historic home tours tampa fl

Everyone Should Visit These 10 Houses In Florida For Their Unbelievable Pasts

Victoria is a native Floridian and writer for OIYS. She also makes art, jewelry, and other things for her shop, The Gilded Gator .

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Some of these gorgeous historic houses can give you a good idea of what your dream home might look like, some will give you an idea of what it’s like to step back in time, and some will do both. You simply must visit these homes if you’re in Florida.

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There are lots of historic homes in Florida, so let us know if we missed any of your favorites.

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 Annual Old Hyde Park Home Tour

Saturday, December 02, 2023

11:00am - 3:00pm

Hyde Park Preservation (HPPI) sends a heartfelt THANK YOU to all our guests, sponsors, performers and volunteers for the 2023 Home Tour. Your support helps our work in the preservation of our historic neighborhood for all to enjoy.

See you next year for the 2024 Old Hyde Park Home Tour on Dec 7.

Hyde Park Preservation, Inc. (HPPI) is a neighborhood association founded by community leaders in 1974. It is recognized by the City of Tampa and dedicated to the historic preservation, rehabilitation and beautification of Old Hyde Park. Neighborhood boundaries are Rome Avenue, Swann Avenue, and Bayshore Boulevard.

 Upcoming Events

• Saturday, April 13
• HPPI Alley Clean Up is April 13th
• Sunday, April 14
• Paint Disposal and Electronics Collection
• Monday, May 20
• Hyde House, Hyde Park Village">HPPI Annual Meeting & Social
• Friday, May 24
• End of the School Year Celebration

Volunteering is a great way to become involved and meet new neighbors!

Hyde Park Preservation, Inc.

P.O. Box 10321

Tampa, FL 33679

[email protected]

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Chinsegut Hill Historic Site

Open every weekend, Chinsegut Hill Historic Site is located atop one of the highest points in Florida and surrounded by a 114-acre preserve. From prehistoric people to pioneer settlers, from an agrarian plantation before the Civil War to the emancipation of enslaved people, Chinsegut Hill has witnessed thousands of years of Florida’s history.

10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday • 22495 Chinsegut Hill Rd, Brooksville, FL 34601

Tour tickets

Brooksville's frontier outpost and progressive-era gathering spot.

Located atop one of the highest points in Florida, Chinsegut Hill is home to a historic house in a 114-acre preserve. From prehistoric people to pioneer settlers, from an agrarian plantation before the Civil War to the emancipation of enslaved people, Chinsegut Hill has witnessed thousands of years of Florida’s history. During the 1920s and 1930s, new homeowners hosted progressive-era luminaries Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and others before eventually donating the property to the government.

Explore the diverse stories of Florida’s past in one unique location: Chinsegut Hill Historic Site.

Tours every weekend

The Chinsegut Hill Historic Site is open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Guided house tours are available, with the last tour beginning at 4 p.m. Please purchase tickets ($5) in advance. History Center members and children ages 6 and under are free.

History of Chinsegut Hill

1842: The Armed Occupation Act offers homesteaders Florida land.

1840s-1852: Bird Pearson acquires a Florida homestead and moves his family to Hernando County. The family brings with them more than 20 enslaved individuals. Bird practices law and establishes a plantation.

1852-1866: The Ederington family acquires the property from Pearson in 1852. Like Bird Pearson, Ederington is a lawyer and slave owner who establishes a plantation. While living in Hernando County, he acquires more land, is involved in the timber business, and builds a new home on the hill. That home was the first version of the current house.

1866-1904: Charlotte Ederington Snow and Joseph Russell Snow acquire the property. Joseph was a farmer and state politician. He served on the local county commission and as a state-level lawmaker in Tallahassee. The family grew crops on their land, but freezes in the 1890s devastated their citrus trees.

1904-1932: In 1904, the Robins family repaired the house, and named it Chinsegut Hill. The Robins family was actively involved in progressive political causes. They advocated for greater rights for women, the working class and the impoverished. They entertained famous Americans at the home, including Thomas Edison, J.C. Penney and Helen Keller.

1932-1954: Raymond and Margaret deeded over 2,000 acres of their Hernando County property to the U.S. federal government for $1 during the Great Depression. The agreement, however, stipulated that the Robins family could live there until their deaths. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Civilian Conservation Corps established a camp at Chinsegut and conducted agricultural research and conservation projects.

1954-1958: The U.S. Department of Agriculture deeded the manor house and the 114 acres around it to the University of Florida.

1958-2008: The house and 114-acre property was leased to the University of South Florida for $1 per year.

2008-2019: The Friends of Chinsegut Hill group operated the property.

2019-present: The Tampa Bay History Center opens the historic home for weekend tours in partnership with Hernando County.

Latest videos from the Hill

Florida Conversations: Chinsegut Hill

April 21, 2021

Aerial Views of the 114-Acre Preserve

May 19, 2015

Field trips and group tours

Discover Chinsegut Hill’s incredible past through the fascinating personal stories of those that called it home. This Brooksville estate is on the National Historic Registry and will make Florida history come to life with docent-led tours that connect historical events to Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Schedule your group tour or field trip.

