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All Articles for : history
Big Water Wonder
At times, we’d lock gazes with surfacing turtles and those sunning themselves atop flotsam, the creatures seemingly ever-ready to turn tail-up and scurry for the depths if our approach came in their direction.
Tags: Okeechobee, nature, fishing, trails, history, Clewiston,
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,
Coastal Character
Pensacola anchors Florida's scenic northwest edge. The unspoiled shore flanks the city with barrier islands – Perdido Key Beach to the west and Pensacola Beach to the east – but reminders of its colorful Spanish heritage are never far away.
Tags: Pensacola, beaches, history, nature,
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,
Famous Visitors to the Sunshine State
When Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz shot episodes of I Love Lucy in the mid-1950s in Miami Beach, the couple slept in Room 919 of the Eden Roc Hotel.
Tags: history,
Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Captiva Island
The draw of the sea continues to lure visitors on sail and power cruises to fish and explore the parade of mangrove-laced islands along southwest shores, as did the Lindberghs.
Tags: Captiva_Island, history, nature,
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,
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
Zigzagging bridges over the lake slow you down so you can watch snapping turtles poke their heads above water; pine trees, apropos of longevity, are placed to both hide and reveal the next intimate moment with nature.
Tags: Delray_Beach, museums, gardens, art, culture, history,
In Search of the Circus
Memories come flooding back when I see famed Ringling clown Lou Jacobs’ tiny car, hobo clown Emmett Kelley’s props, Harold Ronk’s ringmaster costume, the Zacchini cannon and the Wallenda high-wire platform.
Tags: Sarasota, family, museums, Venice, history,
Immerse Yourself in Keys Culture
Perhaps most spectacular of all is Bahia Honda State Park, a beautiful state park once named America's #1 beach by coastal expert Dr. Beach. The park offers an array of water-related activities as well as hiking.
Tags: Florida_Keys, Key_Largo, diving, fishing, culture, Marathon, Big_Pine_Key, history,
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,
Mural, Mural on the Wall
A man listens to an old record player. A woman looks out the window as a dove flies by. For me, seeing daily life through the windows makes it seem like I am really there. And it is a lovely slice of life.
Tags: Palatka, DeLand, Lake_Placid, art, history, tours,
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,
Escape to Florida's Gulf Coast with a Gilligan's Island Star
Life is slower here, and the weathered bungalows and small motels that have been mainstays here illustrate what most of these beaches were like when Wells moved here in the early 1970s.
Tags: Indian_Shores, Indian_Rocks_Beach, St_Petersburg, beaches, hotels, dining, history, Madeira_Beach,
Exploring the Treasure Coast
In stark contrast to the faster pace just to the south, these destinations feature a culturally vibrant, yet laid-back quality of life centered on beaches, boating, fishing, community and the outdoors.
Tags: Stuart, Jensen_Beach, history, museums, Hobe_Sound, Hutchinson_Island,
Discover Key Biscayne
In the shadow of busy Miami, Key Biscayne remains a world unto itself. Golf carts cause the only traffic jams. The parks and beaches are stunning.
Tags: Key_Biscayne, beaches, parks, nature, water_sports, history,
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,
True Tales of Florida Ghost Towns
Most visitors’ favorite story is of the 1907 newlywed who waits at the New River Inn for her husband, who never arrives. The problem? The husband was murdered in New York by the bride-to-be’s angry father, who wanted her to become a nun.
Tags: St_Petersburg, tours, history, Fort_Lauderdale, St_Augustine, Egmont_Key,
From Museums to Moussaka
You never stop learning about culture in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, also known as Florida's Beach.
Tags: culture, Tarpon_Springs, Dunedin, history, museums, St_Petersburg,
Stars and Stripes in Northwest Florida
Military folk and civvies alike flock here for more than the trolley tour. Admire such legendary aircraft as an F-14 Tomcat, much like the one Tom Cruise piloted in "Top Gun."
Tags: Pensacola, flight, history, museums, diving,
Amtrak's Silver Meteor
Unlike many other overnight trains, the Meteor (and sister train Silver Star) survived through to the Amtrak era when the U.S. government took over the passenger railroad system.
Tags: transportation, Miami, history,
Dive into the Sponge Capital of the World
On June 18, 1905 a diver was lowered overboard and walked for the first time on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, trailing oxygen bubbles and carrying a short rake to hook sponges.
Tags: Tarpon_Springs, history, culture,
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,
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,
Tracing the Calusa
Every so often Connie would break the quiet of our paddles dipping into the water to pull out shells and explain how they fit into the ecosystem.
Tags: canoeing, nature, kayaking, history, tours, wildlife, manatees,
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,
Out On The Town
Fernandina Beach’s 50-block historic district extends lace-curtain charm through 19th-century B&Bs, inviting boutiques and side streets that hold bell-ringer churches and museums.
Tags: Sarasota, Fernandina_Beach, Tallahassee, Tarpon_Springs, Delray_Beach, museums, history, historic_districts, culture, gardens, art,
Jet Set
Each April, the start of the flying year, more than 160,000 people “drop in” to Lakeland for the seven-day Sun ’n Fun Fly-In which features daily air shows, a nighttime aerobatics display and, occasionally, fly-bys courtesy of the Blue Angels.
