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Ten Places to Get Your Family in the Holiday Spirit
The holidays are upon us, and if you need a little coaxing to get into the spirit of the season, then take your family to one of these merry and bright destinations.
Tags: events, Cocoa, Jacksonville, Fort_Myers, theme_parks, Orlando, St_Augustine, Pensacola, Miami, Fort_Lauderdale,
History Lives on at Spooky Florida Locations
Florida’s centuries-old history provides a strong connection to interesting places and significant people. As it turns out, some of them linger a bit longer than expected.
Tags: historical_sites, St_Augustine, Ocala, Cedar_Key, Miami, Amelia_Island, Pensacola,
Weird, Wacky and Wonderful: Florida’s Oddest Annual Events
Remember to embrace the oddity, smile at the strange, and make sure not to miss out on these wild, wonderful, uniquely Florida celebrations of the weird.
Tags: events, St_Augustine, Pensacola, Orlando, Coconut_Grove, Key_Largo, Key_West, Naples,
The Arts Al Fresco in Florida
The wonderful weather that is signature to Florida makes outdoor events possible all year long.
Tags: art, art_and_culture, festival, events, Winter_Park, music, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Miami, Bonita_Springs, Mount_Dora, Clearwater, Ocala, St_Petersburg,
Florida Day Trips
While you’re on vacation in one of Florida’s major airport and attraction hubs, why not try a day trip off the beaten path?
Tags: Pensacola, Seaside, Tallahassee, Amelia_Island, Fernandina_Beach, St_Augustine, Ormond_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Charlotte_Harbor, Anna_Maria_Island, Key_West, Naples, Sebastian, Key_Largo,
Pensacola’s Secret Season
The news is out about Pensacola Bay Area’s secret season. Mild days and cool nights bring hot deals on fall and winter stays, and the calendar is filled with festivals and special events.
Tags: Pensacola,
Spanish Colonial Forts and Outposts
Its history of disrepair, destruction, abandonment, and reoccupation by various governments is typical of the remote forts in Florida that were as difficult to maintain as they were to defend.
Tags: St_Augustine, Tallahassee, Pensacola, Spanish_Heritage,
Pensacola's Great Outdoors
Turn off technology, slow the pace and tune into the tempo of the tides, sun, moon and stars along 52 miles of coastline, parks and preserves, woodlands and wetlands, rivers and creeks in the Pensacola Bay Area.
Tags: Pensacola, outdoors_and_nature, fishing, kayaking, parks, camping, hiking, biking, diving,
Spanish Colonial Pensacola
After a three-year French occupation of Pensacola Bay (1719-1722), the Spanish returned to Pensacola, establishing Presidio Santa Rosa Pensacola (1722-1752) on the barrier island just off shore.
Tags: Pensacola, Spanish_Heritage,
Tristan de Luna
When the remnants of the expedition were finally withdrawn in 1561, Luna’s colony joined the ranks of all previous failures by Spanish adventurers in the Southeastern United States.
Tags: Pensacola, Spanish_Heritage,
Magic at Sunrise
“It was like being in a dream,” he said, his eyes misting. “And it turned out to be a more beautiful, peaceful dream than I could have imagined. I’ll never forget it.”
Tags: flight, Orlando, museums, Pensacola,
Happy Trails To You
The courses are within easy driving distances of one another, so you may find that you can schedule a morning round at one layout, grab some lunch at one of the marvelous new clubhouses and play a second round in the afternoon the same day.
Tags: golf, Pensacola, Gulf_Breeze, Navarre, Fort_Walton_Beach,
Put the Fun in Funky Florida Foods
Create your own pancakes by choosing from homemade pancake batters and sausages, blueberries and more. This is a great inter-generational event; every time we go, we're smiling before the first batch of pancakes gets poured on the griddle.
Tags: dining, culture, Orlando, Titusville, parks, Florida_Keys, Key_West, Pensacola, Cedar_Key,
Bridging the Beach
From Indian mounds to palatial hotels, Florida has much to complement its sandy beaches and subtropical islands.
Tags: beaches, history, Fort_Myers_Beach, St_Augustine, Pensacola, Palm_Beach, Fort_Myers,
Fiestas, Freebies and Fun
Celebrate the founding of Pensacola at the 60th annual Fiesta of Five Flags from June 4-11, when Seville Quarter comes alive with special events.
