Florida

November 18, 2022 by J Chickery Leave a Comment

How To Experience Florida Like a Local

For many of us seasoned travelers, experiencing a destination as much like a local as possible is the ultimate aim. While visitors can never truly feel what it’s like to live somewhere, they can make an effort to see any destination through the eyes of the local people. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the US is Florida. While it’s strongly associated with theme parks, there’s a lot more to explore outside of the large parks too. If you want to experience Florida like a local, there are many places to see and things to do.

Pick One City

Florida is 160 miles wide and 500 miles long, which means there are plenty of different places to visit around the state. It can be tempting to try and squeeze in as many destinations as possible, especially when you’re on a long-haul trip. However, this will mean you don’t really have time to take everything in. It can often be better to pick one place to stay and spend your time really getting to know it. If you want to see anything else, there’s still the option of taking day trips. Pick a town or city that looks right for you, whether it’s Miami, St. Augustine, or Tampa. If you’re having a hard time picking just one city, consider a region like the Nature coast where you can swim with manatees in crystal clear waters.

Choose the Right Accommodation

Two photos: One shows an Arctic Fox 5th wheel with its awning out, parked on grass. Blue sky and deep blue water in the background. The second photo shows a beautiful orange sunset over the water with palm trees in the foreground.

The first thing you can do if you want to experience Florida like a local is to choose the right accommodation. One option is to travel by recreational vehicle (RV) as we’ve often done. This gives you a wide range of affordable state parks, as well as high-end RV resorts. Here’s a list of our favorite campgrounds in Florida.

Other options for extended stays are rental homes. You can find great deals at Ocean Florida for villas, which provide more amenities like kitchens. You won’t feel like you’re isolated from the real world and you can even cook for yourself too.

Ask for Local Recommendations

Who can help you to experience Florida like a local better than the locals? Asking local people for recommendations can help you to find the best places to eat, drink, or have fun. There are several ways to do this and discover the best places to go. One option is to ask the concierge at your hotel if you decide to stay in one. They can offer advice on where to go and what to do. Alternatively, consider looking online (we like TripAdvisor) for the best tips. You can ask on online forums or look for websites recommending local attractions, events, and businesses.

Try Local Food

Enjoying local food and drink is often the best way to experience somewhere new like a local. Florida has some great food scenes in various places, from delicious Cuban food to beautiful seafood. Whether you’re trying a Cuban sandwich or tucking into a slice of key lime pie, you can explore the state through your taste buds. You can discover some great breweries in places like Tampa too, and you can also discover some wineries that produce great wines. Get recommendations for the best places to go from local people if you want to make sure you eat and drink the right things.

Attend Local Events

Local events can be one of the best ways to get to know somewhere new. It gives you a chance to see a destination at its best, often with the local community coming together. If you’re looking for fun events in Florida, you can find amazing options all year. There are events celebrating all kinds of things, from food and drink to music and history. We love the annual pirate invasion of Gasparilla in Tampa each January! Anywhere you visit in Florida is likely to have something happening, but what exactly is available will depend on the time of year.

Go to the Islands

Florida has some great cities and towns, but sometimes you want to get away from it all. Florida’s islands are a great place to get some peace and enjoy the slower pace of life that many local people experience. Some of the top-rated Florida islands include Anna Maria Island, Honeymoon Island State Park, and Sanibel Island. The islands can offer opportunities to spend hours on the beach, go kayaking, fish, and much more.

Get to Know the History

Your average Floridian might not know a huge amount of local history, but they may know more than you. Getting to know the history of the state is a way to get closer to the culture of Florida and how it has become what it is today. Visiting museums is a good way to explore the state’s rich history, and there are some great ones to choose from. You might like to visit the Museum of the Everglades, the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, or the Kennedy Space Center.

The options to experience Florida like a local really are unlimited. Choose what works best for your interests and you are bound to have a wonderful time!

September 27, 2017 by Julie 1 Comment

Navy UDT-SEAL Museum – Fort Pierce, Florida

The Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida is one of the best military museums we have visited. I was very impressed with the caliber of this museum. We lived in Washington DC for several years, and this museum was on par with any Smithsonian. The displays were well thought out with professional multimedia components.

Museum Mission

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors, including the Underwater Demolition Teams, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services Maritime Units and Amphibious Scouts and Raiders.

Navy UDT-SEAL Mural

Museum Location

Now you may be asking yourself, why Fort Pierce? Due to its WWII history, Fort Pierce is considered as the birthplace of the U. S. Navy Frogmen. From 1943 to 1946, thousands of brave volunteers were trained as members of Naval Combat Demolition Units and Underwater Demolition Teams. The World War II Frogmen have evolved into the most elite fighting force in the world, the U. S. Navy SEALs.

