Blog Posts

Steinhatchee

6/9/2023

June 9th 2023
We were at a loss a couple times to explore historic, abandoned or points of interest in Steinhatchee. The two primary 'points of interest' were the docks and morning fishing boats prepping and leab=ving docks and the serene Steinhatchee Falls. We travelled a 2+ mile dirt road to the falls and found a beautiful quiet stream and falls (and we assumed a newly engaged couple having photos taken).

Also shown below are a set of one room cabins identified on FB Old Florida site ... not knowing their historical purpose.

July 18, 2021
"Steinhatchee is a fishing village on the Gulf Coast in North Central Florida. Traveling to Biloxi we always pass 'signs' for Steinhatchee, but always say "next time' The village is known for scalloping and fishing as you see lots of trucks and boats preparing for a day out on the Gulf.

Many artists spend time in Steinhatchee to capture images of the Old Florida town and the surrounding wildlife. The town has many Victorian homes along the river, and it is a good walking and biking town.
Up the river from the village is Steinhatchee Falls. The falls can be visited, and is the spot where General Andrew Jackson reportedly crossed with his army in pursuit of Seminoles in the early history of Florida. It's a good spot for picnics and swimming". Source: Backroads Travel

Notes:
We see several signs for Steinhatchee as we travel Rt 19/98, but only when we selected 'fishing villages' as another photo graphic destinations theme did we visit the town. Most notably, as we entered the town, locals and visitors abound with activity pulling their boats, getting fishing gear and preparing for day on the water. It is very much a fishing village. We did not see much activity for commercial fishing, however, I must be fair and say we did not know our way around the area.

Photo Ops

Fishing village from the main bridge
Steinhatchee Falls
Anything (any spot) along the water - boats, activity

Resources:
Steinhatchee ... www.florida-backroads-travel.com/steinhatchee-florida.html
Wiki ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steinhatchee_Falls

St Marks

6/9/2023

St. Marks is one of the oldest settlements in North America and is believed to be the third oldest in the new world. However, there is evidence that even before various explorers reached our shores, the Paleo-Indians were here over 10,000 years ago.

The first European explorers in our area date back almost 500 years. Panfilo de Narvaez first landed in what is now Tampa in 1527 and reached the St. Marks area in 1528 with nearly 300 sick and hungry men. They proceeded to beat their swords and armor into nails and use horsehide for rigging as the first “ships” built by Europeans in this country were constructed. They sailed out of the area in late 1528.

Lake Seminole Park

6/8/2023

"Lake Seminole Park is 258 acres of designated wildlife habitat and sanctuary located in Seminole. The park is home to raccoons, alligators, hawks, eagles, turtles and more. The park provides benches and swings that are placed to view the lake." Source: Pinellas County

Bradenton - Old Florida

6/3/2023

"Overlooking the Manatee River, south of Tampa, Bradenton is a sunny, friendly city that offers a plethora of attractions, activities, and outdoor recreation. Boasting a vibrant, Old Florida history with beautiful architecture, green parks, and nature reserves, Bradenton attracts tourists to enjoy its many sites and activities.

Explore the vibrant artists community of the Village of the Arts, which features an eclectic collection of colorfully restored 1920s and ‘30s cottages, and the bustling downtown area; stroll along the Riverwalk and soak up the scenic views; discover the history of Bradenton, Florida and Manatee County with a visit to the South Florida Museum; or head into nature at the Robinson Preserve, the Cortez fishing village, or the DeSoto National Memorial Park." Source: Vacation Idea

Personal Notes: Braydenton will be on our revisit as we explore southwest Florida more.

Manatee Village ... Explore the Manatee Historical Village - Here

Bradenton - Manatee Historical Village

6/3/2023

Step back into time at the Manatee Village Historical Park. A museum and collection of restored, historic buildings from Manatee County's pioneer past including a courthouse, one-room schoolhouse, farmhouse, general store, boat shop, steam engine, & cow hunter bunkhouse.

"Manatee Village Historical Park preserves the pioneer heritage of Manatee County's founding period of 1840-1918. The historical park contains 14 preserved and replica structures representative of the founding period, including the 1903 Wiggins General Store, the Fogarty Boat Works, the 1912 Stephens House, a smokehouse, a sugar cane mill, a barn, the 1887 Methodist church, the 1908 schoolhouse, the 1860 courthouse, a Cow Hunter's bunkhouse, and a steam engine. Museum visitors can also tour the nearby 1850 Manatee burying grounds. Admission is free." Source: Wiki

Note(s): Manatee Village link

Sarasota - Myakka River State Park

6/3/2023

Myakka River State Park near Sarasota is one of the oldest state parks, one of the biggest, and given what I experienced on an early March visit, it may have the most alligators.
Here are 10 reasons from Florida Rambler why you want to visit Myakka

Pasco & Hernando Counties - misc

5/31/2023

Random pics

An abandoned town - Bayport ...

