From Hemingway's Haunts to Mermaid Magic: Florida's Hidden Treasures
Jul 16, 2024
Zee Michaelson & Jay Lawrence
Ever wondered what hidden treasures await you in the Florida Keys? Join us on the Z Michelson Travel Podcast as we uncover the unique and enchanting spots from Key West to Key Largo. From majestic underwater adventures like diving and snorkeling to the serene experiences of kayaking and hiking, we've got it all. Hear our personal stories, such as visiting the legendary Ernest Hemingway's home and meeting the famous Hemingway cats. Plus, we’ll share insider tips on accommodation options—whether you're eyeing luxury resorts or cozy camping spots, planning ahead is key!
Central Florida offers so much more than just theme parks, and we’re here to guide you! Discover Gatorland’s iconic experiences and the captivating underwater mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee Springs. Want to know an interesting trivia fact about Alaska that ties into Florida? We’ve got that too! We'll also discuss the marathon drive from Orlando to Key West, offering a sense of Florida's vast and diverse landscape that’s sure to enrich your travel plans.
And the journey doesn’t stop there! We’ll whisk you away to the charming beach towns of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs, each with its unique attractions like sponge diving and rich Greek heritage. Learn why travel insurance is a must-have and get an insider’s look at the Kennedy Space Center, where history and future collide in thrilling educational exhibits and rocket launches. For more travel inspiration, head over to ZMichelsonTravel.com and keep those wanderlust flames burning bright!
Ever wondered what hidden treasures await you in the Florida Keys? Join us on the Z Michelson Travel Podcast as we uncover the unique and enchanting spots from Key West to Key Largo. From majestic underwater adventures like diving and snorkeling to the serene experiences of kayaking and hiking, we've got it all. Hear our personal stories, such as visiting the legendary Ernest Hemingway's home and meeting the famous Hemingway cats. Plus, we’ll share insider tips on accommodation options—whether you're eyeing luxury resorts or cozy camping spots, planning ahead is key!
Central Florida offers so much more than just theme parks, and we’re here to guide you! Discover Gatorland’s iconic experiences and the captivating underwater mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee Springs. Want to know an interesting trivia fact about Alaska that ties into Florida? We’ve got that too! We'll also discuss the marathon drive from Orlando to Key West, offering a sense of Florida's vast and diverse landscape that’s sure to enrich your travel plans.
And the journey doesn’t stop there! We’ll whisk you away to the charming beach towns of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Tarpon Springs, each with its unique attractions like sponge diving and rich Greek heritage. Learn why travel insurance is a must-have and get an insider’s look at the Kennedy Space Center, where history and future collide in thrilling educational exhibits and rocket launches. For more travel inspiration, head over to ZMichelsonTravel.com and keep those wanderlust flames burning bright!
Speaker 1:
Welcome to the Z Michelson Travel Podcast. This podcast is devoted to the travel industry. Z says let your imagination run wild and start dreaming about where you want to go. And dream big, reach for the stars, and if you only get to the moon, at least you enjoyed the trip. Your guide to travel is Z Michelson, a travel advisor, and sitting at the controls is Jay Lawrence, your concierge of podcast travel. Now here's Z.
Speaker 2:
That's me, that's me, I'm Z.
Speaker 3:
And Z. Do you have arrangements to go to the moon?
Speaker 2:
I haven't planned my flight yet. No.
Speaker 3:
I know with what's his name Musk and Boeing. They're making all these new rockets to go up there.
Speaker 2:
I know and we can see a lot of the launches of all these rockets that are going up, because we live in Florida.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, all we have to do is just step out the back door and look there goes a rocket, oh my goodness and we can see it.
Speaker 2:
We can actually see it. I know it's fun. Yeah, it is fun and my husband's really into it. He'll see it coming up on the news. It's like, oh my gosh, there's a launch. And he'll like run outside and it's like okay.
Speaker 3:
Yep, there it goes. Oh, look at that, and it's a red flare going up in the air.
