Jim Abbott – Page 7 –

Leisurely escape in Crystal River

May 12, 2019 at 4:14 a.m.

It's easy to remember that Peck's Old Port Cove, an utterly out-of-the-way, old-school fish house on the Gulf of Mexico, is exactly 9.3 miles west of U.S. Highway 19 in...

The wooden stairs at Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park offer a glimpse at a 120-foot sinkhole just north of Gainesville.

Cool escape to Devil’s Millhopper in Gainesville

May 12, 2019 at 4:13 a.m.

With Halloween around the corner, it's fitting that this week's destination has a bit of the devil in its history. Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park (floridastateparks.org/devilsmillhopper), just a few miles...

Solomon's Castle is a treasure-trove of funky art.

Quirky art rules Solomon’s Castle

May 12, 2019 at 4:12 a.m.

When Peggy Solomon introduces a museum tour of works by her artist husband, Howard Solomon, she praises him as the "da Vinci of debris, the Rembrandt of reclamation, the wizard...

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is one of the haunted destinations in Florida.

From Key West to Amelia Island, Florida has haunted destinations

May 12, 2019 at 4:12 a.m.

It's the season for ghost hunting and there are numerous destinations that offer potential encounters with departed souls. Put these haunted stops on your itinerary, if the spirit moves you....

Shrimp boats still populate the docks along Water Street in Apalachicola.

Find old Florida in Apalachicola

May 12, 2019 at 4:11 a.m.

As readers of this column know, food is a prime factor in setting the Postcards From Florida itinerary. In Apalachicola that connection is oysters, but the historic Gulf Coast destination...

The sun starts to rise over Daytona Beach on April 23, 2013.

In Volusia: A tale of two beaches

May 12, 2019 at 4:11 a.m.

There's plenty of competition when it comes to sand and surf in Florida, which might explain why Daytona Beach has been my fall-back option, despite the nickname "World's Most Famous...

The Castillo de San Marcos, in St. Augustine, was built to defend against invading pirates.

Be a pirate in Fernandina Beach

May 12, 2019 at 4:11 a.m.

Avast, mateys! In case you didn't realize it, International Talk Like a Pirate Day (talklikeapirate.com) is on deck for Thursday. There's not much time to refresh your knowledge of pirate...

Arnold Palmer memorabilia is part of the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine.

A fun round at Golf Hall of Fame

May 12, 2019 at 4:10 a.m.

I don't play golf anymore. I retired from the game in my high-school years, when I overshot a green on a par 3 course in South Florida and watched the...

The Mission Inn in Howey-in-the Hills: Prime road-trip fare

May 12, 2019 at 4:10 a.m.

Regular readers of this column know that dining is a prime motivation in plotting the road trips that inspire these Florida postcards. Whether it's crab-cake sandwiches at the Baltimore Orioles...

The Desert Inn Bar and Restaurant still exudes the earthy charm of its long history in Yeehaw Junction.

Yeehaw Junction’s Desert Inn still reflects its history

May 12, 2019 at 4:10 a.m.

What's in a name? Consider the origins of Yeehaw Junction, an unincorporated rural community in southern Osceola County that boasts one of Florida's iconic roadside attractions. Even for longtime Floridians,...

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