Covered bridges are rare and finding one in South Florida especially so. This is the oldest one in…read morethe state, built in 1964 so relatively modern. It was the first permanent structure in Coral Springs. A single steel span that is 40 feet long. It is an active bridge and I was pleased that the height and weight clearance were sufficient for the Sprinter van. There is no easy parking here with signs indicating private property and no parking on the grass. As such, you can't get any good view of the logos on the side of the bridge. Interesting note - it is the only covered bridge located on a public right-of-way in all of Florida. [Review 20249 overall - 1752 in Florida - 1226 of 2023.]

This was the nicest and "coolest" thing I saw today for Earth Day 2022. Real covered bridges are…read morenot found in South Florida and I was happy to see this one. It has murals painted on each side of the bridge span and recently is was closed for repairs but now it is open for cars. No trucks allowed. The neighborhood that it bridges is also very nice. The history behind this bridge can be found on a raised plaque on the side of the entrance and it has some pretty interesting history. Definitely check it out and drive through if you get the chance.

One of many bridges that cross the Intracoastal and join the mainland with the beaches, the…read moreWoolbright Road bridge is a dual-span bascule drawbridge. The bridge was completed in 1967 and has a total length of 456.1 feet. The bridge has one lane in each direction with a raised sidewalk on the north side for pedestrians. There was an incident in 2019 where a pedestrian was allegedly on the bridge when it raised. There is no toll to cross the bridge and I did not see any weight limitations posted. [Review 136 of 2025 - 1923 in Florida - 23702 overall]

A twelve foot tall solid steel 19th century British Admiralty Anchor (possibly from the wreckage of…read morethe British cartel ship sunk November 1, 1804) proudly standing along the historic Riverside park with amazing river views. It was placed in honor of Capt Peter Throckmorton the father of Marine Archaeology - THE END

Along Riverwalk Plaza in front of the historic New River Inn which is now a museum is another bit…read moreof interesting history. Mounted along the river is an British boat anchor that may have belonged to the L'Athenaise, a British cartel ship that sunk November 1, 1804. On the boat were 174 French prisoners of war. The anchor was discovered in 1967 off the Barefoot Mailman hotel in Hillsboro Beach. Given credit for the discovery along with several other people including his wife Deo, is Mel Fisher who famously discovered the Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The anchor was placed by the Marine Archaeological Council in honor of Capt Peter Throckmorton (1928-1990) "father of marine archaeology An admiralty anchor is a type of large vessel fluke anchor also known as a fisherman. This type of anchor has been used since ancient times. On one end of the shank of the anchor is a ring for attaching rope or chain through it to the boat. On the other end of the shank are the two flukes that once dropped, will dig into the sea floor to anchor the boat in place. One fluke digs in and one remains up which sometimes dislodges the boat and then it needs to be reset. I have watched people pass by without giving the anchor a second glance but if you stop and read the plaque you will see what a cool piece of maritime history this is. There is quite a bit of the past to be discovered along Ft. Lauderdale's Riverwalk.

This neighborhood was designed by Addison Mizner in a Mediterranean style that you can see…read morethroughout the city of Boca Raton. It is located off of Palmetto Rd behind the Boca Raton Art Museum art school. The houses were designed for the executives of Mizner's company and one was for his brother the Reverend Henry Mizner who retired to Boca Raton. The Robinson Company were contracted to construct 29 homes in the neighborhood but they went bankrupt before they could finish. Architect Herman Von Holst from Chicago who owned the land foreclosed and along with investors he finished designing the subdivision and named it Old Floreresta meaning "a delightful rural place" in Spanish. The houses have certain characteristics in common, barrel tile roofs, wrought iron balconies, and Spanish style architecture. The homes are on narrow tree lines streets. Some of the notable homes in the subdivision are 888 Oleander St owned by Henry Mizner who lived in Acacia, 875 Alamanda St. was the home of Herman Von Holst and he named his home Lavender House. He went on to serve on both the Boca Raton town council and planning boards. The house is now on the National Register of Historic Places as is 801 Hibiscus St, it was owned by film producer and mayor of Boca Raton Fred Aiken. Other well known residents of the neighborhood were Thomas Fleming who founded Florida Atlantic University, Don Estridge who worked on the IMB personal computer, and Nathaniel Weyl who authored the book "Red Star Over Cuba" In 1990 Boca Raton named Old Floresta it's first historic district. The homes in the neighborhood are privately owned so you are not able to tour them. You are free however to drive through the beautiful neighborhood or even better bike it if you are able to do so. Although the homes I mentioned are not for sale a lot of other ones are. I saw quite a few for sale signs in the neighborhood. I am sure they are way out of my price range but it's free to dream.

