I still cross Little Lake Harris frequently but not as often as I once did when I had full time…read moreresponsibility at a facility in Howey in the Hills, this bridge and the previous bridge was always a waypoint for me signifying I was close to my early morning destination. Most mornings I arrived here just as the sun began it's ascent and the views were amazing. I initially questioned the need to replace the old bridge but once constructed began it was clear that the elevation changes would allow larger vessels to safely travel under the new bridge. I don't know how much the clearance increased but it seems to be significantly higher - with the seaplane base nearby maybe there was a need to allow for rescue operations or a way to tow these planes from one side of the lake to the other. A little research provided a better explanation of why the old bridge was replaced. The 1951 State Road 19 bridge across Little Lake Harris in Howey-in-the-Hills was replaced because it was experiencing gradual settling and increasing vibrations from traffic. The 3,300-foot span also lacked modern safety features like wide shoulders and a separated sidewalk, making it hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists. The old concrete bridge was torn down after a new, $22.2 million replacement span featuring 12-foot travel lanes, 10-foot shoulders, and a dedicated, protected sidewalk opened in early 2020 Now we know...

Carrying State Route 19 between Tavares and Howey-In-The-Hills, this is the second bridge to…read moreperform the function. The first was completed in 1926. At the time, it saved drivers about 52 miles when driving between Tampa and Jacksonville. It had been a single lane bridge with a section in the middle that was wide enough for two cars to pass. That wooden structure was replaced in 1950 with a concrete span. And then this new bridge is the third here. It was started in 2017 and completed in April 2021 for $22.350,000. It goes from Savage Circle to north of Hickory Point Park. This new bridge has wide shoulders and a wide sidewalk which makes for a much safer route for cyclists. There is no toll to cross the bridge and it has lighting at night. It is a fixed bridge with no portion that raises for boat traffic. The bridge is wide and smooth enough to support its 55 mph speed limit. It is completely boring and without features. You'd never know you were on a bridge rather than a piece of regular highway. [Review 1033 of 2024 - 1908 in Florida - 22061 overall]

RIP to the Senator "Big Tree". I remember coming to this…read morepark many times as a kid. I remember watching the news report the day it happened! The park still has a great amount of trees and animals to view and is still a nice park to walk around. There are offspring of the Big Tree still growing in the park around there kids park area.

Big Tree is a historic marker in Big Tree Park in Longwood. It was erected by Seminole County to…read morecommemorate Big Tree which was later known as The Senator. Big Tree was an ancient bald cypress tree that once majestically stood here. Big Tree was the Florida State Champion Bald Cypress tree and was believed to be 3,500 years old. Native Americans like the Seminoles used the tree as a landmark and it was a tourist attraction throughout the 1800's. In 1925 a hurricane reduced the height of the tree from 165 feet to 118 feet. For most of it's life, Big Tree was located in a swamp and could only be reached by jumping from log to log. After the Great Depression , the Works Progress Administration built a boardwalk to the tree. In 1929 former President Calvin Coolidge and his wife who were frequent visitors to Mount Dora dedicated a bronze plaque at Big Tree. The plaque and portions of an iron fence were stolen by vandals in 1945. In 1927, after the death of Florida State Senator M.O. Overstreet, the tree and surrounding land was donated for a park to Seminole County. The Overstreet family owned the Overstreet Turpentine Co and were major landowners during the lumber and turpentine era. The donation from Senator Overstreet led to Big Tree's often-used nickname, The Senator. On January 16, 2012, The Senator was burned down in a drug fueled arson fire by Winter Park resident, Sara Barnes. Barnes started a fire to keep warm while smoking crystal meth in a hollow space in the trunk. In October 2013, Seminole County officials allowed a small, select group of artists and woodworkers to take pieces of wood from The Senator and create art from it that is now displayed in the Museum of Seminole County History. Today a memorial has been set up around the remaining trunk of The Senator. In the playground there is a play piece that mimics a bald cypress tree stump. Next to the playground a clone tree of The Senator was planted named The Phoenix.

What a beautiful city with a picturesque lake! My boyfriend's mother owns a home right near Eustis…read morelake, and I really enjoyed the boat ride across the two lakes. It's amazing there is a canal to help cross into another lake to see other cities as well. This is how I was able to enjoy this great city, and loved stopping by Kalua Beach Bar while talking a stroll around.

