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| Been There, Haven't Done That! |
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| You've seen the theme parks, the big cities and the major attractions. Now it's time to go off the beaten path. On your next Florida excursion, plan for some extra travel time to visit these offbeat, quirky roadside attractions. |
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| Tags: dining, museums, history, historical_sites, nature, parks, culture, Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Fort_Walton_Beach, Marianna, Milton, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Santa_Rosa_Beach, water_sports, Cross_Creek, Gainesville, Madison, Suwannee, Tallahassee, White_Springs, Steinhatchee, Amelia_Island, beaches, Flagler_Beach, Jacksonville, Palatka, St_Augustine, Crystal_River, St_Petersburg, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, Kissimmee, Lake_Placid, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Winter_Park, Hobe_Sound, Okeechobee, Ponce_Inlet, Sebastian, Stuart, Titusville, kayaking, Vero_Beach, Bradenton, Clewiston, Punta_Gorda, Coral_Gables, Delray_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Florida_Keys, Miami, Key_West, Homestead, Palm_Beach, Marathon, BeenThere, Monticello, |
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| Classic Florida Rides |
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| The Haunted Mansion has been there since before opening day. Because parts for the Florida ride were built alongside the Disneyland original, the attraction was ready six months before the rest of the park. |
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| Tags: Winter_Haven, theme_parks, Walt_Disney_World, Lake_Buena_Vista, Orlando, Universal_Studios, Kissimmee, Tampa, Daytona_Beach, St_Augustine, |
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| Off the Beaten Path |
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| 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. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Ocala, Tampa, history, historical_sites, parks, Homosassa, |
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| Paddling Pursuits |
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| Most folks who paddle the trail will make this a nine-to-10-day journey that tests self-reliance as much as it rewards the love for adventure. |
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| Tags: Cedar_Key, Estero, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Suwannee, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife, nature, parks, |
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| Boys of Spring |
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| Among the legends who roamed the field were Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean and many others you may be able to recall from years past. |
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| Tags: Bradenton, Daytona_Beach, Fort_Myers, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Lake_Buena_Vista, Lakeland, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Tampa, Vero_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, sports, St_Petersburg, Walt_Disney_World, |
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| Mural Towns Paint Heritage |
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| Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, DeLand, Gainesville, High_Springs, Kissimmee, Lake_Placid, Lake_Wales, Milton, Palatka, Punta_Gorda, Sebring, art, |
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| Family Must-Sees |
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| Your kids will be kissed and hugged by dolphins and sea lions respectively at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada. |
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| Tags: Clearwater, Crystal_River, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Marianna, New_Smyrna_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Tampa, Venice, West_Palm_Beach, Winter_Haven, Walt_Disney_World, SeaWorld, Universal_Studios, Busch_Gardens, Kennedy_Space_Center, museums, wildlife, sealife, family, Siesta_Key, Fort_Walton_Beach, theme_parks, zoos, water_parks, aquariums, Everglades_National_Park, Daytona_Beach, |
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| Big, Bad Bass |
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| Anglers who fish the Suwannee fall in love with its cypress swamps and spring-fed creeks. From its headwaters in "The Swamp" to the wide flood plain near its mouth, the Suwannee's scenery seems to evolve every 30 miles.
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| Tags: Cedar_Key, Crystal_River, DeLand, Gainesville, Kissimmee, Lake_Placid, Lake_Wales, Ocala, Palatka, Panama_City_Beach, Stuart, Suwannee, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, Vero_Beach, fishing, events, |
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| Houseboating on Nature's Doorstep |
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| The lower portion of the Suwannee is a nature preserve, so we saw very little development or housing. Just our drifting boat along the winding river, and not a billboard or electrical wire for miles. |
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| Tags: Cocoa, DeLand, Fort_Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Naples, Panama_City_Beach, Sandestin, Suwannee, family, boating, nature, |
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| Gone Fishin' |
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| You get the feeling that, when Sheriff Andy Taylor took his boy Opie out to fish - not just for the afternoon strolls pictured at the beginning of every Andy Griffith Show episode, but for weekend respites - this is where they landed. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Madison, fishing, |
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| A Walk on the Wild Side |
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| Later, I spot what I can only assume is a family of sandhill cranes, two gray-and-red adults, and juveniles whose feathers have not yet turned - they're still a downy yellowish brown. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Lake_Wales, Winter_Haven, hiking, nature, parks, wildlife, |
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| Kissimmee: Just For Fun |
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| In one section, rides and games are tot-sized and throughout, snack stands and restaurants sell kid favorites: cotton candy, popcorn, giant pretzels and pizza. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, family, |
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| Toho Sunrise |
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| If you are lucky enough to be in town on Friday night, drop by the Kissimmee Sports Arena for a taste of one of Florida's favorite native sports: the rodeo. Long before The Mouse came to the Sunshine State, cowboys ruled the scrubland. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, tours, fishing, wildlife, nature, |