Museum Highlights

The museum is home to a vast array of artifacts and exhibits dedicated to the history of these elite warriors. The collection provides a window into the secret world of Naval Special Warfare. While I hope you will get the chance to go and experience the entire museum for yourself, I’ll share a few of the highlights here.

Maersk Alabama Lifeboat

The Maersk Alabama was captured by Somali pirates on April 8, 2009. When you visit the Museum, you can board the lifeboat upon which Captain Richard Phillips was held hostage for five days before being rescued on April 12, thanks to the accuracy of Navy SEAL snipers. Read the story here.

Maersk Life Boat

Unique Weaponry

The Museum is home to a unique collection of weapons dating from the earliest days of special warfare. Navy SEALs have the reputation of using the best weapons available in the world. If they couldn’t buy it, they made it. In addition to primary weapons systems used through the decades, our collection contains many one-of-a-kind and hand made/custom configured devices that go far beyond mere firearms and knives.

Sikorsky UH-60 “Black Hawk”

On January 25, 2012, a team of United States Navy SEALs raided a compound 12 miles north of the Somali town of Adow, killing nine Somali pirates and freeing their hostages, U.S. citizen Jessica Buchanan and Danish citizen Poul Hagen Thisted. The Black Hawk on display flew Jessica & Poul out to safety!

WWII Era Beach Obstacles

On the grounds of the museum are the original training obstacles dating from the founding of the joint Army and Navy Amphibious Scout and Raider School in 1942. The training base was established on the Fort Pierce beach where the Museum now stands. These obstacles were discovered in the 1990s by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and were donated to our collection.

Navy SEAL Memorial

The National Navy SEAL Museum is home to the only memorial dedicated solely to honoring Navy SEALs and their predecessors for their sacrifice. The centerpiece of the Memorial is a bronze sculpture of a modern Navy SEAL combat swimmer. The names of all Underwater Demolition Team members who have died in the service of the country are carved into black, granite panels on the walls surrounding the sculpture and its reflecting pool. You can read the names of those honored here.

Navy UDT-SEAL Memorial

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Visit the Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida is a terrific attraction for the whole family. It has interactive and hands on history displays and memorials in honor of these American heroes.

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September 22, 2017 by Julie 2 Comments

Blowing Rocks Preserve – Jupiter Island, Florida

For a beautiful unspoiled natural view of the Florida shoreline look no farther than Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Florida. Maintained by the Nature Conservancy, Blowing Rocks Preserve is home to a number of endangered plants and animals.

Sea Grape Tunnels

These sea grapes form a long tunnel that leads away from the parking lot towards the sea. These plants are so important to maintaining a healthy dune system and preventing erosion that the state of Florida has protected it, banning removal and restricting trimming of sea grapes in beach areas. The sea grape itself is mostly pit, which is inedible, and there is not enough flesh on the fruit to merit commercial cultivation. However, locals make jams, jellies and even wine with them.

Anastasia Limestone Shoreline

The preserve was named for its rocky Anastasia limestone shoreline which stretches more than a mile along Jupiter Island and is the largest on the U.S. Atlantic coast. During extreme high tides and after winter storms, seas break against the rocks and force plumes of saltwater up to 50 feet skyward. In Florida, the common name for this limestone is coquina and it has been a building material for 400 years. Composed of the remains of ancient coral reefs, sand ridges and shells, this is what the Spanish used to build Castillo de San Marcos in Saint Augustine in 1672.

I got there when the tide was starting to go out. This meant I could climb down on the rocks. I was also able to walk on the sandy beach and explore the reefs from down below as well.

Hawley Education Center

Across the street from the beach is the Hawley Education Center. Built in 1996, it has exhibits on the area’s history and native species. It is free and they have restrooms and air conditioning!

Nature Trails

It also boasts three short hiking trails with interpretive signs. The first is Maggy’s Path to the Lagoon Trail. Volunteers spent hundreds of hours removing invasive species along this trail that leads to the Indian River Lagoon. Across the lagoon, virtually every parcel of land is developed. But on this side, Blowing Rocks Preserve protects a mile of coastline, sheltering pristine beaches lined with mangroves and buttonwood.

Designated Florida’s State butterfly, the zebra longwing can be seen at Blowing Rocks Preserve year round. The preserve’s native plant garden is a good place to learn about host and nectar plants for butterflies.

The Lagoon Trail is an elevated boardwalk with interpretive signs along the way describing the importance of the mangrove ecosystem and this species-rich estuary. Mangroves help protect shorelines from erosion caused by wave energy and storms. They also provide sheltered nursery areas for fish and shellfish.