If you happen to find yourself in Tavares you're likely asking yourself why and how did I get here…read morewhich is no easy task. I recently started traveling through this area a few months ago quite frequently and to my surprise the traffic here is horrendous, if you exit I-4 onto Route 46 it's about 19 Miles to 441, depending on the time of the day, it can be bumper to bumper traffic the entire way with lots of construction -it appears they are trying to correct the issue but with the boom in the population growth the jury is still out on whether this will resolve the issue. Like a lot of cities in Florida the main drag is filled with traffic lights so getting from one end of town to the other takes some time. The restaurant scene is a mix of chain restaurants with some mom and pops scattered in so there are plenty of options but fast food definitely rules in between all the small strip malls and Walgreen and CVS stores. Known as the sea plane capital of Florida there are plenty to see but not around town of course - Lake Harris probably offers one of the better sites to view these but really any one of the other many lakes in the area provide the opportunity to watch these if you're curious. It's okay for a pass-thru but it's a little busy for me...

In front of the Lakeview Cemetery, established in 1883 in Sanford is a bit of odd roadside…read morehistory. Here you will find the only non human grave, that of Old Bob the funeral horse. On the headstone is inscribed Faithful for 28 Years. Old Bob belonged to T.J. Miller, the city's first-ever undertaker who started up a local funeral home in 1885. The horse was used to pull the hearse for Miller's funeral home. For over two decades he brought the bodies to the cemetery. Bob's last cemetery delivery was a man who passed from a heart problem on March 16, 1913. After he retired, Bob spent his remaining time on the Miller's orange grove. Bob passed away on July 1914 at 37 years old. The local paper ran his obituary and Old Bob was laid to rest near the entrance of the cemetery. Bob has been described as the most famous horse in the history of Seminole County. There is an interesting exhibit on Bob at the Sanford Museum. They have his original headstone that was purchased by his owner T.J. Miller. It was found during the renovation of the caretakers lodge at the cemetery where it was being stored after being struck and damaged by a car. His new headstone was installed in 1990. People still come to pay their respects to Bob today and his grave is maintained by City of Sanford.

This is wonderful facility that is staffed with extremely friendly employees, although I never miss…read morethe opportunity to vote this was my first time coming here. There were a number of people coming in and out of this facility but there were plenty of windows staffed to assist everyone without a wait. I usually do mail in balloting but decided to drop off my ballot in person to have it scanned and accounted for, it's not that I'm not trusting of the USPS, it's just it's that important to me to exercise my right to vote while eliminating third party handling. I prefer to cast my vote in person on Election Day but my past travel schedule forced me to sign up for absentee voting which I plan on changing going forward. We are very fortunate to have these options here in Florida and it's good to see it's all managed in a very secure facility, so there's no good reason for anyone legally registered to vote in these United States not to do their part and participate in one of our most sacred of rights...

You've got mail! This local post office is wonderful. It's convenient, tidy and service is…read morePRIORITY. Chrissy and Chris both DELIVER courteous and FIRST-CLASS assistance. The only issue that needs some SORTING out...the parking lot gets a little crowded sometimes. Otherwise, this location has my STAMP of approval.

Lady Liberty is a historic Bald Cypress tree located at the end of the boardwalk in Big Tree Park…read morein Longwood. Bald Cypress trees are a deciduous tree found in swamps, wet stream banks, and bottom lands in the southern part of the United States. They can reach heights of 80-130 feet and diameters of 8-13 feet. Cypress trees belong to the large group of plants called conifers meaning they produce cones that hold their seeds. Cypress wood is very durable resisting rotting and pests making it a popular choice for fences, docks, and other outdoor structures. Cypresses trees are also found in gardens and parks. They are notable for being one of the very few trees that can survive in standing water. Lady Liberty is 2,000 years old. She stand over 82 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 394 inches and a crown spread of 34 feet. Lady Liberty was a sister tree to The Senator. For that reason for many years she was simply called The Companion. The Senator was the Florida state champion Bald Cypress tree that was 3,500 years old. On January 16, 2012, The Senator was burned down in a drug fueled arson fire by Winter Park resident, Sara Barnes. In 2005, Geneva Elementary School held a contest to find a better name for the tree. Two fifth graders won with the name Lady Liberty. They chose the name because one of the tree's branches stands at an angle which looks like the uplifted arm of the Statue of Liberty. Also in 2005 the county extended the boardwalk to reach the tree and installed a fence around it to keep people out. A historic marker erected by Seminole County was placed near the tree. Archangel Ancient Tree Archive has obtained cuttings from the tree to propagate it for future generations. Clones of the tree will be planted in a living archive, replanted at the site. and donated to schools and various organizations in Florida. I feel lucky to have gotten the chance to visit Lady Liberty. I love nature and have explored many historic and natural places in Florida, some with their own majestic trees but there is something so special and awe inspiring about Lady Liberty. You have to stand next to her to feel it. To think of all the history she has withstood in the past 2,000 years gave me chills.

