Sandra FriendSunlight dappled on a saw palmetto. The gentle hum of longleaf pines in the wind. The graceful arc of mangroves over a wilderness waterway. Florida is many things to many people.

To me, it’s a place of great natural diversity, with thousands of miles of beaches, millions of square miles of wild landscapes, and treasure troves of art, culture, and history that visitors often miss if they fly in and fly out to settle into a single destination for their vacation.

For more than a decade, I’ve been writing about the unique qualities of natural Florida, our backroads and rural communities, and our long and storied history. I’m Sandra Friend, and I welcome you to explore Genuine Florida through my books, apps, blogs, websites, and recommendations to travelers.

Florida State Parks app

Geo-location, thousands of images, and personal recommendations on all of our 160 Florida State Parks.Grab it for your iPhone now!

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Florida’s Best Beaches app

From lonely wild shores to hopping social scenes, Florida's Best Beaches will guide you to the best beaches to fit your mood.

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Florida’s Gardens app

Let your iPhone be your guide to Florida's botanical gardens, public gardens, and places of wild natural beauty during our peak blooming seasons.

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