2 Florida Pinball Museums Are Among The Best In The U.S.

Often pinball games are thought of as being "retro." However, these machines are not only a present-day collectors item, they are also still wildly popular. Perceptive Travel (who notes new machines are still frequently being found) recently published a list of the best pinball museums in the country, and two Florida locations were named.

The first proper pinball machine (coin-operated) dates back to the 1930's. "Because it was a game of chance, pinball was considered a form of gambling and was outlawed in the 1940s," Pastime Pinball explains. In fact, there was recently a film about this, called Pinball: The Man Who Saved The Game. 

By the 1980's, there were over 200,000 pinball machines, and interest in the game was peaking. Growing up in the '80s and '90s it was common to see a pinball machine in every arcade you frequented. Furthermore, pubs and restaurants also would have a game in-house for patrons to play during their wait or simply marvel at, even as video games (which were more modern and took up less space) were becoming more popular.

Video game publication Destructiod, recently highlighted the most iconic pinball games in the country. "Pinball has a visual style all of its own, a tangible reality that most interactive entertainment fails to capture," they say. According to their list, the machines of the early '90s that properly blended with the cultural phenomenon are those considered most legendary today. They include "The Addams Family," "Twilight Zone," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

According to Perceptive Travel, Florida has iconic pinball museums on both coasts.

Let's start along the gulf shores in the greater Tampa, St. Pete area with Replay Amusement Museum. This arcade has 120 games. At Replay, all the games are set to "Free Play," which means you pay an entry fee, and that's it. Replay makes an effort for their experience and game setup to be interactive and educational. Their pinball games include the AC/DC-themed machine and Ghostbusters.

Next, we will head east for the second of the legendary Florida pinball museums. The Silverball Retro Arcade in Delray Beach is the other pinball paradise mentioned. It offers a variety of experiences in addition to games. For example, you can eat, drink, and hang at the happy hour at Silverball Delray. They have 87 pinball machines. You can play by buying a half-day, full-day, or night pass.

According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.

A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.

The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.

In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.

"American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity," Mr. Hudson explains.

What's fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America's feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade

Let's take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.

Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.