The town of Bayport in Hernando County is at the western most terminus of HWY 50/Cortez Blvd. The original town site no longer exists - now a public park and boat ramp. There are a few dwellings from the early 20th century remaining just outside of the park entrance, but much of the land was deeded to South West Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) in 2000-2001. Continued Ghost Town

Pasco County - Hudson

5/31/2023

Destinations and sites captured in and around Pasco County

Nobleton - old Florida dining (and more Pasco/Hernando Counties)

5/31/2023

In Hernando County - unincorporated community Eddie and I stopped for lunch on a gentle road trip through Hernando and Pasco Counties.

Other Hernando and Pasco County sites ... photos

Alabama - Tolstoy Home, Battleship Alabama and Mobile

5/29/2023

The Tolstoy Home
In 1923, at the age of 65, Henry Stuart from Nampa, Idaho, was diagnosed with tuberculosis. They still called it “consumption” in those days, and the typical advice from doctors was to move to a better climate.

Since Alabama was warmer than Idaho, Stuart packed up, bought ten acres of wooded land in Baldwin County sight unseen, and moved the 2,500 miles along the routes of the day.
Once Stuart got to Fairhope, Alabama, he built himself a simple, round hurricane-resistant home, only 14 feet in diameter, fashioned from bricks and hand-made concrete blocks. The floor level of the house was set 16 inches below the surrounding land for a more constant intetior temperature.

By 1925 the little hut was just about finished, and Stuart dubbed it “Tolstoy Park” (Stuart was aware that Russian author Leo Tolstoy had been virtually a wandering hermit during the time just before his death). Stuart used a ladder to access his “bed”, a rope-strung hammock high above floor level. Raed More Here

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USS Alabama Battleship Park
From its humble beginnings on February 1, 1940 as the keel was laid at the Norfolk Navy Yard in Portsmouth, Virginia, Battleship USS ALABAMA (BB-60) has had a remarkable career. She began her World War II adventures in the North Atlantic in 1943, then later that year, went to the South Pacific seas. She ended up in Mobile, Alabama as a National Historic Landmark and memorial to millions.

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Mobile was founded as the capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702 and remained a part of New France for over 60 years. During 1720, when France warred with Spain, Mobile was on the battlefront, so the capital moved west to Biloxi. In 1763, Britain took control of the colony following their victory in the Seven Years' War.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Spanish captured Mobile and retained it by the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Mobile first became a part of the United States in 1813, when it was captured by American forces and added to the Mississippi Territory, then later re-zoned into the Alabama Territory in August 1817. Credit Wiki

Venice Historical Train Depot

5/28/2023

"In the mid-1920s, the Venice train station was the arrival point for people interested in purchasing a property. During World War II, trains delivered personnel, vehicles, construction materials, and supplies to maintain the Venice Army Air Base. From 1960 to 1991, the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus made its winter home in Venice. The circus arrived by train and left weeks later for circus performances around the country. Passenger service ended in 1971."

Venice Train Depot Circus CarA retired circus train car made its final stop at the Historic Venice Train Depot, where the Venice Area Historical Society (VAHS) installed the car to help tell the story of Venice’s role in U.S. circus history. Source: Venice Train Depot

Venice

5/28/2023

Biloxi (and surrounding area of Ginger's happy place)

5/28/2023

D'Iberville, Biloxi and area - work in progress

Mississippi - Pascagola

5/28/2023

The name Pascagoula, which means "bread eater", is taken from the Pascagoula, a group of Native Americans found in villages along the Pascagoula River some distance above its mouth. Hernando de Soto seems to have made the first contact with them in the 1540s, though little is known of that encounter. Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, founder of the colony of Louisiana, left a more detailed account from an expedition of this region in 1700. Source Wiki

Treasure Island

5/28/2023

"Florida was also home to the world’s largest sandcastle in 1985. Florida Governor Jeb Bush proclaimed Treasure Island as the Sand Sculpture Capital of Florida in 2001. This is what helped lead to the creation of Sanding Ovations, an annual sand sculpting exhibition and competition. Master sand sculptors from around the world come to Treasure Island to create sand masterpieces for everyone to enjoy." Source: Sanding Ovations

More ...
Sand Castles Competition

Redington Shores - Long Pier

5/27/2023

Demolition of the Redington Long Pier is nearly complete, the latest volley in a contentious battle between the owner of the historic structure and the Redington Shores Town Commission. The 1,200-foot wooden fishing pier, built by developer Charles Redington in 1962, was deemed unsafe by Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 2007.

Repairs were made at that time, and the structure remain opened for business. But wind and weather tore away at it, leading owner Tony Antonius to voluntarily shut the pier down after 2017’s Hurricane Irma dealt the death blow. In October 2019, the commission voted 4 to 1 to deny a land-use change, required so that developers could build a 120-room, nine-story hotel on the pier property, at 17490 Gulf Blvd. The land use would have changed from recreation open space to resort facility. ... continued Here

San Fran and Napa

5/27/2023

A Trip to enjoy ... San Fran, Napa Valley and the best B&B we have ever stayed in. We can talk about the sites and memories but we most recall ...

enjoying the comfort of the B&B
walking San Fran enjoying shops and people watching
photographing everything
Chinatown and buying our favorite brooms\
visiting my Hope Creek cost & scheduling counterpart (during Hope Creek Nuclear build)
sipping many wines at several wineries
having a special brunch as a VIP at Domain Chandon
buying fruit, cheeses, bread for a picnic lunch and enjoying the same
more ...