Tags: Lakeland, Tallahassee, history, Lake_Wales, museums, Pensacola, Merritt_Island,
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,
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,
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,
Everglades Airboat Adventures
The very first airboaters, the Miccosukee and Seminole Indians, lived off the land in these wilds.
Tags: Everglades_National_Park, wildlife, history, culture, boating, nature,
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,
Cultural Celebrations
Where else can you hear Scottish bagpipes and an oompah band belting out polka tunes, while snacking on spicy Thai treats or a German sausage?
Tags: Bartow, Coconut_Grove, Eatonville, Jacksonville, Key_West, Miami, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, culture, events, history, festival, music,
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,
Family-Friendly Fort Lauderdale
I had discovered paradise - the world's largest discount and entertainment mall housing designer outlets such as Saks Fifth Avenue, DKNY and Neiman Marcus.
Tags: Fort_Lauderdale, shopping, museums, art, history, culture, resorts, family, Dania_Beach,
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,
Cultural Encounters in Florida
That place is the edge of the Everglades, a strip of land 11 miles by 600 feet where the Miccosukee rule sovereign and have since the Seminole Wars chased them from their Tallahassee homeland in the 1850s.
Tags: Fort_Lauderdale, Miami, Naples, Tallahassee, culture, history, St_Augustine,
Globetrotting Florida
Kaleidoscopic costumes of sequins and crepe paper bob along the street in step with whistles, bells and the leathery thrump of African drums.
Tags: Miami, Tarpon_Springs, culture, history, Coconut_Grove, dining,
Big Water Heritage Trail
While in Belle Glade don't miss the Torry Island Bridge, the oldest manually operated swing bridge still in use in Florida.
Tags: Clewiston, Fort_Myers, Miami, Okeechobee, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, West_Palm_Beach, trails, tours, fishing, history, hiking, driving_tours,
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,
Capital Delights
Today, the mission has been meticulously restored to its 17th century appearance. Visitors can tour the continuing restoration, including a fort complex, a Spanish church, a Spanish home and the Indian chief's house.
Tags: Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, parks, museums, lighthouses, history, nature,
Romance in the Ancient City
Fountains large and small, full of glittering pennies-turned-wishes, posed next to delicate statuaries and wood-shingled cottages. Chocolatiers and wine purveyors set up shop next to domestic villas with opulent fences.
Tags: Flagler_Beach, St_Augustine, romance, bed_and_breakfasts, history, spas,
Making History Fun
At the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, kids are encouraged to climb the 219 winding steps to the top for a spectacular view of St. Augustine and beaches.
Tags: St_Augustine, family, history, museums, tours,
City Profile: Jasper
Built in 1893, the jail is now a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tags: history, nature,
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,
Cuban Heritage
Here you'll find exotic fruit stands, Cuban bakeries and casual sidewalk cafes where you can sample Cuban cuisine.
Tags: Key_West, Miami, Miami_Beach, Tampa, Ybor_City, history, historic_districts, museums, driving_tours,
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,
Fort Myers/Sanibel Area
With its gentle Gulf of Mexico waves, shell-strewn beaches, neighborly attitude and laid-back tempo, Fort Myers and its islands coerce a mood of creativity and inspiration.
Tags: Cape_Coral, Captiva_Island, Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, parks, beaches, nature, history,
Pensacola Bay Area
Here you can take a long, secluded shoreline stroll along the deserted, powder beaches of another part of the National Seashore.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Pensacola, history, beaches,
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,
Ethnic Diversity
The sponging industry continues to draw swarthy seamen and their families, making the neighborhood around the sponge docks a living museum.
Tags: Clearwater, Delray_Beach, Eatonville, Key_West, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, Ybor_City, St_Augustine, culture, history,
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,
Florida History Timeline
Spain sets up camp in Pensacola, which later gets ping-ponged from Spain to France, back to Spain, back to France, back to Spain.
Tags: history,
Flagler Beach/Palm Coast Area
River tours and houseboat rentals are a popular way to explore this historic waterway where steamboats once plied their cargo of oranges to return with tourists adventuring into this wilderness paradise.
Tags: Flagler_Beach, Palatka, Palm_Coast, tours, nature, golf, history, beaches, birding, parks,
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore protects 5,842 acres of public land and 18,953 acres of water along 52 miles of Gulf and bay shoreline around Pensacola.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Navarre, beaches, history, Pensacola,
St. Augustine Area
At Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth park, you can see the excavation of the actual stone cross Ponce de Leon and his men laid out in the sand upon reaching Florida shores.
Tags: Ponte_Vedra_Beach, St_Augustine, history, golf, historic_districts,
Journey to Florida's Heartland: Arcadia and the Peace River Valley
Arcadia might feel like a small town, but its 6,500 residents make it the biggest city in the Peace River Valley.
Tags: Arcadia, Bartow, Bradenton, Cross_Creek, Gainesville, antiques, history,