"Dive into the colorful past of Florida's natural wonders! In this visual tour of the state's five largest springs, collector-extraordinaire Tim Hollis brings together postcards, advertisements, brochures, signs, flyers, and souvenirs from the early days of these popular roadside attractions. Since tourists first started visiting the Sunshine State, they were drawn to these liquid gems: Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, Rainbow Springs, Weeki Wachee Spring, and Homosassa Springs. Today the springs are protected as state parks and continue to lure tourists and nature lovers alike. Sit back and enjoy the eye-catching scenes of the mermaids, alligators, underwater mountains, and glass bottom and submarine boats that helped these unique parts of the natural landscape become must-see destinations"--

"Paradise Park was the "colored only'" counterpart to Silver Springs, a central Florida tourist attraction famous for its crystal-clear water and glass bottom boats. Together the two parks formed one of the biggest recreational facilities in the country before Disney World. From 1949 to 1969, boats passed each other on the Silver River--blacks on one side, whites on the other. Though the patrons of both parks shared the same river, they seldom crossed the invisible line in the water"--Jacket.

Traces the story of the MacIvey family of Florida from 1858 to 1968.

Come experience the beauty of North Florida's beaches, attend a womanless beauty pageant or ride on a twelve car ferry to one of Florida's barrier Islands. Drive the beach in search of a loggerhead turtle laying her eggs late at night and tell ghost stories around a campfire. This book focuses on a little known area of North Florida's coast. These are stories of the people and events that make up one of Florida's hidden secrets--it's crown jewel called the Forgotten Coast.

This book is about a vanishing way of life in Old Florida in an area called the "Forgotten Coast." Extending from the St. Marks lighthouse to Mexico Beach, this part of Florida is an undiscovered paradise of white sand beaches, tasty seafood, and friendly people. Read true stories about those who live in the small towns and make their living from the waters. Explore places named by the early Spanish explorers and Indian's. Visit the cool waters of Wakulla Springs and the lighthouses at St. Marks, Carrabelle, and Cape San Blas. Learn how the towns got their names and some Florida history. Laugh at womanless beauty pageants and an ex-wife's revenge. Read about the beauty of places like the St. Marks Refuge and Cape San Blas, all a part of Florida's beautiful Forgotten Coast. If you are visiting the area this book will serve as useful information and a guide. If you own a beach home this is a must have book for your family and guests to read while sunning at the beach.

"For most of the state's existence, Florida's economy has been driven by tourism and tourists. And after a carefree day on the beach, they need a place to sleep and eat. Wish You Were Here is a nostalgic look back at the days when a clever slogan ("Sleep to the Song of the Surf"), a pink-and-aqua paint job, a swimming pool, and air-conditioned rooms--combined with aggressive advertising through postcards, brochures, magazines, billboards, placemats, and neon signs--were the keys to capturing the tourists' dollars. Tim Hollis began collecting this memorabilia in the 1960s, when he travelled with his parents on vacation in Florida. Arranged like a scrapbook, his lighthearted review of the most interesting and unusual hotel, motel, and restaurant advertising will make you remember childhood vacations fondly--or wonder why anyone would have ever eaten or slept there. The nearly five hundred color images are accompanied by humorous captions. They depict unique mom-and-pop motels, early advertising from hotel chains, and countless pirate-themed seafood restaurants. The book is organized around the traditional tourism regions of the state, from the Gulf Coast's Miracle Strip to the Keys' Paradise Islands. So sit back, enjoy the trip, and please don't kick the back of the driver's seat"--

A colorful look at a forgotten era of Florida tourism Filled with rare photographs, vintage postcards and advertisements, and fascinating writing from over 100 years ago, Florida's Healing Waters spotlights a little-known time in Florida history when tourists poured into the state in search of good health. Rick Kilby explores the Victorian belief that water caused healing and rehabilitation, tracing the history of "taking the waters" from its origins in the era of Enlightenment. Nineteenth-century Americans traveled from afar to bathe in the outdoors and soak up the warm climate of Florida. Here, with more than 1,000 freshwater springs, 1,300 miles of coastline, and 30,000 lakes, water was an abundant resource. Through the wealth of images in this book, Kilby shows how Florida's natural wonders were promoted and developed as restorative destinations for America's emerging upper class. The rapid growth in tourism infrastructure that began during the Gilded Age lasted well into the twentieth century, and Kilby explains how these now-lost resorts helped boost the economy of modern Florida. Today, these splendid health spas and elaborate bathing facilities have been lost, replaced by recreational amenities for a culture more about sun and fun than physical renewal. In this book, Kilby emphasizes the value of honoring and preserving the natural features of the state in the face of continual development. He reminds us that Florida's water is still a life-giving treasure.