Speaker 2:
Right, and you see it going all the way up.
Speaker 3:
Unless, of course, it's cloudy. Yeah, then you see nothing.
Speaker 2:
Well, yeah, right, but it's going. You know that's the Kennedy Space Center. And you know, jay, we're always talking about here, there and everywhere, but we never really talk about our own state.
Speaker 3:
Florida State of Florida.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so we are going to talk about Florida All right but not what everyone thinks. So no Disney today. No, disney All right, but you will see that our state is more than just theme parks.
Speaker 3:
Oh, fantastic. Hey, I want you to tell everyone that this is brought to you by.
Speaker 2:
Collage Travel Media Network.
Speaker 3:
The home of streaming radio stations, podcasting and travel.
Speaker 2:
Yes, we just love what we do and we keep going.
Speaker 3:
Yes.
Speaker 2:
We haven't gone to the moon yet.
Speaker 3:
Not to the moon, but we're going.
Speaker 2:
So you know, the first thing I'm going to start talking about today is at the very bottom of our state yeah, the Florida Keys. It takes forever to get there. Well, you know I haven't been there in like over 40 years, oh my goodness. Yeah, I know, but we were there more recently, but not that recently. You were there in the Keys.
Speaker 3:
No.
Speaker 2:
Yes, you were down there. Well, I want to say about eight years ago, that to me is recently 's more than 40. You know, it's a better, it's better number than 40 yes, okay you know, and the keys are these little islands connected by a road and you have at the very west end, key west yeah uh.
Speaker 2:
Coming east, you have big pine, and then you got the lower keys, then marathon, then Isla Morada and, of course, key Largo. Yeah, each one of these keys have their own special uniqueness, but when you think of Florida Keys, they have everything from diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing and even hiking. Yep, yep, yep, but we can't forget boating.
Speaker 3:
No no.
Speaker 2:
No, you got to remember. There's boats there and I think when you went down to the Keys you were on one of the cruise lines that stopped there.
Speaker 3:
No.
Speaker 2:
I drove, you drove down, I drove down. I thought you were on one of the cruise lines no, no, no, because I know the cruise lines will go to the Key.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah, I saw a cruise ship, but didn't, but you weren't on it. Rented a bicycle.
Speaker 2:
I saw the pictures of you on the bicycle. I think they're even on our website. Yes, yeah, I think they're on our website and I believe you even visited the home of Ernest Hemingway.
Speaker 3:
It was one of the reasons for going to the Key West.
Speaker 2:
Oh, you wanted to see his house. That was your main reason.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, that was amazing. It was a good thing to see.
Speaker 2:
You know I've heard about all of his books. You know I haven't read one. Oh, you know, I know the names. The Sun Also Rises. You know the Old Fishman in the Sea? I haven't. The Old man in the Sea. I haven't, I haven't read any of it. Okay, have you.
Speaker 3:
Yes, okay, yes, the. Sun.
Speaker 2:
Also.
Speaker 3:
Rises and the Old man, the Old man in the Sea. So those are the two that you read.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, yeah, so Ernest Hemingway was, you know, one heck of a writer, and he had a home in the Keys, key West. You can also get a great B&B down there.
Speaker 3:
Well, and also the bar that Hemingway used to hang out in went there.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, he did like his cocktails, oh yeah. You can get your cocktails right there, and actually, my daughter has what's known as a Hemingway cat.
Speaker 3:
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:
Which is a paradox. They my daughter, has what's known as a Hemingway cat. Oh yeah, which is a paradox.
Speaker 3:
They have more than their regular amount of claws.
Speaker 2:
They have extra toes.
Speaker 3:
And those cats are still there.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and my daughter has one of that type of cat. Wow, and yes, so they're all toes. But you know they have luxury resorts down there and B&Bs are down there, waterfront dining, of course, because there's water water everywhere. Uh, there are even places to go camping. But but keep in mind these places have to book quickly and early, right, so you do have to plan it out. Plan it out, yeah, so I, you know, I don't really camp, as you know I went down and uh without a reservation and got a hotel room.
