I’m sure I could spend hours raving about this wonderful city in the very northeast of Florida. Fernandina Beach is on Amelia Island, which is the width of Cumberland Sound away from Georgia. The city goes back deep into the 19th century, and the sound is watched by a Civil War-era fort. Fernandina Beach has …
Tucked into the northwest corner of Broward County, Parkland is home to 34,000 people, and is bounded on two sides by the Everglades. Incorporated as recently as 1963, this mostly residential city is one of the richest cities in Florida. Much of the city’s population resides in gated communities, with names like Parkland Isles and …
About ten miles south of Palm Beach, this coastal town occupies a parcel of the shorefront barrier island, Hypoxia Island and the waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway. Lantana has a small patch of municipal beach, bounded to the north and south by exclusive resorts in South Palm Beach and Manalapan. I can’t get enough of …
Set by the Indian River Lagoon, Rockledge is the oldest incorporated municipality in Brevard County. The city was founded in 1887, and in its early years was a winter resort and a center for citrus growing. For a sense of the prosperity from those times you can head along Rockledge Drive Residential District. Edging the …
By North Tampa, this suburban community goes back to the 1920s and has a truly beautiful location. Temple Terrace sits on the lush banks of the Hillsborough River, giving the city plenty of idyllic vistas. Mature trees are an important part of the cityscape, and the city is renowned for its magnificent sand live oaks, …
An upscale village, North Palm Beach is at the north end of the Lake Worth Lagoon. I can’t help but be envious of anyone lucky enough to live in this place, with its shimmering bay waters, mangroves, and ocean beaches. The village was first developed in the 1950s by the insurance magnate, John D. MacArthur …
At the head of the Pinellas Peninsula, Tarpon Springs is a city with a distinct Greek flavor. In fact, Tarpon Springs has the highest concentration of Greek Americans of any community in the United States. These Greek origins go back to the birth of the local sponge diving industry in the late 19th century. Even …
Once known for growing watermelons, this fast-growing city is wedged between two large bodies of freshwater, namely Lake Harris and Lake Griffin. Leesburg’s exciting, culturally-rich downtown is a few steps from the shore of Lake Harris. On the waterfront here is one of my favorite parks in the world. In the 1930s, the Works Progress …
Bordering the wealthy cities of Pinecrest and Coral Gables, South Miami was incorporated in 1927. Around this time, the University of Miami (UM) campus was just taking shape next door. South Miami is blessed with a vital downtown area, served by a Metrorail station and hosting a big arts festival every February. On Biscayne Bay, …
The ultimate vacation spot on Florida’s Panhandle, Panama City Beach has 27 miles of perfect sandy shoreline. How you experience the shore is up to you. Families will be wowed by an animated seaside town, packed with attractions, from waterparks to zoos and fun centers. There’s shopping, dining and entertainment at Pier Park, as well …