The Florida Residents Travel Guide (New addition for 2025)
I began assembling this work in 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown when many activities were on hold. With more time at home, my wife and I decided to explore and appreciate our home state of Florida. I focused on discovering places in Florida that piqued my interest, deliberately leaving out the major theme parks. These attractions are well-documented elsewhere and, more importantly, hold little personal appeal for me.
My aim was to delve into Florida's history, its diverse museums, art galleries, and the state's natural beauty. As such, I have included a wide range of locations, from national and state parks, museums both large and small, and scenic byways. I also highlighted a selection of charming small towns that deserve more than a fleeting visit.
The result is this comprehensive guide of 880+ of Florida’s hidden gems. The descriptions of each location are drawn from various public sources available online, as well as my personal insights from places I’ve visited. This book is divided into five volumes based on Florida’s regions: Panhandle, North, Central North, Central South, and South, with county boundaries clearly marked on the map.
.Most locations have an address, opening times, and admission fees if available. Additionally I have provided a direct link to the locations website so that visiting information may be easily verified.
I began assembling this work in 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown when many activities were on hold. With more time at home, my wife and I decided to explore and appreciate our home state of Florida. I focused on discovering places in Florida that piqued my interest, deliberately leaving out the major theme parks. These attractions are well-documented elsewhere and, more importantly, hold little personal appeal for me.
My aim was to delve into Florida's history, its diverse museums, art galleries, and the state's natural beauty. As such, I have included a wide range of locations, from national and state parks, museums both large and small, and scenic byways. I also highlighted a selection of charming small towns that deserve more than a fleeting visit.
The result is this comprehensive guide of 880+ of Florida’s hidden gems. The descriptions of each location are drawn from various public sources available online, as well as my personal insights from places I’ve visited. This book is divided into five volumes based on Florida’s regions: Panhandle, North, Central North, Central South, and South, with county boundaries clearly marked on the map.
.Most locations have an address, opening times, and admission fees if available. Additionally I have provided a direct link to the locations website so that visiting information may be easily verified.
I've got you covered! The problem I found, when planning a day trip or weekend getaway, was seeing all the information in one place. We like to change it up, see museums, parks, historical sites, gardens, etc. but locating a guide book that combines all these type of locations was not to be found in the detail I required. So I created The Florida Residents Travel Guide. As you can see from the graphic opposite, my 880+ locations really do have you covered.
The guide is published, and sold, in five distinct volumes, Panhandle, North, Central-North, Central-South, and South. Each volume is $4.95 or $20 if you purchase all five. There is an index for each area that contains a smart link to the specific page in the book. This saves you from scrolling through many pages to find a specific location, especially helpful when you are on the road. I supply these books as PDF files. You may read on your smart phone, tablet, and/or computer. You may also print the entire work, or just a selection of pages. Save and buy all five volumes at one time.
The guide is published, and sold, in five distinct volumes, Panhandle, North, Central-North, Central-South, and South. Each volume is $4.95 or $20 if you purchase all five. There is an index for each area that contains a smart link to the specific page in the book. This saves you from scrolling through many pages to find a specific location, especially helpful when you are on the road. I supply these books as PDF files. You may read on your smart phone, tablet, and/or computer. You may also print the entire work, or just a selection of pages. Save and buy all five volumes at one time.
Volume 1 The Panhandle contains 120 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
Volume 2 North contains 166 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.
Volume 3 Central-North contains 233 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.
Volume 4 Central-South contains 216 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, and St. Lucie.
Volume 5 South contains 149 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe.
Volume 2 North contains 166 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.
Volume 3 Central-North contains 233 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Brevard, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia.
Volume 4 Central-South contains 216 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Sarasota, and St. Lucie.
Volume 5 South contains 149 places of interest to visit in the following counties: Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, and Monroe.
The following are some examples pages:
All text and photographs (c) 2022-4 Christopher Aves - All rights reserved