RoadsideThoughts
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Home >> State of Florida >> Hillsborough County >> Idle Forest >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Tidbits & Trivia

Introduction ...

Below is our collection of tidbits and odds 'n ends for Idle Forest.

Outdoor Activities ...

As we travel, we like to pursue some of our interests (such as astronomy and bird watching).

When in Idle Forest, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Idle Forest and the surrounding area.

  • Weather ...
  • Astronomy & Satellites ...
    • Whether using binoculars, a small telescope or the naked-eye, the Heavens-Above website can help you to find your way around the night-time sky. In addition to detailed sky charts, their website will help you find planets, asteriods, comets, satellites and their tracks across the sky.
    • To give accurate results, Heavens-Above requires the latitude and longitude of your location. As a starting point, when we link to Heavens-Above, we pass this GPS location for Idle Forest:
    • 28.000800, -82.502300<1>
    • Once you're on the Heavens-Above website, you can improve its accuracy by giving a more precise longitude and latitude as your actual position.
    • Open the Heavens-Above website centered on Idle Forest
  • Bird Watching ...
    • We enjoy finding new spots for bird watching and we use the eBird website for local sighting reports and to help identify hotspots.
    • The eBird website is organized on a county-by-county basis. We have selected Hillsborough County as the starting point when you click on the link below:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Hillsborough County
    • Since Idle Forest is near Pinellas County and also Pasco County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Pinellas County
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Pasco County
  • Waymarking ...
    • Looking for somewhere out of the ordinary? Find a unique place and want to share it with others? Then it's time to visit Waymarking.com:
    • Open the Waymark.com report for Idle Forest

Curious and Interesting Names Near Idle Forest ...

As we travel, we always see a community with a name that gives pause. While there are names which are interesting or familiar, some catch our attention or strike our fancy. We always wonder about such a name. If time permits and the community is not too far, we'll usually try to make a side-trip.

  • Catherine City
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Catherine City is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine City
  • Cedarwood Village
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Cedarwood Village is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cedarwood Village
  • Cornerstone Plaza
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
    • Cornerstone Plaza is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornerstone Plaza
  • Crabcake
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Crabcake is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabcake
  • Curlin Place
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Curlin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlin Place
  • Cypress Glen
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Cypress Glen is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Glen
  • Cypress Willows
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Cypress Willows is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cypress Willows
  • Dorothy Park
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Dorothy Park is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy Park
  • Eagle Creek
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
    • Eagle Creek is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eagle Creek
  • Edna Court
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Edna Court is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edna Court
  • Edwards
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
    • Edwards is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
  • Egypt Lake
    (Less than 2 miles to the north)
    • Egypt Lake is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt Lake
  • Continue List   (49 more) ...
    • Fair Ground Farms
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Fair Ground Farms is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fair Ground Farms
    • Gilberts
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Gilberts is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilberts
    • Golden Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Golden Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Park
    • Greentree
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Greentree is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greentree
    • Healthy Hill
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Healthy Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healthy Hill
    • Hiawatha Highlands
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Hiawatha Highlands is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiawatha Highlands
    • Hibiscus Gardens
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Hibiscus Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hibiscus Gardens
    • Hidden Haven
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Hidden Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Haven
    • Hidden Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hidden Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hidden Oaks
    • Homelands
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Homelands is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homelands
    • Horizon Place
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Horizon Place is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Horizon Place
    • Hunters Run
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Hunters Run is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Run
    • Idle Grove Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Idle Grove Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idle Grove Park
    • Jasmine Pond
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Jasmine Pond is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jasmine Pond
    • Karen Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Karen Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karen Heights
    • Kirby Creek
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Kirby Creek is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kirby Creek
    • Lake View Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Lake View Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View Heights
    • Lake View Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Lake View Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View Park
    • Lincoln Gardens
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Lincoln Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lincoln Gardens
    • Little Eleven
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Eleven is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Eleven
    • Little Henry
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Little Henry is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Henry
    • Maine Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Maine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine Park
    • Marco
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Marco is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marco
    • Meadowbrook
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Meadowbrook is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Michigan Heights
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Michigan Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Heights
    • Michigan Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Michigan Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Park
    • Mitchell Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Mitchell Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell Park
    • Mooreland
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Mooreland is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreland
    • Oak Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Oak Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Oak Trail
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Oak Trail is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Trail
    • Pine Level
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Pine Level is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Pine Terrace
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Pine Terrace is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Terrace
    • Plumnelly
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Plumnelly is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumnelly
    • Princess Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Princess Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Princess Park
    • River Haven
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • River Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Haven
    • Riverwoods
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Riverwoods is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwoods
    • Rose
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Rose is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
    • Spring View
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Spring View is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring View
    • Suburb Royal
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Suburb Royal is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburb Royal
    • Sunray Gardens
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Sunray Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunray Gardens
    • Sunrise
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Sunrise is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunrise
    • Susieanna
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Susieanna is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susieanna
    • Tropical Gardens
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Tropical Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tropical Gardens
    • Tuxedo Springs
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Tuxedo Springs is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuxedo Springs
    • Venetian Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Venetian Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venetian Park
    • Vine Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Vine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Park
    • Waco
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Waco is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco
    • Whispering Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Whispering Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whispering Oaks
    • Willow Pines
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Willow Pines is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Willow Pines

How Far From Idle Forest to ...

We spend a lot of time looking through Gazetteers, Almanacs & Directories that were published in the late 1800's and early 1900's. Many of the Gazetteers included the distance from a community such as Idle Forest to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance<2> beginning in Idle Forest and extending to:

  • Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the Southeast.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 199 miles [320.3 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Idle Forest to Tallahassee, with an average speed<3>of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, it would take a little over three hours to make the trip. A comfortable walk of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour would take 12 days. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take 8 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 815 miles [1,311.6 km] to the north northeast (NNE). Driving would take just about two full days, a buggy would take 32 days and walking would take 47 days.
  • The shortest distance<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,619 miles [10,652.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,288 miles [11,728.9 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,187 miles [8,347.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>

Footnotes ...

<1>GPS Coordinates for Idle Forest:
     Decimal: 28.00080, -82.502300
     DDMMSS: 28° 0' 2", -82° 30' 8"
<2>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' (or point-to-point) distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Idle Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<3>While we have tried to pick reasonable speeds, the rate of travel is very theoretical - obstacles like fences, hills, lakes, river crossings and rest stops have been ignored. When we say 'Days' of travel, we're assuming 8 hours of travel per day.
<4>The shortest line can be visualized by stretching a string on a Globe from Point A to Point B - this is known as a Great Circle Route. Where you might expect the shortest route from Idle Forest to the Middle East to be East and South, the Great Circle Route actually lies to the North and East.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Idle Forest. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 28.0008, Longitude: -82.5023       In this case, the coordinates for Idle Forest have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.856 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.264 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.894 degrees.