Florida - Pics - Tripatini2024-03-29T11:47:17Zhttps://tripatini.com/photo/feed/tag/FloridaThe Civil Rights ´Freedom Trail´ of St. Augustine, Florida: the Woolworth lunch counterhttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-woolworth-black-travel2023-11-06T20:10:14.000Z2023-11-06T20:10:14.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287240480?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In the history of the Civil Rights movement, names like <span style="font-size:13px;">Little Rock, Birmingham, and Montgomery stand out most in memory. But it was in the USA.´s oldest city the events of 1963 and especially 1964 provided the final shock needed to pass the Civil Rights Act in a balky, filibustering Congress. One of those events was a 1963 sit-it at the lunch counter of the local Woolworth department store.like the more famous one three years earlier at the Woolworth in Greensboro, North Caroliana.</span> Now preserved in the lobby of the Wells Fargo Bank which currently occupies the site, it´s part of this city´s Freedom Trail which visitors can explore through free black heritage tours.<br /><br />Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>The Civil Rights Freedom Trail of St. Augustine, Florida: Fort Moséhttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-fort-mose-black-travel2023-11-06T20:07:59.000Z2023-11-06T20:07:59.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287239872?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>By 1738, Spanish St. Augustine had been an established garrison town for nearly 175 years and had become a player in the skirmishing between the Spanish and the English in the Americas. In that year, Florida's Spanish governor chartered a new settlement a bit of a ways inland from town. The wooden garrison of <strong>Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé</strong> was set up as the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in North America, and became a refuge for escaped slaves from the English colonies in the Carolinas and Georgia - kind of like the original Underground Railroad, but southward instead of northward. Pretty much all the refugees had to do upon reaching <strong>Fort Mose</strong> (as it's since become known, pronounced "mo-<em>zay</em>") was agree to convert to Catholicism, and many unsurprisingly fought for the Spanish against the English on various occasions. Today the original fort is gone, but at the site (declared a National Historic Landmark) there's a very well-designed, multimedia visitor's center (above) that lays out the history, along with some beautiful grounds, including a walkway over a marshland that nature lovers will enjoy.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p></div>The Civil Rights 'Freedom Trail' of St. Augustine, Florida: Lincolnvillehttps://tripatini.com/photo/st-augustine-civil-rights-freedom-trail-lincolnville-black-travel2023-11-06T20:06:00.000Z2023-11-06T20:06:00.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12287239256?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The modest clapboard house of dentist <strong>Robert B. Hayling</strong>, a local NAACP leader who became the father of the Civil Rights movement in St. Augustine - and was once beaten within an inch of his life - was where he and his coleagues met to plan strategy, and <strong>Martin Luther King Jr.</strong> himself once overnighted. It´s part of the "Freedom Trail" inin St. Augustine´s <strong>Lincolnville</strong> neighborhood <strong>Lincolnville</strong>, founded after the Civil War by freed slaves and named, of course, the president who issued the Emancipation Proclamation.<br /> <br /> Read more in my post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/st-augustine-florida-critical-in-america-s-black-history-too" target="_blank">St. Augustine, Florida - Critical in the USA´s Black History, Too</a>.<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16" target="_blank">David Paul Appell</a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Key West´s frisky gay Island Househttps://tripatini.com/photo/island-house-key-west-florida-gay-travel2023-09-06T07:14:06.000Z2023-09-06T07:14:06.000ZDave Actonhttps://tripatini.com/members/DaveActon<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12218379695?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The number of gay guesthouses in Key West has declined over the years - especially the ones with a high ¨sexual temperature,¨ but <a href="https://islandhousekeywest.com/" target="_blank">Island House</a> has soldiered on since it first came on the scene decades ago, upgraded it rooms and facilities several years ago, and it´s still as frisky as ever, with a couple of sex lounges and clothing-optional pool area and café (where the food is actually pretty good). It´s not cheap - rates for the 34 rooms start at $349 - but you can buy a day pass and have all the fun you want that way (I´ve certainly done that, with very satisfactory results ;)). <br /> <br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IslandHouseKW/photos/a.100162202064/10154524453747065/?type=3" target="_blank">Island House</a></p><p> </p></div>Alligator Bay, Florida's high-quality homegrown rumhttps://tripatini.com/photo/florida-alligator-bay-rum-distillery-spirits2023-06-28T17:13:33.000Z2023-06-28T17:13:33.