American South Articles

Crystal River Manatee Tours – Kayak and Paddleboard

One of the most popular reasons to visit Florida in the winter is to enjoy some of that famous sunshine and warm weather. A great way to get outdoors and see one of Florida’s most famous residents, the manatee, is with a manatee kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour....

Shades of Green at Walt Disney World – First Timer’s Guide

Originally posted on November 28, 2020 and updated on January 6, 2022.Military service members and retirees will want to consider staying at Shades of Green during their next family vacation to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. For many families, a trip to the...

What To Do in Savannah, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia, is steeped in history and charm, and you will have no lack of things to do while spending a long weekend in this historic city. Savannah is one of Georgia’s oldest towns, dating back to 1733 when British settlers first arrived. Savannah became the...

Gasparilla Pirate Fest – A Visitor’s Guide

Tampa is steeped in pirate lore. Some of it is fact and much is the stuff of legend. It’s true that Florida was home to many pirates that continually menaced merchant vessels and sacked small villages in the Caribbean islands. One of the area’s most famous Buccaneers was José Gaspar, who terrorized the gulf coast around the turn of the 19th century and whose mythology lives on today in the form of pirate-themed sports teams, retail stores, and of course, the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates

Gasparilla Pirate Fest – A Visitor’s Guide

Tampa is steeped in pirate lore. Some of it is fact and much is the stuff of legend. It’s true that Florida was home to many pirates that continually menaced merchant vessels and sacked small villages in the Caribbean islands. One of the area’s most famous Buccaneers was José Gaspar, who terrorized the gulf coast around the turn of the 19th century and whose mythology lives on today in the form of pirate-themed sports teams, retail stores, and of course, the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Winter and Hope dolphins

Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Clearwater Marine Aquarium began as an idea in 1972 to establish a marine research facility in the Tampa Bay area. Several years later, in 1978, the city of Clearwater donated a decommissioned wastewater treatment plant to the newly established Clearwater Marine Science Center to make their idea a reality. The building had large water holding pools that were modified to house marine life and the facility opened its doors to the public in 1981 with a modest one room exhibit. The small facility continued to grow and as public involvement and visits increased, changed its name to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

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Waving Girl Statue

Savannah’s Waving Girl

Unlike the cruise ships further south, nobody stands at the edge of the port to wave farewell to the massive cargo vessels leaving the Port of Savannah. In this case, its a reversal of fortune where those on board listen to beach music coming from the shore and watch...

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