Lake Jesus is the largest lake in Seminole County. It is 13 miles in length and consists of 16,000…read moreacres of open water and floodplains. The lake is roughly 8,000 acres and is part of the St. Johns River waterway. It connects to the St. Johns River at the north end by a narrow strait. Lake Jesup is notable for having the concentration of alligators in Florida. Lake Jesup is believed to have been named for General Thomas Jesup who served as the Commander of the Army of the South during the Second Seminole War from 1835-1842. The lake was discovered during the time the army was exploring the St. Johns River for transportation for troop and supplies lines. Long before the army found the lake however it had a rich Native American history. The southern shore of Lake Jesup is called Kitchen Middens. Middens are a kind of ancient garbage dump that can tell you a lot about the people who lived there. Early Native American inhabitants processed food and disposed of the waste in this area. Pottery shards and pieces along with animal bones have been discovered here. In the middle of Lake Jesup is a 30 acre island called Bird Island. The island was owned by Forest Michaels, who had a tomato farm on part of the island in the 1960s. Today the island is a nesting site for many birds including cattle egrets, white ibises, great egrets, glossy ibises, snowy egrets, eagles, and blue herons. SR 417 crosses Lake Jesup on a 1.5 mile bridge built in 1993. The bridge is part of the Seminole Expressway section of the 417 tollway which begins at the Seminole County line. This section run by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise is 17-mile-long and extends to an interchange with I-4 in Sanford at the end of the beltway. Driving across the Lake Jesup Bridge is very enjoyable. The view of the lake is spectacular and if you have the chance to look up there is a number of birds nesting on top of the light poles. I highly recommend a visit to Overlook Park at the southern end of the bridge for a close up view of Lake Jesup and its wildlife.

Lake Jesup Bridge spans Lake Jesup as you drive along Highway 417. It has been said that Lake Jesup…read moreis the most alligator infested lake in the world and you can often see alligators out there in Lake Jesup. Lake Jesup Bridge is a bridge that I would always associate with the thought that I was almost home whenever I would be traveling from some long-distance destination and heading home and I would cross Lake Jesup Bridge. Lake Jesup Bridge is a cool part of the highways of Florida and Lake Jesup Bridge will always be a part of my memories. I will give Lake Jesup Bridge five stars.

While taking a stroll along Lake Lily I was delighted to spot this historic marker recounting…read morehistorical information about the path I was on. Stopping for a minute to read a historic marker is a great way to learn more about the history of an area. I have gained so much knowledge about Florida from these blue historical markers that can you find all around the state. This marker is next to Lake Lily near the playground. According to the marker, the brick road along the west side of Lake Lily dates back to the Second Seminole War. In the 1830's Lake Lily Drive was used as part of the route between the Fort Mellon, a supply depot in Sanford along the St. Johns River and Fort Maitland built in 1838 on the shores of Lake Maitland across the street from this park. It took a full day by foot for troops to travel between the two forts. This small trail was important because it connected Fort Maitland to the main route. After leaving Lake Lily the route headed south south on what is now Highway 17-92. Lake Lily Drive became part of the first direct route from northeast Florida to Maitland. In 1915 Lake Lily Drive was covered in bricks making it the first grouted brick route in Florida. In 1925 Lake Lily Drive became part of Dixie Hwy connecting Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Miami, Florida. In 1927 the road was joined to the Black Bear Trail at Lake Lily. In the 1960's Lake Lily Drive was paved. A restoration project in 1998 removed the asphalt and the Maitland Historical Society restored the bricks. Today visitors to Lake Lily Park can take a step back in time as they walk along the brick pathway from the 1800's. Marker F-523 was installed in the park in 2004 by the City of Maitland and Florida Department of State.