Tags: Pensacola, Perdido_Key, festival, events, resorts, beaches, fishing, museums, zoos, historical_sites,
Celebrate Pensacola Then and Now
Head downtown, where Historic Pensacola Village and Plaza Ferdinand bring history to life.
Tags: Pensacola, history, culture, beaches, Perdido_Key,
Oriskany Redux
Oriskany is accessible to a variety of divers, including both the recreational type and technical divers.
Tags: diving, fishing, Pensacola, history,
Campus Tours
Whether you’re going for a game, a campus tour or just plain sightseeing, Florida’s universities are attractions unto themselves.
Tags: Lakeland, tours, Pensacola, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Daytona_Beach, Winter_Park, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Coral_Gables,
View from the Top
Florida’s observation towers offer a different take on the Florida landscape. Whether you’re birding, stargazing or looking for a view that goes on for miles, you’ll reach new heights peering over forests, skylines and the sea.
Tags: Pensacola, Hobe_Sound, Lake_Wales, Tampa, Key_West, Sarasota, Micanopy, Everglades_National_Park, Miami, Orlando, Winter_Haven, outdoors_and_nature,
Favorite Florida Beaches
Since the sheer number of stunning shores in Florida can be a bit overwhelming (unless, of course, you’re lucky enough to visit them all), we’ve made a list of some favorite Florida beaches according to interest.
Tags: beaches, family, surfing, romance, Hollywood, Panama_City_Beach, Siesta_Key, Venice, Key_West, Pensacola, Sebastian, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Ormond_Beach, Jacksonville_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Fort_Lauderdale, Miami_Beach, Caladesi_Island_State_Park,
Fish Shack Chic
We call them, endearingly, fish shacks – plain, sometimes rustic throwbacks to simpler times when seafood went straight from bait to plate, and the linen thread-count was zero.
Tags: dining, Daytona_Beach, Pensacola, Clearwater_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Cocoa_Beach, Islamorada, Key_West, Anna_Maria_Island, Sarasota, Boca_Grande, Mexico_Beach, St_Pete_Beach,
Beach Hikes
When the surf pulls back across soft, cinder-like sand to reveal the well-worn rock formations, explore the wave-sculpted benches and tidal pools, an ever-changing landscape carved by waves and wind.
Tags: beaches, Jupiter, Venice, St_Augustine, Pensacola, hiking,
Tracing Florida's Spanish Heritage
Situated on a hill overlooking the city, this mission houses a variety of reconstructed buildings from Spain’s 1600s heyday.
Tags: history, historical_sites, culture, Pensacola, Tallahassee, St_Augustine, Key_West, Ybor_City, Orlando,
Florida's Unexpected Shores
The sand is as soft as baby powder at Siesta Key. Leave the shoes in your room: It’s a sensory delight to walk down this strand, thanks to tiny sand grains that are almost pure quartz.
Tags: Sarasota, Siesta_Key, beaches, Daytona_Beach, St_Augustine, Apalachicola, Pensacola, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Hutchinson_Island, Palm_Beach, Florida_Keys, Key_Biscayne, Caladesi_Island_State_Park,
Florida Beach Primer
Take our abbreviated beach trip around Florida and add a few new beaches to your scrapbook. From Pensacola to Amelia Island to the Florida Keys, there is a new beach for you.
Tags: beaches, Pensacola, Perdido_Key, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Panama_City_Beach, Apalachicola, Cedar_Key, Steinhatchee, Crystal_River, Tampa, St_Petersburg, Clearwater_Beach, Egmont_Key, Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna_Maria_Island, Charlotte_Harbor, Fort_Myers, Sanibel_Island, Captiva_Island, Naples, Marco_Island, Florida_Keys, Key_West, Miami, South_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, West_Palm_Beach, Fort_Pierce, Vero_Beach, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, New_Smyrna_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Palm_Coast, St_Augustine, Jacksonville_Beach, Amelia_Island, New_Port_Richey,
Been There, Haven't Done That!
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.
Tags: dining, museums, history, historical_sites, outdoors_and_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, been_there_havent_done_that, Monticello, downtowns_and_small_towns, resident,
Historic African American Sites in Pensacola
Built in 1895, the historic Kate Coulson house is now home of the African American Heritage Society’s resource center.
