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‘Florida Road Trip’ returns with bigger focus…

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‘florida road trip’ returns with bigger focus on sept. 15.

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The new season of "Florida Road Trip will bring host Buddy Pittman across the state from Jacksonville to The Everglades, beginning Sept. 15.

The new season of "Florida Road Trip will take host Buddy Pittman across the state from Jacksonville to the Everglades, beginning Sept. 15.

An episode of "Florida Road Trip" airing on Sept. 29 will bring viewers to Tampa.

The new season of "Florida Road Trip will bring host Buddy Pittman across the state from Jacksonville to The Everglades, beginning Sept. 15.

Viewers will join veteran journalist Buddy Pittman as he explores new destinations across the state.

“We decided it was time to take this journey through history a few steps further down the road and expand our horizons across this great state of ours,” he said during a preview of the new season .

“For five years I’ve had the great pleasure of leading the creative team for Central Florida Road Trip, and now that we’re broadening our horizons, as you may have already guessed, I’ll be stepping from behind the camera and will have the opportunity to host this upcoming season.”

The new season premieres Sept. 15 with Pittman taking a quick trip to Jacksonville, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. In the episode, Pittman not only discusses how Jacksonville was founded but also the city’s rich film history.

“Before there ever was a Hollywood, Jacksonville was the winter film capital of the world,” Pittman says in the episode.

Subsequent episodes will take viewers all over the state, from Gainesville to the Everglades, with stops in Tampa and St. Pete before the season finale, which will focus on unusual attractions around the state.

“WUCF viewers love this show; and based on their feedback, we have extended our storytelling to around the state of Florida,” said WUCF executive director Jennifer Cook. “The show is now carried by PBS stations around the state and we can’t wait to show you some of the things we found on these adventures.”

Viewers can get the latest on the returning series at its official website, floridaroadtrip.org .

Want to reach out? Email me at [email protected] . For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

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Florida Road Trip (Central Florida Roadtrip)

Take a ride through history to discover some of the most interesting people and places in Florida. Take a ride through history to discover some of the most interesting people and places in Florida. Take a ride through history to discover some of the most interesting people and places in Florida.

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• Allison Godlove

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Home » Florida Finds » Florida Film & TV » Authentic Florida Partners with WUCF’s Florida Road Trip Show

Authentic Florida Partners with WUCF’s Florida Road Trip Show

Last Updated on May 31, 2023

Authentic Florida is proud to announce a new and exciting partnership with the nine-county Central Florida PBS station, WUCF .

Beginning on September 15, 2022, the WUCF hit show Central Florida Roadtrip will become Florida Road Trip and debut a brand-new 8th season.

Authentic Florida is along for the ride for this historic season that takes its adventures on the road throughout the entire Sunshine State.

“The new program expands beyond Central Florida and explores the history, culture and quirks that make all Florida neighborhoods unique,” said Jennifer Cook, Executive Director of WUCF. “Authentic Florida was the ideal partner to go beyond the show and encourage our viewers to visit these amazing Florida destinations by providing five specific, value-added travel ideas per episode.”

The team at Authentic Florida will be writing a blog post that includes the Top 5 additional places to visit, eat, shop or stay in each destination from a local’s perspective and other important things to know before you go.

As with all the past and now new episodes, viewers will take a ride through history, discover some of the most interesting people and places in Florida, learn the incredible backstories and experience a new side to the cities, towns, and roadside attractions in which they live and visit.

In season 8, Florida Road Trip will be traveling to Jacksonville , Gainesville , Tampa , the Everglade s, St. Pete , and some unusual Florida attractions .

This season is hosted by Buddy Pittman, a beloved veteran Central Florida broadcast journalist/producer, and quintessential storyteller. Buddy was also the producer of Central Florida Roadtrip .

Jacksonville is the first stop in the new season. 2022 also happens to be Jacksonville’s bicentennial celebration which means this is a great time to visit Jacksonville and explore its history firsthand.

On the Jacksonville edition of Florida Road Trip , viewers will visit the Treaty Oak where one of the oldest Florida tourist attractions once lived. Then, WUCF captures the city’s rich film and music past, and raises the curtain on the historic Florida Theatre … and so more!

Florida Road Trip  airs Thursdays, beginning September 15th at 8:00 p.m. on WUCF. 

For full episodes and to learn more about each city on the special WUCF/Authentic Florida blog, visit floridaroadtrip.org .

• Top 5 Things to Do in Downtown Jacksonville
• Top 5 Things to Do Near Gainesville FL
• Top 5 Things to Do North of Tampa 
• Top 5 Things to Do in the Florida Everglades
• Top 5 Things to Do in St. Pete, FL
• Top Places to Eat, Stay, & Shop Near Florida’s Unique Attractions

Additionally, follow the fun on social media – TikTok: @floridaroadtrip.org and on Instagram: @WUCFTV . #JoinTheRide

As the sole-service PBS member station, WUCF serves 4 million people across the nine-county Central Florida area, bringing PBS favorites in the areas of education, STEM, news and public affairs, and arts & culture. 

