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Meet Marcea

Hi! I'm Marcea – nice to meet you. I love showing people unique things to do in Florida. I'm working on visiting all 175 Florida State Parks. I also enjoy exploring beaches, visiting Black history sites, and learning more about the state's hundreds of years of history. In addition to writing about Florida, I'll share other travel adventures I take around the USA and the world. Glad you're along for the ride!

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Top 5 National Parks On My To-Do List

Holiday Events Near Tampa

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mycornacopia

One of my favorite things about a new year - start

One of my favorite things about a new year - starting a new reading challenge on @goodreads. I try to read as many books as my age each year. Since I was home most of year, I passed my 2020 goal. Which made up for 2019 when I didn’t make it. ⁣
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Some of my favorites this year: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld, Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory and Eleanor by David Michaelis. ⁣
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Hardest read was Memorial Drive by Natasha Trethewey (warning: it’s a true story about spousal abuse and murder). ⁣
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Best surprise was Open Book by Jessica Simpson. It was very well written and she was open about her issues. ⁣
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𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙? 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟶?

Looking forward to 2021 and looking back at 2020 r

Looking forward to 2021 and looking back at 2020 reminds me of some the good things that happened. ⁣
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Looking at these pics from previous years’ trips and from 2020 help put things in perspective and remind me there are more adventures to come. ⁣
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Hope everyone has a safe, blessed 2021. And keep wearing your masks! ⁣
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📷: @𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘻𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 (𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵), 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 (𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘺𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘢

#topnine #manatees #seashells #floridabeaches #floridaoutdoors #blackblogger #floridabloggers #blackwomenoutdoors #LoveFL #bye2020

It’s been a bit of a rough year for my family. B

It’s been a bit of a rough year for my family. But we still have shelter, transportation and meals. Which so many don’t this year. I am grateful for the blessings given to us and the start of the new year with new opportunities. I hope everyone who celebrates has a blessed, beautiful Christmas. And if you’re struggling this holiday season, please know you’re not alone. #Christmas #Holidays2020 #floridachristmas🎄🐊☀️ #blessedholiday #ItsBeenALongYear

The holidays will be different this year. But ther

The holidays will be different this year. But there are still plenty of holiday activities around Tampa, FL. ⁣
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Click the link in my bio to find an updated post with 2020 holiday events near Tampa that includes snow tubing (😱), building a gingerbread house in the safety of your home and a Victorian Christmas at @hbplantmuseum
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙮? ⁣
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#holidayevents2020 #holidayevents #tampaevent #tampaevents #holidaysinflorida #victorianchristmas #henrybplantmuseum #universityoftampa #snowtubing #iceskating #buschgardenstampa #Santa #gingerbreadhousemaking @myclearwater #tampabay #tampabayholiday #blackblogger #travelblogger #floridablogger #lovefl @visitflorida @visittampabay @vspc #boktower #boktowers @boktowergardens #igerstampabay

Have you started your Christmas or Hanukkah shoppi

Have you started your Christmas or Hanukkah shopping yet? I did a little when I was in Key West in October. One of the places I had to visit was @booksandbookskw.
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If you didn’t know, Judy Blume is one of the co-owners of this independent bookstore. She was out of town when we were there. Probably for the best since I was scared I would cry and talk her ear off if I saw her. I’ve been reading her books since I was 7 or 8 and still love re-reading my favorite books by her: 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘑. 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 and 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. ⁣
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Even though I missed seeing one of my favorite authors, the cashier told me that Ms. Blume would sign books and I just had to cover the cost of the book and shipping 🤩 My 12 year old has read some of her books so that was perfect for a Xmas gift!
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If you make it to Key West, be sure to visit this amazing bookstore. The employees are very helpful, the selection is top notch, they have author events and you might get to meet Judy Blume! ⁣
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#keywest #keywestfl #judyblume #judyblumebooks #booksandbooks #booksandbookskeywest #areyoutheregoditsmemargaret #books #bookstagram #lovefl #blackblogger #travelblogger #blogger #vacationfinds #christmasshoppingmadeeasy

@shineonstpete is smaller this year, but it’s st

@shineonstpete is smaller this year, but it’s still a great opportunity to talk with the artists, see art being created and to stop and have a beer at one of the many @stpetefl breweries (we went to @pinellasaleworks - the first mural is on their patio). ⁣
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Some artists hadn’t started when we were there the first day. But we saw @i.b.o.m.s, @artyouhungry, @itsbbart and @oliooolio working on their murals. ⁣
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Of course 2020 impacted the yearly festival. It is also the first year the Shine Festival has had a theme. All artists are creating murals to educate on the importance of the ocean to the ecosystem. Can’t wait to see their final results at the end of the week! ⁣
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#sunshineshere #lovefl #shinefest2020 #shinefestival #igerstampabay #igerstpete #blackblogger #floridablogger #travelblogger #streetmurals #streetmural #streetart #art #muralart #muralartists #pinellasaleworks #paintforapurpose

The Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is unique since

The Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is unique since its located in two different cities and two separate counties. It also has a tragic history. ⁣
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Saltwater fishing off the piers can catch red snapper and pompano, in addition to other species. There are also multiple varieties of birds and spectacular views as Tampa Bay empties into the Gulf of Mexico. ⁣
I enjoyed sitting, relaxing, people watching and taking in some sunshine. ⁣
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Click the link in my bio to learn more about the Skyway Fishing Pier. ⁣
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#LoveFl #flstatepark #flstateparks #SunShinesHere #LiveAmplified #explorefloridaoutdoors #skyway #skywayfishingpier #skywaybridge #blackblogger #travelbogger #blackwomenoutdoors #stpeteigers #tampabayigers #stpetersburgflorida #stpete #stpetersburgfl

Thinking about the mojito that I had last week at

Thinking about the mojito that I had last week at @elmesondepepe in Key West. Thomaz made it with @bacardi rum and it was one of the best I’ve had (the ones I had in Cuba were the only ones better). ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙫𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?

#mojito #elmesondepepe #mallorysquarekeywest #mallorysquare #keywestflorida #keywest #lovefl #floridakeys #FLKeys #blackblogger #blogger #travelblogger #bacardi #rum #bartender

Well, it looks like sunsets at @bahiahondastatepar

Well, it looks like sunsets at @bahiahondastatepark are rivals for the sunsets in Key West!

Spectacular view of the sun going down behind the Old Bahia Honda Bridge. We went tent camping in the park - blog post about how it went coming soon! ⁣
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@thefloridakeys @fl.stateparks #flkeys ⁣#bahiahondastatepark #bahiahonda #bahiahondakey #bahiahondabeach #bahiahondabridge #blackblogger #floridablogger #LoveFL #travelblogger #floridakeys #flkeys #blackwomenoutdoors #thefloridakeys #oldbahiahondabridge #sunsetphotography #flsunsets #flsunset #flstateparks
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Sunsets in Key West are always special. ⁣
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𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩? ⁣
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#sunset #keywest #floridakeys #FLKeys #keywestsunset #keywestflorida #keywestlife #lovefl #relaxinthekeys #floridalife

Camping in a Volkswagen camper van we rented from

Camping in a Volkswagen camper van we rented from @floridavwrentals was the perfect vacation idea. Driving a vintage VW, no electronics, eating s’mores over the campfire and kayaking on the Suwannee River - couldn’t ask for more!⁣
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Want to find out what it’s like camping in a VW? Click the link in my bio.⁣
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#flstateparks #volkswagencampervans #vwwestfalia #camping #lovefl #exploreflorida #explorefloridaoutdoors #blackblogger #travelblogger #blackwomenoutdoors #manateesprings #manateespringsstatepark

There are over 120 painted dolphins floating aroun

There are over 120 painted dolphins floating around Pinellas County, FL from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg. These 6’ tall statues are part of a public art project and designed by local artists. They recently have been equipped with their own masks 😷⁣
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This guy is in front of the Pinellas County Clearwater Courthouse and is called Playing In The Water. ⁣
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I love going to different cities to see their version of this. ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙞𝙣? ⁣
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#clearwaterdolphins #onlyinpinellas #liveamplified #amplifyclearwater #sunshineshere #lovefl #exploreflorida #clearwaterfl #clearwater #blackblogger #travelblogger #floridablogger #igerstampabay #igersclearwater #dolphins #dolphin #publicart #publicartflorida

I love murals! They tell community stories and sha

I love murals! They tell community stories and share art with residents and visitors. ⁣
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Driving up to the @palmharborlibrary today, I saw @no.elleum painting this beautiful mural of a spoonbill and mangroves. Can’t wait to see the final version. ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙡? ⁣
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#liveamplified #onlyinpinellas #lovefl #exploreflorida #blackbloggers #floridablogger #igerspalmharbor #igerstampabay #streetmurals #streetmuralsfl #floridastreetart #streetartphotography #librarylove

Took a morning walk on the beach to refresh my min

Took a morning walk on the beach to refresh my mind. Breathing in salt air was the perfect way to start the day.⁣
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Thanks to @sagescott.kc for the inspiration to head to the beach this week! ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠?⁣
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📷 taken on Honeymoon Island, Dunedin, FL⁣
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#honeymoonislandstatepark #honeymoonisland #honeymoonislandbeach #dunedinflorida #dunedin #floridabeachlife #beach #beachlife #LiveAmplified #FLStateParks #onlyinpinellas
⁣ #LoveFL #ILoveFL
#exploreflorida
#explorefloridaoutdoors #blackbloggers #blackwomenoutdoors #travelblogger #floridablogger #igertampabay