Tags: history, historical_sites, African_American, Pensacola,
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,
Northwest Florida Overview
The “Forgotten Florida” is that stretch of the Sunshine State from Pensacola east to almost Tallahassee. In olden days, it was a sparsely populated region of thick pine forests, with the old colonial city of Pensacola acting as its hub.
Tags: Apalachicola, Carrabelle, DeFuniak_Springs, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Marianna, Mexico_Beach, Milton, Navarre, Panama_City_Beach, Panama_City, Pensacola, Perdido_Key, Port_St_Joe, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Seagrove_Beach, Seaside, St_George_Island,
New and Notable in Northwest Florida
Nightlife beckons. If it’s blues you want, hit the newly opened Blues Café situated in downtown on South Alcaniz Street. The café gives local blues groups a stage nearly every night.
Tags: Pensacola, Port_St_Joe, Apalachicola, Panama_City_Beach, Panama_City, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach,
Northwest Florida Beach Guide
Spend your vacation swimming, trying to spot dolphins in the Gulf, and shelling. Don’t forget to bring your fishing rod – plenty of people cast right from the shore.
Tags: Pensacola, beaches, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Seaside, Panama_City_Beach, St_George_Island,
Scouting the Northwest's Art Galleries
Belmont offers a series of art classes, many lasting for only a day or even a few hours. Learn how to blow glass, sculpt pottery, create glass beads or design your own jewelry.
Tags: Pensacola, Destin, Fort_Walton_Beach, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Panama_City, art, museums, culture,
Pensacola's Natural Lure
The Nature Conservancy calls Pensacola a hotspot for biodiversity, and you'll see that at its best along the area's bays and bayous.
Tags: Pensacola, outdoors_and_nature, parks, canoeing, boating, sailing, fishing, diving,
Four Elements of Florida Beaches
Deep blue water laps the broad shoreline, and candy-colored lifeguard stations add a festive touch to the scenery. The most striking sights, though, are the throngs of gorgeous sun gods and goddesses that congregate in this playground of the rich and famous.
Tags: Grayton_Beach, beaches, Destin, Santa_Rosa_Beach, Fort_Walton_Beach, Cocoa_Beach, surfing, Clearwater_Beach, South_Beach, Pensacola,
Beach Party
Conveniently perched on the Florida-Alabama state line, it hosts the Annual Interstate Mullet Toss, a wacky April tournament where participants heave a dead mullet from Florida into Alabama.
Tags: Venice, beaches, events, festival, Pensacola, Cocoa_Beach, surfing, Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Big_Pine_Key, Destin, fishing, Miami, Miami_Beach, South_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Delray_Beach, Clearwater_Beach, Dunedin, Siesta_Key, Nokomis, Stuart, St_Augustine, Jacksonville, music, Panama_City_Beach, camping, St_Petersburg,
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,
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,
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,
Go Dog, Go!
Forget biscuits – your best friend wants a vacation. (Though a few bites of steak and a stroll on the beach might earn you a lick or two.)
Tags: Tampa, Winter_Park, Miami_Beach, Key_West, beaches, parks, resorts, hotels, bed_and_breakfasts, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Dunedin, St_Pete_Beach, St_George_Island, Pensacola, dining,
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,
Generation M (for Museum Going)
Imagine leaving your home forever to travel halfway around the world and battle the enemy in a strange land of alligators and dark-skinned giants.
Tags: Boca_Raton, Boynton_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Homestead, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Marathon, Miami, Naples, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Panama_City, museums, family, St_Augustine, aquariums,
Planning a Florida Family Reunion
From renting a picnic shelter to reserving a block of campsites, Florida's parks are sometimes overlooked as reunion hotspots.
Tags: Kissimmee, Palm_Coast, Pensacola, reunions, family, resorts, parks,
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,
Parrot Heads
This is a place of bikini tops and Bloody Marys for breakfast. Where the talk is about fishing, the weather and what port of call is next.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Fort_Lauderdale, Gulf_Breeze, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Miami_Beach, Naples, Nokomis, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sarasota, South_Beach, St_Pete_Beach, Tampa, Venice, nightlife, beaches, resorts, hotels, dining,
Natural Beaches
If you count all bays and inlets - where you'll find the "secret" sandy getaways usually known only to locals - Florida has nearly 8,500 miles of shoreline.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Fernandina_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, beaches, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, sealife, birding, camping, St_Augustine, parks, Florida_Keys, Tampa, New_Smyrna_Beach, Caladesi_Island_State_Park,
Northwest Florida Culinary Standouts
As construction rises on the Beaches of South Walton, so do fine dining opportunities.
