Stuart and William L. Kester were originally from West Virginia. They came to Pompano to pursue…read morefishing in the 1920's and in 1937 built the wood frame bungalows that they called "pepper crates" in Pompano and Deerfield Beach. Since they were inexpensive to build soon everyone was constructing them for residents and visitors alike. They were constructed of Dade County pine and had indoor plumbing and running water. They measured 25 feet by 35 feet. Some had a beach view and ranged from one to three bedrooms. At their height of popularity there were 150 of them. All of the cottages were white with playing card suites cut of out their shutters. Houses cost under a thousand dollars to build and you could rent one for as little as $29 a month. I wish you could still get beach front property for that amount. The two Kester cottages owned by the Pompano Beach Historical Society were donated to them by Kester's nephew Stewart. They were moved from their original location to Founders Park behind the Historical Society building. Usually they are locked up but they open them for tours when they do the once a month historical trolley tour. The next time the cottages will be open is on January 12 from 9 to 10 AM. The cottages are filled with historical items from Pompano Beach's history. If you can't tour them they have a wonderful 3-D virtual tour on the website they have have set up for the cottages. One other Kester cottage remains on the grounds of the Butler House in Deerfield Beach.

The 1913 Shippey House was the home of Broward County's second judge, Frederick Beeker Shippey. Fed…read moreShippey served as county judge from 1920 to 1933 when an illness forced him to resign. As a member of the Elks Lodge, he was recognized for his work with disabled children. Also of note was that he married the celebrities of the time including presiding over the wedding of Tarzan actor and swimming champion, Johnny Weissmuller. The home was slated for demolition in 2008 but was saved and moved at a cost of $200,000 from its original location in Sailboat Bend on Southwest Seventh Avenue to the Riverwalk, home of Ft. Lauderdale's historic buildings. After 5 years of renovation a ribbon cutting ceremony was held in 2016. The building now houses Cycle party Tours, a recreational equipment and tour business. They finished restoring the landscaping and interior of the house. The rent kayaks,bikes, and segways as well as offer tours of Ft. Lauderdale. Next to the Shippey House is a public parking lot that allows people to park and access the river front.

On this beautiful day, I rode my bike along Himmarshee Street and veered off one road to the south…read morealong the historic district of Riverwalk with scenic views of the New River just in time to watch the railroad draw bridge open its rusty steel jaws to allow yachts to pass. In this area of the Linear Park, which was densely fortified with plants, trees, winding bike and walk paths, there were restaurants, historic landmarks, cultural exhibits and monuments.

The Riverwalk pathway runs from the Esplanade Park through the historic district to the New River…read morebridge and train tracks. Nice area shaded by trees with incredible views of the New River. Great pathways to ride your bike or walk your puppy and have a matcha at Pure Vida.

The iconic Hollywood Water Tower stands 160 feet tall and holds one million gallons of water. It…read morewas constructed in 1955 and is maintained by the City of Hollywood Public works Dept. Growing up in Hollywood as a kid, this light blue and white painted tower was visible from a few areas east of Federal Hwy on Sheridan Street and is directly next to West Lake Park. The second Hollywood water tower stands at Sheridan Street and i-95. Both towers not only harness water but are artistic Hollywood landmarks. Today we were driving back from Hollywood Beach and pulled off the roadway to take a few minutes to gaze at the structure. Over the years, the painted decor at the sphere-like top has changed, but the Hollywood name is still prominently displayed as a sense of pride for the historic tower. There are no tours offered for either water tower - it would be cool though. FYI..I always wanted to climb the tower by its winding staircase.

One of only two water towers in Hollywood. Today I went to the West Lake Park to relax and saw this…read moretall water tower that was begging for a photo. Pulled off the side of Sheridan Street and captured a perfect shot of the light blue tower.