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| Cocoa and Kissimmee |
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| Back on terra firma, go on a turtle trek. The Canaveral National Seashore, on A1A near Titusville, is a virtual turtle incubator, with hundreds of sea turtles making the journey to lay their eggs in the warm sands beside the Atlantic. |
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| Tags: Cape_Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Kissimmee, Okeechobee, Orlando, Titusville, nature, wildlife, Kennedy_Space_Center, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful, |
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| Neighborhood Attractions in Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale |
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| Fish from the pier. Whack volleyballs in the very capital of beach volleyball. Play on the covered playground. Rent water toys. Relax with a good book. |
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| Tags: Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Dania_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Hollywood, Kissimmee, Orlando, Tampa, family, beaches, aquariums, museums, parks, |
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| Fishing Sites |
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| You'll get ample cracks at yellowtail and mangrove snapper, plus shots at black and gag grouper. |
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| Tags: Daytona_Beach, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Miami, Naples, Ocala, Okeechobee, Orlando, Palatka, Stuart, fishing, Homosassa, Boca_Grande, St_Petersburg, Panama_City, Melbourne, |
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| Must-Do Hikes in Florida |
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| In just a few short hours, hikers can escape the pressures of civilization and relax in the tranquility of a wilderness paradise, then return to their former lives, recharged. |
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| Tags: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key_Largo, Kissimmee, Milton, Ocala, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Stuart, hiking, trails, parks, nature, Jupiter, |
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| Thrill Quest |
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| The car climbed higher and higher in the creepy hotel through a maze of elevator shafts and hallways, building our anxiety before the inevitable drop. Everyone let out a scream as we plummeted 13 stories, bounced up and then shot down the shaft again. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Orlando, Tampa, Busch_Gardens, Walt_Disney_World, SeaWorld, Universal_Studios, theme_parks, |
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| Florida Spa Sampler |
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| Succumb to the luscious Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap or the Exotic Flower Bath. |
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| Tags: Bonita_Springs, Fort_Myers, Islamorada, Key_West, Kissimmee, Miami, Miami_Beach, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, spas, resorts, luxury, Sanibel_Island, |
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| Orlando/Kissimmee Area |
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| The propensity for over-the-top entertainment has infected the environs with a love for fun, faux, goofy and imagination. |
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| Tags: Eatonville, Kissimmee, Lake_Buena_Vista, Mount_Dora, Orlando, Sanford, Winter_Park, theme_parks, Walt_Disney_World, SeaWorld, Universal_Studios, |
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| Unique Dining |
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| If you're in the Space Coast area, make a lunch date with an astronaut. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's Lunch with an Astronaut program is a popular dining treat for kids and parents alike. |
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| Tags: Bradenton, Captiva_Island, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, DeLand, Fort_Lauderdale, Grayton_Beach, Hollywood, Key_West, Kissimmee, Lake_Wales, Miami, Miami_Beach, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Sarasota, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Ybor_City, St_Augustine, dining, |
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| Little-Known Cycling Trails |
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| Largely shaded by the mixed hardwood and pine forests, the trail is of particular interest to birding enthusiasts, who will enjoy spotting more than 40 species that call the forested hills home. |
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| Tags: Beaches_of_South_Walton, Clewiston, Key_Largo, Key_West, Kissimmee, Okeechobee, Seaside, Tallahassee, biking, trails, Grayton_Beach, birding, wildlife, Boca_Grande, Florida_Keys, |
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| Hands-On Fun |
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| The ultimate hands-on sea experiences take place where special programs allow you to swim with dolphins and other marine creatures as you learn about their behaviors and habits. |
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| Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Clearwater, Daytona_Beach, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, museums, family, nature, |
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| Florida's Best 18 Holes |
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| Always a highlight hole during the PGA Tour's annual stop on Arnie's home course, the long, narrow fairway wraps around a lake from tee to green. Players have to decide how much water to cut off - twice. |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Brooksville, Clearwater, Kissimmee, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Palm_Coast, Panama_City_Beach, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Sandestin, Tampa, Tarpon_Springs, West_Palm_Beach, golf, Port_St_Lucie, St_Augustine, |
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| Florida's Seven Great Natural Wonders |
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| Even without binoculars I sighted crested caracara, deer, gopher tortoises, ospreys, rabbits, red-shouldered hawks and wading birds. A great blue heron lazily lofted itself above spatterdock lilies. |
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| Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Pensacola, Vero_Beach, Florida_Keys, nature, wildlife, parks, Everglades_National_Park, Okeechobee, |
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