Florida Spectacular

Send us your Florida questions! In January, Cathy decided she'd get rid of single-use plastic in her home, RV, and at the newspaper she and her husband own – all by Dec. 31. Her travels through the best parts of Florida motivated this decision, because everywhere she went, she saw plastic litter.  She and Jon talk about the Florida road trip that cemented that decision, what she's doing...

Send us your Florida questions! Today Jon and Cathy talk about hurricanes in the panhandle, UFOs in the Florida panhandle, and hiking the Florida National Scenic Trail through Eglin Air Force Base. Hiking through Eglin Carnivorous pitcher plants at Apalachicola National Forest Wewahitchka Ulee's Gold DeFuniak Springs Wewa RV Park Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newslet...

Send us your Florida questions! This week Cathy and Jon talk about the Clermont area of Florida, including Lake Louisa State Park, Citrus Tower, and a few other places of note in the area, including the Presidents Hall of Fame. Links we mentioned Lake Louisa State Park Citrus Tower Presidents Hall of Fame at Atlas Obscura or on Facebook , or on Florida Traveler Clermont Brewing Company Want more F...

Send us your Florida questions! In this episode of The Florida Spectacular, Jon and Cathy talk about the best beaches in Florida (well, some of them), beach renourishment, and each of their favorite beaches. They also mention a secret sidewalk in Pass-a-Grille, Mike Huckabee, and the not-so-great history on Egmont Key (that not that many people know.) Fort De Soto Park   Caladesi Island State Park...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Cathy and Jon talk about a pair of water shoes Cathy's worn for 21 years as she paddled, snorkeled, waded, swam, and hiked through Florida. (Her Teva protons have seen more of Florida than most Floridians.) They also talk about other essential Florida gear, places they use them, and read a letter from a fan. Links we mention Gator "harassing&quo...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, The Florida Spectacular takes you to Cedar Key, a tiny island along Florida's Nature Coast. Jon and Cathy talk about the island's award-winning clam chowder, the tragic history of nearby Rosewood, and the legendary headless horseman of neighboring Seahorse Key.  Links we mentioned Cedar Key Events Cedar Key Seafood Festival Tony's Clam Chow...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Cathy and Jon take a meandering look at what Florida's tourism board call each section of coastline. Some of the names make sense, others are a little weird, but at the end of the podcast, we'd all learned something. Links we mentioned: • (Warning: Wikipedia link ahead, but these are largely accurate) List of what people call different parts of...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile welcome back celebrated Florida springs expert and author Rick Kilby. Rick, Orlando-based author ad graphic designer, wrote Florida's Healing Waters: Gilded Age Mineral Springs, Seaside Resorts, and Health Spas, which received the silver medal for Florida nonfiction from the Florida Book Awards and the Florida Histor...

Send us your Florida questions! This week hosts Jon Kile and Cathy Salustri talk about their favorite summer experiences – and how they don't "beat" the Florida heat, but instead embrace it. Love Florida but don't love the heat? This is the podcast for you.  Links we mentioned:  Utilikilt Reef-safe sunscreen Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter , a...

Send us your Florida questions! Today hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about the magic of Florida springs, their favorite springs, and why bottled water is, indeed, the Devil. With almost 1000 springs in Florida, they didn't talk about them all, but today's episode is a great start. Links we mentioned Nestle protests about pumping water out of the Santa Fe River Tampa Bay Times edi...

Send us your Florida questions! This week on The Florida Spectacular, hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about northeast Florida, including St. Augustine's African American Trail , Lincolnville , Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area (and great oceanside campground) in Flagler Beach, Anastasia State Park, Faver-Dykes State Park,  Washington Oaks Gardens , and the St. Augustine Alligator Far...

Send us your Florida questions! This week we welcome Ryan Worthington, a Master Naturalist who celebrates Florida road trips on Instagram ( @the_Florida_Excursionist ). He gives a wonderful tour at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park. Jon, Cathy and Ryan talk about the Cross Creek and Gainesville area, and, as per usual, the conversation heads off for parts unknown, much like a decent Flo...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Jon’s on safari and Cathy interviews Bruce Hunt, author of “ Visiting Small Town Florida ” (and 10 other Florida travel and dining books.)  Bruce is a rare bird – a native Floridian – who also has some Florida photos you’ll want to see. Here’s how to connect with him: Bruce's website Bruce's occasional blog Bruce on Twitter Bruce's photogra...

