Things to Do and See in Florida Archives

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

By FMN Staff September 8, 2024Florida Music, Florida News, Things to Do and See in Florida

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

By Mark Stone FMN September 2, 2024Florida News, Florida Wildlife, Things to Do and See in Florida

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.

When Your Plans To Visit The Space Coast To Watch a Launch Go Awry…..

By Chris Leymarie FMN August 29, 2024Things to Do and See in Florida

Every year, thousands of people descend on Florida’s Space Coast with a variety of plans. And you know what they say about the best laid plans…..

DeSantis Shelves Controversial State Park Development Plans Amid Backlash

By Mark Stone FMN August 28, 2024Florida News, Florida State Parks

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference on Wednesday. Photo: State of Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has put a hold on a proposal to introduce extensive developments, including golf courses, pickleball courts, and 350-room hotels, to state parks following widespread public and political opposition. The governor announced the decision at a press conference on Wednesday, marking his first public remarks since the proposals from his administration were leaked last week.

Florida State Park Public Meeting Plans Reshuffled After Scathing Public Outcry

By Charles Boyer FMN August 25, 2024Florida News, Florida State Parks, Politics

Girl on bicycle at Florida State Parks — Jonathon Dickinson State Park
Photo: Florida DEP

The plan to develop some of Florida’s state parks with new amenities such as golf courses and pickleball courts has not yet been cancelled, but after overwhelmingly negative feedback from the public and pushback from Florida’s two US Senators, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has rescheduled public meetings and created a web page for the public to offer their feedback.

DeSantis Administration Plans To Add Golf Courses and Other Amenities To Some Florida State Parks Facing Heavy Opposition

By Charles Boyer FMN August 23, 2024Florida News, Florida State Parks

Jonathon Dickinson State Park
Photo: Florida DEP

On Monday, the DeSantis administration announced the “Great Outdoors Initiative,” which includes plans to add golf courses and other resort-type amenities to some Florida state parks. That plan was immediately met with opposition from the general public and from environmentalists alike.

Florida Roadside Attractions: The Space Shuttle External Tank

By Charles Boyer FMN August 17, 2024Another Roadside Attraction, Things to Do and See in Florida, Travel

The Space Shuttle Test Article, parked near a dock in Green Cove Springs, Florida
Photo: Charles Boyer / FMN

Roughly thirty minutes west of Saint Augustine and I-95 in Florida, a Space Shuttle relic sits abandoned in Green Cove Springs near a dock on the Saint Johns River. While not technically a “Florida roadside attraction”, many view it as a pretty neat thing to see…after all, it is NASA history.

Disney Argues Disney+ Subscription Means “No Lawsuits, Just Magic!” in Lawsuit Over Allergy Tragedy

By Mark Stone FMN August 16, 2024Florida News, Theme Parks, Things to Do and See in Florida, Travel

Photo of Disney Springs Shopping area — Photo: Disney Parks

ORLANDO, FL — Imagine subscribing to Disney+ to catch up on The Mandalorian, and suddenly finding out that you’re also signing away your right to sue Disney—even if something terrible happens at one of their parks. That’s exactly what Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is arguing in response to a lawsuit that claims their negligence led to a tragic death at Disney Springs.

Florida Roadside Attractions: World War II Watch Tower In Ormond-By-The-Sea

By Charles Boyer FMN August 14, 2024Another Roadside Attraction, Things to Do and See in Florida, Travel

Roadside Attractions: A summer thunderstorm approaches the beach and the WWII Watch Tower on August 13. 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now — A summer thunderstorm approaches the beach and the WWII Watch Tower on August 13. 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Florida Media Now

For the adventurer, Florida is full of lesser known beaches, parks, and roadside attractions. Only a few minutes off of I-95, a lonely tower sits on the beach in a residential part of Ormond-By-The-Sea as a lingering artifact of the Second World War. The Watch Tower, as it is called, is the last of its kind in Florida, and one of the few left from the over 15,200 similar structures on American coastlines.

Fire In The Sky! How to Watch Spectacular Meteor Showers In Central Florida

By Mark Stone FMN August 13, 2024Florida News, Things to Do and See in Florida

The Perseids Meteor Shower.
NASA/Preston Dyches

One of the most vivid meteor showers of the year is just peaking, and there’s plenty of time left to see it. The Perseids are one of the most popular meteor showers, known for their bright meteors and high visibility. They peak annually around mid-August and are a favorite for stargazers, especially in regions with clear skies and minimal light pollution. So what is the best place to see them?

The 2024 Florida Python Challenge Has Begun!

By Mark Stone FMN August 12, 2024Florida News, Florida Wildlife, Things to Do and See in Florida

Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay participated in the 2017 Challenge for his cooking series, "The F Word", capturing three pythons. Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission — Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay participated in the 2017 Challenge for his cooking series, “The F Word”, capturing three pythons. Photo: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The Florida Python Challenge is an annual event aimed at removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades ecosystem. The event, sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, began in 2013, making it an ongoing effort for over 11 years.

Take A Walk On The Wild Side!

By Jim Siegel FMN August 2, 2024Florida Wildlife, Things to Do and See in Florida

Drive through Safari Photo: Wild Florida

We at FMN are always looking for something unique and fun to do, and this place fits the bill. Do you want to experience the excitement of a safari but don’t want to travel to Africa? Wild Florida may be the answer you’ve been looking for. Located in east central Florida’s Osceola County near Orlando, the Wild Florida park offers Drive Thru Safaris, Airboat Adventures, walking tours, a gator park, and much more.