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• Murals on the Ground Foods Cafe, Smith’s Sandpaper Shop, and The Angry Chair.  
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Historic hyde park prairie-style home to be featured on home tour, explore hyde park's elegant architecture during hyde park preservation inc.'s annual historic home tour dec. 2..

D'Ann Lawrence White , Patch Staff

TAMPA, FL — Take a tour of Hyde Park's elegant vintage architecture while enjoying music from Gasparilla Music Festival performers and snacks provided by local restaurants.

Hyde Park Preservation Inc. announced that its annual historical home tour is back. The Old Hyde Park Home Tour will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring several distinctive homes in the iconic Hyde Park neighborhood to explore, with sips, snacks and music from Gasparilla Music Festival performers.

Proceeds will benefit the preservation and beautification efforts of Hyde Park Preservation Inc. Tickets are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the event. To purchase tickets in advance, click here.

Find out what's happening in Tampa with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Dating to the 1880s, Hyde Park's development began when railroad magnate Henry Plant built a bridge over the Hillsborough River providing a link to downtown. Plant built his Tampa Bay Hotel north of what was to become Hyde Park and citrus growers James Watrous and William Morrison built the first houses.

Hyde Park's Morrison Grove subdivision is where many of the area's finest homes can be found. Its infrastructure serves as a frame for one of the best collections of fine old residences in the state. Georgian and classical mansions stand alongside half-timber houses and Craftsman bungalows.

“We’re thrilled to announce that the home tour is back," said Carren Rieger Friess, president of Hyde Park Preservation. "This year’s event will feature some of Hyde Park's most exclusive historic properties that are opening their doors to the public for the very first time.''

The tour is being sponsored by Tampa General Hospital and ZooTampa at Lowry Park. Friess said their support of the neighborhood association is instrumental in its ability to preserve and beautify this special historic district.

For the first time, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 906 S Orleans, Tampa, will host the check-in and ticket-purchasing location. The church recently celebrated its 100-year history. It will be open to the public, offering tours that will showcase the 1912 Gothic Revival style building and stunning stained glass windows. Free parking will be available in the Hyde Park Village garages.

Another addition to the tour and open to the public for the first time since its extensive restoration is the “Leiman House.” A rare Florida example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie style and built in 1914, the home is listed with the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Though the style undeniably reflects Wright's, the house was actually designed by M. Leo Elliott, a Tampa architect who also designed Tampa City Hall, Grand Central Place and El Circulo Cubano (the Cuban Club) in Ybor City. Elliott, considered one of the finest architects in Tampa history, designed the home for Henry Leiman who, at the time, was president of the Tampa Box Co., the largest maker of wooden cigar boxes in the world.

The Old Hyde Park Home Tour continues a long series of successful home tours that have invited the community into one of Tampa’s most charming, historic neighborhoods. The planning committee, led by co-chairs Sarah Jaycocks and Sarah Tombaugh, are hard at work attending to all the details, including partnering with local restaurants for refreshments and live entertainment at the homes and along the tour route.

Hyde Park Preservation Inc. is a nonprofit neighborhood association founded by community leaders in 1974. It is dedicated to the historic preservation, rehabilitation and beautification of Hyde Park, which bounds Rome Avenue, Swann Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard.

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Home » Things to Do » Heritage & History » Historic Homes and Mansions

This section features historical museums, but we have more museums in our Museums & Galleries section of the site which feature fine art, geological displays, and more.

DeBary Hall Historic Site

This site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1871 by New York wine importer Frederick DeBary as a seasonal hunting estate to offer family guests hospitality and fun on the Florida frontier. The original estate consisted of 9,000 acres and was planted with orange groves and pecan trees. It also boasted Florida’s first swimming pool and had a private airstrip and airplane hangar. DeBary wintered here until his death in 1898. Now owned by the State of Florida and leased by the County of Volusia,DeBary Hall is fully restored with period furnishings and filled with award-winning exhibits and interactive programs.

DeBary Hall Historic Site 198 Sunrise Blvd, DeBary, FL 32713 (386) 668-3840

The Thursby House at Blue Spring State Park

In 1856, Louis P. Thursby and his family settled the area adjacent to Blue Spring. The Thursby house, built in 1872, remains standing. Shortly after his arrival, Thursby constructed one of the first steamboat landings and planted one of the first orange groves on the upper St. Johns River. The house was once a two-story structure built from three kinds of center-cut pine that had been milled in Savannah, Ga., and transported by boat to the site. It is a National Register of Historic Places. Louis P. Thursby and his family settled on the inlet to Blue Springs, on the St. Johns River in 1856. Shortly after his arrival, he constructed one of the first steamboat landings and planted one of the first orange groves on the upper St. Johns River. His first residence was a log cabin that he built.

Blue Spring State Park 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32713 (386) 775-3663

Is Thursby House Haunted?