In 2019, WUCF provided more than 35,000 hours of high-quality programming across four channels. WUCF’s primary channel is ranked the #6 most-watched station in Orlando’s 500+ channel environment.

WUCF is one of the few entities in Central Florida that provide free, accessible, quality educational programs and services, reaching more than 500,000 people every week.

ABOUT AUTHENTIC FLORIDA

AuthenticFlorida.com focuses on the best places to visit across the Sunshine State. From beautiful beaches to small-town treasures, Authentic Florida seeks out free, affordable and fun places to visit that go way beyond the large theme parks Florida is known for.

Whether it’s taking a scenic drive or providing the best stops for a day trip or an epic Florida road trip, Authentic Florida has it covered.

Established in 2011, Sarasota native Robin Draper wanted to share the simple and delightful pleasures of Florida living and created the AuthenticFlorida.com blog.

In 2018, Melanie Lentz-Janney took ownership and began adding a kitschy spin as well as more favorite places to eat, shop, and stay. She also expanded other areas such as conservation and put a spotlight on supporting small businesses during the COVID pandemic.

Authentic Florida has won several awards and has been praised by many as being a fun, off-the-beaten-path Florida Road Trip Guide and the inspiration behind memory-making Sunshine State travel adventures.

Looking for some suggestions for your next Florida road trip? Check out:

• A Road Trip to Southwest Florida’s Best Shell Destinations
• A Road Trip to Florida’s Best Independent Bookstores
• A Road Trip to 5 Vintage General Stores in Florida
• A Road Trip to the 9 Best Mini Golf Courses in Florida
• A Road Trip to 8 Authentic Mexican Restaurants in Florida
• An Authentic Florida Irish Pub Road Trip
• Our 9 Favorite Must-Have Travel Accessories for Any Road Trip
• Mango Mania! An Authentic Florida Road Trip
• An Authentic Florida Upper Keys Road Trip (Key Largo)
• 27 Scenic Drives in Florida for Your Bucket List

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WSRE PBS to host “Florida Road Trip: Pensacola” free film screening on Oct. 3

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WUCF’s Florida Road Trip Explores Miami and Miami Beach

On the final two episodes of Florida Road Trip, viewers will travel south to Miami (Thursday, July 6), and Miami Beach (Thursday July 13), to experience areas known for  sunshine, beautiful beaches, and rich Hispanic heritage. 

“The small communities within Miami give the city its character and the people living in those communities continue to carry on traditions to preserve it. It’s wonderful to experience the past and present when you visit,” said Allison Godlove, host of Florida Road Trip. “And when you think of Miami Beach, you might think of spring break or a place with a popular nightlife, but if you spend some time in the area, you'll see, it’s really rich in history and culture.”

On this week’s edition of Florida Road Trip: Miami, we’re taking a journey through the history of Miami. Godlove will take viewers to a neighborhood revitalized through street art, and it wouldn’t be a trip to Miami without a visit to Calle Ocho; a vibrant hub of Cuban culture in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood. Additionally, Florida Road Trip will explore the history of the oldest performing arts organization in the state of Florida: The Florida Grand Opera.

“My favorite part about Miami is the people sharing their stories, from those currently living there to those sharing the stories of the past. One of the great things about Florida Road Trip is having the opportunity to highlight those interesting stories, " said Heather Bailey, Executive Producer of WUCF’s Florida Road Trip. “ Miami Beach is recognized around the globe. It’s home to the first outdoor pedestrian mall and the largest collection of art deco in the world. I found a new appreciation for the city after my visit with Florida Road Trip.”

Next week, Florida Road Trip will explore the famous Miami Beach - once known as Little Jerusalem. Viewers will explore the city's ties to Judaism and its distinctive and unique collection of art deco with help from the Miami Design Preservation League. Viewers will also explore the Ancient Spanish Monastery (once labeled the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle). 

Florida Road Trip : Miami airs this Thursday at 8 p.m. on WUCF TV, wucf.org and the PBS app . Florida Road Trip : Miami Beach will air next Thursday, July 13, at 8 p.m. WUCF Passport members will also get early access, starting this Thursday at 8 p.m. to next week’s episode, Florida Road Trip : Miami Beach.

Learn more about the show at floridaroadtrip.org .

Funding Acknowledgement and Disclaimer

Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

About WUCF TV

WUCF TV is the sole-service PBS member station for the nearly 4 million Central Floridians across nine counties. WUCF is Central Florida’s storyteller, encouraging curiosity and learning through compelling content and community engagement. WUCF produces award-winning local content like “Florida Road Trip,” which explores Florida through history, people and culture. WUCF also serves Florida’s youngest citizens, offering hours of PBS Kids content on-air, online and in the classroom, leading the state in usage for PBS LearningMedia. Throughout its ten-year history, WUCF has engaged with over 1.5 million people across Central Florida at in-person events, and over 30 million people online through virtual events and streaming content. The station is community-supported public broadcasting from the University of Central Florida. Learn more at http://wucf.org/ .