Florida Rambler’s most popular stories of all time

FloridaRambler.com has been writing about outdoor travel destinations since 2010. Over those 13 years — indeed for 30 years before that — co-founders Bob Rountree and Bonnie Gross have explored the state.

Over those 13 years until today, we have published more than 600 articles about the authentic Florida, and the following stories have proven the most popular with our 4.2 million annual readers.

Florida Rambler’s most popular stories of all time

1. Our Home Page — Showcases our latest articles. While it’s not the first page viewed by visitors, our home page is our most popular because readers who find us through search eventually go to our home page to see what new articles we have to offer today.
2. Top 75 Florida events, fairs & festivals — An off-shoot of our ever-popular Seafood Festival Calendar, readers told us they wanted to know about other fairs and festivals, so we delivered. This frequently updated guide lists upcoming events of interest to everyone.
3. Favorite secluded, quiet beaches in Florida — We take you off the beaten path, away from the high-rise condos and hotels to pristine beaches little known to even residents of Florida. These are beaches the way Florida used to be, away from the crowds.
4. Off-the-beaten-path getaways: Nine Old Florida towns make great bases — The popularity of Old Florida destinations led to this article about our favorites, and readers agree. We picked small towns with charm and close to hiking, biking, kayaking and historic sites.
5. Florida Seafood Festivals Calendar — Nothing says Florida like a seafood festival. Our original calendar of seafood festivals is updated monthly throughout the year, every year, featuring Florida’s most popular seafood festivals.
6. Six things to do in Cedar Key, a charming, historic, off-the-beaten path spot — This remote fishing village is one of Florida’s oldest shipping port for goods imported from the Caribbean and Latin America. With Key West vibes, it’s in the middle of nowhere and worth visiting.
7. Anna Maria Island: Things to do in Old Florida beach town — Notice the trend? Our most popular stories take readers to destination that retain an Old Florida feel. Anna Marie Island is a charming beachfront community off the coast of heavily populated Sarasota and Bradenton.
8. Our 15 favorite beaches in the Florida Keys — Over the years, the Florida Keys have proven to be the most popular destination for our readers, and we are often asked, “Where are the beaches?” You’ll find the answers in this article.
9. On a budget? Key West on the cheap isn’t easy, but here are tips –– Key West has become one of Florida’s most expensive destinations since the early days when we first visited. Like most people, we are constantly looking for bargains. We share some with you in this article.
10. Best snorkeling in Florida without a boat — Some of our favorite snorkeling outings are “shore dives” — places where you can touch the bottom and stand to clear your mask. This sort of snorkeling is especially attractive for kids and beginners but enjoyable by all.

About the writers

Bob Rountree and Bonnie Gross worked together at the South Florida SunSentinel for decades, on the print side and online. Separately with their families, they pursued weekend adventures that transfer well to Florida Rambler.

Bob and his wife Kathy have always loved beaches, boating, fishing and camping. When they met at a beach party in the early 1980s, Bob was an avid Hobie Cat sailor in Pompano Beach. Their first camping trip together was St. George Island State Park, and perhaps their most memorable beach camping experiences were on the outer islands of Everglades National Park. At the turn of the century (that sounds so old!), they bought a travel trailer and started exploring Florida’s amazing state parks — fishing, bicycling and kayaking along the way.

Bonnie has long sought great places to bike, hike and paddle. When she and husband David Blasco bought a house on Fort Lauderdale’s Middle River in 1979, Bonnie bought David a canoe for his birthday, and they began paddling the waters of Florida. Long before kayaks and SUPs became ubiquitous, they tied the canoe to the car roof and explored waterways around the state, initially with their two daughters and then on their own when their girls went off to college.

Bob Rountree and Bonnie Gross

Veteran journalists who worked together at Fort Lauderdale’s SunSentinel newspaper, Bonnie and Bob founded FloridaRambler.com in 2010 to explore the natural, authentic Florida, writing about their natural interests in hiking, biking, paddling, RV and tent camping, wildlife, unique lodging, dining and historic places.