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/12127831863?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>According to co-founder Alex Voss, "there is no wrong or right way to produce rum but there is a standard of good and bad. Our flavor profile carries a fruity element similar to banana. Our flavor development progresses over time as we tinker with the recipe altering the proportion of cane sugar and yeast...something the big producers are unable to achieve due to sacrificing a unique flavor profile for volume." Their Sun Gold rum is lightly aged with a touch of Black Mangrove honey while their Saba Treasure is aged with a tincture of fennel. Alligator Bay's spiced rum, the tastiest rum of this type I've had yet, is infused with Florida orange peels, ginger root, cardamom, allspice, clove, star anise, and peppercorn.<br /><br />Read more in Tripatini contributor <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SteveMirsky964">Steve Mirsky</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/alligator-bay-florida-rum?edited=1" target="_blank">In Southwest Florida, Alligator Bay's Authentic Local Rums</a>.</p></div>Miami International Airport accredited for its disabled-friendly effortshttps://tripatini.com/photo/miami-international-airport-accessible-air-airlines-travel2023-06-15T09:01:24.000Z2023-06-15T09:01:24.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11849633673?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>I just received a press release from MIA announcing that "in recognition of its commitment to 'prioritizing and ensuring an accessible, safe, and inclusive traveling experience for passengers with disabilities,' Miami International Airport has been accredited by the Airports Council International (ACI) <a href="https://aci.aero/programs-and-services/airport-accreditations/accessibility-enhancement-accreditation-program/" target="_blank">Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA)</a> program.</p>
<p>MIA is the first airport in Florida and the second in the United States to be accredited by the program, which was created by ACI in September 2022 based on existing international best practices and recommendations, including those in the <a href="https://store.aci.aero/product/airports-persons-with-disabilities-handbook-2018/" target="_blank">ACI Airport and Persons with Disability Handbook</a>. One example, a wheelchair charging station, is pictured here.</p>
<p>Good job, MIA!<br /><br /></p></div>South Florida's amazing Sawgrass Mills mallhttps://tripatini.com/photo/sawgrass-mills-shopping-mall-broward-county-fort-lauderdale2023-05-31T13:56:06.000Z2023-05-31T13:56:06.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11192809260?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>As a former South Floridian, I remain in awe of one of the USA's largest shopping malls - and <em>the</em> largest on a single story - at more than 54 acres. Located in west Broward County, 25 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and 45 from Miami, It's all outlets, and some Latin Americans have been known to get off the plane and head right to Sawgrass Mills. <br /> <br /> <br /> <em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dawlad/31129818806" target="_blank">Dawlad Ast</a></em></p>
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<p> </p></div>Traveling with pups to Fort Myers, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/fort-myers-beach-florida-pet-travel-dogs2023-05-09T20:03:38.000Z2023-05-09T20:03:38.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11073766256?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Miles of great Gulf Coast beaches and a festive atmosphere - a mix of middle-class families and singles looking to have a good time in their own way - are the essence of this town on Estero Island in southwest Florida. Some families nowadays want to bring Fido, and <a href="http://doggonedestinations.com/fort-myers-beach-dog-friendly/" target="_blank">Fort Meyers Beach is a great destination for that</a> - some of the <a href="https://www.knvinc.com/" target="_blank">best Ft Myers Beach vacation rentals</a> and even hotels/motels welcome man's best friend, and there are a number of activities you can do with your four-footed friends. <br /><br />Read all about it inTripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/NancyAhuja">Nancy Ahuja</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/fort-myers-beach-florida-pet-travel-dogs" target="_blank">6 Things to Enjoy with your Dog in Fort Myers Beach, Florida</a>.</p>
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<p><em><a href="https://www.istockphoto.com/es/foto/ni%C3%B1o-corriendo-en-la-playa-con-perro-labrador-dorado-gm455986073-31445040" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Banks Photos</span></a></em></p>
