Arcadia – Page 2

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I stated that I was spending the day visiting Arcadia Florida for the first time ever, and that I would write about it this week. That didn’t happen, as I got sick with the 3-day flu on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. My daytrip to Arcadia has been postponed to Thursday February 27TH 2025. That gives me a little more time to plan it all out. I plan to park my car and walk and browse the entire historic downtown district. I’ve already got my map of the area downloaded.

Arcadia is one of the oldest incorporated cities in the region. It became a city in 1886. A year later with the creation of DeSoto County (carved out of Manatee County) – Arcadia became the County Seat. DeSoto County was named after explorer Hernando de Soto. Arcadia was named after 25-year-old Arcadia Albritton. She was the daughter of local pioneers Thomas and Fannie Albritton.

Footnote: It’s the start of Presidents’ Day Weekend here in the U.S.A. – the unofficial start of Spring Break here in Florida – starting with the week leading-up to the Daytona 500. It’s historically been a big Florida travel weekend for me. For the 2ND year in a row – I’m staying put, as I’m already living in paradise. This weekend in 2023 – I bought my dream home in my dream neighborhood. In 2021 I visited this area. In 2017 I drove through this area en route to and from the Florida Panhandle. In 2016 I drove through this area en route to Walt Disney World. And in 2015 it was my first recorded visit to this area. I took photos of many of the murals all around downtown Lake Placid.

15 years ago I was in the Panama Canal. I’ll look back at that – next #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. It’s my 2,501ST post here on WordPress since 2007. I’ve probably blogged about travel more than any other topic over the past 17 years – and even going back almost 31 years – back to 1993 – when I began my dial-up bulletin board system – an ancestor of my current blog.

Travel is my favorite topic to write and talk about. I’m happy to share my travel adventures with you – past, present, and future – each Thursday here on my blog.

This week I’m writing about a neighboring county to my southwest – the rectangular-in-shape DeSoto County.

I’ve spent very little time in this rural county that’s part of Florida’s Heartland region. I’ve driven through the county a few times along U.S. 17 and Florida State Roads 31, 70, and 72. I’d actually like to explore the historic city of Arcadia – the population center of the county near the geographical center of the county. Over 40% of the 34,000 or so residents of DeSoto County live in either Arcadia or the adjacent unincorporated community of Southeast Arcadia. DeSoto County is among the Top 20 least-populous counties (out of 67) in Florida.

I’d like to start at the Tree Of Knowledge, and take a leisurely stroll along the historic downtown district of Arcadia – with street names like Maple, Cypress, Hickory, Oak, Magnolia, and Pine – maybe enjoy a nice Lunch at one of the local eateries. There’s a soul food restaurant called Red Zone that has piqued my interest. I hear that the food is quite authentic and tasty there. The pictures presented on their Facebook page are indeed mouthwatering.

Arcadia is about 45 miles away from home. I should be able to get there within an hour. As a special bonus I’d have to drive through Zolfo Springs to get to and from Arcadia. I’d like to explore that historic town as well.

Next #TravelThursday – I hear trains. Let’s keep traveling together.