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Tropical storms leave their marks on park
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Hurricane Sandy, which was later renamed Superstorm Sandy after its devastating effects on the northeast, left many people without power, running water or without a home. Fortunately, the harsh effects that were felt in the northeast did not affect Florida to that extent. But Biscayne National ParkRead More…
Sea turtles key part of Tortugas wildlife
DRY TORTUGAS, Fla. – It was 1513 when Ponce de Leon named the small collection of sand and coral islands today known as Dry Tortugas National Park, “Las Tortugas,” Spanish for “The Turtles.” This came about because of the frequent sightings of sea turtles around the islands. Sea turtles seasonRead More…
Tour highlights foods of Lower East Side
NEW YORK — The U.S is often referred to as the melting pot of the world, thanks to the large number of immigrants who came from many parts of Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world between the mid 19th Century and World War II that mixed into theRead More…
Stiltsville celebrates Biscayne lifestyle
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Stiltsville is a group of seven wood stilt houses located on Biscayne Bay, roughly one mile south of Cape Florida at the tip of Key Biscayne. Seemingly floating above the bay’s shallow seagrass beds, these houses stand on wood or reinforced concrete pilings, generally about 10Read More…
Memorial honors contribution of president
NEW YORK — Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb? From 1947 to 1961, American television star Groucho Marx asked people this question on the game show You Bet Your Life. This helped ensure that contestants who did not win anything would at least go home with a consolation prize. WhileRead More…
Stressed reefs in park suffer slow demise
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Imagine the coral reefs, an underwater city of rock-like structures. The staghorn coral sticks out in jagged shapes, with branches extending in every direction. A vast brain coral sits at the bottom, its surface covered by connecting twists and turns, while the coral fan looks like giantRead More…
Fort Jefferson has link to Lincoln death
DRY TORTUGAS, Fla. — Seventy miles west of Key West, in the middle of the pristine sapphire and emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, stands a landmark of American history of which many people are unaware. Fort Jefferson, located on one of the seven islands that make up theRead More…
Visitors learn Florida history at De Soto
BRADENTON, Fla. – Hundreds of men wearing armor and bearing swords and shields stepped onto the beach of what is now Bradenton, Fla., almost 500 years ago. On May 30, 1539, the conquistador Hernando De Soto arrived in La Florida, a land rumored to hold riches and treasure for theRead More…
Safari airboat ride reveals Glades’ beauty
After my first trip down Calle Ocho and 17 long miles of construction and traffic on a one-way road in the middle of nowhere, I finally arrived at Everglades Safari Park. I was very tempted to just pull over at the first giant sign I saw for “airboat rides” but,Read More…
Ceramic exhibit highlights Biscayne theme
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — As I was walking out of the art exhibit at Biscayne National Park, I heard a voice. “Isn’t that neat stuff?” Laurie Householder, a park volunteer sitting behind the information desk at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, said from across the room to me. She was stillRead More…
Looters damage wrecks on Biscayne floor
Editor’s note: Click here to read our writer’s blog post about her use of social media in the preparation of this story. HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Centuries ago, many Spanish ships passed through Florida’s harsh and shallow waters delivering gold, copper, silver and other cargo. But not all of them madeRead More…
Facebook aids reporting about looting
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — When I began thinking of ideas for my two final stories in Travel Writing, I must admit I had a little trouble. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about, what park I wanted to visit or what route I wanted to take. But, it allRead More…