Florida Spectacular

Send us your Florida questions! Kristalyn Shefveland joins the podcast to talk about her book, Selling Vero Beach . They talk about Vero's history, its first people, and why the past matters to newcomers. Links We Mentioned Selling Vero Beach: Settler Myths in the Land of the Aís and Seminole Florida's disastrous plan for a reservoir McKee and Sexton: A Perfect Match Where's Waldo?...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy welcome Florida historian Joey Vars on the podcast to talk about Henry Plant's Belleview Biltmore hotel. Joey's the former staff historian for the hotel, now called the Belleview.  Links We Mentioned The Belleview Inn Watch Joey's former tour of the Biltmore Aerial view of Belleview Biltmore demolition [VIDEO] Lost: Belleview Biltmore h...

Send us your Florida questions! If you've driven past it and not stopped, you don't know what you're missing. Sure, you can do tourist things like feed a tarpon and have a frozen drink... but they also have a fantastic fish sandwich, knowledgeable fishing guides, and one particularly amazing Florida Keys historian (and some other stuff, too.) Learn what Brad and Cathy both love Robb...

Send us your Florida questions! Ryan Smart, Executive Director of the Florida Springs Council, joins Cathy and Rick on the podcast to answer a listener's questions about Florida springs. Q: If the springs naturally come to the surface, why would the bottled water companies need permits to pump out?  A: We answer this more in-depth in the podcast, but it's because they don't scoop th...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy and Rick talk about their favorite Tiki bars and events in Florida.  Links We Mentioned The Donn of Tiki  film Tiki hotels in Daytona Beach Tiki Bars Bahi Hut in Sarasota The Wreck Bar in Fort Lauderdale (Rick's post ) Mai Kai in Fort Lauderdale (Rick's post ) Don the Beachcomber in Madeira Beach Suffering Bastard in Sanford Trader Sam's Grog Gr...

Send us your Florida questions! Florida Key Deer are the smallest of the white-tailed deer subspecies, and you can only find them in the Florida Keys. Brad and Cathy talk about the oft-debated origins of these tiny creatures, the legend of the cryptid key deer (aka Conch Republic Border Guards), and how and where to see — and photograph Key Deer — responsibly. Links We Mentioned National Key Deer...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy welcome Keri Watson, author of Florida's New Deal: Parks and Post Office Murals . Her book takes people on an armchair tour of Florida post offices with New Deal art. It explores Florida's first 10 state park (nine of which still exist as state parks today.) Links We Mentioned Get Keri's book Living New Deal Diane Craig's thesis on...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about what there is to do at some of their favorite small towns in Florida, and why you should visit. Take a listen, load up the car, and let's go! Links We Mentioned   Safety Harbor Resort & Spa | Spa Resort in Tampa Bay, FL Welaka, Florida | Quiet Old Town on the St. Johns River Stegbone's Fish Camp and Resort Green Cove Springs M...

Send us your Florida questions! Islamorada means "purple island." After all, Isla (island) and morada (purple), right? Think again.  Brad explains why that's not how this part of the Florida Keys got its name. He takes Cathy — and listeners — on an armchair journey on why the "morada" in the name dates back to William Krome and Flagler's railroad and means "islan...

Send us your Florida questions! Rick and Cathy talk about mangos, Matlacha, and a different type of Florida paradise. Pine Island and Matlacha don't have high rises, chain hotels, or franchises. This small island haven has plenty of small pleasures on offer, especially for people seeking a less-traditional type of paradise. Things To Do in Matlacha The Perfect Cup Tarpon Lodge (lodging and di...

Send us your Florida questions! On this week's podcast, Jenny DeWitt talks about why she left Florida, where she traveled when she did, and why she came back. Links we mentioned: Eau Gallie Arts District . Backwater restaurant. Downtown Creedo . Green Gables , Melbourne, FL Lil Bit of Life , Mount Dora, FL Grow Lake County - Local Farm & Food Map Architecture SRQ - Home of Architecture Sa...

Send us your Florida questions! Everyone loves the Florida Keys — but not everyone has discovered the sheer magnificence of the wilder and more natural parts of the island chain. The Florida Keys tourism board wants to change that; they created an an app that lets anyone earn points (and swag) for checking out an eco trail that runs from Key Largo to Key West.  Ashley Serrate joins Brad and Cathy...

Send us your Florida questions! Meet Shilpi Rawat, who left Mumbai for a life in Florida. As a new Floridian, she planned a Florida lighthouse road trip. Learn about her experiences from the panhandle to the Dry Tortugas, the time she swam with a barracuda (not on purpose), and hear about some of her favorite lighthouses. Links We Mentioned About Dooder and the Lighthouse short film (and trailer )...