In Titusville I discovered one of Florida's distinctive blue historic markers, which are part of…read morethe state's Historical Marker Program, one of the Division of Historical Resources' most popular public history initiatives. These markers highlight important people and places throughout Florida. They can be found along roads, battlefields, cemeteries, churches, colleges, historic districts, schools, historic buildings, and at archaeological site like this one. This marker tells the story of the Windover Archaeological Site, one of the most important archaeology finds ever made in Florida. Marker F-486 was installed in 2002 by the Brevard County Historical Commission and the Florida Department of State. In 1982, a bulldozer was excavating a pond for a new housing development when a backhoe operator noticed several human skulls in the bucket of his machine. It was quickly determined that they belonged to an ancient Indigenous people who had lived in the area thousands of years ago. Archaeologists ultimately recovered the remains of 168 individuals from the peat at the bottom of the pond. The peat created extraordinary preservation conditions, protecting not only the skeletons but also soft tissues, including some brain matter. Researchers at Florida State University studied the remains, yielding a wealth of new information about Florida's earliest inhabitants. Textiles recovered from the burials provided rare insights into ancient weaving techniques, while preserved gut contents offered valuable clues about their diet. One of the most remarkable discoveries was the skeleton of a young man born with spina bifida. Because his spinal cord developed outside his spinal column, he was likely paralyzed from birth. Evidence suggests that his community cared for him throughout his life until he died from an infection at around 15 years of age, offering a glimpse into the compassion and social bonds of these ancient people. In recognition of its extraordinary importance, the Windover Archaeological Site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. To learn much more about this fascinating discovery, visit the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, which features a comprehensive exhibit on the site. If you visit the archaeological site itself, however, all you'll find is this historical marker.

At the dawn of the Space Age Titusville became the gateway to America's journey into space. During…read morethe Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs, countless astronauts, engineers, technicians, and aerospace workers called the city home. Today, is known as one of the best places in Florida to experience rocket launches, with spectacular views from its waterfront parks. Approximately 50,000 people live in Titusville, a city known for its rich history, nature, and space exploration. The city maintains 27 parks offering everything from playgrounds and sports fields to scenic riverfront walks and nature trails. Popular destinations include Sand Point Park, Space View Park, Fox Lake Park, and Enchanted Forest Sanctuary. In charming downtown Titusville you can explore historic buildings, unique shops, and restaurants. Visitors should not miss the American Space Museum & Walk of Fame, the U.S. Space Walk of Fame, the restored 1891 Pritchard House, and the North Brevard Historical Museum. I love that there is free parking offered at the Welcome Center and they are always happy to direct you to your next adventure. No visit would be complete without experiencing one of Titusville's most iconic restaurants, Dixie Crossroads. Serving guests since 1983, this family owned seafood restaurant is famous for its wild-caught rock shrimp and its complimentary powdered sugar-dusted corn fritters, a Space Coast tradition. When visiting Titusville you can discover prehistoric history, Victorian architecture, the Space Race, and beautiful waterfront scenery. Come for a rocket launch, history museums, and a walk along the Indian River. While Titusville lives in the shadow of the Kennedy Space Center, there is so much more below the surface worth discovering.

During a mini vacay, we wanted to check out the progress of Titusville over the last ten years…read moresince our last visit where we ate lunch at the iconic Dixie Crossroads. Drove toward downtown from I-95 and was shocked that the area has basically halted in any commercial improvements on Garden Street which is the main thoroughfare. The few dilapidated homes littered with outside junk also did not help with the dull ambiance. The westside of Titusville really needs some updated infastructure. With that said, the east side historic area was absolutely magnificent. Visited a few historic Titusville landmarks and loved the Indian River Lagoon surrounding the Max Brewer Bridge watching the boats pass under was a game changer. Relaxed in the Sand Point Park along the Indian River.