Tags: Apalachicola, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Grayton_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sandestin, Destin, dining,
Northwest Florida Cuisine
Finally, Ryanne serves me a dessert of peaches infused with and covered in a caramel mixture, topped by homemade vanilla ice cream. My notes for this read something like, "Oh my God, oh my God."
Tags: Apalachicola, Pensacola, dining, food_and_wine,
Beaches 101
Seekers of relaxation and tranquility go to Dunedin's state-protected Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island for a serene visit with nature.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Cape_San_Blas, Captiva_Island, Cedar_Key, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Dunedin, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Walton_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Naples, Navarre, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, beaches, parks, camping, sightseeing, Honeymoon_Island, Caladesi_Island_State_Park,
The Florida Trail
If you're from a mountainous state, don't assume "flat" Florida hiking is boring. Florida ranks third in the nation for botanical diversity, with more than 80 distinct plant communities.
Tags: Apalachicola, Ocala, Okeechobee, Pensacola, Suwannee, White_Springs, camping, hiking, outdoors_and_nature,
Walk on the Wild Side
The grand sight of a whale splashing in the water is not usually associated with Florida. But northern right whales choose our northeastern coastal waters, almost exclusively, to give birth in winter months. They are among the most endangered species of large mammals in the world.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Crystal_River, Marco_Island, Naples, Orlando, Oviedo, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Sebastian, Tallahassee, Titusville, Vero_Beach, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, manatees, dolphins, Everglades_National_Park, Florida_Keys,
Florida's Retro Theme Parks
Many of the rides are highly embellished versions of rides you might see at the state fair - scrambler, Ferris wheel, Tilt-O-Whirl, bumper cars.
Tags: Homestead, Islamorada, Key_West, Orlando, Pensacola, Tampa, St_Augustine, museums, outdoors_and_nature, theme_parks, water_parks, gardens, St_Petersburg, wildlife, zoos, aquariums, sealife,
Music to Our Ears
All around the state, musical organizations recognize the need to build audiences.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Clearwater, Cocoa_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key_West, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Miami, Miami_Beach, Mount_Dora, Naples, Ocala, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, music, St_Petersburg, Melbourne,
Family Must-Sees
Your kids will be kissed and hugged by dolphins and sea lions respectively at Theater of the Sea in Islamorada.
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, Kennedy_Space_Center, museums, wildlife, sealife, family, Siesta_Key, Fort_Walton_Beach, theme_parks, zoos, water_parks, aquariums, Everglades_National_Park, Daytona_Beach,
Great Motorcycle Rides in Northwest Florida
Whether you follow Highway 98 down the coast past some of America's best beaches or head inland to explore the two-lane country roads that snake through Florida's famous state and national forests, there's a ride here for you.
Tags: Apalachicola, Grayton_Beach, Milton, Pensacola, Seagrove_Beach, Seaside, Tallahassee, motorcycling, adventure,
Go Off-Road
Osceola National Forest has 200,000 acres of wilderness with dozens of unnumbered forest roads that are open to dirt bikers.
Tags: Apalachicola, Dade_City, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake_City, Ocala, Pensacola, Tallahassee, motorcycling, parks,
High-Flying Days
Nearby Gulf Breeze has been dubbed Florida's UFO capital because of the many sightings reported there. Rumor has it that the UFOs are really experimental military aircraft.
Tags: Cocoa, Fort_Walton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Lakeland, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Titusville, flight,
Eyes to the Sky
The Air Force Thunderbirds and Army Golden Knights rip through the skies over Punta Gorda to climax this two-day spectacular, more than 25 years old. T
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Jacksonville_Beach, Lakeland, Pensacola, Punta_Gorda, Stuart, Titusville, events, flight,
Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway
The Pensacola Scenic Bluffs Highway is a unique driving experience offering panoramic views of Escambia Bay from giant bluffs that are the highest points along Florida's entire coastline.
