There’s more to Florida than beaches, theme parks and interstates. Join Florida authors and storytellers Craig Pittman and Cathy Salustri for a lively conversation about the people, places and unexpected discoveries waiting along the Sunshine State’s backroads.

From quirky roadside attractions and forgotten communities to little-known chapters of Florida history, Pittman and Salustri have spent years exploring what makes the state so distinctive. Drawing from their travels, books and reporting, they’ll share stories of the unusual places and remarkable people they’ve encountered along the way, offering a closer look at the Florida that exists beyond the familiar tourist destinations.

Florida Conversations is presented in TECO Hall at the Tampa Bay History Center, with support from the University of South Florida Endowment, USF Libraries and a generous gift from Shelley Blood.

Tickets are $5 and free for History Center members. This nominal ticket price helps reduce no-shows and ensures our limited seating is available to those who plan to attend. If your plans change and you are unable to join us, please let us know so we can make your seats available to others. Advance registration is required. Guests attending the program may explore the museum galleries from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The Museum Store will remain open until 8 p.m., with a book signing following the conversation.

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About our speakers:

Craig Pittman

Craig Pittman is a Florida native, bestselling author and award-winning environmental journalist. During his 40-year reporting career, including 31 years at the Tampa Bay Times, he has covered Florida’s environment, politics and natural disasters. He is the author of seven nonfiction books, including the New York Times bestseller “Oh, Florida!” and co-hosts the “Welcome to Florida” podcast. Pittman writes a weekly environmental column for the Florida Phoenix and was named a Florida Literary Legend in 2020.

Cathy Salustri

Cathy Salustri is a Florida travel writer and author whose work explores the state’s history, culture and lesser-known destinations. Her books include “Backroads of Paradise: A Journey to Rediscover Old Florida” and “Florida Spectacular: Extraordinary Places and Exceptional Lives.” Her research for “Backroads of Paradise” took her nearly 5,000 miles across Florida, retracing historic driving routes from the 1930s. Salustri has written for USA Today, Flamingo, the Tampa Bay Times and other publications. She also co-hosts “The Florida Spectacular” podcast and writes about her travels at GreatFloridaRoadTrip.com.