FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Pam Forrester
(850) 205-3827
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 12, 2014
An Adventure a Week in the Sunshine State
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 12, 2014) – You could easily find a year’s worth of
adventures in the Sunshine State. There’s no need to repeat an experience either, unless you
love it so much you want to go back for more. Here are 52 different adventures and experiences
that only Florida can deliver – with a dash of magic, a bucketful of sand and sunshine yearround to enjoy.
Chukkers and Champagne
Wellington
The world’s greatest polo players hit the pitch during the season in Wellington. From January
through March, The International Polo Club Palm Beach hosts a series of tournaments,
including the USPA Piaget Gold Cup and USPA Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championship. You
don’t have to mount a pony to participate, either. Grab a wide-brim hat and walk the field
between periods, helping the players by tamping down the divots.
Hoist the Jolly Roger
Gasparilla Pirate Parade, Tampa
Arrrr! Avast, me hearties! If there’s one place in Florida where tax-paying citizens with good jobs
can get away with wearing corsets and tricorn hats and generally swashbuckling up a storm, it’s
at the Gasparilla Pirate Parade. The annual pirate invasion comes to Tampa each February in
tribute to José Gaspar, a fictional Spanish pirate captain. The city’s most well-heeled residents
mingle with its rowdiest denizens on the waterfront along Bayshore Boulevard, drinking grog
and catching beads during a day-long, sun-soaked pirate parade of elaborate floats. And if you
spy your orthodontist wearing a petticoat and a parrot, it’s best to keep it mum, matey.
Storm the Castillo
Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the country and embodies the spirit of
the early colonial era in America. Today, you can journey back in time when you step through
the battlements and read about the epic battles and sieges that happened there, take a tour,
view people in period garb giving weapons demonstrations or even pack a picnic lunch and
nibble a sandwich on the fort’s sprawling lawn overlooking the Matanzas Bay.
This Bud’s for You
Daytona International Speedway
The Sprint FANZONE is THE place to be for thousands of race fans who flock to Daytona
Beach every February for the Daytona 500, one of NASCAR’s premier events. You can watch
world-famous drivers walk across the stage before the race, see the cars get their technical
inspections, meet your racing idols and listen to live driver interviews. But for the true racing
aficionado, the best bet might be to crack open a cold one at the Budweiser Bistro, an open air
bar in the FANZONE, and just take it all in.
Be Queen for a Day
Parkesdale Farm Market, Plant City
In Plant City, just outside of Tampa, life moves a little slower and royalty is real. Each year the
town crowns a Strawberry Queen and her court in a show of pageantry at the annual Florida
Strawberry Festival. If you have royal aspirations of your own, visit Parkesdale Farm Market,
the largest family-operated strawberry and citrus market in Florida. Sip one of their worldfamous strawberry milkshakes and nibble some strawberry shortcake, and when you’re done,
plop yourself onto the giant strawberry throne and pretend to be queen. They even provide
tiaras.
Find the Toreador
Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg
Can you see him? It’s the “Hallucinogenic Toreador,” a famous work by surrealist master
Salvador Dali, housed in new Salvador Dali Museum designed by French-American architect
Yann Weymouth. The museum is open 363 days of the year on St. Petersburg’s waterfront
and boasts 96 Dali oil paintings, plus drawings, prints, sculptures, photos and written works. The
“Toreador,” meant to embody the disdain of Dali's wife Gala for the sport of bullfighting, is
comprised of 28 Venus de Milo forms and myriad other elements that, when looked at just right,
form the upper body of a bullfighter.
Fly like a Falcon
Busch Gardens, Tampa
Standing at 335 feet, Falcon’s Fury is billed as the tallest freestanding drop tower in North
America. But that is just part of the tummy twisting and gravity defying elements of the ride. Like
its namesake, a falcon must see where it is going to find food below. In midair, the ride pivots 90
degrees into a face-down dive to plunge toward the bottom. After soaring with the falcons, if
you’re interested in exploring the area around you, try the newly remodeled land called
Pantopia.
