Amelia
Island is one of the southernmost of the Sea Islands, a
chain of barrier islands stretching
along the coast from S Carolina to Florida. Amelia Island is just off the coast
of northeast Florida. Its beauty and tranquility of pristine and secluded
beaches spreads for 13 miles.
Fort Clinch
was built there during the Civil War and is one of the best-preserved 19th
century forts in the country. On the first full weekend of every month, they
recreate period activities, from military duties to the mundane tasks of
everyday life.
The
island is also home to the shrimping town of Fernandina Beach, where the
52-block historic district on the north end of the island is home to 450
magnificent Victorian structures. http://www.ameliaisland.com/
Amelia
Island hosts many events including The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival,
usually held over the first weekend in May (May 1st – 3rd,
2015 & parade April 30, 2015). The name of Eight Flags comes from being
under the dominion of eight different flags during the history of the US. http://www.shrimpfestival.com/
The
Amelia Island Film Festival is held usually in May-June (June 5th -
13th, 2015). The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking was filmed there
in 1988. Pippi’s home is now Posada San Carlos B&B Inn. http://www.rendezvousfestival.org/#schedule-section
St.
Augustine is the oldest settlement in the US, celebrating
its 450th anniversary in September 2015. The city is an enclave
of history with its Castillo de San Marcos – the country’s oldest masonry fort
and the Colonial Quarter – a two-acre living history museum featuring exhibits,
shows, taverns and restaurants that immerse visitors in three centuries of
Spanish and British rule. http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/things-to-do/
Kennedy
Space Center Visitor Complex is a major tourist
attraction with museums, films, a rocket garden. Next Rocket Launch is
scheduled on May 20th, 2015. On May 23-25, 2015 you may strap in and
prepare to Fly With An Astronaut! Spend a half day experiencing the highlights
of Kennedy Space Center. https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
Fort
Pierce and Port St.
Lucie are known for their wet grasslands and marshes, creating excellent
oasis for birding and bird watching. Savannas Preserve State Park in Port
St. Lucie is the largest and most intact remnant of freshwater marsh
habitats. The park offers miles of multiuse trails as well as canoeing,
kayaking and fishing. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/savannas
Palm
Beach is the easternmost town in Florida, located on a
16-mile long barrier island. It was established as a resort by Henry Morrison
Flagler. He built two luxury resort hotels, the Royal Poinciana Hotel and The
Breakers Hotel. In 1902, he built a Beaux-Arts mansion, Whitehall, also known
as Flagler Museum.
Flagler Museum,
an opulent estate, is a National Historic Landmark. At its time it was
proclaimed as “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more
magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.” http://www.flaglermuseum.us/
Worth Ave is
an upscale shopping district in Palm Beach. Voted one of the top three ‘Most
Iconic’ streets in America in 2013. It stretches four blocks from Lake Wroth to
the Atlantic Ocean. http://worth-avenue.com/
Pan’s Garden
is a unique botanical garden consisting of over 300 native Florida plant
species. http://www.palmbeachpreservation.org/
Mounts Botanical Barden, in
West Palm Beach, is the county’s oldest and largest public garden with over
2,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants from six continents, including
plants native to Florida. Much of the architecture found in Palm Beach
County is considered neo-Mediterranean in style. Often a complimentary
landscape style is sought (right). http://mounts.org/
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
stands out as an ‘island in time.’ It preserves the natural heritage of
subtropical coastal habitat that once covered southeast Florida. http://www.macarthurbeach.org/
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens,
located west of Delray Beach in Palm Beach County, is a center for Japanese
arts and culture, showcasing one of the largest Japanese gardens outside of
Japan. The sixteen-acres of gardens display different historical periods and
methods of Japanese gardening. The museum and gardens host a number of
Japanese-influenced festivals each year, including New Year’s in January,
Spring Festival in February, Children’s Day in April, and Bon Festival in
August. http://morikami.org/
Fort
Lauderdale so called ‘American Venice’ is a popular tourist destination for its gondola
rides on the canals; also famous for its beaches, arts, culture and events. The
Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District runs east-west along Las
Olas Blvd, from the beach to the heart of downtown (right).
East Village Uncorked
is an art and wine event in Pompano Beach (N of Ft Lauderdale) held on the 1st
Friday of each month, 6-9pm, featuring specialty merchants, restaurants and
free wine tasting. http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/fort-lauderdale.html
Bonnet House Museum & Gardens
is a spectacular historic landmark, which the grounds had already witnessed
4,000 years of Florida history with remnants of human activity dating back to
2,000 B.C. http://www.bonnethouse.org/
Flamingo Gardens,
west of Fort Lauderdale, is a 60-acre wildlife sanctuary, aviary, and botanical
garden, showcasing over 3000 species of rare and exotic, tropical, subtropical,
and native plants. http://www.flamingogardens.org/
Miami
is one of the most diverse cities in the US with a wealth of different cultures
and nationalities mix against the colorful backdrop of its Art Deco District.
