This offbeat historic hotel is the classic place to stay in Vero, a laid-back beach town that charms visitors with its funky Florida history, gorgeous beaches and cute downtown.
Tag: Old Florida
No Name Pub: Historic spot for funky Keys ambiance, food
No Name Pub has been around since the 1930s, and it looks like it. It offers tasty food in a historic building, but what makes this the king of Funky Florida is the decor: $90,000 (some say) stapled to the walls and ceiling.
Historic Florida restaurants: A meal with a story
My idea of a great choice for a place to eat on vacation is a restaurant with a story behind it. Here are eight historic restaurants that fit that criteria — from Prohibition rum-runners to 1980s drug-runners; from authentic 1920s grand hotel to an authentic 1950s diner.
Prairie Creek: Beautiful little-known kayak trail in Punta Gorda
I love to discover and share new places to kayak, and Prairie Creek near Punta Gorda is a scenic, pristine stream full of birds and wildlife. It’s just the sort of place that makes me love to paddle.
Everglades City Rod and Gun Club is a historic treasure that lets you visit its glory days
Remarkably unchanged, this is a jewel in a remote town surrounded by untamed Everglades. A stay here is not for everybody, but it’s an exceptional place for a drink in the bar and a visit to the historic lobby.
Shangri-la Springs: A 1921 hotel in 8 acres of idyllic gardens in old Bonita Springs
Shangri-la Springs is a historic hotel surrounded by eight acres of gardens with fountains, ponds, towering trees and the original spring the town is named for. You are welcome to visit the grounds or have breakfast or lunch at its restaurant, which serves produce from its organic garden. It’s an Old Florida hidden gem!
Winter Garden: Old Florida town thrives around great bike trail
Here’s a great weekend getaway for bicyclists. The appealing West Orange Trail, a 22-mile rail-trail, goes right down the middle of the lively main street in Downtown Winter Garden. Stay in the Historic Edgewater Hotel for a great base with Old Florida charm.
Weeki Wachee Springs: Kayaking, manatees and mermaids
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is known for its iconic mermaid show and water park. The gorgeous spring-fed river is also a great place for kayak and SUP rentals, although the route from the park has been shortened.
Fort Myers Beach: Work ongoing after hurricanes, but Margaritaville Resort is open
Fort Myers Beach was a charming Old Florida town, but Hurricane Ian blasted it. More than a year later, much damage remains and you see it everywhere. But a big Margaritaville resort is opening in December, which can help turn things around.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is a beauty for lighthouse, views, butterflies, flamingo
What will you see at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge this fall? There’s a flamingo who has been spotted regularly for several years; monarch butterflies migrate through as do many varied types of birds. It’s a vast place with scenic vistas and a historic lighthouse — a hidden gem in the Big Bend region.
Coral Castle: 15 things to amaze you at mysterious ‘work of art’ in Homestead
Coral Castle is a 100-year-old site made of 30-ton blocks of limestone somehow arranged by a lovesick eccentric into a Stonehenge-like work of art.
Like a lot of original Florida tourist attractions, it can be corny, playing up a mystical angle. But it is also listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and is strange and wonderful in its own way.
Five Florida islands to discover while Sanibel rebuilds
Florida Islands don’t come any better than Sanibel, but while that paradise recovers from Hurricane Ian, we think you’ll find lots to love in these 5 other destinations.