Speaker 2:
Right. What time of year did you go down I?
Speaker 3:
can't remember. It must have been the summer Must have been the summer.
Speaker 2:
Right, a lot of people don't like to go to Florida in the height of hurricane season, but we live here so we're kind of used to it and of course, one of the most exciting things is it's the lowest southern point of the United States. You can get your picture taken, taken with that little buoy, and then if you strain your eyes, 90 miles across, you can see Cuba.
Speaker 2:
Right, Break out the binoculars. Yeah Well, speaking of Cuba and Florida, we're going to come back across the Keys and we're going to go. We're still in the South, but we're going to go to Miami.
Speaker 3:
You got to drive through Miami to get to the Keys basically.
Speaker 2:
So, like I said, I was starting from the southernmost tip and I'm moving back and US-1 ends in Key West.
Speaker 2:
Key West Either ends or beginnings, whichever one you want which way you're coming in or going out, but I had my picture taken there as well. Yes, and I believe it's that also on the website. Yeah, okay, so now let's go to Miami, all right, okay, everyone has heard of Miami. Miami is a city and, with it being a city, it's a cultural mecca. Oh much so. Yeah, it really is Miami there are. It's a cultural.
Speaker 3:
Mecca. Oh much, so yeah it really is.
Speaker 2:
Miami is not a city that should be taken in one day.
Speaker 3:
No, there's so much to see.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, it's too big and just so diverse. You have the city center, you have the beaches, you have the sports centers, you have the performing arts centers, you have amazing attractions for both young and old.
Speaker 3:
And now I won't lie to you, yeah.
Speaker 2:
If you're driving, it's going to be busy oh yeah. But there are other ways to get around the city, so use their public transportation, because they do have a lot of public transportation there and of course you can Uber, taxi and all of those other fun things.
Speaker 3:
And another thing is one of the busiest airports in the country.
Speaker 2:
Yep, it's one of the busiest.
Speaker 3:
Yes, and so I got a wife by going to Miami's airport.
Speaker 2:
You went down there and picked her up.
Speaker 3:
I went down and picked up my. Well, she wasn't my wife then, but she became my wife she became your wife. Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:
You know, and now when you're in Miami, the neighborhoods they have different neighborhoods and the neighborhoods are so diverse. So you know, if you're looking to stay in the United States but want lots and lots and lots and lots of things to do, think of Miami North, south, east and west Miami. Wow, yeah, I mean, a lot of people don't think of anything else but the lovely little theme parks we have. But we have all these great locations.
Speaker 3:
And when you get to Miami, well, you've got to go through. It's like one city after another after another. When you get that far, the neighborhoods.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, right, you got to go through the neighborhoods they have, you know, they have the Cuban quarter and they have that. You know all the different nationalities and that's the time to taste the food. Oh, yeah, yeah. So of course, food is very big on our list. Yeah, and yeah, miami is a place to go and see and have a great time. Yes, but now we're still heading north and I have said nothing about the Everglades.
Speaker 3:
You're not really far north when you're in the Everglades.
Speaker 2:
No, I just keep coming. You know, like I said, we're moving from the Keys to Miami.
Speaker 3:
We're kind of following the road. Well, the Everglades, you've got to go west out of Miami.
Speaker 2:
Actually you go north and then west. Well, yeah, yes, this can be a real fun thing to do an airboat ride through the Everglades. Yeah, it's definitely a get in touch with the wilderness. If you don't like wilderness, don't do the Everglades, right. Yeah, but make sure you use a reputable airboat company.
Speaker 3:
Now, have you ever used an airboat company?
Speaker 2:
I've been on several airboats. Have you yes?
Speaker 3:
How's your ears?
Speaker 2:
They give you little headsets to wear, oh good, but you know, it really gets you in touch with nature, because the Everglades has everything from gators to birds, if Snakes that have been invading our Everglades.