Stetson Mansion

Tour Florida’s first luxury home, often considered the grandest built in Florida during the 19th century. When completed in 1886 as the winter retreat of famed hat maker and philanthropist John B. Stetson, this home was the only “Gilded Age” estate in Florida. The Stetsons were known for hosting magnificent parties for elite, influential citizens of America’s most prosperous era. Henry Flagler built a private railway spur to the Stetson estate, enabling delivery of the finest architectural materials. Tour Hours: March–July, Tuesday and Thursday only at 10:30 a.m. Admission: $20 regular tour; $30 grand tour. Cash only. Reservations required. Email your time/date request to: [email protected]. Gates open 25 minutes before the start of each tour. Regular tours last an hour; grand tours are an hour and a half. No high heels, please!

Stetson Mansion 1031 Camphor Ln, DeLand, FL 32720 (386) 873-0167

Stetson Mansion on TripAdvisor

DeLand House

For more than 40 years, the West Volusia Historical Society has actively pursued its mission of collecting, recording, storing, protecting, interpreting and sharing with others the physical and cultural heritage of West Volusia County. The Society currently operates two historical museums, the Henry A. DeLand House and DeLand Memorial Hospital, and the Robert M. Conrad Education and Research Center, an archive/library and educational programming center. Its educational programs and special events range from DVDs about St. Johns riverboats and horticulturist Lue Gim Gong to ECHO Rangers for children and the Oakdale Cemetery History Walk.

The Henry A. DeLand House Museum was built in 1886 by the founding father of the City, Henry Addison DeLand, a native of New York. The house and property was purchased in 1895 by DeLand’s first attorney, Arthur George Hamlin, who also developed the Hamlin Orange. Originally, the house was a one-and-a-half story structure with land that extended all the way to Woodland Boulevard, and had an orange grove from the house to the street.

DeLand House/ West Volusia Historical Society 137 W. Michigan Avenue, DeLand, Florida 32720 (386) 740-6813

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Hyde Park Presentation, Inc. Announces Annual Old Hyde Park Home Tour Set for December 2nd

October 24, 2023 by Post

Walking Tour Features Stops at Inspired Historical Homes with Music and More!

(October 24, 2023) Tampa, FL –    Hyde Park Preservation Inc . (HPPI) is proud to announce that its annual historical home tour is back and in full effect.  Lovers of vintage architecture and elegant homes will want to attend The Old Hyde Park Home Tour, taking place on Saturday, December 2, 11am-3pm. Several distinctive and beautiful homes in the iconic Hyde Park neighborhood will be available to explore, with sips, snacks and music with other surprises along the way. Proceeds to benefit the preservation and beautification efforts of Hyde Park Preservation, Inc. Tickets are available for $30 in advance and $35 at the event. To purchase tickets in advance go to:  https://oldhydeparkfl.membershiptoolkit.com/hometour

Dating to the 1880s, Hyde Park’s development began when railroad magnate Henry Plant built a bridge over the Hillsborough River providing a link to downtown. Plant built his Tampa Bay Hotel north of what was to become Hyde Park and citrus growers James Watrous and William Morrison built the first houses. Hyde Park’s Morrison Grove subdivision is where many of the area’s finest homes can be found. Its infrastructure serves as a frame for one of the best collections of fine old residences in the state. Georgian and classical mansions stand alongside half-timber houses and Craftsman bungalows.

Carren Rieger Friess, President of Hyde Park Preservation, said “We’re thrilled to announce that the Home Tour is back! This year’s event will feature some of Hyde Park’s most exclusive historic properties who are opening their doors to the public for the very first time. ” 

HPPI is also pleased to announce that two standout businesses are sponsoring the tour:  Tampa General Hospital and ZooTampa at Lowry Park .  These sponsors are part of the fabric of the Tampa community, one in the health care of our residents and the other in conservation of animals.  Their support of our neighborhood association is instrumental in our ability to preserve and beautify this special historic district that is a treasured part of Tampa.

For the first time, St. John’s Episocpal Church will host the check in and ticket purchasing location. The Church recently celebrated their 100-year history, will be open to the public and offering tours that will showcase the 1912 Gothic Revival style building and stunning stained glass windows. Another exciting addition to the tour and open to the public for the first time since its extensive restoration is the “Leiman House.” A rare Florida example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style and built in 1914, the home is listed with the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Though the style undeniably reflects Wright’s, the house was actually designed by M. Leo Elliott, a Tampa architect who also designed Tampa City Hall, Grand Central Place and El Circulo Cubano (the Cuban Club) in Ybor City.  Elliott, considered one of the finest architects in Tampa history, designed the home for Henry Leiman who at the time was president of the Tampa Box Co., the largest maker of wooden cigar boxes in the world. This home is one of many gems on the tour that is highly anticipated.

