Note: Many of Floridas toll roads are now cashless. The regional SUNPASS is available Prepaid at most Publixs, CVS and Wallgreens so you can buypass rental car transponder tyranny.
Tourist Attractions. There are many, but Old Town has cool chararacter. 5770 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
Kissimmee (407) 396-4888-Heres some images from Old Town
Alachua, FL (Near Gainesville)
Eats-Browns Country Buffet-14423 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL 32615-Southern food in Greater Gainesville.
Boynton Beach, FL
Bar-Sweetwater Bar & Grill-1507 S Federal Highway, Boynton Beach, Florida-Bar and grill with “mixologist’ cocktails with an occasional soul and tiki DJ.
Cocoa Beach, FL
Eats-
Pig & Whistle English Pub – : 240 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 (321) 799-0724
Gainesville, FL
Some events listed at the Gainesville Iguana. Check out DIY GAINESVILLE.
Sightseeing-
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park- hike to view waterfalls, foliage & a 120-ft. cavity.-4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653
Eats-
Satchel’s restaurant-1800 NE 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL 352-335-7272. It’s the best pizza/salad/calzone place in town and it’s very artsy, with a million mobiles hanging from the ceiling and an outdoor garden
Sandwich Inn-110 NE 16th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601-Divey drive through that can be hit or miss but is actually one of the oldest places in town.
Hogans-2327 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609-Formerly Hogans Heroes, they got sued, but it is still a 40 plus year old sandwich place that this sight exists for.
Adams Ribs-2109 NW 13th St, Gainesville, FL 32609-Newer joint with remodeled galvanized interior but building must have been a previous family restaurant. Closed Sunday.
Terrell’s Bar-B-Que- 1916 Waldo Rd Gainesville, FL 32609 -Truck only open Thursday Friday and Saturday.
Live Music-
High Dive– no-cover for the outdoor bar, this live-music venue hosts local & traveling bands.: 210 SW 2nd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 872-5949
The Atlantic Nightspot -Address: 15 N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601 Burlesque and Bands
Top Secret Events at the Wooly- 30 N. Main St. Gainesville, FL 32601-Banquet hall with privately run events
First Magnitude Brewing Company -1220 SE Veitch St, Gainesville, FL 32601
Hardback Cafe-920 NW 2nd St, Gainesville, FL 32601-Wednesday Night variety show.
Record Stores-
Hear Again Records- 201 SE 1st St, Gainesville, FL 32601
Jacksonville, FL
Above, a Camel Rider, a local regional specialty in Jacksonville. Sometimes called Riders. Basically any type of sub in a pita.
The Weekly alternative paper is Folio Weekly. No Idea records has a lot of bands that tour through the area
Music Clubs-
Imperial Bar & Lounge-325 W. Forsyth St., Jacksonville (904) 355-0810 Live music & pizza in renovated antique bar
Jack Rabbits, 1528 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville.
The Florida Theatre-128 East Forsyth Street-Jacksonville, FL 32202 (904) 355-2787-large venue for bigger acts.
Rain Dogs -1045 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204(904) 379-4969-Beer only room with a cool back room for bands.
Underbelly – 113 E Bay St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Birdie’s-1044 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 (904) 356-4444
Achetype– 2952 Roosevelt Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205 (904) 619-9978 formerly starlite and Nighthawks
Harbor Tavern – 160 Mayport Rd, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233: (904) 246-2555 -Pub with touring punk and rock bands on occasion.
Bonos BBQ-actually a regional chain with a mustard based sauce
Blue Crab Crabhouse-3057 Julington Creek Road, Jacksonville, FL – (904) 260-2722
Blue Boy Sandwich Shop, 421 N Laura St Ste 2 , Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville (Lem Turner/Norwood Ave. exit off 1-95) It’s about 1/4 mile east of the exit on Norwood. One sandwich is big enough for two people. Over 50 varieties. 2 other locations.
Metro Diner-3302 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 (904) 398-3701, featured on triple d. Homemade meatloaf, steak salad with fries and steak and blue cheese on top of a salad and stuffed french toast called yo, challahRecord Store-
Theory Shop, 1051 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Junior’s Famous Sandwiches, 9347 N Main St -Jacksonville, FL 32218 (904) 751-2816
The Sheik-Regional Middle Eastern Fast Food chain with the above pictured Riders
Trent’s Seafood & Grill “The best seafood in town without going overboard.” -4553 120th St Jacksonville, FL 32244 (904) 908-4202
Micanopy, FL
Eats-
Pearl Country Store & Barbecue-106 NE US Hwy 441 A, Micanopy, FL 32667
Old Florida Cafe-203 NE Cholokka Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667-Cute little cuban cafe with knick knacks. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Palm Coast, FL
Eats
Captains BBQ-5862 N Oceanshore Blvd, Palm Coast, FL 32137
Great Ribs and brisket on the water. (386) 597-2888
Port St. Joe, FL
Eats-Indian Pass Raw Bar -Neighborhood hangout focusing on seafood serving the panhandle version of chargrilled oysters “baked oysters” 8391 County Rd 30A, Port St Joe, FL 32456 (850) 227-1670-works on an honor system.
