Sunken Gardens

When I told my family that we visited the Sunken Garden this weekend I heard several comments about a garden in a hole, or a garden that collapsed. Well, even though they thought they were being funny both descriptions are slightly true. The garden was created from a drained lake in St. Petersburg and I believe the lake was created by a sink hole. So you see; out of humor comes truth.

The gardens are located in St. Petersburg, FL close to I-275, so the attraction is easy to find. During our visit on Memorial Day, parking was abundant and FREE. Admission was $8.00 -- $7.00 if you are an AAA member.

My husband was captivated by the exotic birds, the kois, and the snapping turtle. These birds were caged, so park visitors could stand and enjoy their music, calls, and preening. My funny moment was when I heard a “HELLO”, “HELLO”, which I promptly responded with a “HELLO”, “HELLO” thinking wow they have trained these birds to talk to us. I was surprised to discover that it was another visitor talking to the birds and not the birds talking to me. Embarrassing moment.

From the Oak Pavilion, to the wedding lawn, on to the butterfly garden, and finishing with the cactus garden; we enjoyed the walk through the shaded tile pathway winding downward to the lowest part of the garden which was 5 feet below street level where the alligator snapping turtle resided in his own little pond.

It was so calming and relaxing. With several benches throughout the museum it is lovely just to sit and pretend that bustling St. Pete is just over the wall. Don’t miss sitting on the growing stone where legend has it that by sitting on the stone you will be blessed with Tranquility, Harmony and the ability to grow things. Hope that it helps with my growing of tomatoes and bell peppers. I’ll let you know.

Enjoy Florida!!

Florida Aquarium in Tampa

Let’s take a trip to the Florida Aquarium.

This activity took us about four hours to complete. Then there was a bit of shopping in the gift shop!!!

We arrived at 9:30 a.m., which was perfect timing to purchase our tickets take a quick look at the aquarium map. We planned our route and headed upstairs to the Penguin Promenade. We were the oldest ones enjoying the penguins without kids, but it was definitely worth the odd looks from the kids. The two handlers were informative and as you can see the penguins were awfully cute.

Next, we headed off to visit the Wetlands where birds flew overhead, and we were entertained by exhibits of otters, alligators, and many aquariums full of native Florida wildlife.
From the wetlands we ventured to the invader and bay and beaches. Our walk was perfectly timed to see the presentation at the Bays and Beaches where they fed the stingrays. It was a no touch zone, but not to feel left out once you are back on the main level you can touch the stingrays in a special tank. My husband enjoyed the No Bone Zone where you could be a bit touchy feely on the sea sponges and starfish.

From the No Bone Zone we headed to the coral reef exhibit and watched a wonderful presentation on native Floridian coral in a tank replicated from a coral reef in the Keys.

Kids of all ages love the “Swim with the Sharks” tank where two divers give a shark presentation. Kids love sharks and they really loved the fact that there were people in the tank with them.

We enjoyed our trip to the Florida Aquarium. To be up front, It is not the National Aquarium where my husband and I spent many a weekend when we lived in Baltimore, but for the price it is a must see when you go to the Tampa area.

Sanibel, Captiva and Ft. Myers

Are you taking a trip to Southwest Florida?
Are you headed to Sanibel Island?

If you are looking for a “non-beach” activity, I have the perfect suggestion.

My husband and I toured the Thomas Edison’s winter residence and museum located on the Caloosahatchee River on our wedding anniversary a few years ago. Did you know that Thomas Edison held over 1,093 patents? I didn’t; and it would be a great inspiration for children or adults with inventive minds to keep the ideas flowing.

The residence is surrounded by exotic gardens and trees. These gardens contain more than 1,000 plant varieties that Edison imported from all over the world. It is here that I saw my first Banyan Tree, which happens to be Florida’s largest. These trees fascinate me. If you haven’t heard of the Banyan Tree they put forth roots from the limbs that help support the huge bottom limbs. As much as they fascinate me I could not have one in my yard because they will easily overtake any other vegetation.