The Old Hyde Park Home Tour continues a long series of successful home tours that have invited the community into one of Tampa’s most charming and historic neighborhoods. The planning committee, led by co-chairs Sarah Jaycocks and Sarah Tombaugh , are hard at work attending to all the details, including partnering with local restaurants,  for refreshments and live entertainment at the homes and along the tour route.

The Old Hyde Park Home Tour: Saturday, December 2nd from 11am-3pm  (Note: Event is Rain or Shine)

Ticket pricing: $30 in advance, $35  at the door. Pick up tickets at St. John’s Episcopal Church

Purchase Tickets: https://oldhydeparkfl.membershiptoolkit.com/hometour

Tour route begins at: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 906 South Orleans Tampa, Fl 33606

Free parking is available in the Hyde Park Village Garages.

About Hyde Park Preservation, Inc.  (HPPI)

Hyde Park Preservation, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) non-profit neighborhood association founded by community leaders in 1974. It is recognized by the City of Tampa and dedicated to the historic preservation, rehabilitation and beautification of Hyde Park.  Neighborhood boundaries are Rome Avenue, Swann Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard. 

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

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3. Miami Sightseeing Tour and Millionaire Row Boat Cruise Combo

4. Historical Sightseeing Catamaran Cruise in Palm Beach

5. South Beach Cultural Food and Walking Tour

6. Private Guided Historic Electric Cart Tour of St. Augustine

7. City Sightseeing Trolley Tour of Sarasota

8. Biscayne National Park By Boat With Island Visit and Park History

9. Walking History Tour of St. Augustine's Historic District

10. Guided Bicycle Tour of Old Town Key West

11. Tampa History Cruise

12. Key West Historic District Small-Group Walking Tour

13. 2-Hour Polaris Slingshot Rental in St. Augustine

14. Guided Tampa Sightseeing Tour in a Deluxe Street Legal Golf Cart

15. Plantation's Kings Bay Scenic Cruise

16. The Official Art Deco Walking Tour by The Miami Design Preservation League

17. Key West Historic Homes and Island History - Small Group Walking Tour

18. City Tour Miami PLUS (City Tour + Boat Tour)

19. Historic Ybor City Food Walking Tour

20. Fort East Martello Ghost Tour & VIP Robert the Doll Experience

21. Castillo after Dark 1 Hour Guided Exterior Tour

22. Key West Conch Train Tour: Explore Iconic Sights and History

23. Dolphin and Wildlife Adventure of St. Augustine

24. Kennedy Space Center Admission Ticket

25. Shared Ybor City Historic Walking Tour

26. : Step back in time with pastime private historical tours

27. Sunset Sail on Historic Schooner in Key West

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29. Jimmy Buffett Tour

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What travelers are saying.

• Steve S Madrid, Spain 1 contribution 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles A blast in touring the historic town We thoroughly enjoyed Kevin's guide in touring some important part of the town that carries historic meanings. He went beyond the scheduled time to share with us as much history as he could with passion, knowledge and humor. Read more Review of: Walking History Tour of St. Augustine's Historic District Written April 6, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

29 Delicious Reasons To Explore Tampa, Florida

Posted: February 23, 2024 | Last updated: February 23, 2024

Feast on Florida's historic fare

Nestled in the sunshine state, Tampa Bay possibly drums up images of roller coasters and sunsets by the water – but it's also a fantastic place to visit if you like your food with a sprinkle of history on top. Whether you choose to dine in Ybor City (home to the Cuban cigar factories and chickens with civil rights) or at the regenerated Sparkman Wharf, you're guaranteed to find something tasty.

Click or scroll through our gallery for a tour of Tampa's historic food scene, from Florida's oldest restaurant to a sandwich with a fascinating past.

Stay at a hotel designed for foodies

If, like us, your travels are all about food, you'll want to stay at  The Epicurean Hotel . The name comes from the Greek philosopher Epicurus, who believed that 'Pleasure is the Greatest Good' and whose philosophy inspires every aspect of this culinary haven. The hotel comprises the Michelin-recommended Élevage SoHo Kitchen & Bar, the stylish EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge and, just off the lobby (pictured), the Bern’s Fine Wines & Spirits wine shop, where you can pick up a bottle of almost anything you enjoyed in the restaurant or bar.

Dine on deliciously diverse cuisine at Élevage

The Élevage Restaurant menu is inspired by a variety of cultures, including Indian, Mediterranean and Asian. The food is innovative and made to look exquisite on the plate. There isn't much we wouldn't recommend when you dine at Élevage, but the baked oysters with 'nduja (a spicy, spreadable pork sausage) go beautifully with a side of the crispy glazed Brussels sprouts, seen here in all their cheesy glory. Executive Chef Jon also recommends the Chilean seabass before you tuck into a dessert or three...

Head to the rooftop bar

The decor at Élevage is cosy and relaxed, with pieces from numerous local artists dotted around. But if you want to feel that warm Tampa breeze, head up to the EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge for an Espresso Martini or glass of Pinot Noir where you can take in the view and enjoy a handcrafted drink. Elsewhere in the hotel you'll find The Epicurean Theatre, where master chefs and food critics from around the world give classes, lectures and taster events.

