Send us your Florida questions!

Florida's home to some truly horrible B movies. B movies so bad, they're amazing.  Rick and Cathy take a road trip around the state, using some of the best of the worst films made in Florida as a guide. 

St. Cloud: 2,000 Maniacs

Right next door to tourist-swollen Kissimmee, you'll find St. Cloud, where this delightfully bad film was made in 15 days. Stop by St. Cloud, an area with some fascinating history, and don't forget to eat at The Catfish Place.

Watch the trailer.

Green Cove Springs: ZAAT

Take one mad scientist, a catfish, and a human, and what do you get? ZAAT. Filmed in Green Cove Springs, a small town on the St. Johns River.
Watch the trailer.

Marianna Florida: Sharkansas Women's Prison's Massacre

Don't be fooled by the name — This film is all Florida. Check out the scenes filmed at the caves at Florida Caverns State Park. A Jim Wynorski classic.

Watch the trailer. 

 Everglades City: Devil Fish (Monster Shark)

A visit to Everglades City isn't complete without an airboat ride and a look inside the lobby at the Everglades Rod & Gun Club. Check out Joannie's Blue Crab down the street.

Watch the trailer.

Orlando:

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Pythons. Iguanas. Brazilian peppers. Florida's overflowing with tales of exotic invasives threatening paradise. But... not all exotic invasives are created equal. 

Join Rick and Cathy for a short foray into some of their favorite exotic invasives, which ones they wish would leave the state forever, and which ones are — believe it or not — the tastiest.

Meet the python hunters of the 'Glades

Watch Guardians of the Glades

Curious how python hunting works? The last half of this video has a simulated capture that almost went sideways.

Ethics and Maximum Good

Water Hyacinth

Combating Invasive Species in Florida

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week, Rick and Cathy welcome Elizabeth Herryman Lasley, host of Keys Traveler podcast, as they talk about the things that make the Florida Keys special. (Find the Florida Keys podcast at the official Florida Keys website (they also have a newsletter, just in case you can't get enough of the Florida Keys.)

The trio starts the podcast with a pair of key deer wandering past Cathy, and from there they talk about the Turtle Hospital, Hemingway cats, and the best way to get to the Florida Keys.

Links We Mentioned

Florida Keys Wild Bird Center

Where to Eat Lionfish

San Carlos Institute

Indian Key State Park

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Looking for a great weekend getaway, or something new to do in Central Florida? Rick and Cathy have some great places to see, things to do, and restaurants to try in Mount Dora. The small city's famous not only for its antiques; the downtown painted itself pink for a movie (which starred a waterskiing elephant and some fantastic Hollywood talent).

Also, Pat Frank set his apocalyptic novel, Alas Babylon, in Mount Dora. Here's where to go to see Mount Dora like an insider.

Links We Mentioned

Honky Tonk Freeway

Alas, Babylon

Things to Do

Mount Dora Sailing Regatta

Mount Dora special events calendar

Mount Dora Bicycle Festival

Antiques
Rennigers 

Places to Eat

1921
Pisces Rising
Goblin Market


Hotel
Lakeside Inn

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week, inspired by Cathy's recent travels to central Florida, Rick and Cathy talk about places they love in Lake County, some of the more surprising aspects of Lake County history, and why, even in the middle of The Villages, you can find hidden scraps of natural Florida. 

Helpful Links and Links We Mentioned

Visit Lake County travel website

Authentic Florida's Things to Do in Clermont

Citrus Tower (also has a Facebook page)

Lake Louisa State Park

Ferndale

Howey Mansion Official and RIck's blog about it

Fenney Springs at The Villages

Alexander Springs

Harris Chain of Lakes

History of Lake Apopka

Lake Griffin State Park

Green Isle Gardens

Annie Oakley in Lake County

Devil in the Grove

Redwing Restaurant

Things to Do in Astor

Drifter's Riverfront Restaurant

Paisley

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Join Cathy and Rick as they venture through Ocala, making virtual stops at their favorite restaurants, natural areas, and roadside attractions. 

