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

Tidbits & Trivia

Introduction ...

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

Outdoor Activities ...

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

When in Willow Pines, we use the following websites to find information relevant to Willow Pines 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 Willow Pines:
    • 28.008000, -82.470400<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 Willow Pines
  • 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 Willow Pines 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 Willow Pines

Curious and Interesting Names Near Willow Pines ...

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.

  • Aurora
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Aurora is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Aurora
  • Catherine City
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Catherine City is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Catherine City
  • Citrus Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Citrus Park is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Citrus Park
  • Crest Place
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Crest Place is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Crest Place
  • Curlin Place
    (Less than 2 miles to the east)
    • Curlin Place is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Curlin Place
  • Dorothy Park
    (Less than 2 miles to the south)
    • Dorothy Park is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dorothy Park
  • Edwards
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Edwards is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Edwards
  • Egypt Lake
    (Less than 2 miles to the west)
    • Egypt Lake is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Egypt Lake
  • Eureka
    (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
    • Eureka is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Eureka
  • Evelyn City
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Evelyn City is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Evelyn City
  • Fannypryde
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Fannypryde is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fannypryde
  • Fern Cliff
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
    • Fern Cliff is also located in Hillsborough County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fern Cliff
  • Continue List   (45 more) ...
    • Georgia Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Georgia Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Georgia Park
    • Gilberts
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Gilberts is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gilberts
    • Golden Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Golden Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Golden Park
    • Greentree
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Greentree is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Greentree
    • Harmony Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Harmony Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harmony Heights
    • Harris Branch
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Harris Branch is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris Branch
    • Headford
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Headford is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Headford
    • Healthy Hill
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Healthy Hill is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Healthy Hill
    • Hiawatha Highlands
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Hiawatha Highlands is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hiawatha Highlands
    • Homelands
      (Less than 2 miles to the southwest)
      • Homelands is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Homelands
    • Idle Grove Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Idle Grove Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Idle Grove Park
    • Karen Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Karen Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Karen Heights
    • Lake View Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • 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 west)
      • Lake View Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lake View Park
    • Little Eleven
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Little Eleven is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Eleven
    • Little Henry
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Little Henry is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Little Henry
    • Manor Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Manor Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor Heights
    • Manor Hills
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Manor Hills is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor Hills
    • Marco
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Marco is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Marco
    • Mattie
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mattie is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mattie
    • Meadowbrook
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • Meadowbrook is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meadowbrook
    • Mitchell Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Mitchell Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell Park
    • Mooreland
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Mooreland is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mooreland
    • Nebraska Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Nebraska Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nebraska Park
    • Oak Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Oak Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Grove
    • Oak Trail
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Oak Trail is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Trail
    • Orange Heights
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Orange Heights is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Orange Heights
    • Palm
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Palm is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Palm
    • Pine Level
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Pine Level is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Level
    • Plumnelly
      (Less than 2 miles to the north)
      • Plumnelly is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Plumnelly
    • Record Grove
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Record Grove is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Record Grove
    • River Haven
      (Less than 2 miles to the south)
      • River Haven is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Haven
    • Riverbend
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Riverbend is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riverbend
    • Rose
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Rose is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rose
    • Shadowlawn
      (Less than 2 miles to the southeast)
      • Shadowlawn is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shadowlawn
    • Shady Nook
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Shady Nook is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shady Nook
    • Spring View
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Spring View is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Spring View
    • Sulphur Springs
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Sulphur Springs is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sulphur Springs
    • Susieanna
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Susieanna is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Susieanna
    • Tripoli Place
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Tripoli Place is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tripoli Place
    • Tropical Gardens
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Tropical Gardens is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tropical Gardens
    • Tuxedo Springs
      (Less than 2 miles to the east)
      • Tuxedo Springs is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tuxedo Springs
    • Venetian Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
      • Venetian Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Venetian Park
    • Vine Park
      (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
      • Vine Park is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vine Park
    • Waco
      (Less than 2 miles to the west)
      • Waco is also located in Hillsborough County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Waco

How Far From Willow Pines 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 Willow Pines to various places of note, such as the White House.

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

  • Tampa, which is the Seat of Hillsborough County, lies just to the South Southeast.
  • Tallahassee, which is the State Capital of Florida, lies 200 miles [321.9 km]<2> to the north northwest (NNW). If you could drive a straight line from Willow Pines 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 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<4> to Jerusalem (specifically the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock) is 6,617 miles [10,649 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 5,185 miles [8,344.4 km] and it lies to the northeast (NE).<7>

Footnotes ...

<1>GPS Coordinates for Willow Pines:
     Decimal: 28.00800, -82.470400
     DDMMSS: 28° 0' 28", -82° 28' 13"
<2>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- Willow Pines) 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 Willow Pines 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 Willow Pines. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 28.0080, Longitude: -82.4704       In this case, the coordinates for Willow Pines have been provided by the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).
<5>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Jerusalem is 310.839 degrees.
<6>The calculated bearing (or angle) to Mecca is 305.246 degrees.
<7>The calculated bearing (or angle) to the Vatican is 309.883 degrees.