It is a district of 800 buildings of historical significance with pastel hues
and porthole windows. Cuban influence is reflected in the cafes and cigar shops
lining Calle Ocho in Little Havana.
South Beach
is renowned for its laid-back vibe by day and glittering nightlife after dark,
filled with ocean-side dining and people-watching.
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
is an oasis of silence and green just south of Miami’s modern skyline. This
magnificent estate was a winter residence of James Deering built between
1914-1922. http://vizcaya.org/home.asp
Everglades, just west of Miami, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians – originally part of the Creek Nation – maintain a village where visitors can observe craft makers at work, watch alligator wrestling displays and take an airboat ride to a typical Miccosukee hammock-style camp. http://www.miccosukee.com/tribe/
Biscayne National Park, located south of Miami, preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water and five percent is the shore’s extensive mangrove forest. The offshore portion of the park includes the northernmost region of the Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world. Access to the park is limited to the immediate vicinity of the Dante Fascell Visitor Center at Convoy Point. All other portions of the park are reachable only by private or concessioner boats. Activities include boating, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. http://www.nps.gov/bisc/index.htm
Overseas
Highway or the Seven
Mile Bridge, known as the ‘Highway that Goes to Sea,’ connects the mainland
with the Florida Keys. It offers travelers an exotic roadway through a tropical
savanna environment and access to the largest area of coral reefs on the US
mainland. Many exotic animals inhabit the tropical islands of the Florida Keys
including the American Crocodile and Key Deer.
Key
West
is Florida’s most southern subtropical paradise, lying just 90 miles from Cuba.
It is famed for relaxed atmosphere and pastel-hued, conch-style houses. http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/key-west.html
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum (right)
is nestled in the heart of Old Town. A unique property roamed by many cats. http://www.hemingwayhome.com/
Mallory Square
is located on the waterfront in historic Old Town. It is the location of the
‘Sunset Celebration,’ which is considered one of the main tourist attractions
of the city. It includes arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers and food
carts. It begins two hours before sunset, every day of the year. http://www.mallorysquare.com/
The Key West Tropical Forest &
Botanical Garden is the only frost-free tropical moist
forest garden in the continental US and boasts two of the island’s last
remaining freshwater ponds. http://keywestbotanicalgarden.org/
The Key West Butterfly & Nature
Conservatory is home to some 50-60 butterfly species
from around the world. This tropical paradise also offers an impressive
collection of flowering plants, colorful birds and cascading waterfalls,
creating ‘flowers of the sky.’ http://www.keywestbutterfly.com/
Dry
Tortugas is a cluster of seven islands lying about 70 miles west
of Key West, composed of coral reefs and sand, called Dry Tortugas. The area is
known for its bird and marine life. Fort Jefferson is one of the largest
coastal forts ever built and is a central feature.
The Dry Tortugas National Park
is located inside Fort Jefferson, which sits on Garden Key. There are two ways
to reach the park by ferry or seaplanes. Camping experience is extremely
limited. http://www.drytortugasinfo.com/
Fort
Myers (and greater area) is a major tourist destination
within Florida. The primary tourist attractions are the winter homes of Thomas
Edison and Henry Ford (right).
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates
offer 20 acres of historical buildings, historic gardens, the Edison Botanic
Research Lab and the Edison Ford Museum. http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/
American Sand Sculpting Championships,
November 20-29, 2015, will be hosted in front of the Wyndham Garden Hotel on
the south end of Estero Island. http://www.fortmyersbeach.org/sand_sculpting_championship/
Mound Key Archaeological State Park
near Fort Myers Beach uncovers the peninsula’s earliest cultures. The tiny
creation mainly from shells was deposited by Calusa Indians more than 2,000
years ago and thought to be the tribe’s ceremonial center at the time of the
Spanish conquest. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/mound-key
Pine Island,
west of Fort Myers, is where the Calusa left behind more enormous shell mounds,
remnants of an ancient canal and artifacts of daily life. On the Colusa
Heritage Trail visitors can tour this internationally significant site and
learn about Colusa culture and their environment. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/RRC/
Sanibel Island,
south of Pine Island, is known for its abundance of shells. Thanks to its
unique location east-west rather than north-south, this allows the island to
catch abundant sea shells that the Gulf of Mexico brings to its shores. http://www.sanibelisland.com/shelling.html
Collier-Seminole State Park
in Naples, south of Fort Myers, goes all the way back to mastodons and
saber-tooth cats, as well as to the first Calusa and Seminole tribes,
illustrating their lives and traditions through recreated villages and camps. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Collier-Seminole
Botanical Garden
of Naples displays the plants and cultures found along 26 degrees latitude,
northern and southern hemispheres, including the cultivated gardens of Brazil,
the Caribbean, Asia and Florida, along with 90 acres of beautifully restored
Florida habitat. http://www.naplesgarden.org/
Tampa
Bay,
a large natural harbor and estuary on the west coast of Florida, once a small
fishing area, now home to about 4 million residents, offers varied attractions
from farm agri-tours to wineries, #1 beach, and world-class museums. St.
