In Southwest Florida, Naples is as far south as you can go before you hit the Everglades. This inhospitable landscape was tamed in the 1920s with the construction of the Tamiami Trail and the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. Naples is a stellar destination with many different things to win you over. There’s majestic nature, marvelous …
In a marvelous setting next to the lake of the same name, Eustis is a city beloved for its vital downtown. This district was given a whole new streetscape in the 2010s, and is enhanced by Ferran Park on the lakefront. The park is like a scenic backyard for the city, staging events that bring …
In the 20 years before I wrote this article, the population of this village in Palm Beach County had tripled. Palm Springs is a residential community set inland, just next to Lake Worth Beach on the Atlantic. A local highlight is the municipal complex, which opened in the 2000s, with event space, and fun family …
The fastest-growing city in Brevard County is right next to the inviting coastal community of Melbourne. Served by Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB), which has just been given a lot of investment, the entire area is on the up. West Melbourne is a mostly residential city, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do nearby. In …
Mostly a residential community, the city of Seminole is at the heart of the action on the Pinellas Peninsula. The coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and its white sandy beaches, is literally a couple of minutes away at Madeira Beach. Meanwhile if you cross Long Bayou you’ll be in St. Petersburg. The most exciting …
With a modern history going back deep into the 19th century, Cocoa is a lovely coastal city in Brevard County. The downtown area, known as Historic Cocoa Village, is beautifully preserved, and fizzes with events all year. I have to talk about the location, right on the Indian River Lagoon. This is North America’s most …
A delightful piece of Old Florida, the seat of Polk County was founded way back in 1851. Bartow has a downtown with a new event pretty much every week, and is home to some of the state’s most beautiful residential neighborhoods. The city’s historic districts are filled with exquisite residences built in the late 19th …
On the Treasure Coast, Vero Beach is a city that means a lot to me. I could go on and on about the many unique things you can get up to. A good place to start is the Indian River Lagoon, with a degree of biodiversity unrivaled in North America. Put bluntly, you need to …
In South Dade, Pinecrest is an upmarket suburban village incorporated in 1996. This happened at a time of sharp growth, just a few years after Hurricane Andrew, which caused widespread damage in 1992. You would never know it today. The first thing I have to mention about Pinecrest is the sumptuous tropical vegetation everywhere. You …
In the remote northwestern corner of Palm Beach County, Belle Glade is an agricultural city near the shore of Lake Okeechobee. At more than 730 square miles that waterbody is the second-largest freshwater lake within the continental United States. Lake Okeechobee is a big trophy fishing destination, and there’s a long hiking/bicycling trail along the …