During the visit I learned that Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were very good friends. After a visit to the Edison Estate one summer, Henry Ford purchased the house next door. For more than 15 years Ford and his family spent summers in Fort Myers to be with the Edison’s.

We spent about four hours on the estate, touring the homes, gardens and the museum. Then we ventured over to Sanibel Island. We walked on the shell covered beach and ate lunch at the Bubble Room. Then on our way off the island we drove through “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and toured the visitor’s center. If you are a biker (bicycle not motorcycle) the island is a great place to ride.

Pack a lunch for the beach or visit one of the wonderful restaurants on the islands. You might consider making this a full weekend trip. Drive into Fort Myers on Friday and take the Edison Tour; then drive over to islands and enjoy a weekend retreat in the relaxing atmosphere of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Daytona International Speedway

Like many spouses out there, mine loves NASCAR. Actually he loved Dale Earnhardt and now takes that loyalty to his son Dale, Jr. From day one of our dating, I knew that I was going to have to jump on board with that interest or I would be spending many weekends alone while he watched the races.

When we moved to Florida for the first time, 7 years ago, I knew just what I wanted to give him for a birthday present -- Richard Petty’s Driving Experience. There were several tracks to choose from including Daytona, Homestead and Walt Disney World Speedway and I chose the Mac Daddy of them all, which is Daytona. I wanted to give him the “Drive Along” experience, but it was a little out of my budget.

We made a day of it at the Daytona International Speedway. We arrived early to take the tour before my husband strapped in for his trip around the Speedway. Then we visited Daytona USA, which has added even more attractions now than when we visited the first time.

I can only give you the second hand account, but the look on my husband’s face when he got out of the passenger side of the car leads me to believe that any one loving speed would love the experience. He said they got up to about 170 mph and he swore they got close enough to the wall that he could have touched it (if he had wanted to get rid of an arm). He said it was amazing and that the driver was so relaxed he actually drove with one hand at times. Now my only warning is that once he finished with the ride he was ready to start saving for the “Experience Package” where he could drive himself.

Take the time to visit Daytona USA while you are there. Take a look at the winner of the current year’s Daytona 500. They actually just drive it in off the speedway. They don’t even wash the car first. It still has asphalt, paint scrapes and dents that occurred during the race. My husband loved the simulators on Thunder Road. You can also test your family’s skill with the pit crew challenge and try out the “Daytona Dream Laps Simulator”.

It is a wonderful activity for the family. Once you finish at the Speedway head east for just a few miles and drive along Daytona Beach. Yes, I said DRIVE!!!

Leu Gardens

If you are vacationing in the Orlando area, Leu Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. I visited the gardens three years ago and would definitely visit again if I return to the area. According to their website, admission is FREE if you arrive Monday’s before noon. Otherwise, admission is a very affordable $5.00 per person. My advice is to plan a morning visit if you are going in the summer because it will be cooler. Check out their website www.leugardens.org for a list of their night time events -- they sound great. Each month there is a “Date Night in the Garden” that would definitely impress a new girlfriend, or inspire romance for any married couple.

The gardens have three miles of paved walkways winding throughout the 50 acre garden area. You get to exercise and enjoy the tropical beauty at the same time. Besides the eye popping flowers spaced throughout the gardens, be sure you visit the butterfly garden and get inspired to start one of your own. It is perfect for both the at home gardener, or folks like me who aren’t too good in the garden but appreciate the beauty of flora in our area. I kind of gave up on attempts to grow flowers because I felt so guilty about killing so many of them.

We spent about 3 hours there, which left us with an afternoon shopping and eating in the nearby Winter Park downtown area. Winter Park has a nice mixture of unique local boutiques and some national chain stores accompanied by a large variety of wonderfully delicious restaurants at various price ranges.

Fort Desoto Beach

My better half and I found Fort DeSoto Park kind of by accident. The day we drove over to St. Petersburg we were just getting a feel for the lay of the land and saw Fort DeSoto’s camping sign. Since my husband’s family are big RV’ers we decided to check it out. Although this is about the beach, let me quickly add that their camping area looked really nice. It made me want to buy an RV, or maybe even pitch a tent and nothing has ever made me want to do that before.

