A northern suburb of Orlando, Altamonte Springs is a mostly residential community anchored by a lakefront central business district. Cranes Roost Park here is the city’s outdoor hangout on the shores of the lake. Residents come together at this picture-perfect setting for events like the 4th of July. Altamonte Springs is only a matter of …
Between Fort Myers and Naples, the city of Bonita Springs has some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Southwest Florida. On the gulf is a chain of barrier islands, each trimmed with sumptuous beaches. Between these and the mainland is the back bay, with mangroves and sheltered waters that could have been designed for …
Near the southern end of the Miami metropolitan area, Cutler Bay was incorporated in 2005. Thirteen years earlier, the area had been completely devastated by Hurricane Andrew, which made landfall here. The population has more than doubled since then, and in 2011 the city opened a stellar performing arts center, a cultural touchstone for South …
On the edge of the Miami Metropolitan Area, Royal Palm Beach is a village with lots of great things just minutes away. Here the cityscape meets the great expanse of the Everglades. Still, if you want the beach, you can get to the Atlantic in under 20 minutes. Even closer are prime rural attractions like …
A community defined by agriculture and the railroads, Plant City is named for the railroad developer Henry B. Plant (1899-1899). That was an act of thanks. Plant’s South Florida Railroad came through in the mid-1880s, giving a big lift to local commerce. Some 140 years later, downtown Plant City is still at the junction of …
In 2019 the residents of Lake Worth voted to change the name of their city to Lake Worth Beach. Whatever it calls itself, this is a place I can’t help but love. Lake Worth Beach has a thrilling downtown that has bounced back from some lean years in the late 20th century. Now there’s global …
On the beautiful southwest shore of Lake Apopka, Winter Garden is a spirited city, just 20 minutes from downtown Orlando. For decades this was a small agricultural community, mostly growing oranges and grapefruits. Since the 1980s things have changed in a big way. Now Winter Garden is a flourishing city of 50,000. There’s an award-winning …
Part of the vast Miami metropolitan area, Cooper City is set halfway between the Atlantic coast and the Everglades. Neither is far away, and it’s one of many things I appreciate about this place. Head east and you’ll be at Dania Beach’s shoreline, where the vibe is a little more laid-back than neighboring Fort Lauderdale …
In Polk County, the city of Winter Haven has been home to LEGOLAND Florida since 2011. With three parks, this resort is on the site of Cypress Gardens, an amusement park and botanical garden established in the 1930s. So, I think it’s fair to say that Winter Haven is used to welcoming guests to the …
Close to Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Lauderdale Lakes is a suburban city with large Caribbean American and African American communities. Close by you can watch the West Indies play at the only dedicated cricket stadium in the United States. For a Caribbean-style street party, the Miami Broward Carnival takes place in the area every …