Send us your Florida questions! Meet Dr. Jaret Daniels, the curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History's McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity and Professor of Entomology at the University of Florida. That’s right, a butterfly expert. He talks to Cathy and Jon about how why some milkweed makes monarchs want to have sex – and whether or not that’s a bad thing, where to see the...

Send us your Florida questions! This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes back Jamie Rich, the founder, publisher, and editor of Flamingo Magazine . They talk about the newest issue – on newsstands now! – as well as Jamie's favorite parts of the Jacksonville beaches. Have a Florida question – travel-related or otherwise? Drop us a line . Links we mentioned: Flags over Fernandina Jean Ribault...

Send us your Florida questions! This week Cathy and Jon talk about Florida supermarkets, grocery stores, which – shocker – include more than simply Publix. Join them on the podcast that went a little sideways and veered into the history of Winn-Dixie, Hitchcocks, and the Aldi Aisle of Shame.  Links we mentioned: History of Winn Dixie History of Hitchcock's (and a link we found after the show...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Cathy and Jon talk about Florida's "Southern" beach: Amelia Island. They also talk about the history and beauty of Fort Clinch, the War of Jenkins Ear, and why you should stop for boiled peanuts on every road trip. Amelia Island Fernandina Beach More about the War of Jenkins Ear and Cathy's (notably less academic) article about the War...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Cathy and Jon talk about Everglades City, Chokoloskee, and the Tamiami Trail. They also help out a listener looking for travel advice crossing the state from Englewood to the Hard Rock in Hollywood.  Send us your Florida road trip questions . Links we mentioned: Forrey Grill Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail Camping at Lake Okeechobee ( Okeechobee County and A...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, Cathy and Jon talk to Ben Montgomery about Axios Local, journalism, and why the City of Tampa should set aside one day a year where it's legal to camp in any of its parks. It's kind of a wild podcast, so buckle up and tune in. Ben Montgomery is a journalist and author of four nonfiction books , and he writes a local newsletter for Axios . Twitte...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, your hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk to John Athanason, who spent almost two decades doing marketing for the world's most famous mermaids – the Weeki Wachee mermaids! Last year, he started working with Florida's Adventure Coast Visitors Bureau, and he joins the podcast ready to talk about the best places along Florida's Adventure Coa...

Send us your Florida questions! This week, "The Florida Spectacular" hosts Cathy Salustri and Jon Kile talk about Disney, Reedy Creek, and Ron DeSantis – as well as the PeopleMover, Disney prices, and why there are no mosquitoes at Walt Disney World. Want more Florida? Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter , and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com . Su...

Send us your Florida questions! This week :The Florida Spectacular" welcomes a new co-host, Jon Kile. Jon's a Florida-based writer who loves Worldle but hates Wordle, loves to camp with his family in and out of the state, and posts tales of his adventures at dontmakemeturnthisvanaround.com .  Cathy and Jon talk with Maureen McDole about the upcoming SunLit literary festival (produced by...

Send us your Florida questions! This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes Florida Keys historian Brad Bertelli . Brad's penned several books about Florida and the Florida Keys, most recently the (mostly) fictionalized " The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files ." Cathy and Brad talk about Brad's new (and wildly popular) Facebook group, Florida Keys History with Brad Bertelli , keys pe...

Send us your Florida questions! This week The Florida Spectacular welcomes David Powell, author of " Ninety Miles and a Lifetime Away: Memories of Early Cuban Exiles ." David worked as a reporter for 10 years in New York, Miami, and Tallahassee, and then practiced law for 30 years. He and Cathy talk about the first two waves of Cuban immigrants, how they impacted Florida, and the stories...

Send us your Florida questions! This week Cathy Salustri chats with David Shealy, the mastermind behind the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, and noted Skunk Ape author Brad Bertelli . Follow Brad on Twitter , or join his Florida Keys history Facebook group, and pick up a copy of his book, "The Florida Keys Skunk Ape Files". After you're done, you may want to follow the So...