Along the way, discover (or re-discover) a central Florida Elvis movie, learn about the "wild west" in Florida, and find out which one of the podcast hosts is kin to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Links We Mentioned

Appleton Museum

Barberville Produce

Carney Island Recreation Area

Craig Pittman and Chadd Scott's "Welcome to Florida" podcast

Florida Trust for Historic Preservation/ Preservation on Main Street 

Follow That Dream

Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Palmetto Leaves

La Cuisine French Restaurant

Lorito's Italian Kitchen

The Ma Barker House (Florida's first dumb criminals—who, of course, were not from Florida)

Marion Theater

Old Crow BBQ

Ray’s Wayside Park

Silver River Museum

Silver Springs

Silver Spring Camping

Six-Gun Territory weekend

Sonny's BBQ started in Gainesville

Sun Plaza Motel

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

Rick and Cathy welcome Melanie Lentz-Janney, of Authentic Florida fame, to the podcast. They spend the episode talking about some of their favorite Florida kitsch, the difference between Florida collectibles and Disneyana, and their favorite Florida roadside attractions. 

Links we mentioned

Authentic Florida

Presidents Hall of Fame (Clermont)

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Boyett's Citrus Attraction (and Authentic Florida's day trip there)

Signup link for Authentic Florida newsletter or follow Authentic Florida on Facebook

Tupperware Museum

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week "The Florida Spectacular" welcomes back Keys historian Brad Bertelli. Brad talks about some little-known Keys history (including a deserted island), but then he talks about where the locals eat in the Florida Keys. To wrap it all up, he talks about some of what he thinks are the most special places in the Keys (hint: get in or on the water!)
 
Headed to the Keys soon? Stop by Robbie's Marina and have Brad mix up a rumrunner for you!

Links We Mentioned

Visit Indian Key (rent a kayak at Robbies if you don't have one of your own)

Brad's Facebook group k 

Square Grouper (Brad says try the peanut butter dessert

Try the conch salad at Geiger Key Marina

Keys Fisheries in Key Largo MM100

El Siboney on Stock Island

All Florida state parks here are amazing, but Brad suggests Dagny Johnson, and Windley Key; Cathy loves Bahia Honda and Long Key.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

This week, Cathy and Rick have Florida architecture on their mind. Specifically, different historic homes. From the simple cracker cottages of Florida's first EuroAmericans to the grandeur of Ca'dZan, spend some time taking a virtual road trip across Florida, to the state's most iconic homes. 

Links we mentioned

Ybor City Casitas
Heritage Village

Pioneer Villages
Classic Cracker: Florida's Wood-Frame Vernacular Architecture, by Ronald Haase
Ca’ d’Zan
Vizcaya
Trapper Nelson
Flagler Museum/ Whitehall
Mar-a-Lago Kellogg Mansion
This Flickr album has some fantastic shots of abandoned Florida places
Fort Christmas Historical Park
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Miami Beach Art Deco Tours

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!

Send us your Florida questions!

In anticipation of the Floridiana Festival on Gulfport, Rick and Cathy talk about  Gulfport: What to do, where to eat, and how to enjoy the small city by the sea.

Links we mentioned

Outside

Kayak Clam Bayou

Hike Clam Bayou

Culture & Live Music

Gulfport History Museum 

Gulfport Arts Center

Art in the Yard

ArtJones

Walking Tour

Blueberry Patch

North End Taphouse

The Tiki on Shore & 56th

The Gabber Newspaper

Shop & Eat

Gulfport Beach Bazaar

Brenda McMahon Gallery

Stella's Sundries

Pia's

Let It Be Ice Cream

Gulfport Brewery (try Disston Lager!)

Find Rick on Twitter @OldFLA and online at RickKilby.com.

Support the show

Question or comment? Email us at [email protected].

Subscribe to The Florida Spectacular newsletter, and keep up with Cathy's travels at greatfloridaroadtrip.com. Keep up with Rick at studiohourglass.blogspot.com and get his books at rickkilby.com.

Find Cathy on social media: Facebook.com/SalustriCathy and everywhere else as @CathySalustri; connect with Rick Facebook.com/floridasfountainofyouth, Bluesky (@oldfla.bsky.social), and IG (@ricklebee).

NEW: Florida landscape questions — Send us your Florida plant questions and we'll have an expert answer them on the show! Use this link!