R. Wayne Ayers

I love these Images of America books. They just drip with nostalgia. This is about the 5-star Florida resorts of the late 19th century. The most amazing photo is that of the swimming pool in St. Augustine's Alcazar hotel, where one could swim among beautiful stone columns. (The pool is dry now, alas.)

This is a collection of historic photographs that illustrates the history of the Gulf breaches across the Bay from Tampa and St. Petersburg. There is text that puts the pictures into perspective and gives a limited history of the Beaches. Good fun for anyone who has vacationed in this area.