A few minutes from downtown Miami and Miami Beach, North Miami is a well-located suburb with a lot of things to do close by. The local cultural heavyweight is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), putting on thought-provoking exhibitions, and engaging the community with programs like a monthly jazz concert. I have spent a lot …
Just outside Daytona Beach, Port Orange is a much quieter city with more than 150 years of history. Things have developed quickly in the last 20 years, and when I wrote this article there were more than 60,000 inhabitants. The city is known for its award-winning municipal complex, on the shores of a beautiful pond, …
In Broward County, Coconut Creek was first developed in the late 1970s and is still growing, with almost 60,000 residents at the last census. The city has adopted the nickname, Butterfly Capital of the World. This comes from the wildlife attraction, Butterfly World, which opened in 1988 and has been a real local success story. …
Set between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, Bradenton is a lovable city where the Manatee River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The river and surrounding county are named after the large, slow-moving marine mammals that are one of the state’s most recognizable animal icons. Bradenton is a place that means a lot to me, with …
At the southern terminus of Amtrak’s 855-mile Auto Train, Sanford is one of the oldest incorporated cities in Florida, in a beautiful setting on the south shore of Lake Monroe. This sweeping body of water is at the head of navigation on the picturesque St. John’s River, and Sanford’s waterfront harmonizes perfectly with the lake. …
Located in northern Florida’s Marion County, the city of Ocala was incorporated in 1869 and currently ranks as the state’s 54th most populous city, with a population of just more than 63,000 residents. I adore the scenery in this part of the state, known as ‘horse country’ and full of grand live oaks draped with …
Halfway between the Atlantic and the Everglades, Margate is a suburban city in the heart of the Miami metropolitan area. Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Boca Raton are all an easy drive from Margate, and this puts a world of attractions and activities within reach. Closer to home you’ve got highly-rated golf courses, pockets of …
Home to 12 golf courses, this South Florida calls itself The Golf Capital of the World. Honestly, I don’t think it’s an empty boast. Until a few years ago, the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) was headquartered here in Palm Beach Gardens. Six of the those courses can be found at the PGA National …
The westernmost Florida city is located on the narrow strip of land between the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama, known as the Florida Panhandle. Pensacola is the county seat of Escambia County and is endowed with miles of scenic shoreline. This part of the state is a honeypot for outdoorsmen, nature lovers, and golfers from …
Set between St. Petersburg and Cape Coral in the Tampa Bay Area, Sarasota is a lively coastal city, full of natural, historical, and cultural attractions. For me, Sarasota means perfect white sandy beaches, dazzling entertainment, diverse shopping, and tons of family-oriented fun. The city is also close to other popular destination cities like Punta Gorda, …