10 great places to discover the ‘hidden' Florida

[JNA]

Headline and Article from USA TODAY:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition...reat24.art.htm

In each place discussion there are several attractions in these "lesser known" communities/locations mentioned and why they are worth visiting.

The Panhandle - Your secret is out RJ
The Big Bend - Four northern counties - "distinguished by an absence of tourist features"
Gainesville and towns south - "a crescent of “exceptionally attractive” small towns"
Highway A1A through Nassau and Duval counties
Deland, Lake Helen, Cassadaga
Lakeland - "Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright shouldn't miss the campus of Florida Southern College, the architect's “largest single installation in the world."
Pinellas County
Stuart - "became “the avatar of ‘yesteryear' town planning and the ‘new urbanism.'"
The Redland
Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail

Florida Cyburbians is this a fair list ? or some of these over sold/hyped ?

[Zoning Goddess]

Headline and Article from USA TODAY:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition...reat24.art.htm

In each place discussion there are several attractions in these "lesser known" communities/locations mentioned and why they are worth visiting.

The Panhandle - Your secret is out RJ
The Big Bend - Four northern counties - "distinguished by an absence of tourist features"
Gainesville and towns south - "a crescent of “exceptionally attractive” small towns"
Highway A1A through Nassau and Duval counties
Deland, Lake Helen, Cassadaga
Lakeland - "Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright shouldn't miss the campus of Florida Southern College, the architect's “largest single installation in the world."
Pinellas County
Stuart - "became “the avatar of ‘yesteryear' town planning and the ‘new urbanism.'"
The Redland
Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail

Florida Cyburbians is this a fair list ? or some of these over sold/hyped ?

RJ says "we need to read the article FIRST".

Anyway, nope, can't agree. Lakeland is a s*it hole and, well, I don't like FLW architecture anyway. Cassadaga is an sc haunt, it's where you go to get your fortune told. Deland has a cute little downtown, but Winter Park and Mt Dora are better. Gainesville is OK but the rural area south of it it better (including Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings area in Cross Creek).

I am rather insular, don't travel a lot, but there are some other much cooler, more interesting places in my area, but why let them out into the open?

I'll let RJ deal with the panhandle listings.

[edit] Ok, I skimmed the article. I know the author. He is such a d*ck. He thinks very highly of himself. Ick.

[mawmaw5108]

RJ says "we need to read the article FIRST".

Anyway, nope, can't agree. Lakeland is a s*it hole and, well, I don't like FLW architecture anyway. Cassadaga is an sc haunt, it's where you go to get your fortune told. Deland has a cute little downtown, but Winter Park and Mt Dora are better. Gainesville is OK but the rural area south of it it better (including Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings area in Cross Creek).

I am rather insular, don't travel a lot, but there are some other much cooler, more interesting places in my area, but why let them out into the open?

I'll let RJ deal with the panhandle listings.

[edit] Ok, I skimmed the article. I know the author. He is such a d*ck. He thinks very highly of himself. Ick.

I haven't been to all of them, but.... I really don't care that much about this list.
I agree with you.

[hilldweller]

Stuart is a traditional town with some nice urban elements but i'm not sure it is the "avatar of yesteryear planning" or whatever this clown called it. Fort Pierce has a much better downtown IMO though it is more gritty and less touristy. And as far as NU wouldn't CityPlace, Abacoa, or Mizner be better candidates?

[BKM]

Pinellas County? Bleh. I know downtown Saint Pete has gotten better, but the rest of the county is uggggggggly sprawl. The barrier islands (Clearwater Beach) are awful. The coast is nice, but you can't totally ignore the built environment. Unless trip malls and concrete block is som ehow unique and worth discovering.

[Zoning Goddess]

Pinellas County? Bleh. I know downtown Saint Pete has gotten better, but the rest of the county is uggggggggly sprawl. The barrier islands (Clearwater Beach) are awful. The coast is nice, but you can't totally ignore the built environment. Unless trip malls and concrete block is som ehow unique and worth discovering.

I have to say Pinellas Co does have some plusses. The best urban trail in FL. And the barriers islands, while full of traffic in season, have some very cool little towns and beautiful beaches (unfortunately, some of them are private, so you have to park elsewhere and sneak over there...). Caladesi Island, for example, you have to go to via ferry or private boat. You won't find a better place in FL to find sand dollars (be good, throw them back!).