Don’t let the tourists have all the fun.

Florida has been the place to escape, relax and adventure for more than 100 years. And in that time, visitors have been welcomed by hotels, motels and inns that changed with the times while remaining singular and beloved. They’re owned by families. They’re rescued and revived by entrepreneurs and big chains. And for a lot of locals, they’re a mystery. This new book takes you inside the places that helped shape the Sunshine State, no reservation required.

Available now.

Greetings from…

just a few of the places featured in the book

Tookes Hotel

In 1948, Dorothy Nash Tookes modified her home in Tallahassee’s Frenchtown neighborhood and officially opened Tookes Rooming House. (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

Eden Roc

Eden Roc opened on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach in 1955 with a performance by Harry Belafonte. The glam spot had underground parking, a movie theater, and an escalator to the pool. (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

Rogers Hotel

Self-made businessman and philanthropist G.D. Rogers opened this Tampa hotel in 1940. It hosted conventions for Black professionals and housed Negro League baseball players. (Image courtesy Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System)

Casa Marina

Casa Marina Key West opened in 1920 and has had many lives since, including as a home for the U.S. Navy during World War II and as a training ground for the Peace Corps in the 1960s. (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

The Colony Hotel

The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach opened in 1947 was a glamour magnet throughout the decades. Famous guests include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the Kennedys. (Image courtesy The Colony Hotel)

The Lodge at Wakulla Springs

The springs at this 1937 lodge have been the settings for Tarzan in the 1940s and Creature From The Black Lagoon in the 1950s. It’s also home to Old Joe, an 11-foot preserved alligator. (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

Pictured at top: The BIltmore in Coral Gables, then and now. (Images courtesy The Biltmore)

Explore the old postcards

  • The Rod and Reel Resort, Anna Maria Island (Image courtesy Digital Commonwealth)

  • Hotel Jacaranda, Avon Park (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

  • The Vagabond Hotel, Miami (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

  • The Sands of Treasure Island (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

  • The Don Cesar, Pass-A-Grille (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

  • The Vinoy, St. Petersburg (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

  • Island Inn, Sanibel, (Image courtesy State Library and Archives of Florida)

Meet the author

Kristen Hare is a journalist, author, native Missourian and Florida transplant. Kristen and her family moved from St. Louis to the Tampa Bay area in 2012 for what was supposed to be one year. Her family decided to live like tourists and soon discovered for themselves that there’s so much more to Florida than beaches and Disney.

Those discoveries can be found in all three editions of the book 100 Things To Do In Tampa Bay Before You Die.

Interested in booking Kristen to speak about her books? Email her at oldfloridahotels@gmail.com