Tag: Florida
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William Dean Chocolates
If I were dropped on a desert island and given limited choices for foods that would make my existence bearable, I’d have to go with chips and salsa and chocolate. Although both would please the palate, chocolate would soothe the senses. It’s a decadent treat, can’t-live-without-it food, perfect dessert and fabulous snack. So when I
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Florida Aquarium
I try to be organized enough that I have 2-3 weeks of material from which to choose for my blog post. That way, if I can’t go somewhere on my days off one week, I’ll still have something I can whip up and post. But that comes with its own set of problems. I have
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Ringling Museum
The Ringling Museum is a whopping 66-acre complex with a rose garden; a couple of art galleries; a secluded, fenced-in garden for John and Mable’s graves; an intricately tiled reflecting pool; a circus museum; a building showcasing a miniature circus; and John and Mable’s house, Ca’ d’Zan. The first building along the path was the
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Chinsegut Hill Plantation
This area of Florida- Brooksville- was originally inhabited by the Seminole Indians. It’s considered the highest elevation on what is known as Florida’s Adventure Coast. Don’t assume that “highest elevation” means the top of a mountain; Chinsegut Hill Plantation sits at a whopping 269 feet. Its plantation history began in 1847 when a South Carolina
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Dolphin Tour
I returned to Tarpon Springs with my Las Vegas friend of over 30 years who was here visiting because (a) there are lots of things to do and see (it’s a unique Greek community) and (b) there are great restaurants. Our main goal was a dolphin tour. The trick was finding the right one. Stroll
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Florida Railroad Museum
The Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish has a number of excursions to choose from but the only one that fit my schedule was the hour and a half Willow Express. Even though it wasn’t my first choice (or even second), I decided to give it a shot. My original reservation had been set for September
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Tall Ships Festival
The Tall Ships Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida was a sight to behold but the logistics of the event fell short. It would be spectacular if things were organized a bit better. Well . . . that’s not entirely true. It was spectacular but the long lines, lack of seating and poorly thought-out trolley pick-ups
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Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
This gorgeous garden was founded in 1973 after Marie Selby bequeathed her home and property “for the enjoyment of the general public.” The experience begins even before you step inside with beautiful, multi-colored displays along the walkway and at the entrance. Once inside, the 15-acre garden includes a banyan grove, bromeliads, ferns, and a bamboo
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Dixieland Relics
If you like visual time travel, you will love Dixieland Relics in Lakeland, Florida. It’s truly got something for everyone and every taste level. Take, for example, this little beauty of a camper that sits right outside the front door. I can’t imagine trying to vacation in this, but it might make a fine backyard
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Weedon Island Preserve
Weedon Island Preserve’s storied past includes a home for prehistoric people, an airport, a movie studio, and a speakeasy. Located along the shores of Old Tampa Bay, it’s a rich tapestry of mangrove forests, open mud flats and salterns, pine/scrubby flatwoods, and maritime hammocks. I may not know a saltern from a hammock, but I
Lisa Browder 