Sarasota, FL
Tues-Sat 9am-9pm, Closed Sun & Mon, (941) 922-3797 4520 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231 http://www.alpinesteak.com/
Apocalypse
6560 Superior Ave, Sarasota, FL 941-923-5081
Daddy Kool-5900 S Trail Unit K, Sarasota, FL
813-921-7271
Stuart, FL-(about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach
Record Stores-
Confusion Records 20 E Ocean Blvd Stuart, FL (561) 287-9994
Video store-
Groovy Movie A Go-Go 28 E Ocean Blvd Stuart, FL (561) 221-0400
Tallahassee, FL
Live Music-
Liberty Bar and Restaurant-1307 N Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 284-7966
Club Downunder -Tallahassee, FL-gets shows like Mary Timony and superchunk. College associated.
The Wilbury-513 West Gaines St, Tallahassee, FL 32301(850) 320-6353 most nights til 2. Mini bowling, occasional live music, bbq and battered to order onion rings and cheese sticks.
Warhorse Whiskey Bar– 603 W Gaines St, Tallahassee, FL 32304
DIY venue-The shark tank. Updated 12/2016 these types of places tend to be short lived.
Tiki Bar-Waterworks-104 1/2 S. Monroe, Tallahassee, FL 904-224-1887
Record Stores-
Vinyl Fever-2033 W. Pensacola St,Tallahassee, FL 904-576-4314.great store, great website with local act info.
Retrofit Records-439 W Gaines St, Tallahassee, FL 32301-Occasional in store shows
Eats!-
Nicholson Farmhouse is now known as White Dog Plantation. No longer a restaurant.
Manna, 3507 Thomasville Rd. (Village Square Blvd.) Tallahassee, FL 32309 , 850-668-1968 Gourmet deli, take-out and restaurant.
Shell Oyster Bar-Oysters in a converted gas station- 114 East Oakland Ave (between Munroe and Adams), 850-224-9919
Bird’s Aphrodisiac Oyster Shack-No-frills seafood joint featuring oysters with many toppings and burgers: 325 N Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL 32301
Tampa, FL/St. Petersburg/Lakeland
The Local Alternative Paper is Weekly Planet. For good show info click here. For Ybor city news try Ybor City.com. For other concert info check out local promoter Fantasma’s Site. Local info site Bay Domain is also worth a visit.
TBT Soundcheck site.
Monthly swing events at Swingtime.
Nearby is St. Petersburg is the Salvadore Dali Museum.
Live music-
Fubar Downtown – 658 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Daily 3PM–3AM (727) 424-1809
The State Theatre -687 Central Avenue -St. Petersburg FL 33701
727.895.3045
Skippers Smokehouse-Corner of Skipper Road and Nebraska-813-971-0666-yeah, I know. Sounds like a restaurant, and it is, but is was also voted best place to hear live music in Tampa.
Jannus Landing-16 2nd St N, St. Petersburg (727) 896-1244
The HUB-Dive bar with the occasional live band-719 N Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602
Crowbar -1812 N 17th St, Ybor City, FL 33605
Phone:(813) 241-8600
Dance Clubs-
The Castle-2004 North 16th Street, Tampa, FL 33605-(813) 247-7547-its a castle. bar/club thump thump, maybe a goth night
Tampa is home to a Busch Gardens theme park with some great coasters.
When in Tampa, the place to be is YBOR City (pronounced e-bore), home of galleries, clubs and restaurants in this college town, though it can be kind of sleepy when its not a weekend night. They have gallery walkarounds once a month too. Don’t miss the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg across the river.
Eats-
Berns Steakhouse-1208 S. Howard Avenue at Margere-Tampa (813) 251-2421-THE most famous restaurant in Tampa, and pricey but a hipster spy tells me they are not quite what they used to be and instead recommends Charlies Steakhouse and Fish-4444 W. Cypress St., Tampa, FL 813-353-9706
Pasadena Steak House -1530 Pasadena Avenue S. at 22nd Ave
Brocato’s Sandwich Shop-5021 E Columbus Dr, Tampa, FL 33619-open for decades, home of a famous deviled crab ball and “stuffed potato” which is also breaded and fried. Only open til 5:30 pm, earlier on saturday and closed on SUnday.
