"In the 1930s, the Federal Writers' Project sent mostly anonymous writers into the depths of Florida to reveal its splendor to the world. The FWP and the State of Florida jointly published the results as Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State, which included twenty-two driving tours of the state's main roads. Retracing the original routes in the Guide, Cathy Salustri rekindles our notions of paradise by bringing a modern eye to the historic travelogues.
Salustri's 5,000-mile road trip reveals a patchwork quilt of Florida cultures. The journey begins on US 98, heading west toward the Florida/Alabama state line, where coastal towns dot the roadway. Along US 17, she stops at Florida's oldest diner and visits a collection of springs interconnected by underwater mazes tumbling through white spongy limestone, before stopping in Arcadia, where men still bring cattle to auction.
Woven through these journeys are nuggets of history, environmental debates about Florida's future, and a narrative that combines humor with a strong affection for an oft-maligned state.
Today, Salustri urges, tourists need a new nudge to get off the interstates or away from Disney in order to discover the real Florida."
"If when you think 'Florida' you don't think 'spectacular,' Cathy Salustri is determined to change your mind. Explaining why the state is more than the 'Florida Man' stories and the politics that so often make national news, and looking beyond the crowded beaches and theme parks, Salustri celebrates what makes the state worth a deeper understanding in this lively trip through its natural beauty and fascinating history.
Florida Spectacular lifts the curtain on multiple facets, including the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston and the Black community at Eatonville; the bravery of Emateloye Estenletkvte, a Seminole woman who escaped from captivity back to her homeland; the two 'frenemy' Henrys, Flagler and Plant, and their projects in transportation and tourism; the three 'Marjories,' the influential environmentalists and writers; and people working to solve issues facing the state today, such as those who have used Florida's hurricanes to make storm forecasting better for the whole world.
Along the way, Salustri brings to light lesser-known moments from Florida's history that help illuminate the state's significance in American and world history. Salustri tours listeners through the hidden-in-plain-sight Florida, the overlooked treasures, the cultural complexities, the environmental challenges and successes."