Imagine my surprise to find a listing for the Old Floresta Historic District in Yelp. Like wow,…read morewhoever wrote this did a great service for helpers who seek out historic areas in Palm Beach county, areas which may be close to where they live or work. And this is OUR neighborhood. It's where we drive into and out of daily. It's where we walk our sato Bori. And where we drive friends around to show them the authentic ORIGINAL Mizner designed homes, as well as those which mimic the Mizner look. The streets are narrow, some cannot accommodate two cars going in either direction without riding up into someone's lawn. The foliage is heavy, very heavy. People who visit us or do work for us always comment that it reminds them of Coral Gables. As a historic district the City monitors carefully all renovations which affect the exterior in any manner at all, as plans must be reviewed by Historic division as well as City Code Compliance. Things like roof materials and colors, driveway design and materials, alterations to windows and doors or subtle things like the removal of a tree and its replacement. And that's all good! I love Old Floresta. I don't love the drivers who try through our area on the way to Boca Regional Hospital or anywhere else and roll through stop signs. I hope they get tickets when police set up traps. Our neighborhood is quiet, well preserved and a place where families walk with their children and their dogs and just chill. While not a gated community it is tucked away off Palmetto Park Road, east of 95 and west of Dixie, on the north side of the street. If you find the old Art School on the north side of Palmetto, you access Old Floresta on either Paloma or Cardinal (NW9). Drive slow when in our community. Or better yet, walk around. Oh by the way, on Halloween the homeowners really go craycray decorating their homes and thousands go trick treating.

Lauderdale-by-the Sea is the cutest little beach town. The founding of the town begins it's history…read morein the 1920's during Florida's land boom years. Many wealthy northerners invested in land in sunny, warm Florida. This was the case here when Boston businessman and developer William F. Moran purchased Lauderdale-by-the-Sea from Henry S. Moody and John C. Gregory. Indiana investor and builder Melvin I. Anglin, who the Anglin Fishing Pier is named for, purchased the platted land from Moran with the intention of staring a new beach side town. The Hurricane of 1926 brought a halt to building but only a year later the town bounced back and Anglin became it's first mayor. Lauderdale-by- the- Sea was incorporated on November 30, 1927. During the Great Depression in 1933 the State of Florida revoked its charter but with the help off Glen Friedt Sr. who came to live in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in 1938, the town was able to be reincorporated on November 30, 1947. Before Melvin Anglin and his wife Sarah passed away, they give the city the land for the town hall and a park to the west of it. Through its years of growth, one of the ways Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has kept its charm is by limiting the height of buildings. While a lot of beach towns allow tall buildings by the beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea incorporated a a building height limit into their charter in 1973. As a result the town has maintained a kind of quaint 1950's look with it's low mid-century modern architecture. Today a mere 6,000 people call Lauderdale-by-the-Sea home. The highlight of the town is the gorgeous beach and the town holds the title of being Florida's number one beach diving capital. There is a coral reef only 100 yards off the beach and the wreck of the SS Copenhagen, a 19th-century British steamship that sank in 1900 after striking a coral reef lies in 25 feet of water off the coast. People enjoy fishing off Anglin's Pier, paddle boarding, kayaking, diving, and snorkeling. El Prado Park is the area's most popular beachfront park. There are a lot of great places to eat off of Anglin's Square including a Mulligans beach House, Anglin's Beach Cafe, and Aruba Beach Cafe. On of my favorite restaurants in town is the Sea Watch located in a historic house on the beach. If you are a tourist there are boutique hotels and resorts steps from the beach. The town's official motto is "Relax...You're Here." That is exactly how I feel every time I come here, refreshed and relaxed. Whether you are a tourist or local you will love this Old Florida beach town.

