Covering All Things Florida
With everything going on in the world, no doubt 2024 will be a bizarre year. 2025 may start out even stranger. While stories like this are normally just a wee bit out of FMN’s wheelhouse, we found this one curious enough to take a look at. It’s not exactly “The Love Boat”, but…..
This past weekend, the 15th Annual Thunder on Cocoa Beach powerboat racing event roared into action from May 17-19, drawing in massive crowds and delivering high-octane thrills. Known for its intense racing and scenic Atlantic backdrop, this year’s event did not disappoint.
When you think of a big ship, the first thing that comes to mind for many people is one of the US Navy’s massive aircraft carriers. Truly a floating air base with a full-length flight deck for aircraft to take off and land, aircraft carriers are indeed huge. Typically 1,092 feet (332.85 meters) long and with a beam of 134 feet (40.84 meters) , they are formidable symbols of naval power worldwide. At the same time, they’re not the only huge ships on the ocean, and in a few weeks, one of the largest afloat will call Port Canaveral home.
Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, is roughly the same size, and even a bit longer from bow to stern than an aircraft carrier: at 1,188 feet (362 meters) long, 211 feet (64 meters), it is also a huge ship, one devoted to giving its passengers the ultimate vacation experience. While the Utopia is huge, she is edged out slightly by RC’s Icon of the Seas, it is only only 8 feet longer and therefore carries the title of “World’s largest.”
Nestled just east of Ocala, this park is a hidden gem filled with natural beauty and myriad activities that make it a perfect getaway from the usual tourist spots. Many list Silver Springs among the most beautiful springs in the entire State of Florida. If you like places “off the beaten path”, you’ll absolutely love it, so let’s dive into all the details.
Florida boasts numerous serene and secluded beaches away from the typical tourist spots. If you want a memorable getaway, consider these five uncrowded beaches in Florida that offer tranquility and beautiful surroundings:
From Tampa to the Space Coast, Central Florida offers an incredible array of attractions. There is something for everyone, ranging from theme parks to serene natural areas and educational museums. Here’s a detailed look at 20 attractions that make Central Florida a must-visit destination for all types of travelers.
TAMPA, Fla. – An unexpected visitor found his way onto the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base yesterday, prompting a swift response from Florida Fish and Wildlife authorities. After crawling out of a nearby marsh, the nearly 10-foot alligator promptly did what gators do…. found a nice cool spot to get out of the hot Florida sun. Unfortunately for the busy airmen at the base, the gator apparently claimed “squatter’s rights” in front of the landing gear of a huge KC-135 tanker aircraft.
In what has become a rite of summer, it’s nearly Sargussum season on Florida beaches. In many recent years, thick brown mats of a macroalgae named Sargussum start washing up on the shorelines, sometimes reaching several inches in depth in early summer, and those mats linger until well into the season.
Sargassum often comes with a pungent stench attached to it — something between sewage and rotten eggs — due to the mats off-gassing Hydrogen Sulfide and Ammonia, among others. Hydrogen Sulfide smells like rotten eggs, and ammonia is most commonly linked to a stale urine smell. This makes a sargassum-covered beach a wholly unpleasant experience, and that’s before the brown water is created in the surf by Sargassum decaying in the water.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has seized one of the state’s heaviest Burmese pythons ever documented.
Merritt Island, FL.– American Legion Post 344 in Merritt Island, Florida, will host an event aimed at reducing the rate of veteran & first responder suicide.
This morning Cocoa Beach was transformed into a festive paradise for the annual Surfing Santa event, and it was nothing short of magical!
As a professional photographer who also photographs wildlife, one of the most asked questions I get is, “Are there still wild flamingos in Florida?”. My usual answer is, “Yes, but not for a while.” Now – at least for a little while – I can answer with a solid, “Yes! At the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge!”