Grab a scoop at Chill Bros

The Epicurean partners with local chefs and tastemakers, which is why you'll find a branch of Chill Bros Scoop Shop right opposite the lobby. Perfect for an after-dinner treat, or at any time really, Chill Bros started when a sister and three brothers fulfilled their childhood dream to open their own scoop shop in their neighborhood, Ybor City. One of the brothers, Max Chillura, went back to the family's roots in Bologna, Italy to learn the art of ice cream making, returning to create American-style ice cream from scratch.

Taste ice cream with a Tampa twist

The Chill Bros you'll find at the Epicurean Hotel is bigger than it looks, with your typical tubs laid out upfront and a full-scale pastry kitchen out back, too, where the mix-ins, cookies, candies and other delicious additions are made by a formally trained pastry chef. You can order the usual flavors, but each has a distinctly local twist; Tampa Banana, Guava Pastelito and Cafe Con Leche Chunk are some of our favorites.

Find elevated fast food at Sparkman Wharf

With a vision to dramatically reshape 56 acres of downtown Tampa waterfront, plus a reported investment of around $3.5 billion, Water Street's Sparkman Wharf is the place to try some of the newest and hottest places to eat. Fast food spots and restaurants sit alongside museums, attractions and a new outdoor venue of shipping-container food stalls. You're right next to Tampa’s busy cruise ship terminal, with a pirate water taxi on hand to help you get around, but we recommend a stroll so you don't miss anything.

Satisfy a sweet tooth at Everglazed

One of the many popular stalls on the waterfront dinging court, Everglazed is for foodies with a sweet tooth. Order classic wings and donuts, plus enjoy gourmet creations like the peanut butter explosion donut. Sandwiches and cold-brew coffees are also on offer, and we can highly recommend the oversized cinnamon rolls.

Order lobster mac 'n' cheese at The Battery

As well as the more casual dining on Sparkman Wharf, there are also places like bourbon-focused restaurant and cocktail bar, The Battery. Centrally located within the plaza, this place oozes sophistication and makes fantastic cocktails. Exposed brick and leather seating complement the curated whiskey vault and open wine display. Ever-popular dishes include the lobster mac 'n' cheese and cooked-to-perfection steaks.

Discover The Pearl

A short walk from Sparkman Wharf is The Pearl , opened by the owners of longtime local favorite, Ocean Prime Restaurant. A restaurant, tavern and oyster room, here you can order shareable plates and seasonal oysters for lunch or dinner, complemented by handcrafted cocktails. (There are two other locations of The Pearl, in Ohio.)

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Try the freshest seafood

If you're going to eat oysters while in Tampa, you should do it here; served raw, baked or grilled, they are all delicious. But if you prefer something else from the menu, we recommend the Harbor Salad, which has shrimp, crab and scallops tossed in with avocado, aged ricotta and a red wine vinaigrette. You also can't go wrong with their elevated version of a classic grilled cheese, which is made with brie, pear jam, roasted squash and arugula pesto.

Celebrate fusion cuisine at Ulele

Ulele (pronounced you-lay-lee) in Tampa Heights celebrates a fusion of ingredients from Florida waters and land once home to indigenous people. Its namesake is the legendary princess Ulele, the daughter of the Tocobaga chief, who lived in the Tampa Bay area during the 1500s. Legend says she spared the life of a Spanish soldier – much like Pocahontas did, 80 years later. 

Order the mahi-mahi

This is the beautiful statue of her just outside the restaurant, which has an industrial feel thanks to it once being a waterworks, and the dining space offers views of the Hillsborough River. On the menu, expect plenty of seafood alongside visually appealing dishes bursting with color. We ordered the mahi-mahi 'Mr. Henry', a fresh fillet from the Gulf of Mexico, blackened and served with a tangy green papaya slaw, charred corn salsa and garlic spinach.

Go with the gator tail (for the adventurous)

For the table, you can't go wrong with the okra fries and fried green tomato BLTs (pictured). If you're feeling adventurous, the native gator tail, marinated in chili, dusted in seasoned flour, flash-fried then served with spicy remoulade, is crispy and delicious. For dessert, the coconut ice cream comes in half a coconut shell and is wonderfully cooling.

Find food heaven at Oxford Exchange

Originally constructed in 1891, the building that now houses Oxford Exchange has a long history. In the 1920s, it held an arcade of local shops and businesses, but slowly emptied and needed a fresh start. Enter brother-and-sister team Blake Casper and Allison Adams, who wanted to create 'a place to belong' for their local community. With inspiration from the siblings' travels abroad and their passion for books, Oxford Exchange opened in 2012.

Enjoy a bouji breakfast

Now a bookshop, restaurant, home goods store, workspace AND coffee bar, Oxford Exchange is exactly what Casper and Adams dreamed of. The local community uses the space for a myriad of reasons, with good food, coffee and books available at all times. You can stop in for breakfast (try the salmon and cream cheese on an everything bagel – it's divine) or lunch, and the space is even available as a wedding destination.