Okay, back to the beach.

We have visited Fort DeSoto Beach three times now and have made it our first beach stop when vacationers come to visit. It looks like we are actually pretty good at picking out superior beaches, since it was voted #1 beach in 2005 by Dr. Beach.

The sand is smooth and there is some very good shelling--not Sanibel Island quality shelling--but good compared to Daytona Beach or Cocoa Beach. They have two piers and the fishing is supposed to be good. We have sunned ourselves by both, but I think I liked the area farther north the best.

There is so much to enjoy at Ft. Desoto Beach--from sand dollars, to a view of ships sailing majestically into the Gulf, to the fishermen on the pier, a place to throw the Frisbee in the wind, and best of all, the crazy people who actually feed the seagulls and were forced back to their car by the throngs of birds that came to partake like their friends. PLEASE, PLEASE don’t feed the wildlife!!! You’ll be really, really sorry if you do.

Fort DeSoto Beach also offers Kayak rentals, bike and skating trails, and when you are need of shade; walk or drive to the fort and take a look around. The boys will be impressed with the 12-inch mortar battery located there.

We have other favorite beaches for other reasons in other areas of the state, so I will keep those for another day. No matter what beach you go to, when you pull out those beach chairs and towels leave all your trials and tribulations locked in the car. Don’t take your cell phone. Enjoy a few hours of listening to the birds and the waves. Take a good book, a bottle of water, and your favorite person (people) along for the ride.

Florida Winery Tours

This next Florida vacation activity is an over-21 outing. Doesn’t that sound intriguing?

Wine is not just for California and Italy these days. During the past 15-years many states have developed programs that provide incentives to land owners to switch from traditional farming crops like corn and soybeans to non-traditional crops like grapes. Farmers have worked closely with state agriculture departments to develop hybrid grapes that will live in almost any environment.

A few years ago my husband and I discovered the Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard in Clermont, Florida by a complete accident. At the time we did not (and still don't) consider ourselves wine aficionados, so we almost didn’t stop. There was a bit of fear involved because our idea of a good wine usually came out of a box. But the winery sat majestically on the top of a hill looking over rows and rows of grape vines, so we took a chance and pulled into the driveway.

We fell in love with the experience and some of the wines. We watched their introductory video and then took the tour of the winery which ended in a wine tasting. Besides being a great marketing method, it was great fun listening to the host describe each wine and then share a sample with us. There were probably 15 of us at the tasting and they had them about every 30 minutes. Just taking an unscientific study (by my visual testing method) I would say that 2/3 of us went home with at least two bottles and several went away pulling the little red wagon to their cars in the parking lot hauling a case or even two. They also had a large variety of wine themed gift items. Lakeridge Winery and Vineyard became a regular stop when we had visitors. Check out their website for the dates you are vacationing to see if they are having a special events at the winery.

Recently we made a stop at the Rosa Fiorelli Winery, Inc and Vineyard in Manatee County -- an easy visit from Tampa, Sarasota, or Bradenton.

The day we visited they were very busy, so I don’t know if we got a true picture of the tour and tasting. I have to say that this tasting definitely had the best food; that day there was a variety of summer sausages, chocolate, fruit preserves, and veggies. It was great to see examples of what foods go with what wines. My only complaint was that the tasting area and sales area was very small. We had six in our party and another couple joined us and the area was maybe five feet and only three chairs plus a cash register. While we were there I would say another eight people came and had to wait, so it was a bit over crowded. With this said, we still went away with a case of the winery’s selections. There are tours available, but no one from our party participated and I don’t feel right giving a recommendation. I think my husband and I might go back with just the two of us and take the tour on another day because we really enjoy hearing the history and the dynamics of the process.