Coney Island Sandwich Shop ?-250 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33705(727) 822-4493
Most days 10AM–4PM, Sunday Closed -90 years old, coney dogs and burgers.
South Pasedena (727) 341-1711-a cheaper steak place with a great caesar in an area of St Petersburg.
The Crab Shack-old fashioned CHEAP!! Crab house. St. Pete. They feature a very unusual Smoked mullet. Get the peel and eat shrimp and coleslaw. Skip the crab cakes and the garlic butter crabs, but get the key lime pie!
Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish, 1350 Pasadena Ave S, South Pasadena, FL 33707 (727) 381-7931-another smoked fish joint, this one also has an amazing fish spread, smoked mullet and whole large platters of smoked fish. Potato salad made with BACON and a surf and turf combo with the fish spread side and a burger made with velveeta. You can also bring your own fish and have it smoked.
More Tampa/St Pete Eats
Skyway Jack’s -2795 34th St S, Saint Petersburg, FL 33711 (727) 867-1907-Only open 5am to 3 pm. Hobo soup, SOS, breakfast pie, scrambled brains. Giant humpty dumpty and chicken out front.
Ted Peter’s Famous Smoked Fish-1350 Pasadena Ave S, South Pasadena, FL 33707-Phone number (727) 381-7931-Tiny old classic Florida must eat. Nothing like this anywhere else in the country. Huge planks of smoked fish of different types. Closed Tuesday, other days 11:30 am – 7:30 pm
Trip’s Diner – 10555 Park Blvd N, Seminole, FL 33772 most days 7AM–9PM
(727) 623-0907-Breakfast cuban sandwich, Crabmeat omelette, beautiful thin onion rings.
West Tampa Sandwich Shop -3904 N Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL 33607 Daily 5AM–3PM, Saturday 5AM–5PM, Sunday 5AM–1PM (813) 873-7104 Cuban sandwiches and Garbanzo soup and the Tripleta Sandwich. Ham, Pork & Shredded Steak. Crab Croquettes.
Record Stores
Sound Exchange – 14246 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa
Hotels-
In addition to the numerous chain hotels around the area, there is the Tahitian Inn, 601 South Dale Mabry Highway, (800) 876-1397, with 62 rooms in a residential neighborhood, with a heated outdoor pool. $69 to $89.
Drive In Theater-
Silver Moon Drive In-4100 U.S. 92 W., Lakeland, FL 33801, (941) 682-0849
Treasure Island, FL
Eats-
Dixie’s Dog House -250 107th Ave, Treasure Island, FL 33706 (727) 360-6001 Chicago style hot dogs, open 7 days 11AM–7PM
Sadly defunct memories of the Miracle Strip in Panama City, FL, Home of the Miracle Strip amusement park. Destroyed for condos. Boo Condos.
Panama City and the Redneck Riviera
These towns are close to each other, but not very close to Orlando and Tampa. They can be done as part of a New Orleans road trip.
Miracle Strip-12000 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL (850) 234-5810-Amusement Strip and beach area for Northern Florida. SORRY-MIRACLE STRIP HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. THERE IS A WATERPARK ACROSS FROM THE ADDRESS THAT STILL USES THE WEBSITE (closed 8/2004)
Near Panama City is St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, where you can rent a cabin, swim at a very clean beach or go horseback riding.
Apalachicola, FL
Eats-
Tamaras Cafe Floridita-17 Avenue E. Apalachicola, FL-850-653-4111-excellent venezuelan restaurant.
Hotels-
Brigitte’s Romantic Retreat -101 Sixth St., Apalachicola, FL. One of them themed hotels with all different rooms.
Carabelle, FL
World’s Smallest Police Station in Carabelle, on US 98.
De Leon Springs, FL
Eats
Old Spanish Sugar Mill, 601 Ponce Deleon Blvd
De Leon Springs, FL 32130 (386) 985-5644- In a state park, this place lets you grill your own pancakes.
Destin, FL
Shopping-Banana Bart-620 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541-Old Florida souvenir and novelty shop.
Eats-
Donut Hole Bakery and Cafe-635 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL 32541-Breakfast place with counter seating.
The Back Porch-Big seafood place since 1974- 1740 Scenic Hwy 98, Destin, FL 32541
Fort Walton Beach, FL (50 miles east of Pensacola)
Eats-
Joe & Eddies Restaurant, 206 SE Florida Place, Ft. Walton Beach, 243-0733-Incredibly good, incredibly cheap down home cooking. Open 24 hours on the weekends.
Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q,925 North Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, (850) 314-0717-When in the south, you gotta get ‘cue.
