Tropical Travel Stories

Spanish explorers settled Key West, once known as Bone Island for its plentiful source of Indian burial sites. Key West began to hustle in 1822 when it gained a naval base and Anti-Pirate Squadron, which eventually squashed buccaneers’ attacks on the area. The Keys has meant different things to many people over the years, especially after Henry Flagler built his Overseas Highway, that runs from Florida’s mainland to Key West. In the early 20th century, bootlegging was the draw, and…

Located just 75 miles North of Tampa and St. Petersburg, and 90 miles West of Orlando on the West coast of Florida, the Homossa State Park was first inhabited by the Calusa and Seminole Indians. In 1846 a former US Senator established a plantation and sugar cane mill, and was the areaós first known settlement made by the white man. Today, owned and protected by the state of Florida, there is no place like the Homossa State Park to view…

Cooper City, Florida This activity filled park was named in honor of the late great Chicago Bears football star, Brian Piccolo, who grew up in Broward County. Of all the parks in the area, the locals refer to Piccolo Park as the most diverse. In this park you can find state-of-the-art facilities and fields for almost every activity. The park also keeps the whole family engaged with areas and programs for thrill seekers of all ages. This 180- acre park…

Inconspicuously positioned off commercial highway 520 is the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary. Situated on 436 acres in Merritt Island, Florida, the sanctuary is an unexpected resource for soft adventure. Merritt Island, population 36,090, is the site of NASA’s Moonport, from which the Shuttle is launched. The city is located off the east coast, bounded by the Indian River and Banana Creek. The island is named after the early settler given the land grant by Spain. The oranges planted here were among…

It’s funny how it’s turned out. I was born and raised in Florida, just miles from several major tourist destinations, including Cape Canaveral and Disney World. These days, I return to Florida a couple times a year to visit my family, and end up playing the role of a Florida tourist. This time of the year is one of those times. It’s March in Colorado - the middle of winter. Year after year, it never fails, I find myself daydreaming…

Pinellas County, Florida has withstood the test of time. Although it has changed in some ways since it inception in the 1800’s, the county still continues to attract people for vacation, and eventually convinces them to stay for good. Its history tells the tale of many who experienced this. The area where Pinellas County now exists was first inhabited by the Tocobagan Tribe, and subsequently dominated by the Spanish, led by Panfilo de Narvaez and Hernando DeSoto in the 16th…

Key Largo is a great place to visit on vacation, as the island has its fair share of colorful and interesting people. Captain Slate, the owner of Atlantis Dive Center, is one of those people. He has long earned the title of native to Key Largo, since he moved to the island in 1978 and established a world renowned business. Captain Slate loves the ocean and is very environmentally conscious; he is always coming up with new, interesting ideas to promote…

You're entranced by the crystal clear bluish green water and you find your mind drifting. You notice how the color is reflected in the small clouds above you. It's been fifteen minutes since the last string of tarpon has passed the skiff. The skiff rocks gently as the guide shifts his weight. Suddenly, you're back at ground zero. After the last attempt at the fish, you're looking for a rock to crawl under. Your casting stroke looks as though you're…

Having been an avid snorkeler for many years, I didn't imagine the transition to scuba diving to be much of a change. Fortunately, I was wrong I've never enjoyed the beauty beneath the sea so much! And the staff from Ocean Promotion, my conscientious guides on this spectacular adventure, were the best!Matt Brown, who runs Ocean Promotion Scuba and Snorkel Adventures, Inc., made sure I knew what to expect and ensured I was properly prepared before my first lesson. His…

If you are like most Americans, when you think of the Everglades and Everglades National Park, you think of alligators looking for prey and airboats skimming across the Florida sawgrass. You may also visualize some swampy area in South-central Florida where humans rarely visit, the wildlife still rules and survival of the fittest was still in order. What if I was to tell you that the Everglades was full of Dolphins, Fire Sponges and Sea Horses? Would you believe it?…