Speaker 3:
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, those big boas and pythons that are in there, because you know people had them as pets, which they should not have. Just let them go because of course it's like you know hometown for them. I can go boa hunting, yeah. So the Everglades, it's a definite wilderness and it's fun if you like that kind of stuff. Right Now I'm going to jump to Central Florida Is that where the theme parks are. Yes, we mainly have a supply of theme parks in Central Florida, but is there something else there?
Speaker 2:
But I'm not going to talk about those.
Speaker 3:
Yes.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I want to touch base on some of the lesser known parks.
Speaker 3:
That would be a good idea, yeah like Gatorland. Have you been to Gatorland? Have you been to Gatorland? Oh yes, I have. Yeah, it's really cool.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, of course it's about gators. You know, I'm not going to lie, it's about gators and it's one of the oldest theme parks in the area. Yep, it is, but they have so much more and it's a great learning experience about these little critters that we have floating around all over the state of Florida. Well, they're so cute when they're little, yeah, but then they get big and they get bigger teeth. But you also have a zip line there.
Speaker 3:
Oh cool, Going over the gators.
Speaker 2:
Yes, can you imagine zipping over the gator ponds? Yikes, yeah, I don't think I'd want to do that, but they do have interactive animal experiences.
Speaker 3:
That's good.
Speaker 2:
And that's the gators.
Speaker 3:
They do have animals and other things there.
Speaker 2:
So if you're thinking of going to someplace else in central florida, in the middle of central florida gatorland- gatorland yeah, I remember going there and and seeing all the gators I remember seeing the gators. I remember seeing some other animals yes um, they do have the animal experiences where they have an interactive, where you can actually hold a little gator. You know a smaller one and it's good, it's an educational thing for the kids. I remember a few years back, the original opening of the park. It had a gator mouth.
Speaker 3:
Oh yeah, Caught fire?
Speaker 2:
Oh no, yes, and it was completely destroyed, but they have since rebuilt it. Oh no, yes, and it was completely destroyed, but they have since rebuilt it.
Speaker 3:
Oh good, yeah, they have since rebuilt it. You can't miss that. Yeah, that was kind of a thing on its own.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so Gatorland. Now, if you love mermaids and I know a lot of little girls love mermaids Right, yes, weekiwatchee Springs.
Speaker 3:
Now, that's one thing I have not been to and I've been wanting to.
Speaker 2:
You've never been there. I was there years and years and years ago. It's a natural tourist attraction. It's located in central Florida, but on the West Coast, right. Okay, this is actually a state park and you can experience underwater performances by mermaids.
Speaker 3:
All right.
Speaker 2:
Yes, and you can also take a riverboat cruise and you can see some wildlife there and you can even swim in Buccaneer Bay, oh wow.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, really cool. They've really expanded it because it used to be just a tourist attraction, right when you'd see these signs coming down from the north.
Speaker 2:
Right WikiWachi WikiWachi. Yeah, because you can see these signs coming down from the north. Right wikiwachi wikiwachi. Yeah, because you can see performers there. Right, you know they do the water skiing and all of that.
Speaker 3:
And all the dads wanted to see the mermaids Right and the mermaids and now it's all the little girls that want to see the mermaids. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Yes, yes. So, but before we get into another Florida treasure, how about some traveling trivia?
Speaker 3:
I'm afraid I don't know. Is there a question I do?
Speaker 2:
have a question what US state is home to no documented poisonous snakes? No poisonous snakes in this state and no, St Patrick didn't go there and chase them out. That's the theory behind Ireland.
Speaker 3:
They have no snakes because St Patrick't go there and chase them out. That's the theory behind Ireland.
Speaker 2:
They have no snakes because St Patrick, can you hear my head thinking there? That's why I see smoke across the room. It is a state. Okay, you only have 50 to choose from.
Speaker 3:
Okay, okay good, good, good. So I'm thinking north. Am I close? Yes, Okay, how about Maine?
Speaker 2:
You're thinking not Northwest enough.
Speaker 3:
You're talking about the United States, uh-huh Montana.