<p> </p></div>Orlando's huge, amenity-packed, family-oriented Caribe Royalehttps://tripatini.com/photo/caribe-royale-orlando-resort-florida-family-travel2023-05-05T20:10:24.000Z2023-05-05T20:10:24.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11065284459?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Never mind that this sprawling spread is nowhere near the <strong>Caribe</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> (</span><strong>Caribbean Sea</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">), this huge property certainly delivers royale treatment, especially for those in search of a wonderful, full-service family getaway within easy reach of Orlando's theme parks (with shuttle service provided). With a mix of one-bedroom suites and two-bedroom "villas," the resort also offers a raft of amenities including an island spa and numerous luxury pools where you can spend quality time. At the running trail, you can jog or walk with your kids. At this resort, you can enjoy catch-and-release fishing and also can join the large fitness center.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;">It's one of Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Ady Kang</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/resorts-hotels-florida"> <span style="font-weight:400;">12 of Florida's Best Resorts</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>The Beachcomber Resort in Pompano Beach, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/beachcomber-resort-club-pompano-beach-florida2023-05-05T20:09:21.000Z2023-05-05T20:09:21.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11065283677?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">At this family-owned property just a half hour north of </span><strong>Fort Lauderdale</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> and its </span><strong>FLL</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> airport, just sit back and relax, listen to the surf from tall palm trees. In addition to 143 rooms/suites and a variety of apartments and villas, there's an oceanfront surf-and-turf restaurant; two outdoor pools; and two bars (one on the beach). And of course it's within easy driving distance of a menu of cultural, historical, culinary, sports, and entertainment/nightlife options both in Pompano and throughout </span><strong>South Florida</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;">It's one of Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Ady Kang</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/resorts-hotels-florida"> <span style="font-weight:400;">12 of Florida's Best Resorts</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://www.beachcomberresort.com/gallery.htm"><span style="font-weight:400;">Beachcomber Resort & Club</span></a></span></p>
<p> </p></div>A luxurious Floridian grande dame: Ponte Vedra Inn & Spahttps://tripatini.com/photo/ponte-vedra-inn-spa-resort-florida2023-05-05T20:08:18.000Z2023-05-05T20:08:18.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11065283098?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>On upstate Florida’s Atlantic coast is one of the Sunshine State's most exclusive resort grandes dames, on the beach near <strong>Jacksonville</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> and historic </span><strong>St. Augustine</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, and founded in 1928. Despite its 95-year pedigree, this 262-room property is plenty updated for the 21st century in terms of room decor and amenities, along with an appealing abundance of services, facilities, and activities. Highlights include ten dining options; a luxurious spa with more than a hundreds services; 36 holes of golf; heated four swimming pools, a fully equipped oceanfront fitness center; watersports including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding; a kids' playground; and an array of shops.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;">It's one of Tripatini member<a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang"> Ady Kang</a>'s<a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/resorts-hotels-florida"> 12 of Florida's Best Resorts</a>.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>A low-key refuge at Tradewinds on Florida's Anna Maria Islandhttps://tripatini.com/photo/tradewinds-resort-anna-maria-island-florida2023-05-05T20:07:16.000Z2023-05-05T20:07:16.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11065282694?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Just a half hour south of </span><strong>St. Petersburg</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> on laid back </span><strong>Anna Maria Island</strong><span style="font-weight:400;">, this intimate, delightfully old-fashioned (and also pet-friendly) colony of lowrise pastel cottages set amid lush greenery has a pool and lies on beautiful Tortuga Beach with an array of water sports. Apart from the pool and barbecue facilities, Tradewinds is fairly short on on-property amenities, but the town of </span><strong>Bradenton Beach</strong><span style="font-weight:400;"> in which it's located more than makes up for that in attractions, restaurants, shops, and a panoply of fun activities. This is definitely a sweet spot to get your chill on!</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;">It's one of Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Ady Kang</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/resorts-hotels-florida"> <span style="font-weight:400;">12 of Florida's Best Resorts</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