Grab a book and handcrafted coffee

The genius of Oxford Exchange is the multi-functional space. You can pitch up for a meeting with an expertly crafted latte from the coffee bar, browse for a new read in the bookstore or shop for the latest home decor in the store (which even has a Champagne bar tucked into one corner). They really have thought of everything here.

Take a bite of history at Goody Goody

Nowhere does diners quite like the US, and Goody Goody Burgers is among the most interesting. Opening in 1925, it served classic fare: burgers and fries, milkshakes, pancakes and pies. Founded by Ralph Stephens, it was the first drive-in restaurant east of the Mississippi River and passed through a few owners – though one member of staff outlasted them all, becoming the face of the longstanding diner.

Learn about 'the queen of hamburgers'

A major part of the Goody Goody story, Yvonne Freeman (pictured here, left) started out as a carhop for Goody Goody from 1947-49. After a 10-year hiatus, while she had her five sons, she returned as waiting staff in 1959. Yvonne took exclusive responsibility for making the Goody Goody burger's secret sauce, a recipe handed down unchanged from the Stephens years. She also made the delicious homemade pies herself. From 1985 to 2005, Freeman was manager of Goody Goody, although was better known as 'the queen of hamburgers'. 

Pick up some Goody Goody memories

Goody Goody closed in 2005, when a developer bought the property. But in 2014, Richard Gonzmart bought the restaurant with a plan to rebuild the classic diner. Yvonne was vital in the re-launch, sharing the long-guarded recipes she had from the restaurant's heyday. When it reopened in 2015, she was a Goody Goody celebrity, with customers asking her for autographs and wondering if she remembered them from a decade before. Apparently, she did. Yvonne passed away in 2019, but the memories of her live on in this fantastic diner. Stop by for a burger and be sure to take home a branded mug.

Wander Hyde Park Village

Goody Goody's reopening is part of a larger project: Hyde Park Village. With a central fountain and plaza, where you'll find this sign telling you about the history of the place, the area is a modern, upmarket shopping and dining destination, filled with things to see and do for the community and visitors. Stroll along the tree-lined streets and charming brick walkways with a Buddy Brew coffee in hand, and soak up the Tampa sun.

Order cupcakes via an ATM

There is plenty to discover in Hyde Park village, but the cupcake ATM was a real highlight for us. Yes, you read that correctly. Sprinkles Cupcakes knows that, sometimes, you just need 24-hour access to cake. This candy-pink machine supplies a range of cupcakes, gluten-free options included, all packed in a pretty box for you to take away.

Head to a 1920s speakeasy

After a day exploring the shops or waterfront, you may want to kick back with a cocktail. Enter Ciro's, Tampa's answer to the 1920s speakeasy scene. This place drips and sparkles with old Hollywood glamour. You'll need to call ahead to get the daily password, or risk being turned away. Once inside, you'll be treated like an old friend and seated in a private booth complete with gauze curtains to add to the intimate vibe.

Nibble on truffle popcorn at Ciro's

Although it's typically the drinks menu people come for, Ciro's offers some tasty treats to enjoy while you sip on your Espresso Martini. The truffle popcorn is great for a light bite, or try the crab cakes for something a little more substantial. Be aware that, from January 2024, the kitchen is undergoing a renovation, so there may be fewer dishes available.

Explore Ybor City

Another part of Tampa soaked in history is Ybor City, a National Historic Landmark District. Founded in the 1880s by Vicente Martinez-Ybor and other cigar manufacturers, it was populated by immigrants from Cuba, Spain and Italy. Arrive from downtown Tampa via bright yellow streetcar, then explore on foot – looking out for the chickens. The free-roaming birds, descendants of those owned by the original residents of the neighborhood, are protected by law. For more history on the area,  book a walking tour  with Max Herman, who weaves stories old and new with dramatic flourish.

Visit the world's largest Spanish restaurant

Founded in 1905, Columbia Restaurant serves traditional Spanish-Cuban cuisine made to family recipes. It's a stunning building, with a menu bursting with local historic flavor. Although there are three locations, the original Columbia Restaurant is right here in Ybor City, and covers an entire city block. It's currently the largest Spanish restaurant in the world – and the oldest continuously operated eatery in Florida.

Dinner and a show at the Columbia restaurant

Dining here is quite the experience, especially if you book a table for one of the flamenco dinner shows. Even the salads are part of the display, tossed tableside so you can watch the creative flair that goes into them. We loved the 1905 Salad: crisp iceberg lettuce with ham, Swiss and Ramano cheeses, tomato, olives, Worcestershire sauce and Columbia's famous garlic dressing.

Don't leave without trying a Cuban sandwich

The menu at Columbia is as dazzling as the entertainment and decor. But you really should order the Cuban sandwich, even as an extra for the table. Freshly baked Cuban bread, sweet ham, roast pork, perfectly melted Swiss cheese and tangy, crunchy pickles, all layered together, make for the best sandwich we've ever tasted. Jeff Houck, vice-president of marketing for the Columbia Restaurant Group, is so passionate about the dish, he's co-written a book about it,  The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers . And it does have a layered history indeed...