Tags: Pensacola, Scenic_Highway, driving_tours,
Florida's Lighthouse Trail
Through its lifetime, this lighthouse was hit several times by Union forces across the bay at Fort Pickens, sustained lightening strikes, and even the Charleston Earthquake of 1886 and a tornado, but the structure held firm and is now operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Tags: Daytona_Beach, Egmont_Key, Key_West, Pensacola, Tampa, lighthouses, driving_tours, Key_Biscayne, St_Augustine,
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,
Great Florida Birding Trail
Comprised of 564,961 acres, the Apalachicola National Forest was established in 1936 and hosts the largest red-cockaded woodpecker population in the world.
Tags: Apalachicola, Gulf_Breeze, Marianna, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, birding, outdoors_and_nature, driving_tours, parks,
Pensacola Bay Area and Milton
In the midst of the historic village, Seville Square, a grassy park graced by a romantic gazebo and a canopy of majestic oak trees, serves as a respite and a popular location for a variety of unique festivals.
Tags: Milton, Pensacola, museums, driving_tours, historic_districts,
City Profile: Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach offers an array of shopping, lodging, restaurants, beach bars and entertainment - all with minimum travel, traffic and cost.
Tags: Pensacola,
City Profile: Pensacola
After all, what else would you expect from a city named the seventh most polite city in the nation?
Tags: Pensacola,
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,
Fort Walton Beach, Destin and Seaside
Destin, where anglers fall hook, line, and sinker for deep sea fishing, offers the quickest deepwater access along the Gulf - so close that you can fish and still see the shore.
Tags: Fort_Walton_Beach, Pensacola, Seaside, museums, fishing, driving_tours, Tours_on_a_Tankful,
North Florida Outdoor Adventure Trail
Wakulla, meaning "mysteries of strange water," is one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, with points at 185 feet.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Grayton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Live_Oak, Milton, Pensacola, Steinhatchee, Suwannee, Wakulla_Springs, parks, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, driving_tours, music, canoeing, kayaking, camping,
Pensacola to Tallahassee
It's clear to see why this portion of Highway 90 has been designated a Scenic Highway before you leave the Pensacola city limits, as the road hugs the edge of wooded bluffs hanging 100 feet over Pensacola Bay.
Tags: Apalachicola, DeFuniak_Springs, Marianna, Milton, Pensacola, Quincy, driving_tours, Scenic_Highway, parks, Tallahassee,
Pensacola Bay Area Beaches
This 1,471-foot pier extends across emerald-green waters beyond two sand bars and leaves you with breathtaking views of the shoreline.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Navarre, Pensacola, beaches, disabilities_travel,
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,
Awesome Family Adventures
Take lots of pictures because no one's going to believe your kids didn't make up this magical river.
Tags: Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Crystal_River, Islamorada, Madeira_Beach, Milton, Orlando, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Steinhatchee, family, theme_parks, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, parks, water_sports, Everglades_National_Park, St_Petersburg, Port_St_Joe, fishing,
Fish On! Homosassa and the Gulf Coast
Fishing from kayaks continues to grow in popularity, and it's no wonder: the quiet craft draw only inches of water, allowing you to sneak up on fish in areas that most anglers can't access.
Tags: Apalachicola, Cedar_Key, Crystal_River, Fort_Walton_Beach, Naples, Pensacola, Sarasota, Steinhatchee, Tampa, fishing, water_sports, Homosassa,
Tournament Shootouts
Is it possible to win more than $150,000 just by going fishing? You bet your boat shoes.
Tags: , Key_Largo, Pensacola, Stuart,
Surfing for Fish
To determine if crabs, shrimp and the like are around, look for the food chain a step higher: wading birds, pelicans, cormorants, stingrays and small sharks.
Tags: Bonita_Springs, Carrabelle, Charlotte_Harbor, Cocoa_Beach, Estero, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Walton_Beach, Gulf_Breeze, Indian_Rocks_Beach, Mexico_Beach, Miami_Beach, Pensacola, Pompano_Beach, Steinhatchee, fishing, Marco_Island, Florida_Keys,
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, Native_American, downtowns_and_small_towns, African_American,
Florida's Performing Arts
When you have a yen for lighter-than-air dance, when you yearn for the beauty of form-made-fluid, a night at the ballet, and nothing else, will satisfy.