There are several other wineries in Florida in all areas of the Sunshine State. Word of advice: Definitely check out their websites and maybe even call to see what their particular winery has to offer. I offer this suggestion because in Michigan I visited what I thought was a winery (based on their sign) and found that it was a wine store on the side of the interstate and although they did offer tastings, it did not offer the same enjoyable ambiance as other wineries I have visited.

Let me know if you have visited any of the other Florida wineries. I would love some more recommendations.

Florida Festivals and Fairs

As I have said in previous posts, I’m a people watcher and what better way to meet new people than in their local hometowns. In our travels throughout Florida and other states, I like to buy a local paper to see if there are any local street fairs going on in the area.

In just the last 45-days alone we have gone to the Tomato Festival and the Manatee Festival. We missed the Strawberry Festival and have attended the Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival in the past. (This year’s corn festival is May 25 & 26, so if you are in Central Florida area that weekend check it out. Remember to take a chair with you so you can sit and listen to the musical acts).

We have friends that love festival/fair food. They get so excited about the elephant ears, fried Twinkies and fiddle sticks. Well here in sunny Florida add to that list fresh tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, watermelons, some of the best sweet corn around, BBQ and a variety of seafood (do you sense a theme here) and you have an mouth watering outing.

You never know what you will see at these festivals. At the Tomato Festival we saw artisans doing woodwork, making rope (the kids seemed to love this one) and a traditional blacksmith. There was an antique car show with a people’s choice category, so attendees got to vote for the winner. They also had an antique tractor show and a large variety of crafts and plants for sale. It was held at E.G. Simmons Park. With a beautiful view of the bay, plus the breeze, it made a 90-degree day bearable. There was a wonderful shelter where we sat and listened to local country and blue grass local artists. This particular festival did have a $5 entry fee. We got our money’s worth that is for sure.

Now I have just named a few festivals that I am familiar with in Florida. I am not suggesting a drive across the state from your beachside villa, but I do recommend that you investigate what might be going on within a 30 mile radius of your hotel and check out a bit of local flavor.

Bok Tower

On a beautiful Saturday not long after I arrived in Florida my husband and I decided that we needed a break from house hunting and his work. We couldn’t decide what to do, so we pulled out the Off the Beaten Path-Florida Edition and chose a visit Bok Tower and gardens.

We took the long way there avoiding the interstate. When you are truly having a relaxing outing, this is often a fun thing to do. You never know what you will find driving through small towns -- antique shops, diners, or just simply some odd tourist attraction of days gone by. That advice actually applies to any state in the union.

Pulling up to the entrance we rolled down the windows to pay the $10 to the parking attendant. As we drove through the winding road leading up to main buildings, we smelled orange blossoms. It was such a nice effect that we actually commented that management should pipe the smell in when the orange trees aren’t in bloom.

If you visit Bok Tower, remember to bring your walking shoes to tour the beautiful gardens. Since I am not a gardener this is as close to nature as I get. But I still found it very enjoyable and relaxing. There are benches in shaded areas throughout the walking tour. (Hint Hint) This might be a nice romantic date or anniversary type of outing, especially if you have a important question or a special gift!!!

Unfortunately I can not give you a critique of the Pinewood Estate because we skipped that. I can tell you from the outside it was very appealing and the manicured lawn leading up to the home was breathtaking.

We finished our walk at the Singing Tower were we found a bench under a beautiful live oak tree. At least I think it was an oak tree, remember I told you I was not a gardener. We sat and listened to the relaxing sounds of the carillon. If you are a people watcher like me you like to look around and see smiles on others faces, people holding hands, or with their arms around each other. On the day we visited, there was not much talking -- only appreciating the sounds of the carillon.

On the way out we decided we were famished and needed lunch. Since I did not plan ahead and bring a picnic basket so we could enjoy the grounds and use one of several picnic tables in the parking area, we opted for the Carillion Cafe. To our surprise it was so much more than the typical dining experience at a tourist attraction. There were fresh salads available, a variety of sandwiches, soup and for the kids -- the ever important hotdog.