See to Believe
Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Orlando
No, you didn’t drink too many Butterbeers on your Orlando vacation. That building really is
crooked. But wait, is it? That’s the fun of the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium. It’s home
to a collection of weird and wonderful objects that will tickle your imagination, from a set of
miniature terracotta warriors to a 25-foot high mural of Jimi Hendrix made of playing cards to a
real shrunken head to wax figures, puzzles and fossils. And then there’s the showstopper – a
picture of Beyonce made completely of candy. Sweet!
Spot Key Deer
National Key Deer Refuge, Big Pine Key
Once you cross into Big Pine Key, you start to see road signs warning you to stay on the
lookout for endangered Key Deer. Visitors can travel through the refuge among the area’s
forests, wetlands and mangroves, founded in 1957 when the Key Deer population was at a low
of 27. The diminutive deer, which average about 80 pounds, now number in the hundreds and
can be seen prancing along roadsides or sometimes taking a siesta among the trees.
‘Survivor: Fort Jefferson’
Dry Tortugas National Park
Put your camping mettle to the test and star in your own private version of “Survivor” at Fort
Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park. The park’s seven islands are a mix of beach and coral
reef, plus historical artifacts, including the 19th century fort. For those who camp near the fort on
Garden Key, it’s primitive all the way, meaning no showers or convenient water spigots to wash
your dishes. You bring what you need – water, sleeping bags, flashlights and, of course, your
camera – and board the Yankee Freedom ferry to get to the island and camp out under the
stars.
Meet the Manatees
TECO Manatee Viewing Center, Apollo Beach
Gentle giants that grow to 13 feet and 3,000 pounds, West Indian Manatee look more like an
elephant than a fish. The sea cows of Florida are slow moving herbivores that eat 10-15% of
their body weight daily. At Crystal River, sea grass beds provide the perfect environment to
come mask to muzzle with dozens of manatees in the winter months. It’s a look don’t touch
tour, but with wetsuits and crystal clear waters and hundreds of manatees finding refuge in the
shallow spring fed warm waters, the combination provides a once in a lifetime chance to glide
through the waters next to these gentle giants.
Crack a Coconut
Sugarloaf Key
About a 15 minute-drive from Key West, secluded Sugarloaf Key is full of channels perfect for
kayaking and lined with towering palm trees that drop coconuts into the water. Snag one on
your kayak trip and get to work. You’ll need a hammer and a chisel, or just really strong biceps
and a firm slab of cement. But the work will pay off when you bust the outer layer to meet the
hairy little brown fellow inside, and then crack that open for a rush of fresh coconut water. Bake
the coconut in the oven to loosen the meat and then blend it up with some rum and pineapple
juice for the freshest pina colada you’ll ever taste.
Calling all Worms
Sopchoppy
Getting your bait the old fashioned way is the way they do it in Sopchoppy. The tiny Northwest
Florida town has only 460 inhabitants but they are world renowned for their worm-charming
skills. With just the right strip of metal and the precisely correct piece of wood, the worm
grunters can call worms to the surface by the bucketful. You may be asking why a worm would
flee into the hands of a fisherman. The vibrations, not the noise, mimic those of a mole, which
snacks on worms moving through the soil. See the magic of these worm grunters in action each
April at the Worm Gruntin’ Festival.
Interstate Fish Toss
Perdido Key
The Flora-Bama Mullet Toss is more than a game, it’s a party that extends between two states,
Florida and Alabama, with dollars donated to charity at the end of the weekend. Participants
stand in Alabama and toss the mullet into Florida. The event is now an international weekend
extravaganza, with tens of thousands flocking to the white sand and blue waters of Perdido Key
to enjoy music, watch celebrity tossers and partake in dozens of more traditional activities.
There is no age limit to flingin’ fish in this part of the state, with competition groups for everyone
from 1 to 70.
Get Tubular
Ichetucknee River
Imagine reclining in an inner tube and
letting the clear, cold water guide you
where it will. If you have a few hours
and a bathing suit, you can float down
the Ichetucknee River at Ichetucknee
Springs State Park near
Gainesville. You can rent a tube at
the park or at any of the outfitters
along the river, some of which even
offer drop-off and pick-up service, so
all you have to do is sit back and hum
your own version of “merrily, merrily,
merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.”