<p> </p></div>Full- service downtown luxury at Florida's Ritz Carlton, Sarasotahttps://tripatini.com/photo/ritz-carlton-sarasota-resort-florida-resorts2023-05-05T20:04:35.000Z2023-05-05T20:04:35.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11065282079?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">In this Gulf Coast city, a paragon of elegant luxury - both AAA Four Diamond and at the same time Florida Green Lodging-certified - offers 276 rooms and a great mix of both beach and downtown city life, all in classic Ritz-Carlton style. On-site amenities include five dining options; a beach club; a pair of heated outdoor pools and whirlpools; full-service salon, business center, and spa with fitness center and sauna. The resort also runs complimentary shuttles to the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club with its world-class, Tom Fazio-designed 18--hole course as well as a pair of lighted tennis courts.</span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight:400;">It's one of Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/AdyKang"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Ady Kang</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/resorts-hotels-florida"> <span style="font-weight:400;">12 of Florida's Best Resorts</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p></div>South Beach's iconic lifeguard stationshttps://tripatini.com/photo/lifeguard-station-south-miami-beach-florida2023-04-15T06:33:01.000Z2023-04-15T06:33:01.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11028341066?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>These colorful bits of pop art sprinkle the sands up and down <strong>SoBe</strong>. So of course I had to do the goofball thing at one of them <span class="fe5nidar khvhiq1o r5qsrrlp i5tg98hk f9ovudaz przvwfww gx1rr48f gfz4du6o r7fjleex nz2484kf svot0ezm dcnh1tix sxl192xd t3g6t33p" style="background-image:url("/img/c5a15be93e425dcb8a26b06645ad4574_a_2213-40.png");"><span class="mpj7bzys xzlurrtv">🙄</span></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Miami's Wynwood Arts District and its singular 'Wynwood Walls'https://tripatini.com/photo/wynwood-walls-miami-art-cultural-tourism-travel2023-04-15T06:31:10.000Z2023-04-15T06:31:10.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11028339289?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>In recent years, one of Miami's coolest, most fun neighborhoods to visit has been Wynwood, north of downtown. Once little more than a grotty collection of low-slung warehouses surrounded by the modest single-family homes of working-class, mostly Latino and black residents, since the first decade of the 21st century bohemian types and creatives – both individuals and companies – moved in, discovering the joys of large spaces and low rents. These included art galleries, film and TV production studios, restaurants, bars/nightclubs, and the county’s hip “alternative” weekly, the <strong><em>Miami New Times</em></strong>. <br /><br /> The <strong><a href="https://thewynwoodwalls.com/" target="_blank">Wynwood Walls</a></strong>, conveived in 2009, is one of the nabe's top attractions, an enclosed park consisting of four yards whose walls are covered with fantastical changing murals, as well as a couple of galleries and the outdoor area of the <strong>Wynwood Kitchen</strong> restaurant. It was free to enter for many years, but more recently started charging a cool 12 bucks for adult admission (seniors $10, students $5, kids still free). Kind of tacky, in my opinion, but worth it? Not for me - I've already been in here a bunch of times. For you? Check out the website and draw your own conclusions.</p>
<p> </p></div>A visit to Miami's Wynwood Wallshttps://tripatini.com/photo/wynwood-walls-miami-photo-op-art-cultural-tourism-travel2023-04-15T06:29:03.000Z2023-04-15T06:29:03.000ZDavid Paul Appellhttps://tripatini.com/members/DavidPaulAppell16<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11028339079?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Me doing a little wall-art mimicry a while ago. These walls always make for cool photo ops!</p>
