Tidbits & Trivia

Introduction ...

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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

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

Weather ...
- Before heading outdoors, you should check the weather:
- The National Weather Service forecast for Merriams

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 Merriams:
- 27.966400, -82.448000<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 Merriams

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 Merriams 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 Merriams

Curious and Interesting Names Near Merriams ...

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.

Archer
(Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
- Archer is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Archer
Aurora
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Aurora is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
Ben Hur
(Less than 2 miles to the west)
- Ben Hur is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ben Hur
Big Oaks
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Big Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Big Oaks
Blue Moon Court
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Blue Moon Court is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue Moon Court
Bonita
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Bonita is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonita
Bonniehaven
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bonniehaven is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonniehaven
Bryans
(Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
- Bryans is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bryans
Buffalo
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Buffalo is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo
Buffalo Gardens
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Buffalo Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buffalo Gardens
Cairo
(Less than 2 miles to the south)
- Cairo is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cairo
Canning
(Less than 2 miles to the north)
- Canning is also located in Hillsborough County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canning
Continue List (67 more) ...
- Central Court
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Central Court is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Court
- Central Village
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Central Village is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Central Village
- Citrus Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Citrus Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrus Park
- Cones
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Cones is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cones
- Crabcake
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - Crabcake is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crabcake
- Dills
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Dills is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dills
- Dorothy Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - Dorothy Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy Park
- Edgewater Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  - Edgewater Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edgewater Park
- Eldorado
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Eldorado is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eldorado
- Elizabeth
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Elizabeth is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elizabeth
- Emma Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Emma Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Emma Heights
- Erin Place
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - Erin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Erin Place
- Estuary
  (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  - Estuary is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estuary
- Eureka
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Eureka is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
- Francis
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Francis is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Francis
- Gardenville
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Gardenville is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gardenville
- Gary
  (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
  - Gary is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gary
- Garytown
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Garytown is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garytown
- Geneva
  (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  - Geneva is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Geneva
- Georgia Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Georgia Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia Park
- Glovers
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Glovers is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Glovers
- Goodwater
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Goodwater is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Goodwater
- Grand View
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Grand View is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grand View
- Grove Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Grove Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Heights
- Hawks
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Hawks is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hawks
- Hazard
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Hazard is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hazard
- Headford
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Headford is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headford
- High Ridge
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - High Ridge is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High Ridge
- High School Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - High School Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for High School Heights
- Homestead
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Homestead is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homestead
- Ida
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Ida is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ida
- Island Place
  (Less than 2 miles to the south)
  - Island Place is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Island Place
- Jensen Place
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Jensen Place is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jensen Place
- La Petite
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - La Petite is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for La Petite
- Lewis Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Lewis Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lewis Heights
- Little Cuba
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Little Cuba is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Cuba
- Lucky Strike
  (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  - Lucky Strike is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lucky Strike
- Lullaby Pines
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Lullaby Pines is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lullaby Pines
- Lyons
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Lyons is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lyons
- Maine Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Maine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maine Park
- Marie Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Marie Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marie Heights
- Mattie
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Mattie is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
- Meadowbrook
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - Meadowbrook is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
- Michigan Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Michigan Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Michigan Park
- Mooreland
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Mooreland is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreland
- Mossy Oaks
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Mossy Oaks is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mossy Oaks
- Nebraska Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Nebraska Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebraska Park
- Orange Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Orange Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Heights
- Panama
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Panama is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Panama
- Peeler Heights
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Peeler Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peeler Heights
- Pierce
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Pierce is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pierce
- Pine Level
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Pine Level is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
- Piney Woods
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - Piney Woods is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Piney Woods
- Record Grove
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Record Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Record Grove
- River Haven
  (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  - River Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Haven
- Riverwoods
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Riverwoods is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverwoods
- Salmon
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Salmon is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Salmon
- Shadowlawn
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Shadowlawn is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadowlawn
- Silver Moon
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Silver Moon is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Silver Moon
- Sparkman Place
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Sparkman Place is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparkman Place
- Suburb Royal
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Suburb Royal is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Suburb Royal
- Sunnyside
  (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  - Sunnyside is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sunnyside
- Tanner Place
  (Less than 2 miles to the west)
  - Tanner Place is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanner Place
- Thrashers
  (Less than 2 miles to the north)
  - Thrashers is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrashers
- Watch Hill
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Watch Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Watch Hill
- Woodlawn Park
  (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
  - Woodlawn Park is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Woodlawn Park
- Zephyr Grove
  (Less than 2 miles to the east)
  - Zephyr Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
  - Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Zephyr Grove

How Far From Merriams to ...

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

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

Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the West Southwest.
Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 203 miles [326.7 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Merriams 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 816 miles [1,313.2 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 6,618 miles [10,650.6 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,286 miles [11,725.7 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>
The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,186 miles [8,346.1 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>

Footnotes ...

<1>	GPS Coordinates for Merriams: Decimal: 27.96640, -82.448000 DDMMSS: 27° 57' 59", -82° 26' 52"
<2>	Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a '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- Merriams) 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 Merriams 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 Merriams. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.9664, Longitude: -82.4480 In this case, the coordinates for Merriams have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>	The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.824 degrees.
<6>	The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.223 degrees.
<7>	The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.884 degrees.