WWII Comes To Central Florida

WWII Comes To Central Florida

A company of German Infantry attempts to slow an Allied artillery advance at the Zephyrhills Military History Museum’s “Battle For Veterans”. Photo: Mark Stone

On Sunday, November 10, 2024, the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History concluded its annual “Battle for Veterans” WWII reenactment event, offering attendees an immersive experience into World War II history. The three-day event, running from November 8 to 10, featured authentic battle reenactments, living history displays, and a showcase of military vehicles, drawing history enthusiasts and families alike.

Flugtag!

Flugtag!

A fFugtag contestant falls 25 feet to the river below.
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

TAMPA, FL (Nov. 9, 2024) – Anyone who has ever flown into Tampa or visited there knows that the airspace there can be a pretty busy place. On Saturday, the “airspace” was even busier than usual at just 25 feet over Tampa’s Hillsborough River. The air was filled with creativity and daring as the Red Bull Flugtag event returned to the city for the first time since 2011.

Florida Surfer Suffers Second Shark Bite in Same Location after 11 Years

Florida Surfer Suffers Second Shark Bite in Same Location after 11 Years

Cole Taschman recovers in a Martin County hospital after undergoing two surgeries and receiving 93 stitches for his injuries. Photo: Cole Taschman
Cole Taschman recovers in a Martin County hospital after undergoing two surgeries and receiving 93 stitches for his injuries. Photo: Cole Taschman

Stuart, FL — Local surfer and fishing charter operator Cole Taschman, 28, is recovering at home after a frightening encounter with a shark while surfing at Martin County’s Bathtub Beach in Stuart. This is the second time Taschman has survived a shark bite at the same beach, his first occurring over a decade ago in 2013.

Red Bull Flugtag Soars into Tampa Bay: A Sky-High Adventure of Wild Designs and Wacky Wings!

Red Bull Flugtag Soars into Tampa Bay: A Sky-High Adventure of Wild Designs and Wacky Wings!

A stork soars from the runway in a recent Flugtag event. Credit: Redbull Flugtag Media Pool
A stork soars from the runway in a recent Flugtag event. Credit: Redbull Flugtag Media Pool

Get ready, Tampa Bay, because on November 9, the Red Bull Flugtag is taking off at the Tampa Convention Center, bringing with it a spectacle of wild, human-powered flying contraptions and a whole lot of creativity. If you’ve ever wanted to see someone’s dream of flight take off—albeit briefly—then make sure to head down to the water’s edge for a day of outrageous fun, bold leaps, and some unforgettable plunges.

Planning Your Florida Vacation: Where to Stay and How to Save

Planning Your Florida Vacation: Where to Stay and How to Save

Courtesy of Steve Beaudet/Panama City Beach
Courtesy of Steve Beaudet/Panama City Beach

If you’re planning a trip to Florida, understanding the cost of accommodations can help shape your travel plans. If you’d say the most expensive Florida hotel prices would be in the traditional hotspots like Miami Beach, you’d be wrong. You can often find three to four star hotels there for a modest $114 – $175 per night. So where ARE the most and least expensive accommodations in Florida?

SS United States Bound for Florida: It’s a “Done Deal”

SS United States Bound for Florida: It’s a “Done Deal”

Workers prepare the iconic SS United States for its final journey from Pennsylvania to Florida. Photo: SSUSC
Workers prepare the iconic SS United States for its final journey from Pennsylvania to Florida. Photo: SSUSC

Iconic Ocean Liner to Become World’s Largest Artificial Reef

In September, FMN reported on an ambitious plan to bring the SS United States to Florida as an artificial reef. At the time, the move seemed almost a certainty, and after one final legal challenge, it has become a reality. The SS United States, a symbol of maritime innovation and American excellence since its 1951 launch, is set to begin its final journey—not across the Atlantic, but toward an extraordinary new life beneath the waves. In a quiet ceremony on October 12, 2024, the SS United States Conservancy transferred ownership of the ship to Okaloosa County, Florida, marking the end of a long and contentious legal battle over the vessel’s future.

Photographing Butterflies: Don’t Let the Butterfly Flutter By!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 1000, 460mm | Photo: TJ Waller

A captivating sight for children and adults alike, I’ve never seen anyone who didn’t stop to watch a beautiful butterfly as it fluttered on by. So, in this short article I’ll share a few tips on photographing butterflies and how to capture truly awesome, wall-hanging shots of these gorgeous insects.

The Need for Speed: Photographing Air Shows

Air Show
1/2500, f/4.8, ISO 100 | Photo: TJ Waller

The NAS JAX Air Show (Naval Air Station Jacksonville) featuring the Blue Angels is on the horizon! Air shows are always exciting and fast-paced; blink and you’re guaranteed to miss something. The NAS JAX Air Show is no exception and will take place October 19 & 20, 2024.

Key West Honors Local Legend: Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway Signs Unveiled

Key West Honors Local Legend: Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway Signs Unveiled

Lucy Buffett (center), Mac McAnally (right) , and others give the "Fins Up!" sign made popular among Parrottheads by Buffett's hit song "Fins". Photo: Yahoo News
Lucy Buffett (center), former bandmate Mac McAnally (right) and others give the “Fins Up!” sign made popular among Parrotheads by Buffett’s hit song “Fins”. Photo: Yahoo News

Key West, FL — In a tribute to one of its most beloved residents, Key West celebrated the official unveiling of the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway signs on August 30, 2024, aka “Jimmy Buffett Day. These signs, which will be placed along the scenic stretches of U.S. Route 1 and the iconic Florida State Road A1A, commemorate the life and legacy of the music icon whose laid-back anthems, including “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” captured the essence of the island lifestyle and left an indelible mark on American culture.

The SS United States Could Become Florida’s Newest Reef

The SS United States Could Become Florida’s Newest Reef

The SS United States is to be evicted from her Philadelphia dock of 28 years. She has until September 2024 to find a new home, and it may well be Florida. Credit: Wikicommons
The SS United States is to be evicted from her Philadelphia dock of 28 years. She has until September 2024 to find a new home, and it may well be Florida. Credit: Wikicommons

The SS United States, once the fastest and most luxurious ocean liner to ever sail the seas, now finds itself at the heart of a fierce battle between those who want to preserve its legacy and those who see it as a perfect candidate for a Florida artificial reef. As the clock ticks toward a September court-mandated deadline, the fate of this American maritime icon has never been more uncertain—or more passionately debated.