Snack on Snake
The Wild Game Feast, DeLand
Held each May at the Volusia County Fairgrounds, the Wild Game Feast welcomes guests to
spend $50 each to sample from heaping helpings of exotic delicacies, including venison, gator
tail, frog legs, crawfish, pulled pork, wild boar stew and the piece de resistance, fried
rattlesnake. The event raises money for local non-profit organizations, so you can feel warm
and fuzzy while noshing on something long and slithery.
Get Teed Off
Destin
This small town in the Panhandle is known as the “World's Luckiest Fishing Village", but it’s
also a lucky destination for visitors who want to hit the greens. Destin has become a major
destination for avid golfers seeking some of the best courses in the country. Golf stars like Tom
Fazio and Greg Norman have opened golf courses in the area. Destin is also known for its
beautiful beaches, so if you book a trip here, there’ll be something for everyone in the family.
Way Down Upon…
The Suwannee River
You can cruise way down upon the Suwannee River, taking in a liquid path fringed by pines and
cypress trees, relax as the river widens to springs and limerock shoals along the way, and be
proud that you did the whole thing. That’s right – you can paddle almost the entire length of the
Suwannee River. It’s a multi-day excursion – the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail starting in
White Springs is 170 miles long. There are river camps situated along the way with raised and
screened-in sleeping platforms, showers and restrooms for those days when you want a break
from roughing it.
Sleep With the Fishes
Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Key Largo
Jules’ Undersea Lodge is not your ordinary overnight accommodation. You have to scuba dive
to get to the hotel under the sea, which is the only one of its kind in the country and is situated
five feet off the bottom of Emerald Lagoon near Key Largo. The 600-square-foot cottage can
accommodate up to two couples or a family of six. It has hot showers, a kitchen and comfortable
beds against windows where you can watch fish swim by as you drift off to sleep.
Dive Deep, Fly High
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld may be famous for its animal shows and marine exhibits, but the park also has a
legion of devoted fans that flock to its high-flying amusement park thrill rides. In 2009, SeaWorld
Orlando opened Manta, the only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world. The coaster tops the
list of don’t-miss theme park attractions and soars guests through the air head first and facedown.
Fly Like an Eagle
Wallaby Ranch, Davenport
If "soaring like a bird" is on your must-do list, you can come close by hang-gliding at Wallaby
Ranch in Davenport, the birthplace of hang-gliding in 1991. The ranch is open every day of the
year for folks yearning to glide through a secluded area filled with wildlife and beautiful scenery.
You can camp in a tent or RV on site and find plenty else to do while you're there, including
activities for the kiddos. But the main event is free-flying for 15 minutes at 2,000 feet up in the
air, with an experienced certified instructor. An all-inclusive flight is $175, and for an extra $60,
you can get the whole thing captured on DVD.
Find Fine Feathered Friends
Sanibel and Captiva Islands
Bird-watching? Boring? No way. Not at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on the
islands of Sanibel and Captiva, one of the best places in the state to spot wading birds such as
egrets, roseate spoonbills, herons and ibis. If you venture farther afield to the Sanibel-Captiva
Conservation Foundation, be on the lookout for hawks, swallows, wrens and mockingbirds.
Keep a running list and make a contest of it with family and friends.
Zip It Good
The Canyons Zip Line & Canopy Tour, Ocala
Fear of heights will evaporate in the exhilaration of racing down a zip line at Canyons Zip Line
& Canopy Tour in the Ocala National Forest. Guests can tackle nine different lines on the
nearly 100-acre plot at Canyons, traversing over water, across ravines and through shady,
majestic oaks. For the regular price of $89, you get the service of two experienced guides to
take you on a three-hour zip line tour that includes rope bridges, a nature walk and a rappelling
opportunity. If you’re feeling really bold, you can try it at night on special tours only offered a few
times a year.
Hunt for Fossils
Peace River
Paddle down Florida’s Peace River and you might find more than natural beauty. The
subtropical river, which runs 105 miles from Polk County south all the way to Charlotte
Harbor, has some of the state’s best fossil hunting. Professional guides can take you to known
fossil grounds and help you hunt. They’ll also help you get the necessary permit (you need one
to keep anything except shark teeth) and will take pictures of you with your prizes.