Weigh in on the sandwich debate

Miami and Tampa have a long-standing debate between them over who first picked up on the Cuban sandwich as it came over from Havana. Between 1890 and 1950, Tampa had the largest enclave of Cubans in the United States, but the Cuban revolution at the end of the 1950s resulted in an influx of immigrants in Miami, with new twists on the sandwich. At some point, salami was included in some recipes, while Miami began using a press to make their sandwich thinner, whereas you'll find a heftier wedge in Tampa.

Visit the home of Cuban bread

One ingredient that cannot be debated in a Cuban sandwich, however, is the bread. It must be Cuban.  La Segunda Central is the largest baker of Cuban bread in Tampa and delivers its signature product to stores and restaurants (including Columbia) across town. Be sure to pay this historical bakery a visit to learn how it all started with a 19th-century soldier, Juan Moré. He brought his traditional recipe to Ybor, joining a co-op of fellow bakers and cigar makers to open La Segunda.

Now discover the most-loved dish in every US state – and where to eat it

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Dear Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd,

I am writing to you about some ideas I had for one of your museums.

As you know, Tallahassee is home to more than just the Florida State Capitol. (Congrats on ridding it of the recent infestation of lobbyists.) It’s also the home of the Museum of Florida History , which exists to show visitors that lots of interesting stuff happened here before Walt Disney World opened in 1971.

The museum attracts 55,000 people a year to view its 46,800 artifacts — or rather it did until 2022, when it closed for repairs . Turns out water was leaking down into the museum, imperiling the cool displays such as a mastodon skeleton found in Wakulla Springs. Nobody in Tallahassee likes leaks, except the press.

Your agency, which operates the museum, recently announced that because of the renovations , it will remain closed until 2026 . Whew! I sure hope nothing historic happens in Florida between now and then! Especially nothing controversial about how we teach history, right?

In the meantime, though, you’ve said you want us Florida citizens to tell you what we’d like to see displayed in the museum. There’s an online survey for anyone to pitch their ideas.

I’d like to see more of an environmental emphasis. So please consider this list my contribution to the museum’s curation.

I consulted a few experts and came up with a few things that are important to Florida’s existence but may soon cease to exist themselves. Some may even disappear in the next two years, given the way Florida seems to be heading lately.

Wetlands vs. golf course water hazards?

The first item on my list: an exhibit about our rapidly vanishing wetlands.

Every decade since the 1950s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes a report on the status and trends of the nation’s wetlands. Usually, the news is about as optimistic as the old “Hee Haw” sketch about gloom, despair and agony .

The one time it was not, in 2006, the feds had fudged the numbers to claim the wetlands were increasing . It turned out the “increase” was because they were counting retention ponds and golf course water hazards as swamps.

When the feds put out their latest report last month, you could tell they were not counting golf course water hazards this time.

The report documented a loss of 670,000 acres of swamps and marshes in the most recent decade they checked — an area about the size of Rhode Island. Worse, the rate of loss has accelerated by 50% since the previous report.

Only Alaska has more wetlands than Florida, but we’ve been doing our best to get rid of ours for a century or more. We’ve been replacing them with those retention ponds and golf course water hazards, or just paving right over them.

That’s bad because wetlands filter water pollution, soak up floods and provide habitat for important species. Concrete, surprisingly, does none of those things.

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The pace of Florida wetlands destruction sped up in late 2020 when the Trump administration, on its way out the door, allowed Florida to take over issuing federal wetlands permits . This was a consummation for which Florida developers had devoutly wished and worked toward for 20 years.

Their goal was to have those permits shooting out of the Florida Department of Environmental Foolishness — er, excuse me, Protection — about as fast as the candies rolling off the assembly line in “I Love Lucy.”

Fortunately, a federal judge ruled in February that the way the DEP set up its permitting process was illegal and would have to stop . Developers have been whining about that stoppage ever since, and last month a member of Congress even got into the act.

Rep. Aaron Bean is the former mayor of Fernandina Beach and a former member of the Florida House. On his campaign website , Bean boasts that he “rescued a beloved Putt-Putt golf business in the community from going under.”

Perhaps that’s why Bean seems more enamored of golf course water hazards than actual wetlands. He stuck an amendment onto someone else’s bill to override the federal judge and put the DEP back in its illegal business of rapidly issuing wetlands permits.

He told his colleagues this was necessary because “thousands of projects” are on hold now — or rather, as he put it quite dramatically , “they’re on HOOOOOOOLLLLD!” He didn’t mention it, but two of those projects could have doomed the Florida panther . (There’s already a panther in the museum or I would include them in this list.)

Bean’s meddling probably will not work, thanks to a veto threat from the Biden administration. But it’s a sign that the people who want to substitute concrete for every swamp, marsh and bog that’s left in Florida are trying every tactic possible to get that runaway conveyor belt running again.

