Genuine Florida

Here is the cover from the visitors guide from 30 years ago. Below is a page from inside the publication.

After Rob and I visited Rainbow Springs on Valentine’s Day, it got me thinking about how our family used to always stop there when we did our Florida road trips in the 1960s and 1970s. These are scenes (and some ephemera) from the park during its modern heyday as a tourist attraction. My mother, Linda Friend, took the photos. See if you can spot a very young and proper version of me in a couple of them. For even more memories, open up this link in a separate tab and listen to one of the boat captains, Skipper Lockett, give his rundown of the fishes and the springs in this recording from the Florida State Archives.

Somewhere along the Caloosahatchee River. The postcard is postmarked 1913.

Here Swampy takes a hike at the Ross Prairie Trailhead in southwestern Marion County.

Here is the prairie itself.

Swampy finds some deer moss.

Part of the 3 and a half mile hike requires crossing busy State Road 200…twice.

There are some wonderous spots of ancient oaks.

In Central and North Florida, at least. A whirlwind through Orlando this past weekend to take some updated photos led to a moment’s pause at this cathedral of cypress in Winter Park: Kraft Azalea Gardens.