Spin Some Hot Wheels
Ocean Drive, Miami
Maybe you’re not normally the type to jump in a neon-bright Lamborghini and rev it up and down
Ocean Drive while onlookers marvel. But if you plan it right, you can be, just for a day. Exotic
car rentals are plentiful in flashy Miami and can range from $1,000 to $10,000, depending on
how long you want to ride in style. Ocean Drive is as much a place to see and be seen as it is a
roadway, so whether you go for a Ferrari or an Audi, an Aston Martin or even a Rolls Royce,
just make sure it's gleaming, glitzy and worth every penny.
Grapple a Gator
Gatorland, Orlando
If you're fascinated by alligators but would prefer to see them in a controlled environment where
professionals do the wrestling, check out Gatorland in Orlando, home to thousands of
alligators and crocodiles, as well as a new thrilling zip line attraction that lets you soar at a safe
distance above the toothy reptiles. At Gatorland, you can watch someone who knows what he's
doing wrestle the beasts. And maybe if you get your courage up, you can do it yourself.
Gatorland experts will pose the animals and let rookies give wrestling a try. Smile for the
camera – you’re only doing this once.
Sleuth for Scallops
Steinhatchee
Maybe you’re not a fan of oysters, but you’re wild about their fellow filter-feeders, scallops.
Scallop season runs from July to September and there are plenty of places you can while away
the day snorkeling the grass flats and plucking the blue-eyed beauties from their hiding places.
In the small fishing village of Steinhatchee, west of Gainesville, find a recreational charter
boat, slap on a snorkel and mask and keep your eyes open as you swim along. Be sure to
check the rules regarding how many you can harvest. Scallops aren’t so easy to clean, so
consider taking your haul to a local scallop shucker or a restaurant in town that will prepare
them for you.
Take Off in an Airboat
The Everglades
Gators, snakes, raccoons, the rare Florida Panther, egrets – you might see them all while
cruising through the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.
Because of its massive size – the Everglades stretches from coast to coast in South Florida –
you can find tours from just about any point of entry. Take a ride on a flat-bottomed airboat, the
most popular way to explore the region without putting a propeller in the water. There are plenty
of outfitters and guides ready to take you on a magical tour of the “River of Grass.”
Hit the Beach on Horseback
Amelia Island
Is there anything more romantic than cantering along the waterline on a beautiful Florida beach?
If you own a horse, you can take it for a ride at Amelia Island State Park, one of the only
horse-friendly beaches on Florida’s east coast. If you need a steed, several companies based in
the area rent horses and provide guides. It’s small price to pay for a memory – and a Facebook
photo – that will last a lifetime.
Searching for Seashells by the Sanibel Shores
Sanibel
With an infinite number of shells blanketing 15 miles
of pristine beaches, shell collectors immediately take
on the Sanibel Stoop and gather their treasures. The
island holds the GuinnessWorld Record for largest
treasure hunt, set in February 2013, with 478 people
simultaneously shelling. With the perfect combination
of protective underwater shelves and ocean currents
delivering magnificent coquinas, a day is an
adventure in itself. All you need is a shovel, a bucket and you’re on your way!
Magic and Muggles
Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Orlando
Explore more of the wizarding world than ever before at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter –
Diagon Alley, NOW OPEN at Universal Studios Florida. Enter Diagon Alley from the streets of
London. Dine at the Leaky Cauldron, see a wand choose a wizard at Ollivanders wand shop,
and experience the excitement of the new multi-dimensional thrill ride, Harry Potter and the
Escape from Gringotts. Guests with a park-to-park ticket will also be able to board the iconic
Hogwarts Express and enjoy a unique journey as they travel between London and Hogsmeade.
Perch at the Pink Palace
Loews Don CeSar Hotel, St. Pete Beach
The towering Loews Don CeSar Hotel is a registered Historic Hotel of America known around
the world as the Pink Palace for the way its rosy majesty is silhouetted against the sky on St.
