Over the past year, we have traveled the state looking for those places that represent the history and the heritage of Florida, as well as the spirit and the characteristics that make it home. We covered a lot of ground in 2018 and hope you have joined us on some of our journeys. Here are the highlights of the year, along with embedded links to the original posts.
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda – It’s Happening on the Harbor – a motto that doesn’t disappoint. Situated along the shores where the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor meet, Punta Gorda provides an eclectic mix of things to see and do: a relaxing waterfront, historic buildings, educational mural walk and a variety of shops and restaurants.
Check out our article for plenty of ideas to make your trip one to remember.
Richloam General Store
Sometimes you are lucky to stumble upon a Florida gem simply by venturing away from the highways and taking the backroads. Such is the case with the Richloam General Store, tucked away in the Withlacoochee State Forest in Hernando County. Definitely off the beaten path, but one of our favorite places we visited in 2018! The store was built in 1920 and is the oldest historical building still standing in the Richloam area. Staying true to the time period, it offers goods you would have seen in the 20s and 30s. The store is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Read more about Richloam here and make plans to visit.
Sugar Sand Distillery, Inc., Lake Placid
When you think of Florida, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe it’s the sunshine, or the beautiful beaches, or maybe even the theme parks, but have you thought about the wineries, or craft breweries, or even craft distilleries? One of the newest distilleries in the state is Sugar Sand Distillery on Henscratch Road in Lake Placid. Billed as Florida’s only estate grown sugar cane distillery, it opened its doors for tours and tastings less than a year ago. It may be off the beaten path, but it’s worth the stop.
Click here to learn more about Sugar Sand.
The Orange Shop, Citra
Tucked away in North Central Florida, between Ocala and Hawthorne, is the small town of Citra. Known as the home of the pineapple orange, Citra was founded in 1881 in an area where citrus was prominent. While that is part of the town’s history, it isn’t the only unique feature about Citra. It is also the home of The Orange Shop, one of the last true roadside citrus stands in Florida. In business since 1936, the owners are third-generation growers who continue to harvest fruit from groves that have been producing since the Civil War.
Learn more about The Orange Shop and put it on your calendar before June first.
Things to See and Do in Apalachicola
Apalachicola is one of our favorite places to visit. While some of the things we featured in our original post may not be exactly as they were prior to Hurricane Michael in October, it is still an amazing coastal town you don’t want to miss. Apalachicola is up and running again and there are plenty of things to see and do. As its name translates, it is the “land of the friendly people.”
Put it on your list of places to see in 2019!
Caladium Festival, Lake Placid
Florida is home to many festivals, ranging from the absurd to the logical. By definition, festivals celebrate something unique about a community or its culture. For the central Florida town of Lake Placid, that uniqueness is its designation as “Caladium Capital of the World.” The idea for the Caladium Festival came from the Highlands County Tourist Development Commission as a way to promote the industry and, at the same time, create an event to bring visitors into town.
Make sure to mark your calendars for the 2019 festival on July 26, 27, and 28, but don’t wait until then to visit this gem of a town.
Bat Houses at University of Florida
Did you know that Florida is home to the world’s largest occupied bat houses? In fact, they have become quite the nightly attraction. The first bat house was built in 1991 to provide a new “home” for a colony of bats that were left homeless after a fire destroyed Johnson Hall in 1987. There are now three bat houses with an estimated 400,000 bats now occupying these dwellings. They are located on Museum Road at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, just across from Lake Alice. Take a look at the experience, then plan it for yourself!
Honors System Businesses
During our travels in 2018, we came across several businesses operating on the honors system, where collection boxes are used as the only means to pay. It may sound like a risky venture, but the business owners we talked to told us most people are good and honest. Most of the honors system businesses we found were local honey stands, all located along back roads, or along highways through the rural parts of the state. These businesses are reminiscent of a much simpler time in Florida and you can read more about them here.
Lake Wales, Florida
Known as the Crown Jewel of the Ridge, Lake Wales sits in the center of the state, just off Highway 27 and State Road 60. With its historic roots, its quirky qualities, and its persona of a small city with a hometown atmosphere, Lake Wales is a true Floridiana find. Whether you are taking a trip into downtown, visiting the tower on the hill, or participating in any number of festivals and celebrations, nostalgia and culture abound. Take a peek at some of the things you can do here.
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum
Before there were towns, or roads or railroads, there was the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse. This red and black lighthouse has been lighting the way along Florida’s East Coast since July 10, 1860. Built on a natural sand hill, the lighthouse itself is 108 feet tall and can be seen 24 miles out at sea. In 1973 the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, then in 1974, it was opened to public tours by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society. Before you even get inside, there are 34 steps you have to climb just to get to the base of the lighthouse. Those are the easy ones. Once inside, there are 105 steep iron stairs. Once at the top, the views are breathtaking! You can see some of them in our original post.
Boyett’s Grove and Citrus Attraction
What started as a fruit stand more than 55 years ago, has evolved into a classic Florida roadside attraction that still draws visitors today. Located on the top of a hill in Brooksville, Boyette’s Grove and Citrus Attraction not only offers delicious citrus fruit, but also a nostalgic look at Florida oddities, along with a walk on the wild side. You have to see it to believe it!
Trapper Nelson’s Zoo and Jungle Garden
Three miles down the Loxahatchee River, where it meanders through the Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, is Trapper Nelson’s Zoo and Jungle Garden, or what is left of it. Trapper Nelson (aka Vincent Natulkiewicz), known as the “Wildman of the Loxahatchee,” turned his property along the river into a wildlife zoo in the mid-1940s, and for the next 15 years or so, visitors from around the world visited to see him wrestle alligators and wrap himself up in snakes.
Check out our post about Trapper Nelson, then make plans to take the tour for yourself and spend the day at the Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Note, the site is accessible only by canoe, boat or by tour boat.
FM Notes
We hope you have enjoyed our travels as much as we have. We wish you a happy and healthy 2019 and hope it is filled with fun Florida travels!