This is not an outing to be rushed. Make sure you have batteries charged in the camera because there will be much you will want to remember in digital print. Oh and for the shoppers among my readers, they also had a quaint gift shop that sold a variety of plants to take home to add to your yard.

Ringling Estate, Ca d'zan and Circus Museum

In previous posts, I have suggested a few off-the-beaten-path things to do while in Florida. Here is one a bit more conventional.

Our friend found The Ringling Estate in the AAA guidebook. This magnificent estate was owned by John and Mable Ringling and includes The Ca d’zan (their summer residence), the Ringling Museum of Art, and the circus museum. For $15 you receive admission to all three, but just the first floor of the residence. Located in Sarasota it is convenient to Bradenton, Ft. Myers, and Tampa.

Don’t let that first floor exception deter you from visiting this attraction. I cannot tell a lie we missed the Ringling Museum of Art and we still felt like we got our $15 worth. You see the women in our group wanted to tour the museum, but the men overruled us. I guess we know who has the culture in our group!!!

One of the most enjoyable parts of the day was walking out on the terrace at the Ca d’zan where there was a wonderful breeze blowing off the bay. As we sat and watched the water we saw some other guests pointing at the bay and decided to go closer and see what it was all about. Much to our surprise and delight there were 3 or 4 dolphins frolicking in the bay less than 15 feet from us. They were so beautiful and calming that we stood for several minutes and enjoyed their playfulness. They definitely played to the audience.

If you are fan of roses then you must see Mable’s Rose Garden and Florida’s only rose test garden. I am not a rose expert but to walk through the garden and smell that wonderful sweet smell was heavenly. We visited in April with the garden in full bloom, so I cannot guarantee it smells like all year long, but it’s worth taking a chance if you like roses.

Perhaps the most unique attraction at the Ringling Estate is Tibbal’s Miniature Circus. It’s mind boggling to think about the effort the Howard Brothers took to recreate the timeline of the circus--from its arrival into town, unpacking, the trek of the local’s to the Big Top, the actual big top show, and finally re-packing and transporting the circus to the next town. This truly shows how logistically savvy the real life Ringling Brothers were in getting their shows throughout the United States.

So awaken that inner child in you again and visit The Ringling Estate.

Gamble Mansion

Here is another suggestion for a vacation day activity or nice family outing on a Saturday. Head to Ellenton, Florida where you can do a bit of shopping, take a break to drive down the road for a one hour tour of a historical mansion, go back for more shopping, and then head to a terrific seafood restaurant.

If you are in the Tampa-Sarasota-Bradenton area, take a drive to Ellenton, Florida and visit Prime Outlets-Ellenton . It advertises itself as “West Florida’s largest outlet center” and after driving through the parking lot recently, I agree.

After you’ve shopped all morning and the kids begin to get restless, why not add a little bit of Florida history to your day and get away from the crowds. Head west from the mall and take a visit to the Gamble Mansion--South Florida’s only remaining antebellum plantation house.

We saw the historical sign advertising the Gamble Mansion on Interstate 75 many times and always wondered what it’s significance was to Florida history, so we drove down to check it out. There is no fee to tour the grounds or the visitor’s center, but the mansion tour costs $5 for a one hour tour of the house. The day’s last tour starts at 4:00 p.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. During this tour, almost nothing is off limits from view. There are no velvet ropes restraining you from entering the room and viewing it’s artifacts from all different angles.

Our tour guide was a wonderful grey-bearded gentleman who worked previously as a school teacher and boy could you tell. His eyes twinkled when he told the history and stories of the home which has been restored by the Daughters of the Confederacy. This home is a significance in Florida history because Confederate Secretary of State, Judah P. Benjamin, took refuge here after the fall of the Confederacy. He later escaped to England where he worked as a prominent lawyer until his dealth.

I will be honest and tell you up front that the Gamble Mansion does not compare to the Edison Summer Residence or the Ca d’zan Mansion of the Ringling’s, but both those tours do carry a higher price tag. The price is right and it fits the bill as a perfect opportunity to take a break from shopping and add an educational element to the family vacation for kids.