<p> </p></div>A Cuban-pride mural in Miami's Little Havanahttps://tripatini.com/photo/cuban-culture-art-mural-little-havana-miami-florida2023-04-14T09:49:49.000Z2023-04-14T09:49:49.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11027979281?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>While many flock to the sands and party scenes of <strong>Miami Beach</strong> and the other barrier islands of <strong>Miami Dade County</strong>, the more culturally minded head to mainland Miami to watch cigar rollers at work in <em>tabacaleras</em>; gray-haired men and women loudly slapping dominoes onto tables, seemingly interested more in who can produce the loudest bangs than in how the game turns out; shop for <em>guayabera</em> shirts; and feast on Cuban delicacies while being serenaded by salsa and old-timey <em>boleros</em>. Welcome to <strong>Calle Ocho</strong> (aka <strong>Southwest Eighth Street</strong>) in the neighborhood know,n as <strong><a href="https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/little-havana" target="_blank">Little Havana</a></strong>, settled by Cuban refugees in the 1960s after <strong>Fidel Castro</strong> seized power in their homeland, this several-block stretch is lined with restaurants, shops, galleries, and bars.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock">Victor Block</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/united-states-usa-ethnic-enclaves" target="_blank">7 Swell Spots to Travel the World without Leaving the USA</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Victor Block</em></span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Miami eco-iconic: Everglades and airboatshttps://tripatini.com/photo/airboat-everglades-miami-florida2023-04-14T09:28:47.000Z2023-04-14T09:28:47.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11027973062?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Read about Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/KeithKellett">Keith Kellett</a>'s cruise port of call excursion in his post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/miami-florida-everglades-airboat-ride" target="_blank">An Airboat Ride in Miami's Everglades</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>The Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complexhttps://tripatini.com/photo/kennedy-space-center-visitor-complex-florida-shuttle-atlantis2023-04-04T09:54:46.000Z2023-04-04T09:54:46.000ZJosé Balidohttps://tripatini.com/members/JoseBalido<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11020143490?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Still the doyen of ground-based space tourism and located on Merritt Island, about an hour's drive east of Orlando, the main place from which the U.S. has conducted its more than 60-year-old space program has an elaborate visitor complex with exhibits like this, other artifacts, moon rocks, and a slew of cool multimedia stuff. The price tag is a bit steep - starting at $80 - but undeoubtedly worth it for true astrophiles and space-travel enthusiasts. <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:6pt;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atlantis_Kennedy_Space_Center_Visitor_Complex_4.jpg" target="_blank">Gzzz</a><br /> <br /> </span></p>
<p> </p></div>The wonderful Tiffany collection at the Morse Museum in Winter Park, Greater Orlandohttps://tripatini.com/photo/tiiffany-morse-museum-winter-park-florida-museums-cultural-travel2023-03-07T12:10:38.000Z2023-03-07T12:10:38.000ZBarbara Neckerhttps://tripatini.com/members/BarbaraNecker371<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10993781657?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Last time I was in Orlando I visited charming Winter Park, which is home to the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. All wonderful stuff, but its central attraction is the world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, including jewelry, paintings, pottery, lamps, and glass such as windows like this).</p><p> </p></div>Halloween at Orlando's Walt Disney Worldhttps://tripatini.com/photo/walt-disney-world-orlando-florida-halloween2023-03-07T11:01:03.000Z2023-03-07T11:01:03.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10993756094?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>The <strong><a href="http://wdwnews.com/releases/2011/09/12/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-returns-sept-13-with-23-nights-of-halloween-fun-in-magic-kingdom/" target="_blank">Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World</a></strong> and has a family-friendly after-hours event called "<strong>Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party</strong>." These parties feature trick-or-treating, a special Halloween fireworks display, and witches who are, as advertised, not too scary. It runs from early September through November 1.</p>
<p>Read more in Tripatini member <span style="font-family:verdana, geneva;"><span style="font-family:Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tripatini.com/profile/JudyAntell" target="_blank">Judy Antell</a></span></span>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/world-s-best-theme-park-halloween-parties-1?edited=1" target="_blank">The World's Best Theme-Park Halloween Parties</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2022/04/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-returns-to-walt-disney-world-resort-this-fall/" target="_blank">DisneyParks.com</a></em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Hydroponic farming at Walt Disney Worldhttps://tripatini.com/photo/walt-disney-world-orlando-florida-hydroponic-farming2023-02-17T08:52:22.000Z2023-02-17T08:52:22.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10968671687?