Pete Beach. Built in 1928, the hotel has played host to Clarence Darrow and F. Scott
Fitzgerald, and has been the setting for movies and music specials. You can spend all day in
the vicinity of pink paradise, visiting the dockside restaurants and bars, grabbing an ice cream
cone or getting a pedicure. Overnight guests have access to two swimming pools and a private
beach, plus bonus sun-kissed cheeks to match the hotel’s hue.
Dig Your Toes in the Sand
St. George Island
This barrier island off the Florida Panhandle is home to bustling restaurants, bars and multimillion dollar homes, but it also has a laid-back feel and pockets of peaceful seclusion
unmatched by other Florida beaches. Surround yourself with sea oats and pine trees, and enjoy
miles of undeveloped white sugar sand. Your toes will thank you for the break.
Say ‘Yes’ to Ya Ya
The Fish House, Pensacola
Ready to try a real Southern delicacy that's
also fun to say? Indulge in a plate of Grits a
Ya Ya at the Fish House in Pensacola. The
famous meal serves up a combo of jumbo
Gulf shrimp, spinach, mushrooms, bacon and
cream over Gouda cheese grits for $20. At the
Fish House, you can eat dockside while
gazing out at Pensacola Bay and Seville
Harbor. If grits aren’t your thing, you can opt
for a mouthwatering array of local seafood,
steaks and sushi. But, really – grits should be
your thing.
Grab Some Grouper
Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, Clearwater Beach
If you live in Clearwater and are hosting out-of-towners, there’s one hard-and-fast rule of thumb
– everyone must go to Frenchy’s! The signature eatery of Clearwater Beach was founded in
1981 and has expanded into four restaurants and a motel at different locations on the beach.
But the best view by far comes from Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill right on the sand. Eat a big filet
of grouper – fried, grilled or cooked Cajun or Buffalo style – or upsize to the massive Super
Grouper sandwich. Get a side of luxurious She Crab soup and slurp it as you watch the sun go
down.
Get Into the Grove
Al’s Family Farms, Fort Pierce
To truly squeeze the juice from a Florida visit, you have to tour an authentic orange grove. Al's
Family Farms in Fort Pierce in the Indian River citrus district has been in business for more
than 35 years and three generations. Depending on the time of year, you can let your taste buds
in on some juicy Valencia oranges, Ruby Red grapefruit, Royal Honeybell tangelos and
other citrus delights, plus take a tour of the packing house to see how the fruit is processed.
Tong for Oysters
Apalachicola Bay
Got a taste for oysters? You could sit at a swanky restaurant and slurp some down, or you could
take matters into your own hands in the waters of Apalachicola Bay. More than 90 percent of
the state’s oysters are harvested there, raked by hard-working harvesters wielding tongs that
resemble a set of giant salad forks. Oysters must be at least 3 inches long to be taken from the
bay, and if you're doing it for fun and not business, you can only harvest two bags per person. If
you want to know where to look and how to tong, there are charter operations you can hire in
Apalachicola and on St. George Island.
Snuggle a Possum
Possum Festival, Wausau
It’s a favorite stop of campaigning Florida politicians, who like to have their photos taken holding
the critters by their naked tails. The Wausau Possum Festival is a major annual event in the 1square-mile town in the Florida Panhandle, and it comes complete with a pancake breakfast, a
Possum King & Queen contest, a Possum Trot 5K run and hog-calling and horseshoe-throwing
tests of will and skill. And, of course, you can gaze upon – and maybe even pet – some of the
festival honorees.
Smoke a Stogie
King Corona Cigars, Ybor City, Tampa
Ybor City is a vibrant Tampa neighborhood that was once known as the “Cigar Capital of the
World.” King Corona Cigars in the heart of the historic entertainment district sells a large
selection of handmade cigars to both regulars and visitors, along with wine, imported beer, pan
cubano (Cuban toast), yucca chips, Cuban coffee and a selection of guayaberas, also known as
Mexican wedding shirts. But the real draw is sitting at a sidewalk table, puffing a stogie in the
late afternoon without a care in the world, just before the streets start to fill with pleasureseekers ready for a big night out in Ybor’s happening clubs.