Speaker 2:
You are getting warmer, but you're not there yet. Think very cold, cold Minnesota.
Speaker 1:
Colder there is a Okay, oh, wait a minute.
Speaker 3:
Wait a minute. Wait a minute. No, it can't be.
Speaker 2:
Why not Alaska? It is Alaska. No poisonous snakes supposedly in Alaska, and too bad. I don't like the cold, otherwise I'd head that way. I'm not crazy about poisonous snakes.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, wow, I'm sure, but they have other little things like bears.
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, bears and moose, yeah yeah, but no poisonous snakes, so you can't step on one. Oh, that's good to know. Yes, when the snow falls and it could be because it's too cold and the snakes can't really survive because they're reptilians. I see that could be the reason, not because St Patrick went over there and chased them all out like they did in Ireland.
Speaker 3:
No, no, no, no, no. Well, Alaska has no poisonous snakes. I'll have to remember that one.
Speaker 2:
No documented poisonous snakes. Documented, documented, documented, you know, maybe because nobody's there long enough. Well, they do have mosquitoes that can fly off with small children. I mean, you know, mosquito season's pretty nasty up there.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
But again, this is Alaska, one of our 50 states, All right. All right, let's get back to Central Florida, shall we? I know where I live. Central Florida, we do. Yeah, I have so much on Florida that I'll have to do another podcast on the North and Northwest Florida, oh wow. Yeah, yeah, because we're kind of a big state.
Speaker 3:
Well, when someone's asked how long does it take to get to Key West from Orlando, it's at least eight hours.
Speaker 2:
It's an eight-hour drive. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a long, so think about it and that's only halfway through.
Speaker 3:
If you're driving from Tallahassee, which is the state capital, to Key West, well, pensacola's a little further. Yeah, yeah, so wow.
Speaker 2:
That's a long way to Tipperary. Right. So what else do we have in Central Florida?
Speaker 3:
Well, what else?
Speaker 2:
Well, I was on the west coast of Central Florida, so of course there's Tampa, there's St Petersburg, there's Treasure Island and so much more. These are beach cities, beach towns. When you talk about some of the major cities in Florida, you can experience some great eateries. Oh good and great art museums, yes, and of course, on the Gulf Coast, plenty of water and plenty of beaches, just like Tampa, st Pete, yeah, but there's Tarpon Springs, florida.
Speaker 3:
All right.
Speaker 2:
Now Tarpon Springs is known for sponge divers. Yes yes, and they have a sponge dock and it's basically Greek heritage in that area. Yes, and tons of Greek restaurants. Delicious, delicious, delicious. I love Greek food, you do.
Speaker 3:
No, I've been there.
Speaker 2:
You've been to Tarpon Springs?
Speaker 3:
I've been to Tarpon.
Speaker 2:
Springs. Where's your sponge?
Speaker 3:
I've been on the sponge dock boat and I've seen the sponge diver.
Speaker 2:
Divers. Yeah, oh, but where's your sponge? Didn't you bring home a sponge? I?
Speaker 3:
don't think you can bring them home.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, you're allowed to get those. Oh yeah, they do sell them Well.
Speaker 3:
I didn't bring it home with me Shame, shame. Yeah.
Speaker 2:
But you know, have bakeries. Oh, the greek food was delicious. Yeah, yes, yes yes, yes and, just like you said, they still die for natural sponges and you can actually go on these tours and sightseeing boats to see how they do it and you can pick up some great, unique greek and, of course, florida souvenirs the guy that went down was did the diving I I didn't believe him. You didn't believe that he found the sponges down at the bottom.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, I bet the sponge was in his pocket when he went down.
Speaker 2:
Oh, there was only one sponge. You brought only one sponge up.
Speaker 3:
Well yeah, you know my word. And sponges grow underneath the water. That's amazing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, they're underwater. It's different. It's not what you see in the stores. No, yeah, those loofahs that we see, that's not it yeah, no no, no, ah, that's my travel tip music.
