At the far end of the Overseas Highway, and at the southernmost points of the continental United States is an island and city unlike anywhere else in the country. The modern history of Key West begins in the early 19th century. The Florida Keys had long been a graveyard for overladen and misguided ships. Their …
It’s easy to fall in love with this historic seaside city on Florida’s central east coast. One of New Smyrna Beach’s draws is the Atlantic shoreline, with 17 miles of perfect white sands. Some beaches, like at Canaveral National Seashore, are wild and remote. For something more social, the lively town beach is right on …
In 1715, eleven Spanish treasure galleons were shipwrecked in the Atlantic next to Sebastian. Naturally, this stretch of shoreline has come to be known as the Treasure Coast. In and near Sebastian you can visit two museums charting the events of 1715, and showing items salvaged from the wrecks. I also need to talk about …
This small town in eastern Connecticut has little villages, scenic roads winding into upland countryside and remnants of mills from the 18th and 19th centuries. The landscape is dotted with public natural spaces linked by paths like the Blue-Blazed Nipmuck Trail. I don’t think it’s a shock, but the colors in fall are nothing short …
True to its name, this understated city is right on the Indian River Lagoon, just south of New Smyrna Beach. Though not a major destination in its own right, Edgewater is within striking distance of a lot of exciting places. First off, the Mosquito Lagoon section of the Indian River is right there. This shallow …
Crammed onto the narrow neck of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach is a world-famous beach city. With the ocean on one side and the Banana River lagoon on the other, it’s an emblem of the Space Coast, and somewhere I think everyone should see at least once. Cocoa Beach is the spiritual home of surfing on …
In Central Florida, Haines City rests in a landscape of rolling sandy hills, lakes, and citrus farms. This place has a social calendar that would put most towns twice its size to shame. A lot of the annual events go down at the stunning Lake Eva Park. If you’re around outside of the summer months, …
A city of skyscrapers, Sunny Isles Beach occupies just 1.8 square miles of barrier island between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. When I wrote this article Sunny Isles Beach was the most densely populated municipality outside of the New York area. Lining up along Collins Avenue are soaring condos and luxury beach resorts by big hospitality …
A perfect example of a planned city, Venice came about in the mid-1920s and grew steadily as the 20th century progressed. Today Venice is an official Florida MainStreet City, with beautiful architecture modeled on the Italian Venice, and streets lined with palms and live oaks. Downtown Venice combines this elegance with first-class shopping, dining, entertainment …
Next to Clearwater, on the peaceful shores of Tampa Bay, Safety Harbor is a small town with a lot of personality. With a quaint Main Street, community gardens, peculiar outsider art, and yoga at the weekly market, I love the nurturing, progressive feel to this place. Tourism goes back a long way at Safety Harbor. …