Eat Astronaut Ice Cream
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral
We’re not saying it’s the most delicious thing you’ve ever tasted. But there’s a certain nostalgia
involved in munching freeze-dried astronaut ice cream from the Space Shop at Kennedy Space
Center in Cape Canaveral. While touring the visitor complex, grab a pack in flavors like
Neapolitan and cookies-and-cream for $3.99, let it melt in your mouth and dissolve on your
tongue and be transported back to the glory days of the now-retired space shuttle launches that
once thrilled a nation of little kids hoping to one day soar into outer space.
Get Spooked
St. Augustine
Take advantage of St. Augustine’s spooky historic vibe with one of the guided ghost tours on
offer. The casual enthusiast will enjoy one with ladies in period garb guiding tours around
cemeteries, narrow roads and the city's famous intertwining Love Tree, which bestows
everlasting love to those who kiss below it. More sophisticated hunters of souls – like the
supernatural sleuths of SyFy network’s “Ghost Hunters” TV show, who were amazed by the
paranormal activity at the St. Augustine Lighthouse – can take more highly technical tours.
Either way, you’re sure to get back to your hotel and see your shower curtain move in the
middle of the night.
Spy Six-Toed Cats
The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, Key West
Polydactyl cats have six – count ‘em, six – toes. Writer Ernest Hemingway became a fan of the
felines after receiving a six-toed kitty from a ship’s captain. Today, the descendants of
Hemingway’s original cats roam the property of the Hemingway Home in Key West, along with
other kitties sporting the usual number of digits. If you tour the property, you can often find them
lounging by Hemingway’s typewriter, or by the expensive swimming pool built for the author’s
wife, Pauline.
Castles Made of Sand
The Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition, Siesta Key Beach,
Sarasota
The annual contest, which has been around more than 40 years, attracts some of the world’s
most talented professional sand sculpture artists to Siesta Key Beach, which was named one of
the 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top 25 U.S. Beaches. Amateurs are also welcome,
and even if architecture isn’t your forte, it’s fun to feast your eyes on the amazing creations,
which can range from mermaids to Volkswagens to pirates to Angry Birds to giant dogs drinking
out of giant bowls. And there’s the occasional traditional – but elaborately constructed –
sandcastle, too.
Go Global for Happy Hour
Epcot, Walt Disney World, Orlando
Drinking around the world is a favorite pastime of imbibing Disneyphiles who come to the 11
countries represented at Epcot’s World Showcase. The challenge? Have one drink in each
country. Enjoy a Carlsberg beer in Norway, limoncello in Italy, some sake in Japan, an avocado
margarita in Mexico – you get the idea. Just make sure you pack plenty of money and get a
designated driver – or better yet, book a room at one of the many area hotels that offer bus
service to and from the park.
Hunt for Treasure
Mount Dora
Your most treasured vacation souvenir needn’t be brand spanking new – it could be lurking in
one of the many antique stores in Mount Dora. Browse to your heart’s content in venues that
range from Renninger's Antique Center, with its weekend open air markets, to the Village
Antique Mall, with more than 60 vendors. Mount Dora also has a full slate of antique, book,
craft, bicycle and music festivals year-round.
Martinis in Miami
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach is situated on Millionaire's Row in Miami Beach, where it
looks right at home. The luxurious hotel was originally designed in 1954 by Morris Lapidus and
has been fully renovated. Its guests include some of the world's biggest celebrities. The
Fontainebleau boasts 12 restaurants, including renowned chef Scott Conant's Scarpetta. And
you don’t have to stay the night to get in on the glamour. You can pretend you’re Frank Sinatra
while sipping a cocktail at one of the hotel’s clubs, such as Bleau Bar, Michael Mina 74 and
Liv. Can’t you feel that “summer wind blowin’ in from across the sea”?
Hear the Bells Toll
Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales
You can listen to recordings of the 60-bell carillon at Bok Tower Gardens online, but there’s
nothing like experiencing it in person. A historic landmark in Lake Wales created by writer and
humanitarian Edward W. Bok, Bok Tower Gardens is host to stunning swaths of azaleas and
magnolias that dazzle the eye when in full bloom, an endangered plant garden, a reflecting pool
and, of course, the 205-foot Singing Tower, which rings out for guests in the lush gardens
below from 1 to 3 p.m. every day.