Punta Gorda - Harelson Property & Hunting

5/26/2023

7+ Acres in Punta and 2 Annie Oakleys

Ginger's Hog Hunt ...
Guide say to Ginger while they both are positioned on top of the hunt vehicle ... "can you 'free hold' the rifle and shoot without sand bag support?" ... Ginger says "locked and loaded - YES!" the red hog is down! (that was just after we all (sitting in the vehicle under her) see the barrel swing 90 degrees to shoot the hog - we all duck low)

Plant City - Historic Train Depot

5/26/2023

The Plant City Union Station Depot is a historic facility in downtown Plant City. It is located at Drane Street and Palmer Street and was built in 1908-1909 by both the Atlantic Coast Line (east-west line) and Seaboard Air Line Railroads (north-south line). The building includes a one story brick passenger depot and two story Railway Express Agency brick freight terminal/loading dock. Even after the merger of the two railroads into the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in 1967, Plant City Union Depot continued to operate until 1971. Source: PlantCity.Gov

Personal: This was great find for us and probably one of our five most attractive Train Depots to find. See below for two Facebook Posts of our visit. Unfortunately, we were unable to visit inside the museum. Note: open the Facebook images to read the text.

Personal Visits - Facebook Posts

Pinellas Park Train

5/26/2023

“Park Station,” the beautiful reproduction of an old-time train station and home to its own little jewel: “Roe’s Deli. There are exhibits of historical photographs and other items both on the first and second floor of the foyer. Look for the "pull out" oak display cabinets on the first floor of the station and the glass display cabinet around the balcony on the second floor.

This Caboose was obtained with the help of former Florida Senator Jim Sebesta in March of 2006. It was used by a restaurant in the Florida panhandle as a place for entertainers to stay while they were entertaining at the restaurant on weekends.
YouTube: Park Station

Perry Train Depot

5/26/2023

The Live Oak, Perry and Gulf Train Depot was built in 1918.
"At one point, the future of the landmark was at risk, but locals and supporters from out-of-town pushed to preserve and restore it. The city bought the building, which was dedicated as "Perry Historic Station" in 2009. Now, a florist is on one end of the building, and a coffee shop is on the other."
Source: WTXL

Perry

5/26/2023

"The heart of the museum is dedicated to longleaf pines and the 5,000 products manufactured from them. The 50-plus-year-old longleaf pines growing on the museum grounds provide a majestic canopy and create an enjoyable walking trail for visitors.
Upon exiting the museum, visitors take a step back in time to explore an authentic 19th-century cracker homestead, much like those scattered throughout Florida at the turn of the century."
Source: Forest Capital Museum State Park

Perry Historic Train Depot - Click Here

Parrish

5/26/2023

Parrish Museum ... "You have arrived at Florida’s Home of Railroad History. The Museum offers one of the most unique museum experiences in the world. Here you "Ride the Exhibits!" The Museum is open most Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM, year-round, in Parrish, FL. Hour and a half excursions on historic rail equipment depart from the Parrish Train Station at 11 AM and 2 PM. Special events are scheduled throughout the year featuring themed train rides." Source: Parrish Museum

Personal Note(s) ...
We experienced and particpated in the World War 2 re-enactment - very much 'alive'

Pasco County - road trips and random travels

5/26/2023

Pasco County was created on June 2, 1887, from the southern third of Hernando County. The same legislation also created Citrus County from the northern third of Hernando County. The county was named after Samuel Pasco, who had just been elected to the United States Senate.

Dade City was named the temporary county seat until a popular vote was held in 1889, at which time voters made Dade City the permanent county seat. As early as 1917, residents of the western part of the county proposed forming a separate county or merging with Pinellas County, as Dade City was not centrally located in the county. The issue was finally resolved in the late 1970s with the construction of identical government centers in both Dade City and New Port Richey.[citation needed]

The earliest towns were Anclote, Blanton, Dade City, Earnestville, Fort Dade (not to be confused with Fort Dade on Egmont Key), Macon (Trilby), Lacoochee, St. Leo,[5] and San Antonio. Citrus was an important industry when the county was formed, although a decline followed a freeze in 1895. Several large sawmills operated in the county in the early part of the 20th century.[citation needed]

During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, New Port Richey became the winter home of silent screen star Thomas Meighan and golfer Gene Sarazen; Meighan attempted to bring other Hollywood figures to the city. The county has experienced significant population growth since the 1960s. The growth began along the Gulf coast but is now occurring most rapidly in areas north of Tampa.
Source: Wki

New Port Richey

5/25/2023

... our Waters Edge Home, Downtown & Murals, River Walk and Youtube Gardener