Huge sign alerting every tourist where they are. At the north west corner of I-95 and LPGA BLVD…read moreacross the street from the iconic Buc-ee's in Daytona Beach. The traffic is horrible at this intersection even when pro golf events are not in progress.

Maybe we stopped in at a bad day, However this woman was very rude and not very helpful in helping…read moreour family find a nice hotel in Ormand by the Sea, IMO NOT a good ambassador for the city or county for whom she works for.

Although I am not a fan of beavers in general the Buc-ee's Beaver Mascot statue is fairly cute! We…read morehave had a Buc-ee's near our house for several years now and the Buc-ee beaver mascot statue gets a lot of attention every time we visit Buc-ee's! People absolutely love having their photograph taken with him! There's no shortage of Buc-ee's items that feature the grinning beaver (hats, t-shirts, plush/stuffed animals, Beaver Nuggets, and countless additional items!) Turns out, the reason Buc-ee's mascot is a beaver is the Buc-ee's CEO, Arch Aplin's childhood nickname, as bestowed on him by his Mom, was "Beaver." This nickname was inspired by a toothpaste commercial featuring a space-age version of a beaver named Bucky Beaver. Aplin also named his Labrador retriever, Buck, and honored his beloved pup with the Buc-ee's name! If you haven't been to a Buc-ee's, you really should visit one! It's quite the experience and if you're lucky ,you may see a Buc-ee's Beaver Mascot inside ready to give you a hug or pose for a photograph with you!

The Buc-ee's beaver mascot is a five foot tall structure made of bronze by the Heart Art Foundry…read moreand welcomes every visitor into the store. It is an intensive process to fabricate each beaver and takes up to three months by first making a 4" model. Then enlarging it by making a rubber mold and filling the mold with metal. The statue is constructed in twelve different pieces, before being welded together to form the animated iconic buck tooth beaver. If you get a chance to visit Buc-ee's, make sure you rub his head and snap a selfie with him to build his confidence.

Attentive what ever your needs may be me they'll help find the answer. The building itself is clean…read moreand has open windows

The east coast does have one thing on us in Tampa Bay, the open view sunrises!! Yes, we are lucky…read morethat we have the bay that gives us beautiful sunrises as well but they are not wide open without something in the distance like ahhh Tampa. I love coming over to the east coast to explore our wonderful state but honestly it's the sunrises that pull me in. Depending on where you are along the coast line can dramatically change the view. The sounds of the crashing waves are so peaceful and relaxing. Though a little chilly this morning, it wasn't so bad to watch with the ocean breeze on my face. Good thing about our "winters" here... no tourists on the beach getting in the way of photos and only a few locals walking the beach. Beautiful sunrises are the best way to start the day.

Five Stars for its remoteness and peacefulness, at least during off season week days and for the…read morefact that we are now preserving nature instead of bombing the hell out of it. The Holely Lands got its name because it was once a bombing range. Some deny that fact, saying the pock marks are natural depressions, but after speaking with some "old timers," the natural depression theory is just so much baloney. For years we bombed the birds, the alligators, the deer, the turkey and the wildlife of the entire area until we finally perfected the means we now have of bombing people and cities; another big step in the advancement of human civilization. The Holey Lands comprises the most northern extend of the Everglades sawgrass marsh and an area in which hunting is permitted, however, beware that there are a lot of frequently changing rules and regulations that go with it. Some of it may be boring but some of it not. With around 35,000 acres I'm sure one can find something of interest, but you'll have to be adventurous about it as well as OK on your own.

Gave in to an adventure this past Saturday. A group of friends decided to go to Holey Land WMA for…read morea little fishing, picnicking and relaxing. We began this trip down Okeechobee we headed north for approximately 35 mile until we saw the sign on the left, we turned and our first stop was the "MARINA". There were a couple of boaters setting their boast in the water, and a couple who was fishing. They actually caught a couple of Bass fish that where of good size. After my hubby share some of his plastic worms with them we took to the road again. I will say it's really peaceful out there, you don't come across a lot of people; mainly you see a family here or there fishing. We drove past the water plant and set our picnic in a small clearing with the canal just a few feet away. In all it was a really peaceful Saturday and I enjoyed very much. The only thing is this is not the place if you don't like the outdoors. There is a one out house one by the Marina. However the scenery is spectacular in the late afternoon when the sun is about to set, that in itself makes this trip worthwhile. The Wild life, they are a plenty, we saw Alligators, Raccoons, Dear and what I think was Coyote as well as tons of water birds. Any way I enjoyed the peacefulness of this place even if we did not catch any fish.