Have an Artful Adventure
John & Mable Ringling Museum of
Art, Sarasota
In 1911, circus pioneers John and
Mable Ringling bought the vast
property along the Sarasota
waterfront where they spent their
winters. Eventually, they filled the
palatial estate with a world-class art
collection and eventually left it all to
the State of Florida. Today, there’s a
museum housing an ever-expanding
collection featuring works by
Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez,
Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, El
Greco, Gainsborough and more,
and has become a mecca for culture-seekers from around the globe. The Ringling estate also
includes the jewel-box Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Ringling Circus Museum, the Ringling
Bayfront Gardens and the Venetian Gothic-style mansion grandly named Ca’ d’Zan.
Go On an Upscale Spree
Worth Avenue, Palm Beach
Head to Worth Avenue in Palm Beach to shop like the stars do at more than 200 exceedingly
upscale retailers, including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Chopard, Neiman Marcus and Emilo
Pucci, plus art dealers, jewelers and restaurants, all appealing to the kind of folks who stay at
The Breakers, Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa and the Four Seasons hotels, among other
luxe properties nearby. Remember, it’s fine to just look and not buy.
Climb a Lighthouse
Forgotten Coast
They gleam mysteriously from a distance, sturdy beacons of light hundreds of years old that
tower along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. A series of four lighthouses mark the 90 miles from St.
Marks to Cape San Blas, structures hundreds of years old. Take a drive and visit the St. Marks
Lighthouse, the Crooked River Lighthouse, the Cape St. George Light and the Cape San
Blas Lighthouse (which has been relocated to the city of Port St. Joe). Time your visit for a full
moon night when you can climb to the top of all but the St. Marks lighthouse for a moonlit view
of the Gulf.
Go Native
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation
Every Florida fan should know the basics about the state’s native peoples. Learn about the
Seminole Tribe of Florida at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston. Guests can tour a
mile of boardwalk cutting through a cypress swamp, learn how the tribe uses 67 different plant
species and watch artists create wood carvings, woven baskets and beadwork. The museum
houses more than 20,000 tribal artifacts, as well as life-size dioramas and other exhibits, and
visitors can watch a movie explaining Seminole history. And you can take a bit of the museum
home with you by purchasing a piece of Seminole art.
Dine in Royal Style
Cinderella’s Castle, Walt Disney World
Cinderella’s Castle greets you as you walk into the Magic Kingdom and represents everything
the fantasy world of Disney has to offer. Not everyone knows you can actually go inside and
enjoy a royal feast. For $30 to $60 (on top of the park admission fee), you can dine in an
opulent chamber with Gothic arches and stained glass windows. The Royal Table restaurant is
known for its prime rib and other sumptuous fare. You can even have your picture taken with the
lovely lady who rose from the ashes and started it all. Reservations required. (Cinderella’s
Castle will be closed for planned maintenance beginning January 5th, 2015, and will reopen in
the spring of 2015.)
Researched and written in conjunction with Stephanie Hayes, Chrissy Reynolds and VISIT
FLORIDA partners.
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For additional information, contact Pam Forrester at [email protected]
or (850) 205-3827
As the Sunshine State’s No. 1 industry, tourism was responsible for welcoming 97.3 million
visitors in 2014 who spent $82 billion, generating 23 percent of the state’s sales tax revenue
and employing more than 1.1 million Floridians. According to the Office of Economic and
Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA – the official tourism
marketing corporation for the state of Florida – $3.20 in tax revenue is generated. VISIT
FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations
and visitor services programs. As a public/private partnership, VISIT FLORIDA serves more
than 12,000 tourism industry businesses, including major strategic alliance partnerships with
Disney Destinations, The Hertz Corporation, LEGOLAND Florida Resort, SeaWorld Parks &
Entertainment, Simon Shopping Destinations and Universal Orlando Resort. To learn more
about VISIT FLORIDA, please go to VISITFLORIDA.org or follow us on our industry social
media channels: SunshineMatters.org, Facebook and Twitter @FloridaTourism.