Petersburg and Sarasota comprise a museum mecca showcasing a mind-boggling
array of genres and artistic time periods.
Bradenton/Anna Maria Island/Longboat Key
area boasts real working farms and has developed ‘agri-tours’ that allow
visitors to milk cows, pick oranges and taste real Florida wine. Participating
venues include Dakin Dairy Farms, O’Brien Family Farms, Mixon Fruit Farms and
the Bunker Hill and Rosa Fiorelli wineries. http://www.bradentongulfislands.com/play/agritourism/
Rosa Fiorelli Winery
in Bradenton is a family-owned and operated business located just south of Lake
Manatee in the rolling hills of eastern Manatee County. Rosa and her husband
Antonio moved to this area from Casteldaccia, Sicily, and were struck by the
similarities here to their native land. And this is how five rows of bunch
grapes grew into 10 acres of vineyard and a 3000 sq winery. https://www.fiorelliwinery.com/
The Dali Museum,
located in its spectacular new building on the downtown St. Petersburg
waterfront, features the largest, most comprehensive collection of Spanish
surrealist Salvador Dali’s work in America and the greatest number of his
amazing masterworks in one place. http://thedali.org/
Museum of Fine Arts,
also in St. Petersburg, is known for its catalog of French Impressionists,
enchanting sculpture gardens and one of Florida’s most respected photography
collections. It is also the only museum on Florida’s west coast to offer a
comprehensive art collection extending from antiquity to present day with more
than 4,600 objects. http://www.fine-arts.org/
Unconditional Surrender sculpture in downtown Sarasota.
Ringling Museum
complex, in Sarasota, includes the Museum of Art with 31 galleries displaying
among others the works by Rubens; the Circus museum; opulent home of John
Ringling and his wife, Mable; lavish bayfront gardens and the historic Asolo
Theater, created in Italy in 1798, brought to Sarasota in the early 1950s. http://www.ringling.org/
Anna Maria Island,
located a mere 20 minutes from Bradenton, is a seven-mile strip of beautiful
white-sand beaches lining this barrier island between the turquoise Gulf of
Mexico and peninsular Florida. This bird sanctuary island offers observation of
different birds as well as sea turtles, and dolphins. It is also known for
excellent dining of seafood. Sandbar restaurant set in a spectacular waterfront,
offers inside and outside dining directly on the sugar soft sands! http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/anna-maria-island.html
Siesta Key Beach,
in central Sarasota, was voted the #1 beach in the US in 2011. It is also home
to Siesta Key Tropical Wines in the Siesta Village at the north end of Siesta
Key Island. http://www.visitsarasota.org/beaches-places/siesta-key
Egmont Key State Park,
located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, can only be reached by boat or ferry. The
Egmont Key Lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War era
fort, are located in the park. The park is primarily a wildlife refuge and can
be as well a personal refuge. https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Egmont-Key
Sunshine Skyway Bridge,
spanning Tampa Bay with total length of 4.1 miles, is an impressive bridge
connecting St. Petersburg with Terra Ceia. The Travel Channel rated the bridge
No. 3 in its special on the ‘Top 10 Bridges’ in the world. It is considered the
‘flag bridge’ of Florida, because of its height above the emerald-green Gulf
waters, length of continuous travel, location in a warm-weather state, and
modern architectural design. It is a popular spot for filming automobile
commercials.
Crystal
River National Wildlife Refuge with Three Sisters Springs, located N of
Tampa in Citrus County, offer a rare manatee encounter. The crystal clear blue
waters of the warm springs are a popular refuge for endangered West Indian
manatees. This blue oasis of clear and pristine water is often described as an
Environmental Jewel. http://visitcitrus.com/
Apalachicola
National Forest, NW Florida, is the largest natural
forest in Florida with abundance of fresh water lakes and natural springs. The
forest offers water and land-based outdoors activities. http://www.fs.usda.gov/apalachicola
Leon Sinks Geological Area,
NE border of the forest towards Tallahassee, is an unusual area of caves and sinkholes.