Memorial Bridge in Palatka is the city's third river crossing, a continuous prestressed concrete…read morebox‑girder span completed in 1976 to replace the older 1927 drawbridge that had carried two lanes across the Saint Johns River. The current bridge stretches 4020 feet from Palatka to East Palatka, rising to a 65‑foot clearance that lets river traffic pass without interruption. It carries four lanes of US 17 and SR 100 along with sidewalks on both sides, a typical mid‑1970s Florida highway profile. Architecturally, it's a straightforward piece of state infrastructure with its concrete box girders resting on evenly spaced piers that echo the calm, broad character of the Saint Johns. The bridge's name and identity come from the earlier 1927 structure, which was built to honor Putnam County's military service members. That bridge featured four bronze military statues, two on each end, standing as guardians over the crossing. Those figures, often called the Doughboy statues, were preserved and today still stand at the foot of the modern bridge, continuing the memorial purpose that shaped the original span. There is no toll to cross the bridge. If you're walking, use caution as there is only the curb and a narrow breakdown lane between the pedestrian area and the roadway. [Review 1637 of 2025 - 2214 in Florida - 25185 overall]

This marker is located in a small plaza that has a restaurant (that might be closed?) along Florida…read more19. It is adjacent to Little Lake Kerr. It points out the spot the where famous explorer passed through, reading "In 1774, William Bartram visited Salt Springs, his six-mile springs, and proclaimed it a "Paradise of Fish"" on both sides. William Bartram was an American naturalist who explored the Southern colonies, including deep stretches of Florida, documenting plants, animals, and the lives of Indigenous communities he met along the way. He traveled up the St. Johns River and into the Alachua Savanna, describing the region as a kind of natural paradise filled with wildflowers, spring‑fed streams, and abundant wildlife. His encounters with Creek leaders, including the Creek leader Cowkeeper near present‑day Micanopy, added cultural depth to his observations and shaped the narrative that later appeared in his book "Travels." That work introduced readers on both sides of the Atlantic to Florida's tropical landscapes, its fauna, and its frontier settlements, and it became a foundational text in early American natural history. Bartram's vivid descriptions and illustrations influenced scientific understanding, inspired later explorers, and helped shape how Americans imagined Florida's interior. There is plenty of room to stop here and since much of the road in both directions is just two lanes separated by only paint, it's probably a good idea to stop and stretch. [Review 1627 of 2025 - 2204 in Florida - 25175 overall]

This green historical marker is located on the west side of Memorial Bridge where it crosses the…read moreSt. Johns River into Palatka. It points out some of the earliest history of the area. The marker reads, "Established in May, 1838, this fort was one of the major quartermaster depots in Florida during the Second Seminole War. It operated under Gen. William J. Worth until he assumed command of the armies in Florida. Military facilities included a hospital, barracks, blockhouses, and stables for more than 400 horses. During the fort's existence, Palatka was military in appearance and under military control." Online, there is more information. The Indian Removal Act provoked many Seminole Indians and their allies to revolt against being forcibly relocated from their lands and homes in the Florida Territory to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. After the Dade Massacre on December 28, 1835 the Second Seminole War was escalated with armed skirmishes and guerilla warfare. Early in the Second Seminole War, the strategically located town of Palatka, Florida Territory was attacked and burned by a group of Seminole Indians and their allies. Most surviving white settlers and black slaves fled to St. Augustine for safety, and the area was mostly abandoned except for free roaming groups of Seminole Indians and their allies. Realizing the importance of a militarily protected and efficient supply line along the St. Johns River General Walker Keith Armistead ordered the main depot moved from Garey's Ferry on Black Creek to Palatka where the U.S. Army built Fort Shannon. Fort Shannon was established in May of 1838 under the command of General William J. Worth. General Worth remained in command of Fort Shannon until 1842 when he was promoted and assumed command of all the armies of Florida. This fortification was part of a network of forts that protected the strategically important transportation routes along the St. Johns River. Fort Shannon grew in size to include eight blockhouses, a hospital, several large wood framed buildings, officer's barracks and a stables large enough to accommodate 400 horses. Fort Shannon was briefly utilized during the American Civil War by Union troops as they occupied Palatka and patrolled the St. Johns River with gunboats. The building materials of Fort Shannon were pilferaged and eroded away in the 1880s, except for its Officer's Quarters building. [Review 15769 overall - 1351 in Florida - 1273 of 2021.]