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Another side of The Mouse: The <a href="https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Walt Disney Company</strong></a>’s commitment to environmental stewardship goes back to its founding almost a century ago. Current activities range from the mundane, like eliminating single-use plastic and using non-potable water, when possible, to running excursion trains and river boats on fuel made from recycled cooking oil, and installing a solar facility intended to power two theme parks in <strong>Orlando</strong>. Also, people interested in hydroponic farming come there to study Disney's operation (pictured here). <br /><br />Read more in Tripatini member</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/members/VictorBlock"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Victor Block</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">'s post</span><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/responsible-travel-companies-environmental-protection-ecotourism"> <span style="font-weight:400;">Travel/Hospitality Companies Which Are Taking a Lead in Environmental Protection</span></a><span style="font-weight:400;">.</span></p>
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<p> </p></div>Miami/Miami Beach as a great couples' destinationhttps://tripatini.com/photo/romantic-couples-destinations-miami-south-beach-florida2023-02-15T18:22:38.000Z2023-02-15T18:22:38.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10967914069?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;"><strong>Miami Beach</strong> - and <strong>South Beach</strong> in particular - are famed worldwide for extensive strands; wonderful dining; exciting nightlife; and great shopping. But across the causeways, mainland Miami is packed with much the same (well, not beaches), along with a nice dollop of culture (especially museums and performing arts), history, and ecotourism in areas including downtown, <strong>Coral Gables</strong>, <strong>Little Havana</strong>, the <strong><a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/miami-florida-everglades-airboat-ride" target="_blank">Everglades</a></strong>, and <strong>Coconut Grove</strong> (and here don't don't miss the fabulous seafood at the <strong><a href="https://bayshoreclubmiami.com/" target="_blank">Bayshore Club</a></strong>). A truly superb combination of the romantic and the exciting!<br /> </span><span style="font-weight:400;"><br /> Read about three other similarly romance-packed standouts in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/SadieBrooks">Sadie Brook</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/romantic-travel-destinations-maldives-miami-paris-bali" target="_blank">4 Ravishing Romantic Destinations for Couples in 2023</a>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/wyntuition/2819847969" target="_blank">Wyn Van Devanter</a></em></span></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Family-friendly nudist resort Cypress Cove in Kissimmee, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/cypress-cove-nude-resort-kissimmee-florida2023-01-31T18:43:59.000Z2023-01-31T18:43:59.000ZJordan Simonhttps://tripatini.com/members/JordanSimon<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10952189053?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>With a variety of room types (including pet-friendly!) as well as a campground/RV area, <a href="https://www.cypresscoveresort.com/about/" target="_blank">this resort</a>'s amenities including a bar, a restaurant, two heated pools (one with a pool bar), two jacuzzis, a private lake, a game room, playground, massage service, gym, and more. Non-member room rates start at $217 per night, $74 for camping. They stress, though, it's not for swingers!<br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><a href="https://www.cypresscoveresort.com/about/" target="_blank">Cypress Cove Resort</a></span></p><p> </p><p> </p></div>The colorful, cultural district of Ybor City in Tampa, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/ybor-city-tampa-florida-usa-united-states-travel-tourism2023-01-10T11:10:33.000Z2023-01-10T11:10:33.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10928450074?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-weight:400;">Named after <strong>Vicente Martínez-Ybor</strong>, one of several Cuban cigar manufacturers who founded and developed this town, now a Tampa neighborhood just northeast of downtown, in the 1880s this was a thriving Latino immigrant community until the Great Depression when it declined almost to the point, in the 1970s, of abandonment. Since the 1980s, though, Ybor City has been designated a National Historic Landmark District and has rebounded and gentrified, with </span><span style="font-weight:400;">many shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and other nightspots opening. These days, in fact, Ybor is considered one of Tampa's prime entertainment magnets. <br /><br />Read more about Tampa in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/JuliaHomes">Julia Homes</a>' post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/tampa-florida-attractions-travel-guide" target="_blank">5 Highlights in and around Tampa, Florida</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em><a href="https://www.visittampabay.com/districts/ybor-city/" target="_blank">Visit Tampa Bay</a></em></span></span></p>
