Sunshine State Of Mind

We are back from a little bit of a hiatus, and just spent a weeklong getaway in what may be one of our new favorite places in Florida; Anna Maria Island.  This week we share what we did and what we ate on this underrated little gem of a place on Florida's Gulf Coast. In this Episode:  Our week on Anna Maria Island Links to the places we ate Hurricane Hanks Joey D’s Chicago Style Eatery Poppo’s Taqueria Ginnies & Jane E’s The Donut Experiment Two Scoops Dips Island Scoops Listener Purchase of the Week: PELONIS Oscillating Stand Up Tower Fan   Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports!  Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com   How to support the show  Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

Another week of lockdown has us looking forward to the days when things start returning to "normal".  This week we run down and talk about some of the things we can't wait to do again once this is all over. In this Episode: We list and discuss some Florida things we can't wait to do again. Listener Purchase of the Week: Six Deck Automatic Card Shuffler Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

We've been binge-watching Netflix just like the rest of the world these days and finally got around to watching Tiger King.  This week we give our reaction to this wild ride that puts a big focus on one popular Florida animal attraction; Big Cat Rescue in Tampa.  We also watched The Big Show Show, a family-friendly sitcom about a retired wrestler and his family life in Florida. In this Episode: We react to our locked down binge watching of Tiger King. We review The Big Show Show, also on Netflix. Link: Big Cat Rescue's response to Tiger King. Listener Purchase of the Week: Toilet Paper! Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

Yeah, everything is still closed and will be for the foreseeable future.  So this week we put together a list of good news from around Florida and a few things to look forward to once the world goes back to normal. In this Episode: Video: Some Good News with John Krasinksi Listener Purchase of the Week: Fender Deluxe Blues Harmonica Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

Everything is shut down, and we're all stuck inside while our favorite Florida places are shut down.  It's a bummer.  So let's take a virtual visit around Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom to play some trivia while learning a few cool things about the iconic theme park. In this Episode: Magic Kingdom Trivia  Listener Purchase of the Week: DJI Osmo Pocket Handheld Gimbal w/ 4K Camera Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

A lot has happened in the world since last week, and not much of it has been good news.  The coronavirus pandemic has all but brought activity in Florida, and around the world, to a halt.  This week we talk about the impact COVID-19 has had on Florida tourism since so many of the things we love in this state have been temporarily shut down. In this Episode: Coronavirus brings Florida theme parks, attractions, and events to a complete standstill. Florida attractions that are closed, what's still open, and what to do now Listener Purchase of the Week: Clue Board Game Shannon's Recommendation: Alton Brown's Handwashing Tutorial Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

Spring is around the corner, and beach season will soon be here.  But which coast has the better beaches?  Is the West Coast the best coast?  Or is the Atlantic Ocean the place to be?  This week we put the Gulf Coast up against the Atlantic Coast in six key categories.   In this Episode: Only one Florida city ranks as one of the best cities to celebrate St. Patricks Day https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-for-st-patricks-day-celebrations/19603/ Busch Gardens puts finishing touches on Iron Gwazi The Magic Kingdom hit with a series of technical issues in the last week Video: Haunted Mansion lights on and maintenance door open. Florida Face-off: Gulf coast vs. Atlantic coast beaches Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.Sun

This weekend we had a great time at "Up Up & Away", Florida's largest hot air balloon festival in Lakeland.   Also, one new ride is opening at Disney World while one classic attraction is getting ready to close.   In this Episode: Mickey & Minnies Runaway Railway opens this week at Hollywood Studios. Spaceship Earth at Epcot is closing for a multi-year reimagining. Trip Advisor lists their best beaches in the world, and some Florida beaches made the cut. We talk about and review our day at "Up Up & Away Florida". Photos: Up Up & Away Florida balloon festival Listener Purchase of the Week: 5.11 Tactical EMS Pants Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

This week we mix up the format a bit and talk about some of our favorite Florida Man headlines of the past year.  Also a little bit Walt Disney World talk. In this Episode: Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom is getting a facelift.  We discuss some of our favorite Florida Man stories of the past year. Listener Purchase of the Week: Purina Pro Plan Cat Food Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

It's still early in the year 2020 and at the start of a new decade.  This week we put on our prognosticator caps to predict and discuss which current Florida theme park attractions we think won't survive to see the next decade.  Also, some "Monster" news emerges on what's coming to Universal's Epic Universe. In this Episode: New details emerge on one more land at Epic Universe USA Today lists 3 new Florida attractions among their best new attractions of the year https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-new-amusement-park-attraction/ We discuss which current Florida theme park attractions we don't think will make it to the next decade. Listener Purchase of the Week: Evolve 100% Boar Bristle Hair Brush Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http

Two weeks ago we ran down a number of Florida food festivals happening in Florida, so this week we're going to explore some of the unique, weird, and offbeat events for 2020 that could only happen in Florida.   In this Episode: Unique, offbeat, "Only in Florida" events for 2020 Fiddler Crab Festival http://steinhatcheechamber.com/the-events-calendar/fiddler-crab-festival Gasparilla Pirate Festival http://gasparillapiratefest.com Rattlesnake Festival http://www.rattlesnakefestival.com Sugar Sand Festival https://sugarsandfestival.com Siesta Key Crystal Classic https://www.siestakeycrystalclassic.com Biketoberfest https://www.daytonabeach.com/biketoberfest Venice Shark Tooth Festival http://www.sharkstoothfest.com Hemingway Days https://fla-keys.com/hemingway-days/ Worm Gruntin' Festival http://www.wormgruntinfestival.com Flora-Bama Interstate Mullet Toss http://www.florabama.com/mullet-toss Listener Voicemail; Brandon from the Florida Focus College Football Podcast 

