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Living in Florida Resources and information of interest to folks who live in Florida. All about living in our Florida paradise...
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Surfers and College Education Mix? Maybe at UWF. |
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Written by Liz
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Monday, 09 March 2009 |
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A couple of weeks ago, we went on a college visit for an open house that the University of West Florida was having and discovered that Pensacola not only has a fine place to educate your children but also enjoy the surf nearby at Pensacola beach with their big waves during parts of the year. On the day of our visit, it happened to be quite windy, there happened to be a bunch of surfers riding the waves, and my daughter happened to be quite exhilerated imagining herself as a college student coming to the beach on the weekends to go surfing. We'll see. We still have a lot of other universities in Florida to visit yet! Anyway, here's my take on the University of West Florida. The new President seems inspirational and reports herself as well as the professors as ones who forge new paths and focus primarily on high quality undergraduate education - offering more flexibility without so much bureacracy and the "no's" you might get at other educational institutions. They emphasized here is where you can get more support and encouragement to go "outside the box" in research, teaching, or learning. This university does not offer as many graduate degrees and does not emphasize graduate degree programs as much as they do their undergraduate degree programs. Also, there's no football team here (yet) so if that's important to you, look elsewhere. However, if you want a smaller university where professors are more likely to get to know you, or if you like any of their specific degree offerings, some of which are unique and not offered that easily elsewhere (such as an undergraduate marine biology degree), or enjoy a bunch of enthusiastic college students (wow, there was a good showing of dancing, chanting, and exhuberantly cheering students around during the open house!), then give this university a visit! http://www.uwf.edu |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 09 March 2009 )
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Creative Loafing Tampa Bay |
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Written by Liz
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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If you're in the Tampa Bay-Clearwater-St. Petersburg area, and looking to meet people, a companion or the potential love of your life, the Creative Loafing newspaper (and website arm of it) can give you lots of leads! In particular, you should check out the listings involving Community events as well as the Personals. Community events listings are a treasure waiting to be discovered. You'll find lots of groups and special interest clubs and associations listed with topic of interest, meeting days and times or special events that are happening. It's like being able to find and then join clubs, like when you're in high school and you're trying to find some clubs you might like to join to meet other like-minded folks, but this is the resource you can consult now as an adult. There are also personals listings, including online you can choose for love listings or for lust listings. So it depends what you're really looking for personally, then again, just choose and find what matches your interests best. This newspaper also has weekly and monthly entertainment news and events listed. It is not a conservative style paper, though-- more so, provocative. Paper's website is here. |
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Busch Gardens - A lot of year-round fun for residents |
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Written by Liz
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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Busch Gardens Africa, Tampa Bay, Florida offers Florida residents a lot of year-round fun with an annual fun pass or annual passport membership. With the first, you pay for a day and then come back all year free (but does not include parking fees), and with the second, you can include more features including parking for example. So this gains you year-round access to tons of amusement park rides, shopping, restaurants, entertainment and various shows in production within the park, and even special event things such as featured bands and fireworks displays such as for the 4th of July and New Year's celebrations. Definitely worth considering. Great gift for teens as they enjoy time there during the summer/no school months too. |
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John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach, Florida |
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Written by Liz
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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This is a quaint, rustic, shopping and entertainment waterfront complex with small shops, eateries and restaurants, musical entertainment, marina with cruises, fishing, jet skiing, and more (pirate party cruise, for example), and waterfront boardwalk to enjoy. You'll get to see many boats cruising by on the waterfront as well as plenty of pelicans swimming about and sky diving for food... fun to watch! Spend a few hours or more here and you'll be feeling more relaxed and in tune with island time before you realize it. |
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Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center |
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Written by Liz
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Tuesday, 22 January 2008 |
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This experience is open daily 10 am to 5 pm but only from November 1 through April 15 annually. The Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center includes fantastic opportunities to see many wild manatees in the canal as they tend to gather in numbers that can top hundreds, whenever the temperature of Tampa Bay drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. There is an observation platform and the environmental education facility is also a gem where you learn about manatees, tidal ecosystems, and solar power. There is free admission and parking. Donations are appreciated. The address and phone number follows: Manatee Viewing Center- 6990 Dickman Rd- Apollo Beach, FL 33572- (813) 228-4289 |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 January 2008 )
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Living in Florida