<p> </p></div>Blue Heaven, the most iconic restaurant in Key West, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/florida-keys-key-west-blue-heaven-restaurant-usa-united-states2022-11-14T08:55:41.000Z2022-11-14T08:55:41.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10881700480?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Centered around a rustic yard where in the 1930’s amateur boxing aficionado Ernest Hemingway refereed matches (and back in the day also housed a dance hall and bordello). Today there's no eatery more emblematic of Key West, and diners enjoy tasty fare inside or more typically out in the yard, shared with plenty of roosters. There's also regularly live music.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Blue Heaven</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>The Shipwreck Museum of Key West, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/tripatini-group-florida-pic-key-west-shipwreck-museum2022-11-14T08:47:10.000Z2022-11-14T08:47:10.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10881696659?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>An entertaining (even slightly Disneyesque) presentation of the lives wreckers – who were either brave souls who saved people and ships foudering on the dangerous reefs surrounding the island or greedy pirates who pillaged the lost treasures, depending upon your perspective. In any case, they played an important part in local vibrant history, as the resulting salvage industry is what Key West is built on, making it for a time in the 19th century the richest city per capita in the United States.<br /><br />Read more about the "Conch Republic" in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/FyllisHockman">Fyllis Hockman</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/key-west-florida" target="_blank">Key West - Florida History Wrapped up in Fanciful Funk & Frivolity</a>.</p>
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<p> </p></div>The Hemingway House in Key West, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/florida-keys-key-west-hemingway-house-museum2022-11-14T08:33:34.000Z2022-11-14T08:33:34.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10881681885?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Built in French colonial style in 1851, this was the famed author's residence in the 1930s and where he wrote works including <em>To Have and Have Not</em>, <em>Islands in the Stream</em>, and "The Snows of Kilimanjaro." It's now Key West's most popular tourist attraction. And that cat? It's also famous for its dozens of felines, most notably the polydactyl ones (with six toes on each paw).<br /> <br /> Read more about the "Conch Republic" in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/FyllisHockman">Fyllis Hockman</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/key-west-florida" target="_blank">Key West - Florida History Wrapped up in Fanciful Funk & Frivolity</a>.</p>
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<p><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Key West Visitors Bureau</em></span></p>
<p> </p></div>The 'Oldest House' of Key West, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/florida-key-west-oldest-house-history-travel-tourism-museums2022-11-14T08:15:00.000Z2022-11-14T08:15:00.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10881669653?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>On Duval Street and built in 1829 by one of the many ship captains who shaped life in Key West in the 19th century, this charming clapboard affair is now a museum open to the public - at no charge - and offers an interesting window back into a time when this city was turning itself into Florida's most dynamic and eventually USA's richest of the century.<br /> <br /> Read more about the "Conch Republic" in Tripatini member <a href="https://tripatini.com/members/FyllisHockman">Fyllis Hockman</a>'s post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/key-west-florida" target="_blank">Key West - Florida History Wrapped up in Fanciful Funk & Frivolity</a>.</p>
<p> </p></div>Roosters, roosters everywhere in Key West, Floridahttps://tripatini.com/photo/key-west-florida-roosters-travel-tourism-attractions2022-11-13T15:37:18.000Z2022-11-13T15:37:18.000ZTripatinihttps://tripatini.com/members/Tripatini<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10881250498?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p>Especially on the back streets, you'll be constantly coming across these cocky critters - and if you're in a guesthouse back there, be prepared to hear them at the crack of dawn!<br /><br />Read more about the "Conch Republic" in Tripatini member Fyllis Hockman's post <a href="https://tripatini.com/profiles/blogs/key-west-florida" target="_blank">Key West - Florida History Wrapped up in Fanciful Funk & Frivolity</a>.</p>
<p><br /><span style="font-size:8pt;"><em>Dreamstime/Scythe23</em></span></p>
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