An Old Florida Magical Experience Without The Tourist Crowds

Philippe Park is tucked along the shores of Old Tampa Bay — far from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s a favorite among locals seeking respite, quiet contemplation, and a peaceful place to exercise. You won’t often find it featured in Florida tour books or glossy travel guides. Best of all, admission is free — unlike…

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Wandering With Amazing Butterflies In Key West

They flutter and fly, sometimes with reckless abandon. Who knows where they’ll land—on your head, your shoulder, even your beard? The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory is a joyful, immersive escape. I wandered through its indoor tropical oasis in the heart of Key West with a wide smile the entire time. Hundreds of butterflies drift freely…

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Good Morning, Key West!

October is the perfect month to head to the southern most point in the United States: Key West. The sweltering summer heat and humidity is gone. Nothing but warm and breezy days and cool nights. Autumn is here in the Florida Keys!

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Flesh‑Eating Bacteria On The Rise While Temperatures Soar: My Jersey Shore Memories Meet Current Heat Crisis

As a kid, I spent summers at the Jersey Shore playing on the beach and body surfing in the ocean. It was fun and healthy—except for the annual pain from sunburn. (Back then, skin cancer awareness wasn’t really a thing.) I believed the ocean had healing powers because that’s what my parents told me. Any…

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I Laughed When She Said “Plant It”—Then This Happened 🍍

A neighbor handed me the top of a store-bought pineapple she’d cut off while slicing the fruit. Instead of tossing it, she thought I might want to plant it—just to see what happens. I literally laughed out loud. “Plant it? Really?” I bellowed. Two years later, the joke’s on me. Despite my ignorance and complete…

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