While I am very familiar with the blue markers of the state wide Florida Historical Marker Program,…read moreoccasionally I will come across a county or city historic marker. I discovered this Seminole County marker near the waterfront in Sanford. Historical markers are a great way to learn about the formative people, buildings, and events in Florida's history. This historic marker tells about the importance of steamboats to Sanford's history. Robert Fulton invented steamboats by adapting the steam engine he invented into the hull of a boat. He named it the North River Steamboat in 1807 and he sparked a revolution in transportation. The steam engine was able to more reliably power boats better than gravity, a person's own strength, an animal, or the wind. Robert Fulton's invention opened up the many waterways across this nation to travel and commerce. As early as 1829 steamboats started traveling on the many rivers in Florida. The St Johns River was used for steamboat service to Titusville at Salt Lake Landing and further south to Rockledge with a dock on Rockledge Creek just east of Lake Florence. At the site of this marker was Central Florida's first established expressway. Steamboat navigation on the St. Johns opened up Central Florida to goods and travel during the 19th century. In the early days of steamboat travel up the St Johns River system from Jacksonville southward, the steamboats were afforded deep and wide water all the way to Sanford. There were landings at Sanford and at Enterprise where the St Johns left Lake Monroe and continued southward. Captain Jacob Brock commanded his steamboats between Jacksonville and the Sanford/Enterprise landings and he built a hotel at Enterprise. During the Second Seminole War 1835-42, the US Army established Fort Mellon which supplied nine steamboats and thirty chartered ships. Afterward the war, the steamboats provided contact and trade to the pioneers in this area that was still largely wilderness. In the 1870s and '80s steamboat travel was it it's peak supplying the settlers and tourists who were moving into the area. Railroads were built south and west from Sanford beginning in 1880. The railroads worked in sync with the steamships by moving trains on the long piers built into the lake to meet the waiting steamers like the Starlight, Fanny Dougan, Magnolia, Welaka, City of Jacksonville, and the Osceola, which was the only sternwheeler. With the arrival of the railroad in December 1885, steamboats on the upper St Johns River quickly came to a close, The steam boats operated until 1933 when both trains and and steamers were largely replaced by motor vehicle. Today you can still see pleasure boats up and down the St. John's Rivers traversing the same routes once taken by the steamboats.

A well kept (or new) marker here at Sanford Marina that harkens back to the days before Interstates…read moreand airports when the best way to make your way to and through Central Florida was a steamboat. The marker is on two sides and reads: Where you are standing is the site of the first Central Florida's established expressway. Steamboat navigation on the St. Johns River provided the entry to Central Florida during the 19th century. During the Second Seminole War (1835-42) the US Army established Fort Mellon on their wilderness shores, supplying nine named steamboats and some thirty chartered ships. Afterward steamboat traffic served to provide contact and trade to the sparsely settled region. During the 1870s and '80s steamer travel reached its peak, filling the economic needs of the settlers and tourists who were rapidly moving into the area. Railroads were built south and west from Sanford beginning in 1880. The dovetailing of railroads and river traffic was accomplished by moving trains on the long piers built into the lake to attend waiting steamers. Steamship lines with side wheelers running ships from Jacksonville to Sanford were the Brock Line 1853-77; Debary Line Merchant Line 1876-1883; Debary-Baya Merchant Line 1883-88; Clyde St. John River Line 1889-1933. Daily service between Jacksonville and Sanford was provided by these lines. Among the more well known ships were the Starlight, Fanny Dougan, Magnolia, Welaka, City of Jacksonville, and the Osceola, the only sternwheeler. The railroad connection to Jacksonville in 1886 started a losing battle for the steamboats. They continued to operate until 1933 when both railroading and steamers had to bow to their common nemesis, the motor vehicle. Today, pleasure boats of all sizes ply the St. Johns River providing the same ambience enjoyed by the pioneer settlers.