I have passed this memorial many times and was always curious about it. Today I finally stopped and…read moremade a new discovery. It was interesting to learn that Plantation has the largest volunteer fire department in the state of Florida. The Plantation Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1957 by 21 citizens that included former Mayor Frank Veltri and the city's founder, Fred Peters. In the beginning they were stationed in a warehouse located at East Acre and Broward that served as the first fire station with a single engine. In 1960 the first fire station was built on Broward Boulevard at East Acre. As Plantation grew more stations were built and more engines added. Just as it was in 1957, the Suppression Division is comprised of all volunteers and has a roster of more than 190 firefighters making it the largest volunteer fire department in Florida. The Rescue Division was added in 1996 to answer the increasing demand for emergency medical services. Plantation is a combination department comprised of a volunteer Suppression Division, career EMS, a Fire and Life Safety Division, and maintenance/mechanic divisions. One of the most difficult fires the Plantation Volunteer Firefighters had to deal with was in September of 1997 at the Towne Mall, located at 69th Avenue and Broward Boulevard. The mall caught fire and became the largest tactical, firefighting operation in Broward County history. The large fire was due to the roof construction which was comprised of highly flammable materials. Today the Fire Department operates six stations placed throughout the city. The Plantation Fire Department currently serves an area of 22 square miles, a residential population of 94,000, and a daytime population in excess of 150,000. In 1998 the Plantation Fire Administration building and Firefighters' Memorial Park was dedicated. This park located adjacent to the administration building honors all of the volunteer firefighters in the City of Plantation. There are plaques with the names of firefighters who served the city and a 9/11 memorial. It was so nice to visit this peaceful spot that pays tribute to the brave and dedicated volunteer firefighters of Plantation.

Tree Tops Park is located in central Broward County. This park is very convenient for weekend…read moreparties, weekday playground play dates and nature trail hikes both on foot, bike, or horse. I enjoy the early morning stroller walks with my granddaughter because during the weekdays there is no charge to enter and park to walk the trails. There is a very nice indoor/outdoor pavilion that is often rented for special events. There are multiple area for both child play under a covered playground and a covered area for adults to use the manual workout machines. The wide open space is great for horses to get a nice ride and to rinse off at the watering areas. The lakes and streams are filled with wild life that is indigenous to the area. Just taking a walk and listening to the sounds of nature is truly calming. On the weekends this county park gets very loud and crowded but because the park is so massive, there is always a place to relax.

If connecting with nature is your thing, this park is the spot. It's a gorgeous park that retains…read moresome of our beautiful trees before development took over. As a spooky girl, the Banyan tree captured my fancy. It's stood tall and majestic with its hanging vines forming a shelter like structure. At the time of my visit, there were a few ladies sitting under it getting ready for a drumming circle. We watched for a bit before moving on. The park has loop trails. It's easy to follow via the trails app. It's a great place for hikes, long walks or for just taking a break from people. The kids would love it here as well. We walked past a few play grounds and biking trails. I plan on taking the kids back soon for some fun. 10/10 as far as parks are concerned.

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.

Self- guided historic tour #2. The Central Arcade was built in 1923 for professional office spaces…read morespecifically for a dentist (Hlwd mayor) thru the 1930's and a photographer sixty years later. The Hollywood Blvd Theater was a tenant here in the right side space and closed forever in 2001. Today, the two storefront locations of 1936 and 1938 Hollywood Blvd are the Cabo Blanco Restaurant & Bar. The words Central Arcade in the mid 1900s meant retail shopping area not as the meaning today which an arcade refers to pinball entertainment. The bronze marker plaque on the outer wall legitimizes the landmark by the Hollywood Historical Society.

The Central Arcade building is located in Hollywood's historic business district which was…read moredesigned by Hollywood founder Joseph Young in 1921. Many of it's original design features remain. Architectural features of the buildings include those used the 1920's Florida land boom time and after it went bust during the Depression and New Deal eras. The Central Arcade Building is part of the city of Hollywood's Historical Landmark Plaque Tour sponsored by the Hollywood Historical Society and the Community Redevelopment Agency. This is stop number 12. The arcade was a popular building design in the 1920's and 1930's. It was one to two stories in height and had space in the building for individual retailers. The arcade was a precursor to the mall. In the 1930's Hollywood's mayor had a dental office in the building. In the late 1990's the building was the Hollywood Boulevard Theater. Today the building houses Cabo Blanco and Uncle Buck's, a discount store. The upstairs is available for lease.