Movie Theater-
Suds-N-Cinema — 174 SE Miracle Strip Parkway, Ft. Walton Beach, FL – (850) 244-2484, 243-7455-Movie theater where you can drink and smoke. Great Idea.
Lamont, FL
Shop-
Arthur James Robinson’s Pecan House- 3621 E Capps Hwy, Lamont, FL 32336
Phone: (850) 997-5330 Old Florida Tourist stop.
Mexico Beach, FL
Eats-
Toucan’s Tiki Bar -(TT-Not really tiki as we know it) surf ‘n’ turf sea shack: 719 US-98, Mexico Beach, FL 32456 : (850) 648-8207
Pensacola, FL
Amusement Park-
Sam’s Fun City– Located in Pensacola south of I-10 on Highway 29. New Family Amusement Park.
Bars-
Elbow Room -2213 W Cervantes St, Pensacola, FL 32505 (850) 434-0300-very dark red lit dive bar.
Azalea Cocktail Lounge-810 N Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32501 -60 plus years. Most nights til 2:30 : (850) 433-9186
Eats-
Purple Parrot Tiki Bar & 3 Palms Bistro-13555 Perdido Key Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507
Closes 12AM (850) 466-3805 Public bar in a resort with great burgers
Blue Dot-310 N De Villiers St, Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 432-0644 -Great burger and a bbq sandwich at this counter joint that is lunch only.
Cubi Bar Cafe – in the National Naval Aviation Museum, 1750 Radford Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32508 (850) 452-2643-an unusual local restaurant that is located in the aviation museum. An inexpensive 49th aerosquadon, sorta.
Jerry’s Drive In -2815 E Cervantes St, Pensacola, FL 32503 (850) 433-9910-The kind of joint this site exists for.
Peg Leg Pete’s-pirate-themed oyster bar with picnic tables and good char grilled oysters in many varieties -Tip-make a reservation on their app via yelp before you go-1010 Fort Pickens Rd, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 932-4139
Five Sisters Blues Cafe-421 W Belmont St, Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 912-4856-Excellent Cajun joint.
Paradise Bar & Grill Located in: Paradise Inn, 21 Via De Luna Dr, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561: (850) 916-5087-This is your typical Florida Beach Bar, Crab bites, peel and eat shrimp Mahi (Dolphin) sandwiches, and often some sort of bar band. Tables on the beach too.
The Fish House -600 S Barracks St, Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 470-0003 fancier right on the dock seafood restaurant. Prices are not insane though.
Native Cafe-45 A Via De Luna Dr, Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 (850) 934-4848-brunchy locals place, shrimp and grits, etc and great key lime pie.
Jackson’s Steakhouse -Fancy Steakhouse in a building from the 1860s-400 S Palafox St, Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 469-9898
Blue Dot Barbecue -310 N De Villiers St,Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 432-0644-Despite the Name, this place makes only Burgers and then two saturdays a month, rib sandwiches and ribs that you have to order by 9 am. But the burger is a simple homestyle monster and the building is a cool glass brick front building. Closed Sunday and Monday too.
Live Music-
lora-bama Lounge and Package-17401 Perdido Key Drive in Pensacola Bay., 850-492-3048-Live Music in a beach house with a Jimmy Buffet twist. HUGE joint with 3 stages and many varieties of grilled oysters.
Vinyl Music Hall – 2 S Palafox St, Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 607-6758
HANDLEBAR– 319 N. Tarragonna, Pensacola, (850)434-9060-Old punk ruck club
Local Music Info Here.
Record Stores-
Music Box: 3960 W Navy Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32507 (850) 434-1977
Remember Wynn-7007 Lanier Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504 (850) 476-8630
Revolver Records: 9 E Gregory St, Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 712-6373
Seaside, FL-Believe it or not, an artists community 40 miles east of Fort Walton Beach.
Books-
Sundog Books-89 Central Square-850-231-5481 – Seaside
Spring Hill, Florida
Awesome tourist attraction
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, Florida 34606 (352) 592-5656 Old timey Florida tourist attraction, now part of a state park. See a quaint show where mermaids perform to you in an underwater theater. Catch it before the times or the mean environmentalists cause it to shut down
Winter Haven, FL
Cypress Gardens amusement park is gone and is now Legoland, FL. A tourist destination of old, with classic water skier shows and the like. It was saved by the wrecking ball by another operator and added rollercoasters and other thrill rides. Winter Haven has a Monster mini golf, an indoor, glow in the dark mini golf course. Air conditioned!
Eats-Harbor Side Steakhouse & Oyster Bar 2435 7th St SW, 863-293-7070. It’s a roomy restaurant situated on a lake and is an old-school Florida seafood restaurant. They have fried pickle chips.