This week we came across an article in Travel & Leisure that listed the best places to visit in Florida.  We go through and discuss that list and give our own thoughts and opinions on each place listed.  Also some news about Universal's Epic Universe, SNL pokes fun at Disney Fastpass and listener mail. In this Episode: Universal Studios confirms "Super Nintendo World" will be part of Epic Universe. Saturday Night Live pokes fun at Disney Fastpass & Orlando Travel & Leisure's - "The Best Places to Visit in Florida" discussion https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/beach-vacations/best-places-to-visit-in-florida Listener Mail; St. Augustine questions, new listeners, and food festival feedback. Listener Purchase of the Week: RUIGPRO Sport Camera Backpack Clip Mount for Gopro Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.Sunsh

The Florida festival season is ramping up, and with it comes all kinds of great events to try new foods all over the state. This week we discuss ten interesting and unique Florida food festivals. In this Episode: Listener mail about our visit to Daytona Beach The Florida Aquarium is offering discounts for bringing in Gasparilla beads. We discuss ten unique Florida food festivals Florida Strawberry Festival - Plant City https://flstrawberryfestival.com South Florida Garlic Festival - Delray Beach https://garlicfestfl.com Key Lime Festival - Key West http://www.keylimefestival.com Lobsterfest - Key West http://www.keywestlobsterfest.com Blueberry Festival - Plant City http://www.keelfarms.com/bbfest Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival - Fernandina Beach https://www.shrimpfestival.com Speckled Perch Festival - Okeechobee http://www.okeechobeemainstreet.org Zucchini Festival - Windsor http://www.windsor-z-news.org/events.html Cuban Sandwich Festival - Kissimmee & Tampa htt

The year 2020 is upon us and we're looking forward to a lot of fun new stuff making it's way to the Sunshine State this year.   In this episode, we run down ten of the most exciting things we're looking forward to this year.  We also talk a bit about our winter break, and the end of a 70-year-old Florida tradition. In this Episode: A little talk about our winter break. The Florida Welcome Center no longer gives away free orange juice.  Ten exciting things on the way for 2020 Contact Us!  We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Shop at Amazon

In this "Best of 2019" review episode, we talk about some of our favorite things we saw and did around Florida (and beyond) in the past year. Contact Us! We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com

This weekend we headed out to Disney's Hollywood Studios to ride the brand new "Rise of the Resistance" at Galaxy's Edge!  Let's talk about this mind-blowing new attraction! In this Episode:  Getting up early to get our Boarding Pass for Rise of the Resistance and our thoughts on the virtual queue system Our Spoiler Free reaction and review of the ride. And then we give our full review of the ride with spoilers for those who want to know! Contact Us! We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com

Last weekend we were invited to check out Christmas in the Wild at ZooTampa.  We talk about our visit to the zoo's Christmas party, and some of the early reaction to the opening weekend of Rise of the Resistance at Galaxy's Edge. In this Episode:  Rise of the Resistance opens at Galaxy's Edge to long wait times We visit ZooTampa for their holiday party "Christmas in the Wild". We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com

The manatee is one of Florida's most iconic symbols, and wintertime is the best time to see them.  When the temperatures dip, manatees will gather in springs and the warm-water outflows of power plants in huge numbers.  This week we talk about some of the best places to see these gentle giants in the wild. In this Episode:  We talk about manatees and the best places to see them this winter http://sunshinestateinsider.com/best-places-in-florida-to-see-manatees/ Contact Us! We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to support the show Become a Sunshine State of Mind Patron http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com

This weekend we took a long weekend trip to the self-appointed "Worlds Most Famous Beach", Daytona.  Daytona Beach is the birthplace of auto racing, and a former spring break hot spot, but it still offers a lot of bang for your buck if you're looking for a cheap beach getaway in Florida.  We review the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the Riverfront district, the Boardwalk, and give our thoughts on the current state of the town.   In this Episode:  Interactive Pac-Man escape maze coming to Orlando in 2020 https://www.themazelive.com We visit and review Daytona Beach Riverfront District https://riverfrontshopsofdaytona.com https://aberrantart.com Ponce Inlet Lighthouse https://www.ponceinlet.org The current state and condition of the town A1A: A Pockmarked Paradise Contact Us! We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapodcast Email: Contact@sunshinestatepodcast.com Blog: http://www.SunshineStateInsider.com How to

It's already November, so we run down five awesome Florida events happening this month all over the state.  Then we talk a little about Shannon's trip to Weeki Wachee  to meet mermaids and our recent experience back at Galaxy's Edge where we finally tried the Blue Milk. In this Episode:  Five Hot November Florida Events worth checking out. St. Petersburg - The worlds largest Christmas light maze https://enchantchristmas.com/stpete St. Augustine - Nights of Lights https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/nights-lights Kissimmee - Ice! www.ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com Jacksonville - Porchfest http://www.jacksonvilleporchfest.org Captiva Island - Hobie Cat World Championships https://hobieworlds.com A day with the Weeki Wachee mermaids. Heckling stormtroopers for photo ops at Galaxy's Edge We try the Blue Milk. http://www.SunshineStateShirts.com Contact Us! We want to hear your own reviews and Florida trip reports! Twitter: @FloridaPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/floridapo