Our tour guide at the Gamble mansion recommended we try dinner at the Crab Trap II near the mall. We had guests from Missouri that wanted seafood, but not from a mega chain, so this worked perfectly. Based on the crowd at the outlet mall, I prepared our friends for a wait, but we walked in at 5:00 p.m. and were seated immediately. We were unable to get a table that had a view of the water. I actually faced a giant mirror so I could watch myself and the folks seated at the table behind me eat (wink, wink, lol). Our waitress was efficient and friendly and there was not an outrageous wait time for our food.

I had the crab cakes and a potato puff that made this southern girl’s mouth water. It was excellent. Our friend ordered the chowder and the Bourbon Street Salmon that he enjoyed immensely. He didn’t stop talking about how good they were for the rest of their visit. In fact, I heard the words the “best I have ever eaten” several times. My father-in-law had fried shrimp and steak fries. He seemed to enjoy the shrimp but he hated the steak fries. My husband raved about his blackened Grouper. Because I am not a restaurant critic and couldn’t begin to do it proper justice, I am including this link of reviews of the restaurant that you can add to ours. Our visitors were only sad that they did not get to see a gator!!!

So pack up your car for a day trip and please the entire family. Go home with a car full of shopping bags, learn about one of Florida’s first plantations, and top off an enjoyable day with a full stomach.

Florida Racing Vacation

Daydreaming about visiting Florida on vacation or daydreaming about making Florida a permanent home brings to mind a world of beaches and amusement parks. What I have found out during my years as a Florida resident (I am on my second go around) is that there is a lot more to the state than the tourism stuff. With this said, some of the real substance Florida provides are not the usual things that tourists go looking for when they travel to the state. But if your family is like mine, we all have our various likes and dislikes.

Why not search for some points of interest based on what your family members find interesting?

I know it’s hard to believe, but if you are planning a visit to Florida with a family member that is not in love with the beach, but loves cars and car racing here is an option that may help you. From northern panhandle to the sunny beaches of the south there are many fun race tracks to visit with the family.

As you read this, I imagine some of you are probably saying or thinking to yourself, “why in the world would I go to sunny Florida to visit some local dirt track?” I think it’s a matter of maintaining your own personal sanity, not to mention peace and contentment with your spouse or kids. Do you want to spend your entire vacation listening to your travel companions complain about the money they are spending at an amusement park and how hot it is in July at the beach? I can’t guarantee that this will stop that sort of thing altogether, but I think that if you extend the olive branch and offer to sample some local racing flavor after enjoying your day at the beach, the next day may go a little easier when you mention that you’ve decided to do a bit of outlet shopping and “he” or “they” just might not complain as loud. Keep this in mind, “it’s easier to catch flies with honey than”....well, you know the rest.

Last weekend my husband and I headed out to the racetrack near Riverview Florida, East Bay Raceway Park. At $12 per adult ticket we enjoyed 5 hours of racing on a 1/3 mile dirt track. We don’t have kids, but from what I observed the kids there loved it. Don’t let them wear anything new or “special”, because if they venture near the lower level seats they’ll probably get a little Florida clay and dirt thrown up on them. The racetrack even has a designated family area in the bleachers.

The parking at East Bay Raceway is easy and FREE, unless you wanted to park in the $5 VIP lot. But the FREE parking is a short 2 minute walk from the grandstands. They have a restaurant on site and the other normal concessions like hotdogs, hamburgers, popcorn, candy, soda, etc. The announcer said that the restaurant had a breakfast buffet starting at 9:30 p.m. We didn’t stay and try it, but it was tempting.

If your family is not a racing family, then apply this to another hobby. With the wonderful world of the Internet you can find activities based on your family and friends’ special interests that can show you another side of your favorite vacation destination.

Keep checking my blog for other ideas as I run across them, or feel free to share some of your own ideas and places that you enjoyed visiting during your Florida vacation so my family can enjoy them too.