Unlike New Orleans and Mobile, Pensacola was not founded by the French, the original exporters of the Mardi Gras tradition to the U.S. Instead, Pensacola was founded by the Spanish. This led to a delayed adoption of Mardi Gras, which isn’t documented in Pensacola until 1874. After a slow period during...

Between Port St. Joe and Homosassa, in the Big Bend of Florida’s Nature Coast, lies the sleepy fishing village of Steinhatchee. The Steinhatchee River shuffles through town, eventually emptying into the Gulf at Deadman Bay. Along the cypress and oak lined banks of the river lies the peaceful Steinhatchee...