Today is National Beach Day! I’m lucky to live n

Today is National Beach Day! I’m lucky to live near some of the best beaches in the US - Clearwater Beach, Sanibel Island, Naples, Bahia Honda, Panama City Beach, Amelia Island . . . ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖? (𝙍𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞 𝙄𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄’𝙢 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙖𝙝𝙞𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧, 𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚!) ⁣
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(photos: shells found on Shell Key off of St. Petersburg, FL; beach on Shell Key; video taken on beach at Honeymoon Island State Park; beach in Ft. Lauderdale; shells found on Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, FL; view from ferry back from Caladesi Island)⁣
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#nationalbeachday #beachdays #lovefl #visitfl #dunedinfl #ftlauderdale #stpetersburgfl #shelling #kayacking #blackblogger #floridablogger #lovefl #travelblogger @lovefl @fl.stateparks @stpetefl @cityofdunedin @cityoffortlauderdale

Finally experienced @popgoesthewaffle this morning

Finally experienced @popgoesthewaffle this morning. Well worth the drive!⁣
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Especially since they had a promo with @growfinancial and we each got a free waffle covered with bacon 🥓 Sooo good! Will definitely be headed back to see them - when they’re selling they have different options for waffle toppings 🤤⁣
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#popgoesthewaffle #growonus #growfinancial #pinellascounty #blackownedbusiness #waffles #waffle #bacon #baconwaffle

First day of 7th grade! New way of learning but st

First day of 7th grade! New way of learning but still excited to start a new school year. Can’t believe how quickly time has gone by. I remember sending her to kindergarten and worrying about her making it through the day. ⁣
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Our county allowed us to choose to send her back to school virtually for the first nine weeks. She’s online with the teacher and has to follow the bell schedule for each class and lunch. So more formal than the spring semester. Hoping to be able to send her back on campus in October! ⁣
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Hope all the kids have a safe, exciting school year! ⁣
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#backtoschool #firstdayofschool #lisasimpson #virtuallearning

Happy #NationalRelaxationDay! I feel like I’ve l

Happy #NationalRelaxationDay! I feel like I’ve lost the art of knowing how to relax. I used to be so good about cutting off work, technology and worries. Now my mind is jumbled and I need to dedicate myself to learning how to relax again, at least for a few hours. ⁣
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𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙭𝙚𝙙? ⁣
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Photo: drinks being served poolside at @grandvelasmaya
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#relaxed #relaxation #poolside #drinksbythepool #Mexico #GrandVelas #grandvelasrivieramaya #allinclusiveresort #Blackblogger #blogger #floridablogger #floridabloggers #travelblogger

I ❤️ Tampa! ⁣ ⁣ Today’s Tampa is vibrant

I ❤️ Tampa! ⁣
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Today’s Tampa is vibrant, diverse, historic, interesting and fun. Museums, outdoor activities, an excellent international airport, great food & drinks, entertainment, sports are all available in Cigar City. Did you know its other nickname is The Big Guava?⁣
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#813Day is a day to celebrate all the great things about Tampa. ⁣
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𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷e 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘢?

Images: girls watching flamingos at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay; mural at Robert W. Saunders Public Library; angel on the streets of Ybor City; mural at Busch Gardens food & wine festival; photo of a photo seen at Tampa Intl Airport museum; Henry B. Plant Museum; view of Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River from top of Armature Works; tile wall at the original Columbia Restaurant; water taxi on the Hillsborough River near the History Center; Tampa sign at Sparkman Wharf

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#Tampa #visittampabay #tampabay #igersoftampa #igersoftampabay #lovetampa #columbiarestaurant #yborcity #yborcityhistoricdistrict #Blackblogger #bloggersofflorida #FLBlogger #FLbloggers #travel #travelblogger #cityoftampa #tampaproud #buschgardenstampabay #buschgardens #tampainternationalairport #tpa #armatureworks

Spent some time today at the new @stpetepier. If y

Spent some time today at the new @stpetepier. If you’re not familiar with it, a version of a pier at this location has been part of St. Petersburg’s history for many years. ⁣
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The version before this one was an odd looking, often mocked inverted pyramid. That pier was torn down several years ago and the new one opened about a month ago. ⁣
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I have lots of memories getting drinks at one of the restaurants that was located at the old pier. Especially getting sangria at the Columbia Restaurant. They didn’t return to the pier, but there are plenty of places to grab a drink, sit down and eat or get an ice cream. ⁣
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Be sure to seek out all the public art there as well, including the sculpture Bending Arc by Janet Echelman, who has said its creation and name were inspired by a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ⁣
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𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘦𝘳? ⁣
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#LiveAmplified #SunShinesHere #LoveFL #exploreflorida #explorefloridaoutdoors #FLtravel #stpetersburg #stpetersburgflorida #stpete #stpetepier #Blackblogger #blogger #travelblogger #travel #igersstpete #igerstampabay #onlyinpinellas

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