Send us your Florida questions! Leslie Kemp Poole, author of Tracing Florida Journeys: Explorers, Travelers, and Landscapes Then and Now , comes on the podcast to talk about recreating Florida journeys made by famous Floridians and Florida-fans such as John Muir, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. She gives life to these journeys — take a listen! Leslie's books Watch Leslie...

Send us your Florida questions! Looking for places to snorkel in the Florida Keys? Brad's the expert. He explains not only how snorkeling ignited his interest in Florida Keys and Monroe County history, but where anyone can snorkel in the Florida Keys.  Brad's Florida Keys snorkeling spots Bahia Honda State Park Looe Key Key West Marine Park (you can walk/swim to this one) Garden Key and...

Send us your Florida questions! Cathy and Rick talk about how nature influences their writing, Cathy's camping experience at Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Rick's upcoming keynote at the MKR annual conference, and where to find wild citrus. Links We Mentioned Matheson Museum , with the anniversary exhibit Rick designed Squarehouse Pizza in Gainesville (Formerly Satch Squar...

Send us your Florida questions! People love pirate lore — but what did it mean to be a pirate in Florida? According to Cathy, a lot more bureaucracy than you'd think. Rick and Cathy talk about pirates, real and imagined, and make a few Florida detours along the way. Links We Mentioned Legend of Jose Gaspar Sir Francis Drake and privateer Robert Searle Florida Pirate Festivals Pirates in St. A...

Send us your Florida questions! Did the Florida Keys have pirates? Brad and Cathy debate. Brad unearthed an 1829 Keys newspaper and talks about an article warning of land sharks and advertising a house for rent for $20 a month in Key West.  They also chat about the San Carlos, the Key West Firehouse Museum, and Carysfort Reef. Links We Mentioned Key West Firehouse Museum San Carlos Institute Carys...

Send us your Florida questions! Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings made Cross Creek famous through her writing, and if you want to experience Florida as she did, there's no better place. From free-range venison starters at a Cross Creek restaurant to paddling the same creeks she did, immerse yourself in the world of Cross Creek. Here's how! Spoiler alert: Cathy gives away the ending of The Yearlin...

Send us your Florida questions! Ryan Smart, the executive director of the Florida Springs Council , joins the podcast to talk about threats facing springs, some recent victories for Florida's environment, and how people can support the work that protects Florida springs. Image of the Profanity Manatee courtesy of Florida Springs Council; used with permission. Links We Mentioned Manatee Profan...

Send us your Florida questions! Brad and Cathy take a deep dive into two of the best Florida State Parks in the Florida Keys: Bahia Honda and Long Key.  Links We Mentioned Florida Keys Eco-Experience Trail app for exploring the Florida Keys. Bahia Honda State Park Long Key State Park Support the show Question or comment? Email us at cathy@floridaspectacular.com . Subscribe to The Florida Spectacul...

Send us your Florida questions! Today's guest, Charles Ellis, who serves as the Fort Mose Historical Society president, talks about the reconstruction of the Fort, what’s happening in February, and Florida's place on the Underground Railroad.  Links We Mentioned Fort Mose State Park Flight to Freedom Fort Mose Historical Society Jazz and Blues at Fort Mose Support Fort Mose and Black His...

Send us your Florida questions! If you want to explore Sarasota, Rick and Cathy have plenty of favorites.  Places to Eat Owen's Fish Camp Yoder's of Pinecraft and The Gabber Newspaper's feature on Yoder's Bali Hut Tiki Hut Outdoors and Nature Experiences Myakka River State Park Warm Mineral Springs Selby Botanical Gardens Mote Marine Aquarium ( kayaking and the February Farm to...

Send us your Florida questions! Flying into Key West is super-convenient, but people who fly into Key West miss one of the best parts of the Florida Keys: The Overseas Highway, which connects mainland Florida with the Florida Keys. The road didn't always look the way it does today, however. Brad and Cathy explain it all.  Florida Keys Extras No Name Pub on No Name Key used to be a brothel The...

Send us your Florida questions! It's January! It's cold! It's the best time to see manatee! Where can you see them?  Rick and Cathy name their favorite spots (see the links) and talk about whether manatee resemble sea potatoes or zaftig mermaids, manatee flatulence, and manatee nipples (when an animal has armpit nipples, you have to mention it.) Links We Mentioned Is it a manatee or...