Tags: Gainesville, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, music, theater, culture,
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,
Saltwater Fishing
It's deep, it's blue, and it's full of large game fish that can turn the shape of a rod into a pretzel. Here lurk awesome battlers such as blue marlin, wahoo, sailfish, dolphin, kingfish, swordfish, yellowfin and blackfin tuna, and sharks longer than the width of some boats.
Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Miami, Pensacola, Sebastian, Tampa, fishing, piers, boating, outdoors_and_nature, beaches,
Uniquely Florida Camping
Florida has literally hundreds of great campsites, from deserted coastal islands ideal for tents to full-service campgrounds that can accommodate luxury recreational vehicles.
Tags: Beaches_of_South_Walton, Big_Pine_Key, Flagler_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Live_Oak, Ocala, Pensacola, Suwannee, camping, Everglades_National_Park, Destin,
Diving in Northwest Florida
After a dozen or so years on the ocean floor, this labyrinth of twisted girders and beams had become a virtual condominium for small reef critters.
Tags: Apalachicola, Fort_Walton_Beach, Navarre, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, diving, beaches, Destin, sealife, outdoors_and_nature,
Florida's Best Diving Spots
There are nine springs that flow into the tannin-dyed Santa Fe River, which is an endless source of fun when lazily floating on tubes above divers exploring the caverns below.
Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Cape_San_Blas, Crystal_River, Fort_Lauderdale, High_Springs, Key_Largo, Key_West, Miami, Palm_Beach, Pensacola, Venice, West_Palm_Beach, snorkeling, diving, manatees, Destin, Panama_City,
Fish Shacks and Other Laid-Back Fun
The best seating is outdoors around picnic tables on the deck overlooking the salt marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway, just before it empties into Ponce Inlet.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Hollywood, Miami, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sanford, Steinhatchee, Tampa, Titusville, Venice, dining,
Notable Nightlife
Filled with nightclubs and bars, Ybor City draws thousands of revelers to its streets on weekend nights. On Seventh Avenue, stroll by club after club and chose your dance spot.
Tags: Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Walton_Beach, Jacksonville, Key_West, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, South_Beach, Tallahassee, Tampa, West_Palm_Beach, Ybor_City, Destin, nightlife,
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,
Hands-On Fun
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.
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, outdoors_and_nature,
Florida Golf Course Designers
All of the world's great golf course architects have designed courses in Florida, and many of them have chosen to live here as well.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Brooksville, DeLand, Fort_Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Coast, Pensacola, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, Tampa, Vero_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, golf, Port_St_Lucie, Palm_Beach,
Beach Events
Located at the Florida-Alabama border, the Flora-Bama Lounge, Package, Oyster Bar & Grill is well-known for its Interstate Mullet Toss and beach party, where participants toss mullets, a fish indigenous to the area, from Alabama across the state line into Florida. The fish-throwing is done in late April on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
Tags: Bradenton, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Walton_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Key_West, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sarasota, Venice, beaches, sports, events, sunsets,
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,
Florida's Best Surf Spots
Florida's Gulf coast doesn't offer the surf of the state's Atlantic coast, but all winter, you'll find surfers lined up at the best breaks from St. Petersburg to Venice Inlet and all across the northwest.
Tags: Bradenton, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Walton_Beach, Jacksonville, Palm_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Sarasota, Sebastian, Venice, New_Smyrna_Beach, St_Augustine, surfing,
Florida's Seven Great Natural Wonders
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.
Tags: Gulf_Breeze, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Pensacola, Vero_Beach, Florida_Keys, outdoors_and_nature, wildlife, parks, Everglades_National_Park, Okeechobee,
Seaside Swinging
With the waves lapping at the shore mere feet from the fairway, the 543-yard par 5 is undoubtedly the most challenging - and arguably most scenic - hole at Redfish Point.
Tags: Amelia_Island, Bradenton, Clearwater, Crystal_River, Longboat_Key, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm_Coast, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sandestin, Sarasota, golf,
Florida Insiders
FamilyFamily
Jill Martin
Beaches & AdventureBeaches & Adventure
Lauren Tjaden
Shopping, Arts & EntertainmentShopping, Arts & Entertainment
Kanika Jelks
GolfGolf
Tim McDonald
Boating and FishingBoating & Fishing
Terry Tomalin
Off the Beaten PathOff the Beaten Path
Hilda Mitrani
Outdoors & NatureOutdoors & Nature
Kevin Mims
LuxuryLuxury
Terry Ward
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