Floridians weather the heat and humidity of brutal summers by turning to the state’s wealth of clear, refreshing springs, spilling cool water out of crevices in the ground at the rate of thousands of gallons a minute..
Orlando/Central Florida
Jacaranda Hotel: Affordable historic Avon Park inn
Here’s an interesting stop far off the beaten path: The Jacaranda Hotel opened in 1926 and has been providing comfy rooms and good food ever since. It’s located in the historic district of Avon Park, a little town in the middle of the state’s cattle and orange-grove country.
Spruce Creek paddle: A diamond in the rough
Development is creeping up on Spruce Creek and Strickland Bay, but enough has been preserved — for now — to enjoy an awesome day of kayaking. (Watercolor by Stewart Jones)
Dixie Crossroads: Tourist trap or authentic seafood?
TITUSVILLE — Some say it’s touristy; some say it’s authentic. But pretty much everyone agrees that the hushpuppies at Dixie Crossroads are irresistible.