About

Sunlight 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.