things to do in Florida

At the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Punta Gorda, Fla., July 30, 2024.

I’m in My Pretirement Era. I’ve Traveled Solo for About 30 Years. Here are Some of My Budget Travel Tips

I’m in my 50s and retirement is at least a decade down the road. This lands me in my pretirement era, the period of life between career and retirement. I love my career but know it’s important to prepare for retirement by saving and planning. I’ve traveled solo for about 30 years and here are some budget travel tips I’ve picked up along the way.

Some people choose to run with the bulls. I chose to swim with the bull sharks! Florida Shark Diving, April 1, 2023.

Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel

My First Time Swimming with the Bulls. A Jawesome Time with Florida Shark Diving in Jupiter

Some people choose to run with the bulls. I chose to swim with the bull sharks! My experience with Florida Shark Diving out of Jupiter, Fla., was JAWESOME! I needed a little adrenaline rush in my life and this trip on April 1, 2023, yes, April Fool’s Day, was perfect.

One of the resident wolves at Shy Wolf Sanctuary in Naples, Fla., April 24, 2022.

Featured Florida Fun

Florida Travel: Meditate with Wolves at Shy Wolf Sanctuary in Naples

Wolves and Florida seem like an unlikely pair but in Naples, there’s a special sanctuary for wolves and wolfdogs. In addition to touring the facility and learning more about the residents, meditation sessions are sometimes available at Shy Wolf Sanctuary.

One of the pieces in the Superheroes on Parade Public Art Display at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, Fla. This one pays homage to Star Trek's Dr. Spok.

Featured Florida Fun

Things to do in Palmetto: See Where Four-Legged Heroes Train at Southeastern Guide Dogs

Four-legged heroes train at Southeastern Guide Dogs near Bradenton in Palmetto, Fla. You can take a look at how they go from cuddly puppies to disciplined dogs by visiting the Beyond the Dark experience.

Statue of Jose Marti in Ybor City, Tampa, Fla.

Featured Florida Fun

Here’s How to Legally Step Foot on Cuban Soil Without Leaving Florida

There’s a small plot of land in Tampa’s Ybor City neighborhood owned by the Cuban government. Yes, seriously. I mean, it’s Florida so anything’s really possible.

Jorge Barreda Supervises Me as I Rinse Off Lou, the Matriarch African Elephant at Myakka Elephant Ranch in East Manatee County, Fla.

Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel

Spa Day at Myakka Elephant Ranch in Florida

A spa day is the perfect way to celebrate a birthday and I arranged an indulgent encounter for a friend at one of the most unique spots in Florida, Myakka Elephant Ranch.

Volusia Top Gun in Daytona Beach, Fla., a Gun Shop, Firing Range, and Restaurant.

Featured Florida Fun

Things to do in Daytona Beach: Take Aim at Volusia Top Gun

Conferences, getaways, and vacations are about trying something new and pushing boundaries. I did just that when I took aim at Volusia Top Gun in Daytona Beach. It’s a gun shop, indoor gun range, and restaurant.

Honey Bees at Healthier to Go in Southwest Ranches, Fla., May 1, 2019

About Me Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel Solo Travel

How I Got Buzzed (by Bees) on My Birthday

Here is a tale of getting a buzz, by bees, on my birthday with an #Airbnb Experience. It was exhilarating yet a little scary, being surrounded by honeybees in Southwest Ranches near Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel

Florida Travel: Exotic Wildlife Refuge in Arcadia

How does Florida continue to surprise me? Earlier this spring I visited an exotic wildlife refuge in Arcadia, complete with lions, tigers, a bear, and more.

Featured Florida Fun Nature Travel

5 Awesome Airboat Tours for Your Florida Vacation

Racing through marshy and grassy areas in an airboat and spotting alligators seems to top the list of things to do for tourists during a Florida vacation. Heck, even after living in the Sunshine State for more than two decades, I still enjoy the thrill of zipping and spinning over marshy areas at speeds up to 45 mph and admiring flora and fauna.