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Crystal River - home of Manatees and Historic Train Depot

9/12/2021

Crystal River is at the heart of the Nature Coast of Florida. The city is situated around Kings Bay, which is spring-fed so it keeps a constant 72 °F temperature year round. A cluster of 50 springs designated as a first-magnitude (about 64 million gallons of water per day discharge) system feeds Kings Bay. Because of this discharge amount, the Crystal River Springs group is the second largest springs group in Florida, the first being Wakulla Springs. Kings Bay can be home to over 400 manatees during the winter when the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico cools. It is only place in the United States where people can legally interact with them in their natural conditions - legally.

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Crystal River has been a 'pass by quick and shoot' town for us on the way to Mississippi. In the center of the town (on Rt 19) we always see shoppers walking and stopping in several shops. Heritage Village is worth browsing the shops. It consists of many Unique Gift and Specialty Shoppes, a Tea Bar and BubbaQue's. The historic downtown is considered a Cracker town, and has the reputation of a Fisherman Village from the past. Note to file - we need to explore further downtown Grystal River and its historic areas.

Photo Ops:

Heritage Village Shops & People
Manatees are 3-Sisters State Park
Historical Train Depot

Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_River,_Florida
Shopping ... www.theshoppesofheritagevillage.com/
Things To do ... vacationidea.com/florida/best-things-to-do-in-crystal-river-fl.html

Crystal River Train Depot Photos - Click Here

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Ybor City, Tampa - Little Havana

9/4/2021

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Ybor City is a historic neighborhood just northeast of downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It was founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers and populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Cuba, Spain, and Italy.

In its heyday Ybor City was once the cigar capital of the world where thousands of Cuban, Spanish and Latin workers produced cigars in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The area still retains its Latin legacy with it Spanish-style architecture, wrought iron balconies and cobblestone streets. Today, the area is a shopping and entertainment district with many shops, restaurants, bars and clubs.

From Tampa Today:
"The historic Latin quarter and former center of cigar manufacturing wears two hats today: a creamy Panama for daytime lunching, shopping, cigar smoking and coffee sipping, and a black fedora for the high-spirited playground it becomes at night."

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Ybor city is definitely a 'must see' location in the Tampa Bay area. We have enjoyed photographing and touring the city many times. Our plan, most often is to arrive in Ybor city just before sunset, grab a parking spot (public fee-based) and then walk to main street to capture street activity, people walking, shopping for cigars, and enjoying real Cuban dining on street tables. We particularly enjoy sharing a pitcher of Moheetos with friends at the Columbia restaurant - on bar stools. For dining, our favorite restaurant is Bernini's Italian restaurant. (Tip) ... the best time to go to that Bernini's lunch time, where you can enjoy excellent dining for half the price of a dinner meal.

To Do: Street walks (7th Ave); Cigar-making; Shopping; Sip Mojito's at the Columbia Restaurant at the bar; Dining; Tampa Bay Brewing Company; note: Off-street public parking available
About: To learn more about Ybor City - its history, geography, culture and more ... click here.

Photo Recommendations:

The Trolley Station
Centro Ybor (renamed) from across the street
The Columbia Restaurant (and door)
Cigar-making
Street scenes and cigar shops in action
Interior architecture of restaurants
Nighttime - people gathering, shops

Other: Dining: Bernini Italian Restaurant - lunch; The Columbia for Mojito's (by the pitcher at the bar)

Resources:
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ybor_City
Visit Tampa Bay - Ybor ... https://www.visittampabay.com/districts/ybor-city/

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