Florida is known nationally and internationally for many features and locations. Beaches, big cities, theme parks, military bases, specialty agriculture and many more facets make up the Sunshine State. As such, these all require an effective transportation system so workers, customers and visitors can reach their desired location. Today, in the first half of the…Read more
Sitting on the shore of Tallahassee’s Lake Ella in a neatly kept plot is a stubby concrete monument to events and efforts of a bygone era. The fireplug-shaped tribute comes from the Republic of France in recognition for the support of Florida’s soldiers and citizens in liberating the western European nation from the Nazi Army…Read more
When Florida was first becoming known as a recreational playground, it was for its natural resources, especially water based. The pristine rivers were, and still are, especially popular with fishing and boating enthusiasts. Unlike many western states which are dependent on massive dams to provide water, hydroelectric energy and flood control, Florida’s waterways have a…Read more
Field crops such as cotton, corn and soybeans are not usually consumed completely in close proximity to the lands where they were grown. The same can be said of timber and most farm livestock. It is a commendable quality of American farmers that they are so highly productive that they must send their raw products…Read more
Vehicle traffic passes by the corner daily. The drivers may use the unique statue with a long-darkened brass nameplate as a landmark, but most do so without knowing its origin or significance. It stands in silent testimony to the valor of a citizen of Madison County long ago. The man who was the inspiration for…Read more
Driving into Fort Walton Beach, it is hard to imagine the area devoid of the infrastructure and buildings which make up the expanding metroplex of coastal Florida. Restaurants, marinas, tee shirt shops and other residue of the 20th and 21st century occupation by people who came to the area for a variety of reasons. Prior…Read more
For travelers in the Tallahassee area who are seeking a trip to the gulf coast, U.S. Highway 319 has long been a convenient choice. Heading due south through Crawfordville, it connects with U.S. Highway 98 which meanders close to the coast, east and west. Initially a two lane road south of the capitol city, it…Read more
Florida, in decades past, was known for its roadside attractions. Any oddity or unique curiosity which would get tourists to stop and leave their money was utilized. Frequently, with some creative license, the attraction was featured on a billboard located on the nearest byway. Two-headed snakes, albino alligators, three-leg chickens or some other freak of…Read more
The term “at the end of the road” has negative connotations. The meaning of a dead-end with no place to go implies the focus of the comment is a useless or hopeless situation. The little town of Saint Marks, Florida, sits at the end of a road but has a long history of varied purposes…Read more
In these days of pandemic and public panics, a reprieve from the maddening crowds is a welcome option. To disconnect from the stresses and demands can be both psychologically and physically beneficial to urbanites and suburbanites alike. Idyllic isolation, however, is a rare commodity in the intensely connected 21st century, but there are some feasible…Read more
