Passage Key is an uninhabited island at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The island is protected as a national wildlife refuge, and is closed to public access. Note: All of Passage Key closed to protect nesting wildlife. Trespassing on Passage Key is illegal. Visitors should remain well away from the beaches to avoid illegal trespassing. … Read more
The Nixon Sandbar is a popular sandbar near Miami, on Key Biscayne. The sandbar is an extremely popular hangout for boaters near Miami and surrounding areas. On busy weekends and holidays many dozens, or even hundreds of boats gather, anchor, raft up and party. The Nixon Sandbar is also known as Nixon Beach, and the Nixon … Read more
Destin, Florida is a small beach town located in the Florida panhandle. It is an incredibly popular beach destination for tourists, and has been a popular destination for many decades. Destin was once a quaint fishing village, but has grown into a busy tourist destination. More than 4.5 million people visit Destin annually, according to … Read more
Fort Myers is a medium-sized city in southwest Florida. It’s one of the largest tourist destinations in southwest Florida, and is a major driver of the regional economy. Location Fort Myers is located in southwest Florida, on Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. The city sits on the southern shores of the Caloosahatchee River, just south … Read more
Cape Coral is a medium-sized town in Southwest Florida. Cape Coral is not a party town; it is known as a laid-back, quiet community. There is not a lot of action in the small city, or the tiny downtown area. Because of this, Cape Coral mostly appeals to retirees, boaters, and people who love the … Read more
Tampa Bay has two islands with the name “Beer Can Island”. One “Beer Can Island” is located in the middle of Tampa Bay. It was recently renamed to “Pine Key”, and is the subject of this article. Click this link for the other “Beer Can Island”, located at the northern tip of Longboat Key, near … Read more
Note: The Tampa Bay area has two popular islands named “Beer Can Island”. Both are popular beach spots for boaters to gather. This article is about Beer Can Island on the northern tip of Longboat Key, also known as Greer Island. The other “Beer Can Island” (Pine Key) is a small, privately-owned island in the … Read more
Brooksville is often called the “Real Florida” and is representative of how the state used to be decades ago. One refreshing thing about Brooksville is that it actually has hills and elevation changes! Many of the hills in and around Brooksville are beautiful, rolling green pastures. Some hills are more dramatic than others, and may … Read more
Many people ask about the best beaches in Tampa. This question can be confusing because there are technically several beaches in Tampa, but they aren’t what most people expect. Here’s how the Tampa city government website describes one popular beach in Tampa: “Who needs to go to Clearwater to find a good beach when you … Read more
Three Sisters Spring is one of the most beautiful natural springs in Florida. It’s also one of the best places to see wild manatees in Florida. Note: The Chassahowitzka River is another excellent location to swim with manatees, and it’s relatively nearby Three Sisters Spring. If you will visit Three Sisters Spring, be sure to … Read more
Sebastian is a small beach town on Florida’s east coast, along the famous US Highway 1. Unlike many other busy cities on Florida’s east coast, Sebastian still has the charm of a small beach town. Sebastian is located in Indian River County, in a quiet, laid-back section of Florida’s east coast. Sebastian is located in … Read more
Lakeland is a medium-sized city in Central Florida. It sits just about half way between two of Florida’s biggest cities, Tampa and Orlando. Not surprisingly, Lakeland got its name from the large number of lakes that surround the city. There are 38 major lakes in the surrounding area. The largest and most popular are Lake … Read more
Melbourne, Florida is a small beach town on the east coast of Florida. Melbourne is located in Brevard County and has a population of approximately 80,000 residents. Location The city of Melbourne is located on Florida’s mainland, along the Atlantic coast. Melbourne is approximately 70 miles southeast of Orlando, and 20 miles south of Cocoa … Read more
Boaters can have serious, negative impacts on Florida’s waterways! As the population of south Florida and the Florida Keys grows, boater’s impact on the marine environment will become an increasingly serious problem to manage. Many boaters run aground every year and damage the fragile seagrass in Florida Bay and throughout Florida. Damage is especially intense … Read more
Fort Desoto is one of the best beaches in Florida. To make it even more official, Fort De Soto was once named the “Best Beach in the entire United States” in 2005 by “Dr. Beach” Stephen Leatherman. The water is clear, the sand is amazing, and there is a huge amount of parking. Plus, it … Read more
The Chassahowitzka River is located in the city of Homosassa on Florida’s central gulf coast. It’s located in Citrus County. Chassahowitzka River Video Tour History of Chassahowitzka River and Springs Like many springs in Florida, Chassahowitzka Springs has a fascinating history. It has attracted humans for tens of thousands of years. There are several notable … Read more
On a map, Florida can sometimes look like a small state because of its long, narrow shape. But, Florida is deceptively large in both land area and population. Florida covers 65,758 square miles, which makes it the 22nd largest state by land area. According to the most recent 2019 census estimate, 21,477,737 people live in … Read more
Note: There are several videos included below in this guide. Blue Heron Bridge is consistently ranked one of the best snorkeling and shore diving spots in Florida. Locals say it was unknown — a true hidden gem — until it was featured on the cover of Southern Diver Magazine in 1998. Its popularity exploded overnight. … Read more
Update: 6/15/2021: The Thai temple and grounds are open daily from 9 am until 6 pm. The Sunday Thai brunch market is held every Sunday from 8 am until 1 pm. The market is currently drive-through service only. After collecting food via car, visitors can park and eat their food at the onsite picnic tables. … Read more
Windermere, Florida is a small, vibrant city in Orange County, Florida. It’s one of the best and popular suburbs of Orlando, especially for wealthy people. Windermere is known for its luxurious lakefront homes, famous residents and a quiet, charming atmosphere. Approximately 2,500-3,000 residents live in the Town of Windermere. Location Windermere’s location is one of … Read more