This is a beautiful memorial to the tragedy that was brought not only to New York City, but to all…read moreof America. This memorial is in Windermere, Florida (which is next to Orlando). It is located between the Town Hall and the library and is a girder from the World Trade Centers. We must remember that terrible day that was brought to our country, but we must remember the strength of our country and its people. All who came together and shown that terror won't drive us apart. I had just moved to Florida in 2001 (at the end of June to be exact) and remember looking watching the news and seeing the v terrible events. I also remember talking to my friend Bob who was still in New Jersey and him telling me in little more than a whisper that the New York skyline "is gone." This is a great reminder that we Americans are amazing people and terror cannot drive us apart.

The weather outside may not be frightful, but Christmas in Florida can be so delightful. While…read morebalmy breezes and swaying palms may not be everyone's idea of a typical Christmas, Floridians have found some pretty unique ways to celebrate the season. And, for those who just can't do without ice and snow, we have that too... we even have a town named Christmas. Yes, Virginia... there really is a Christmas, Florida. Florida may not see much snow, but the small post office near historical Fort Christmas sees plenty of activity prior to the holidays. People come from miles around to have their Christmas cards postmarked "Christmas, Florida!" If you go, expect to wait in longer-than-usual lines for what has become a holiday tradition for many. Christmas, Florida, is a strip of highway 50, east of Orlando, with an overly large post office and a number of local attempts at the theme. Christmas pennants hang from every telephone pole, there's a Christmas trailer park, a perennial fully decorated evergreen tree, religious grottoes, and a small but ominous locked Christmas Museum, apparently open only by appointment or at special events. There are a few things Christmas is famous for one being the post office but that's another review another is Fort Christmas that's also another review then there's the most famous person coming from Christmas noooooo it's not Santa it's James Wheeler a.k.a. Tex. American Sculptor James Hughlette "Tex" Wheeler's Headstone, located in the Fort Christmas Cemetery in Christmas, Florida. Mr. Wheeler is best known for his sculptures of the famed racehorse Seabiscuit and the jockey who rode him to fame, George Woolf at Santa Anita Park in California as well as a statue of Will Rogers at the Will rogers Memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma. If you ever have the opportunity to stop in you should it like stopping in to see the the world's largest ball of twine or the largest frying pan you know it's gonna be on your bucket list now :-)

The Clifton School House was built around 1890-1891 by Butler Campbell and Andrew Jackson, black…read moreland owners who homesteaded on north Merritt Island. A nearby neighbor by the name of Wade Holmes provided a one- acre lot as the building site, which was located in the north west corner of his property adjacent to the Campbell's. Prior to building the school house, the Campbell and Jackson children attended school in the home of a black man by the name of Mahaffey who lived nearby. They bought the lumber and building materials in Titusville and had them shipped by sailboat to north Merritt Island. Together, and with the help of Wade Holmes, they built a 12 x 16 wooden structure of heart pine lumber. Two sets of glass-paned windows were placed opposite each other on the north and south sides of the building. The front of the school house faced west which was fitted with a double paneled door, and the roof was made of cedar or cypress boards. The entire structure rested on wood pilings about one foot off the ground. By 1910 most of the Campbell and Jackson children were of the age to be out of school or attending a school in Titusville that offered a higher education, and the little wooden structure no longer was used as a school house. When the Government took over all of North Merritt Island in the 1960's the families had to relocate to other areas. Most of the structures were demolished or disassembled board by board until there was little visible evidence that any inhabitants had lived in that area. Somehow the old Clifton Schoolhouse was overlooked, or maybe thought not to be of any value, and would eventually fall to the elements of weather and time soon enough. Sometime in the late 1960's or 1970's, someone discovered the old wooden structure still standing under a heavy growth of vines, and after investigation of the site, found an old trunk inside, filled with old letters, post cards, receipts, greeting cards and other personnel items belonging to the Campbell family. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO RESTORE SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT!

This pedestrian bridge is about 100 feet long hovering above Garden Street in West Titusville…read moreallowing safe passage across the busy intersection. There are businesses on both sides including Titusville Bait & Tackle and Dr Dan's RC Shop. The steel truss style bridge is completely enclosed with top fencing and high rails to prevent falls. Drove under the bridge as people walked over.