Speaker 2:
Now I know I sound like a broken record when I talk about this and I can't stress it enough Travel insurance, absolutely Wherever you're going cruise, europe, vacation tours get travel insurance. Do you realize that if you take a cruise and you don't have travel insurance and say you get seasick I mean really seasick to the point of needing some medical care you will have to pay and pay dearly for that medical care before you leave the ship. And it can run into the thousands, yes, yeah. So something as minor as that can turn into a nightmare without insurance. So no, your home medical insurance will not cover you on board that's amazing yeah, people don't realize that.
Speaker 2:
They think, well, I have insurance, I have medical insurance, but no, they don't use that because, technically, most of the ships at sea are not american owned, right, okay, so get travel insurance. It may be a little pricey, but not as pricey if there's an emergency, and even a small one wow, thank you, I did have travel insurance and I'm okay yes, okay, can you believe it? We're still in, I mean, and we still have not mentioned all those great theme parks. This is all stuff that go around the theme parks.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 2:
Woo-hoo, okay, so now I have one more place in central Florida, but now I am on the east coast. Okay, let's chat. Kennedy Space Center.
Speaker 3:
Is that not a theme park?
Speaker 2:
Not really. Oh, you know, space Center Is that not a theme park? Not really. It's kind of an educational place and some of the stuff, I can't believe what they've added to it. So, believe it or not, it's great for adults and kids. Sometimes you think, oh, the kids aren't going to like it. But it really is well worth the visit because they have exhibits. They have displays of historical spacecrafts which mom and dad will probably know. Oh, yeah.
Speaker 2:
A lot of memorabilia. They have shows in two IMAX theaters, ooh yeah, and if you do some pre-planning you can be there for a rocket launch or even do an astronaut training experience.
Speaker 3:
Oh yes, that's what I want to do.
Speaker 2:
Oh, it sounds so cool. Yeah, yeah, I mean the astronaut training experience you. But you know, then again, a lot of this stuff isn't cheap when you're going to these theme parks, but this is something unique. If your child is really into space travel, this is something that you really want to bring them to. But imagine the excitement of seeing that rocket launch that close. I remember sending my daughter to an actual shuttle launch and she was part of the news media because we were able to get the passes to get in closer.
Speaker 3:
Yes.
Speaker 2:
And she said it was and she wasn't into space travel. But the person she was dating at the time was an astrophysicist yeah. And the two of them couldn't believe it. It was astounding. So think Kennedy.
Speaker 3:
Space Center Right, and I love the fact that you could get on a space shuttle. You can actually see it and get on it, because they have a thing there, yeah.
Speaker 2:
And people didn't realize. I was very disappointed when they decided to retire the shuttles.
Speaker 3:
Yes, me too it's like.
Speaker 2:
Oh, you know, I liked when they landed. Even hearing the sonic booms. But there you go. Well, jay, I don't think I can talk anymore today about our wonderful state of Florida, but I'll be back again with another podcast and we'll talk North Florida and Northwestern Florida, better known as the Panhandle.
Speaker 2:
Oh good, there's so much to do up there there really is, but for now there's so much traveling to do and so little time to do it in, so tune in every week for more travel info and insights and just plain old fun. Please follow me and like me on Facebook. Do you have a favorite location or perhaps an interesting travel tip? Let me know. I'd really like to hear about it. You can send me an email at zmichelson at gmailcom, and remember Z is spelled Z-E-E.
Speaker 2:
I'm very excited to let everybody know my podcast can be heard on all your favorite podcast players and it's ZMichelson Travel Podcast. Feel free to give me a review. I would love to hear what you have to say. Thanks for listening today. Traveling truly opens up the world to you. You learn all about the different cultures, the lifestyles and, of course, Jay and I's favorite the food. Then you realize we really truly are all the same. So dream, dream big, reach for those stars and if you only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. If you're looking for great places to travel, to visit my website, ZMichelsonTravelcom, and don't forget Z is spelt Z-E-E. This is Z Michelson, making your travel dreams come true.