This has been, and will probably always be my favorite city in Broward County, Florida. Though…read moreproperty can be higher than most other oceanside businesses and residences, it's well worth the price. Within the past 20 years, there has been steady growth and tourism, but somehow they manage to keep the hometown feeling that so many of us love and thrive in. There is so much to do; you can pick and choose from online by viewing their Event calendar--year round! It's more than a quiet relaxing surf-side town. Check it out for yourself, I dare you! ;) Anglin's Square is my top favorite spot and it just doesn't get old for me. Speaking of, I pray I can retire in LBTS; but until that season, you're still sure to find me there on the sand, shopping, bike riding, eating, drinking, dancing, AND...!

They do not enforce the 15 and 45 they will bring the draw bridge 10 minutes before its time, as if…read moreboats are more important that local traffic

Situated between the Commercial Boulevard and the Sunrise Boulevard bascule bridges at Intracoastal…read moreWaterway Mile Marker 1060.6, the Oakland Park Beach Boulevard Bascule Bridge has a 22-foot closed vertical clearance with 88 feet of horizontal clearance at the center span. Several restaurants and businesses are located just feet from this bridge, such as Shooters Waterfront and Thasos Greek. This is a busy bridge connecting the Galt Mile with the rest of Fort Lauderdale. Some reference information for boaters.... Mile Marker: 1060.5 Lat / Lon: N 26° 10.043' / W 080° 06.232' Bridge Type: Bascule Vertical Clearance (Closed): 22.00 ft. Horizontal Clearance: 88.00 ft. Schedule: The draw shall open on the quarter-hour and three-quarter hour. VHF Channel: 9

This must be the local dive spot of the Delray Wreck because there is a sign stating it. I assume…read morethe wreck is out in the ocean because it was definitely not on land.

This marker along Delray Beach has seen better days since it was installed. The paint is faded and…read moreworn, which is understandable since it is literally right next to the beach and so it gets scrubbed by sand and salt day in and day out. But it still stands, pointing out a bit of history and drama that is now over a century old. There is parking nearby and don't forget to feed the meter. The marker reads, "The old shipwreck know as the Delray Wreck rests at the bottom of the ocean in 25 feet of water about 150 yards offshore the south end of Delray's municipal beach. The wreck is broken and scattered into five sections and has long been one of the most popular diving spots in South Florida. "The S.S. INCHULVA was grounded and wrecked by a fierce hurricane on September 11, 1903. Under the command of Captain G.W. Davis, the 386 foot steel hulled British steamship was bound for Newport News, Virginia from Galveston, Texas carrying wheat, cotton, lumber and a crew of 28 men. "The storm struck about 5 p.m., tossing the ship and causing the cargo to shift. Steering became impossible, so Captain Davis put out both anchors, but to no avail. The anchors parted and the INCHULVA grounded and was ripped apart. Nine crew members were lost. "Dawn revealed to the battered crew that land and a town were just a short distance away. By noon, all the men except Captain Davis and two mates had landed on shore in a small hastily-built raft. They found hot food and coffee at the Chapman House, a local hotel, where many of Delray's residents had taken shelter during the storm. "The nine seamen who lost their lives were buried on the ridge overlooking the ocean where the ship had gone down. The surviving crew members were treated, paid and sent to New York. "Before leaving for their homes, each crew member signed the guest register of the Chapman House. Under their names they wrote, "Shipwrecked in the S.S. INCHULVA, September 11, 1903, landed on a raft September 12th and received every kindness and attention at the hands of Mrs. Chapman." "Captain Davis, his Chief Officer, a 2nd Officer and a seaman from the ship were brought before the Naval Court held at the British Vice Consulate at Jacksonville on September 19th. The Court exonerated the Captain and the crew from all blame." This is marker number F-327 and it was erected in 1980 by the Historic Palm Beach County Preservation Board in cooperation with the Florida Department of State. [Review 976 of 2024 - 1852 in Florida - 22004 overall]

A 13.9 mile drainage canal flowing from the City of Sunrise in the west to Fort Lauderdale in the…read moreeast. This canal is the home to a variety of fish and often see boats with sport hunters of the evasive iguanas that thrive on the grassy banks on both sides. Several bridges were constructed over the canal at different intersections for vehicular traffic to pass over. Swimming is not permitted in the canal, not that you would really want to anyways. Never saw an alligator, but surely they are there patiently awaiting for a human meal.

Every time I wait for the traffic light at State Road 84 and Flamingo Road I sit on top of the…read moreNorth New River Canal bridge and look east and west down the waterway for miles. People bike riding on the side pathway and fishing along the canal embankment. Nothing really too special but just a notable Broward landmark.