I’d devote at least a corner in the museum to showing off the wetlands that once covered millions of our acres. Maybe we can even use the water leaking in from the plaza to keep it wet.

Our most common contaminant

Speaking of wet, how about a display that features our once-clean waterways?

I am usually happy to see Florida ranked No. 1 in anything. But I am sorry to tell you that we’re No. 1 in something we don’t want to be: We have the most polluted lakes in the U.S . and the second-most estuaries swimming in contamination.

This epidemic of pollution is why we’ve been repeatedly plagued by toxic algae blooms in a variety of colors: red, blue-green, brown, you name it. No offense to the Skittles folks, but this is one rainbow I do not want to taste.

We could be passing laws to make pollution rules stronger, require more inspections and monitoring, even shorten the timeline and increase the penalties for violators. But our fine Legislature has avoided those actions.

Thus, instead of cracking down on the politically influential polluters, our DEP is currently working on a program that would allow polluters to buy water quality “enhancement credits” to make up for their continued fouling of the waterways.

What’s worse, the measurements would be based on computer models, not on actual water samples. Florida’s computer modeling has already done a terrible job with state water permits , because it’s based on false assumptions.

The water permit models assume that the aquifer flows at a steady rate through layers of sand and gravel. What’s actually beneath our feet is a honeycomb of limestone. It’s full of holes both big and small, and the water sometimes shoots through as if sprayed by a fire hose.

The model has already been a disaster for Florida’s water quantity, lowering the flow of our fabulous springs. Now, with this “credits” scheme, we’re on the verge of spreading that to water quality, too.

If the DEP approves this scam, pollution and toxic algae will be a constant problem for our rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and springs. The DEP is asking people to comment online on this idiotic scheme, so I hope there’s time to avert it. Unfortunately, the most common contaminant we have in Florida is the grease regularly applied to the skids on such pro-pollution plans.

This is why I am proposing an exhibit about one of our pre-polluted springs, with water gurgling up from underground that’s so gin-clear you can see every detail of the glowing sandy bottom. That way visitors will understand why Marjory Stoneman Douglas called them “bowls of liquid light.”

Maybe we can have that exhibit flow into one that I’d like to put over near the mastodon, one about our marvelous manatees.

Sayonara, sea cows

Anyone who relishes wild Florida knows manatees as magnificent creatures that help to spread seagrass throughout our waterways. Did you know that their nearest evolutionary relative is the elephant ? Hence my idea of putting a manatee display by the mastodon.

Not long ago, we had more than 6,000 manatees around Florida. But then our pollution and toxic algae blooms combined to kill off tens of thousands of acres of the seagrass they eat.

Some 2,000 of them died, many from starvation. Many of the ones that survived suffer from malnutrition, which is likely to hurt reproduction rates.

When I asked Patrick Rose of the Save the Manatee Club how the sea cows are doing now, he told me that they’re better. However, he said, “I would not say (the die-off) is concluded because the causes that created the crisis are still a major future threat.”

For the museum, I recommend a continuous video loop of healthy manatees cavorting in a spring and splashing around as they eat.

Then there’d be a manatee skeleton on display, to show how so many wasted away to skin and bones because of us.

Afraid of the dark

Mr. Secretary, do you remember when Nickelodeon had a scary anthology show for kids called “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” I think all of Florida’s developers must have seen it and been scared out of their wits by it.

I say this because they’re doing everything they can to light up the night all over Florida .

Wherever there’s a rural area that’s far enough from the cities to be dark at night, they go to work, planting something that will shine like a beacon . It could be houses, stores, an office park, or all three. But whatever it is, it will eclipse the moon and stars with a plethora of streetlights, porch lights and headlights.

Frequently, these light-’em-up heavyweights persuade local politicians to go along with their plans. Is there an observatory run by the University of Florida in a particularly dark corner of Levy County ? Then the county commission will vote to approve opening a noisy, well-lit sand mine next door .

Or let’s say there’s a rural area that’s supposed to be kept that way to protect the groundwater underneath it. They will work on the local politicos to change the rules to let them build something big and bright on top of it.

And should any local governments listen to their local voters and resist this push, the developers will turn to state legislators — as you once were — to change the law and make it close to impossible to say no.

That’s why my last proposed museum exhibit will invite visitors to enter a spacious room where they’re surrounded by the silhouettes of trees. Then the docents will slowly dim all the lights. As they do, a dazzling array of stars will wink on across the ceiling, just the way they used to across the skies in Florida’s rural areas.

Anyway, Mr. Secretary, let me know if you’d like me to send you some more ideas for how to accurately document our recent history. Assuming, of course, we’re still interested in that.

Craig Pittman is the author of six books, including the New York Times bestseller “Oh, Florida! How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country,” which won a gold medal from the Florida Book Awards. This essay originally appeared in the Florida Phoenix.

© 2024 Florida Phoenix

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