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If you know me, then you know that I am basically obsessed with Florida.  It’s my favorite state!  Where else can you swim with manatees in their natural state or pet the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s 6-toed cats?   So, today, I wanted to share some of my favorite books about Florida. 

I have picked up many over the years and have really enjoyed reading about the history of Florida as well as compilations of short stories about Florida.   

And while there are a lot of Florida novels and fiction books set in Florida, the books I share today are going to specifically be non-fiction including Florida history books and memoirs about growing up and traveling in Florida.

Florida

And because I get asked this a lot, no, I don’t actually live in Florida (yet). 

We actually live in the very southeast corner of Alabama, just a few minutes north of the Florida panhandle, in the community of Dothan, Alabama. 

But we spend a lot of time there and even own four condos down there on Scenic Highway 30A, so at this point, I basically consider myself an expert! 

You can read all of our Florida adventures and Florida day trips here.   So, if you love Florida too, then you have found your place! Make sure to check out our Instagram account at @ourlittlelifestyleblog for all kinds of fun Florida adventures.

So, without further ado, here are my favorite books about Florida – the good, the great, and the slightly odd.  If you have a suggestion for a Florida book that I should check out, leave me a comment and let me know! I am always looking to pick up more!

My Favorite Books About Florida

Here are seven books about Florida that I have read or am in the process of reading right now! 

I will include links and a short overview of what to expect from each one.  There truly is something for everyone here, and these are some of the best books about Florida that I have read!

The Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera

Ok, so I am a little bit partial and a whole lot smitten with the Florida panhandle.  As you know, we fell in love with 30A, Destin, Panama City Beach, and Gulf County, Florida, over the past several years, and that is where a majority of our adventuring takes place. 

So, the first book on my list of favorite books about Florida is The Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera.

Now, while the title simply says “rise and decline,” I would argue that it has come back from the ashes bigger and better than before.  The Florida panhandle (and specifically 30a) is a tourism hotspot that isn’t expected to slow down any time soon. 

However, this book was written in 2013 and does an incredible job of sharing the history of the panhandle.  This book does not talk about the native Americans who called this area home for thousands of years, but it does start with the very first modern visitors/settlers of the 1920s and the first developers to stake a claim on the land.    It goes in-depth about the quick emergence of attractions and also focuses on the booms and busts along the way.  This area has seen its fair share of weather events and environmental catastrophes but never fails to rebuild and re-emerge better than ever.

I can’t help but cry when I read the prices that the coastal properties have gone for over the years, especially when we are at the top of the market trying to buy more condos to expand our Airbnb business!

The Rise and Decline of the Redneck Riviera by Harvey H. Jackson III also touches on the Alabama coastline just to the west and is probably my favorite book when it comes to the history of the Florida panhandle!

Florida Authentica

If you are looking for a first-hand account of over 50 off-the-beaten-path adventures in Florida, then this is the book for you!  In Florida Authentica, Ron Wiggins shares his personal experiences visiting hidden gems in Florida both now and as a child growing up in Gainsville, Florida.

This memoir will make you feel like you are there with Ron, experiencing what the real Florida has to offer!  I would know because we have personally done about a dozen of the outings he suggests, and he hit the nail on the head with each of them.   And Ron can sure tell a good tale!

The book is broken down by region and each story is independent of one another, allowing you to skip around to specific destinations that may be of interest to you or in line with your Florida travel plans.

You will enjoy reading Florida Authentica!

Backroads of Paradise

What I enjoy about Backroads of Paradise by Cathy Salustri is that is broken down by road/route, showcasing 21 popular (or once popular) state roads and US highways. 

It shares small towns, unique must-see places, and must-do experiences in Florida along the 5000 miles of backroads, avoiding the major interstates that many stick to while visiting Florida.

In writing her book, Cathy’s mission is to reconnect people with Old Florida, and she excels in doing it.  I have referenced her book on numerous occasions when traveling in Florida! 

This book actually was a personal project to retrace the original driving tours of Florida that the Federal Writer’s Project sourced in the 1930s, and really takes you back to their heydays.  If you are planning a Florida road trip, I would highly recommend that you pick this book up!

Grab your copy of Backroads of Paradise today!

Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama

I recently picked this book up at The Hidden Lantern in Rosemary Beach, Florida.  That morning, as I walked toward the bookstore with my Amavida coffee in hand, I noticed a man sitting outside the bookstore with a small table.  That man was author Chris Warner, and while I wasn’t planning on buying a new book that morning, his friendly smile beckoned me to toward that table and a few minutes later I had a signed copy of Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama in hand with an inscription reminding me to “Enjoy Life!”

I do have to confess that I have not had a chance to finish this one yet, but I love what I have read so far.  I may be pushing the limits on Florida here because the Flora-Bama is located partly in Florida and partly in Alabama.   

And another confession: I haven’t been there.  It has been on my bucket list for quite some time.  I have plans to make it there soon, so hold me to it!

If you have been to the panhandle, you most likely have tried a Bushwacker.  This popular frozen drink is just what you need to cool off after a long day in the sun. 

When writing Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama, Chris Warner worked one-on-one with owner Joe Gilchrist to share the ups and downs of the Flora-Bama.  Quite possibly one of the last great American honky-tonks, with live music all day long, this establishment has a following like no other. 

As someone with a hospitality background, this memoir was very enduring.   I probably cried more than I should have.  Heck, I am crying now!  But it’s inspiring and entertaining at the same time.

Sunshine Paradise

Sunshine Paradise by Tracy J Revels provides a fantastic look at the history of Florida. 

It takes you back to the very early days of Florida tourism and the Fountain of Youth!  The book works in chronological order and shares the path that Florida took from a sportsman’s paradise to a playground for all ages. I like how Tracy talks about the people who had a hand in the rise of Florida tourism, including Henry Flagler.  I loved hearing more about St. Augustine and his impact there!

Currently boasting all 5-star reviews on Amazon, Sunshine Paradise will keep you engaged as you learn more about the history of tourism in Florida.  You don’t need to be in the industry to enjoy this book, but if you are, I think you will really be able to relate to a lot of the content.  It’s a fascinating show of marketing at its best!

Al Burt’s Florida

I picked up this book at a local library’s book sale last year.  The dust cover caught my eye almost immediately! Al Burt’s Florida is almost 25 years old at this point, and I actually like that! 

So much has changed in Florida over the past quarter-century, and in this book, Al Burt takes you a little further back.  It has stories that have been buried by time, and I truly enjoyed reading this book!

Al Burt worked as a traveling reporter for the Miami Herald for over 25 years and then wrote this book.  He saw it all and focuses on human stories and human connections.   You can tell that he loved the people in Florida, even the ones hard to love.  He highlights what makes Old Florida special. 

Most of his writing is in context with when it took place and printed here with permission from the original source.   You aren’t going to find this book in a Books A Million Florida.  Look for a copy second-hand on Amazon or Thriftbooks.

When Al Burt passed away in 2008, I doubt he knew that his book would find its way into the hands of an almost 40-year-old Mom who gets it.  I probably can’t love Florida as much as he did, but give me another 40 years and hopefully, I have just as many stories to tell!

Saints of Old Florida

If you can’t tell by now,  where I pick up these books is almost as special as the books themselves.   I picked up Saints of Old Florida on a visit to Port St. Joe in Gulf County. 

I was browsing Joseph’s Cottage when the book caught my eye.  And lo and behold, one of the authors ( Melissa Farrell own’s Joseph’s Cottage) was standing in front of me as I flipped through it.  I set it back down twice but kept going back to it.   At $60 retail, this isn’t a cheap weekend beach read.  It’s actually so much more!

Saints of Old Florida is one of the most beautiful books that I have laid eyes on.  The photography and the storytelling are exquisite! 

The saints referenced in the title are the communities of Saint. Joseph, Saint Vincent, Saint George, Saint Teresa, and Saint Marks are located just west of Florida’s big bend in a region often referred to as Florida’s Forgotten Coast.   

The three ladies who wrote this book have deep roots here and share stories and recipes that have been passed down by generations. Reading this book makes me long for an old beach house on the Indian Pass.

If you are local, you can visit one of their stockists.  I also was about to find copies, both new and used, in stock on Amazon here and you can purchase the book from Becasa. The owner, Emily is one of the authors.

More Books About Florida

These 7 books stole my heart, and I feel confident recommending them to you!  I have a rule that I only recommend products or places that I have first-hand experience with, so there is a good chance I left off another great book about Florida off my list.  Feel free to leave me a comment and recommend one.

Here are a few other books about Florida or books set in Florida that caught my eye and I plan to read in the future!

PIN: My Favorite Books About Florida For Later