Fort Myers and Beyond
Thomas Edison discovered Fort Myers as a cure for what ailed him, built a winter home and set up shop. He planted a garden full of exotics, including a banyan tree that has now reached 450 feet in diameter.
Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Everglades_National_Park, driving_tours, historical_sites, parks, theater, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach
Highway 98 east from West Palm Beach takes you to Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, where you drive past lions, giraffes, zebras, elephants and more in your own vehicle.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Palm_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, driving_tours, history, historical_sites, wildlife, museums, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Pensacola and Beyond
Paradise found – that's what many visitors think the first time they walk barefoot in the squeaky sugar sand next to the tourmaline-green water of the Gulf.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Pensacola, historical_sites, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful, flight,
Tallahassee and Beyond
Ride along any one of Tallahassee's five official canopy roads, so designated because of their scenic, cultural, historical and archaeological character. These roads are actually dappled, green tunnels formed by massive live oak limbs overhanging the highway.
Tags: Tallahassee, historical_sites, driving_tours, museums, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Amelia Island and St. Augustine
Today, the Fort is a living history museum, complete with costumed re-enactors who offer up tidbits about life in the fort and "complain" loudly about living conditions, the weather, food and paychecks. Candlelight tours of the fort are given during the summer on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Atlantic_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Jacksonville, Palm_Coast, parks, museums, history, historical_sites, nature, St_Augustine, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Gainesville and Fort White
For an in-depth study of the preserve, hike, bike or ride a horse on the extensive trails traversing the park - you're likely to happen upon the herd of bison or wild horses that roam free.
Tags: Gainesville, Micanopy, nature, history, historical_sites, parks, museums, hiking, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
Uncovering the Secret of Apalachicola
A fellow who moved from the San Francisco Bay area said that after a week in Apalachicola, he knew more people than he knew where he'd come from.
Tags: Apalachicola, historical_sites, bed_and_breakfasts, dining,
Florida's Archaeology
Many of Florida's archaeological sites research and preserve remnants of prehistoric cultures, and this one dates back furthest to 200 B.C.
Tags: Crystal_River, Estero, Panama_City_Beach, Pompano_Beach, Tallahassee, St_Augustine, history, historical_sites, St_Petersburg, Fort_Pierce,
Must-Sees for Cuban History and Culture
Ybor City grew up around the cigar industry as a Latin district of Cubans and other nationalities. Cigars and Cuban food still figure importantly into this colorful historic area.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Key_West, Miami, Tampa, Ybor_City, history, culture, St_Augustine, historical_sites, festival,
Must-Sees for African-American History and Culture
Here Martin Luther King stayed while supporting local civil rights movements. It was also home to the man who taught Ray Charles, a student at the local school for the deaf and blind, to read music in Braille.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Daytona_Beach, Eatonville, Fort_Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key_West, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, historical_sites, history, historic_districts, art, culture,
Must-Sees for Native American History and Culture
Crystal River Archaeological State Park served as a vital religious and political center for regional tribes from 200 B.C. to 1400 A.D.
Tags: Crystal_River, Estero, Fort_Lauderdale, Miami, Okeechobee, Tallahassee, Tampa, museums, historical_sites, art, parks, culture,
Chalet Suzanne
The inn soon became a favorite haunt of celebrities and royalty. And for three generations since, the family-run Chalet Suzanne has maintained its reputation for exceptional hospitality and four-star cuisine.
Tags: Lake_Wales, historical_sites, hotels, romance, dining,
Best Beaches For...
The grains are so fine, so white that you'll feel you are on packed sugar.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Daytona_Beach, Estero, Fort_Lauderdale, Hollywood, Key_West, Melbourne, Naples, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, South_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, Vero_Beach, parks, shelling, snorkeling, romance, historical_sites, water_sports, beaches,
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