RoadsideThoughts
A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada
Home >> State of Florida >> Hillsborough County >> Valrico Forest >> Tidbits & TriviaIndex...

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Valrico Forest, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Valrico 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 Valrico Forest:
    • 27.933000, -82.249100
    • 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 Valrico 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 Valrico Forest is near Polk County and also Pasco County, we have provided a link to their eBird sighting reports:
    • Open the eBird sighting report for Polk 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 Valrico Forest

Curious and Interesting Names Near Valrico 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.

  • Angel Run
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Angel Run is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Angel Run
  • Bent Tree
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Bent Tree is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bent Tree
  • Bonterra
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Bonterra is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bonterra
  • Camelot
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
    • Camelot is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camelot
  • Canter
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Canter is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Canter
  • Carriage Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Carriage Park is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Carriage Park
  • Chickasaw Meadows
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Chickasaw Meadows is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chickasaw Meadows
  • Cinnamon Trace
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Cinnamon Trace is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cinnamon Trace
  • Citrus Wood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Citrus Wood is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrus Wood
  • Copper Ridge
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Copper Ridge is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Copper Ridge
  • Diamond Hill
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
    • Diamond Hill is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Diamond Hill
  • Eden Wood
    (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
    • Eden Wood is located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eden Wood
  • Continue List   (42 more) ...
    • Gallagher Meadows
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Gallagher Meadows is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gallagher Meadows
    • Garden Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Garden Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garden Oaks
    • Greenhills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Greenhills is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greenhills
    • Grove Park
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Grove Park is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Grove Park
    • Harder Oaks
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Harder Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harder Oaks
    • Harvest Field
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Harvest Field is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harvest Field
    • Heritage Crest
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Heritage Crest is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Heritage Crest
    • Hickory Hammock
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hickory Hammock is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Hammock
    • Hickory Lakes
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hickory Lakes is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hickory Lakes
    • Hillside
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Hillside is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hillside
    • Holiday Hills
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Holiday Hills is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Holiday Hills
    • Hollowtree
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hollowtree is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hollowtree
    • Hunter Place
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Hunter Place is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunter Place
    • Hunters Cove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Hunters Cove is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hunters Cove
    • Indian Trails
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Indian Trails is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Indian Trails
    • Jerrys
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Jerrys is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jerrys
    • Kings Mill
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Kings Mill is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Mill
    • Kingstowne Place
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
      • Kingstowne Place is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingstowne Place
    • Kingsway Downs
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingsway Downs is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsway Downs
    • Kingsway Gardens
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Kingsway Gardens is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsway Gardens
    • Kingsway Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Kingsway Heights is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kingsway Heights
    • Lawndale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
      • Lawndale is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lawndale
    • Legends Pass
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Legends Pass is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Legends Pass
    • Leonard
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Leonard is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Leonard
    • Long Pond
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Long Pond is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Long Pond
    • Martin
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Martin is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin
    • Memory Lane
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Memory Lane is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Memory Lane
    • Oak Landing
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Oak Landing is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Landing
    • Orchid Grove
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the east)
      • Orchid Grove is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orchid Grove
    • Park Meadow
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Park Meadow is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Park Meadow
    • Ravenwood
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Ravenwood is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ravenwood
    • Ridge Court
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Ridge Court is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge Court
    • Ridge Dale
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Ridge Dale is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ridge Dale
    • Royal Oaks
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Royal Oaks is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Royal Oaks
    • Shadow Bay
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Shadow Bay is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadow Bay
    • Shady Oaks Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Shady Oaks Park is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Oaks Park
    • Stone Hollow
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Stone Hollow is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Stone Hollow
    • Sugarloaf Ridge
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Sugarloaf Ridge is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sugarloaf Ridge
    • Timber Knoll
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the south)
      • Timber Knoll is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Timber Knoll
    • Vineyards
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Vineyards is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vineyards
    • Whisper Lake
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the north)
      • Whisper Lake is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Whisper Lake
    • Wildwood Hollow
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Wildwood Hollow is located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wildwood Hollow

How Far From Valrico 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 include the distance from a community such as Valrico Forest to various places of note, such as the White House.

With a nod to our favorite Gazetteers, the straight-line distance<1> beginning in Valrico Forest and extending to:

  • Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies 12 miles [19.3 km]<1> to the west. If you could walk a straight line from Valrico Forest to Tampa, with an average speed<2> of 2.2 miles [3.5 km] per hour, it would take five to six hours to make the trip. A horse and buggy averaging 3.2 miles [5.1 km] per hour would take nearly four hours.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 211 miles [339.6 km] to the northwest (NW). Driving, with an average speed of 63 miles [101.4 km] per hour, would take a little over three hours, a buggy would take 9 days and walking would take 12 days.
  • The White House (Washington, DC) is 814 miles [1,310 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<3> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,610 miles [10,637.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<4>
  • The distance to the Great Mosque of Mecca (specifically the Ka'bah - or Kaaba ) is 7,278 miles [11,712.8 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<5>
  • The distance to Saint Peter's Basilica (The Vatican) is 5,178 miles [8,333.2 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<6>'

Footnotes ...

<1>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Valrico Forest) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.
<2>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.
<3>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 Valrico 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 Valrico Forest. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 27.9330, Longitude: -82.2491       In this case, the coordinates for Valrico Forest have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<4>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.717 degrees.
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.094 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.828 degrees.