Myakka River State Park

Photo by Terry Lineberger

Myakka River State Park is one of Florida's oldest state parks. Its namesake river is one of only two rivers in the state to have a "Florida Wild and Scenic River" designation. This designation preserves the 34-mile portion of the river in Sarasota County, particularly the basin of lakes and marshes that the river flows through.

Photo by Terry Lineberger

Wildlife sightings may include alligators, manatees, turtles and wading birds, as well as bald eagles, ospreys, sandhill cranes and other shore birds depending upon the time of year you visit.

Photo by Terry Lineberger

The Canopy Walkway was inspired by Dr. Margaret Lowman, a former director of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, who saw Florida's forests as imperiled as many of the rainforests she studied and wanted to use the same methods to study and conserve Florida's ecosystems. It consists of a suspension bridge 85 feet long and 25 feet high and a tower reaching a height of 74 feet high.

Photo by Terry Lineberger

A visitor center provides more information about the park and a concession is available for air boat rides, tram tours, canoe and kayak rentals, bike rentals, food, books and souvenirs. Picnic areas, two campgrounds, log cabins, playgrounds, ranger programs and special events are also on site.

The park is located nine miles east of I-75 at 13208 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida and  is open 365 days from 8:00 am until sunset with an entrance fee of $6.00 per vehicle for 2 to 8 persons.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a non profit organization specializing in tropical plants. The gardens have more than 20,000 plants, including a collection of over 6,000 orchids, with many of the plants collected by research staff during tropical rain forest expeditions.

Distinct garden areas display a lush rain forest, koi pond, bamboo garden, banyan grove, cactus garden, a collection of Cyclades, and an outdoor butterfly garden. Visitors begin the journey through the conservatory and proceed through the plant displays.

Bill and Marie Selby built the 2-story, Spanish style house (the first floor is now a cafe) on the property in the early 1920s where Marie began landscaping. Despite their wealth they lived a modest life in the small home and pursued outdoor activities instead of social gatherings.

Marie lived quietly in the home, after her husband's death in 1956, until her death in 1971. Her final wish to leave the property as a botanical garden was fulfilled in 1975 when the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens opened to the public.

The gardens have since expanded to almost 13 acres and now include an elegant mansion that houses a museum, eight greenhouses, and the headquarters for The Bromeliad Identification Center, The Orchid Identification Center and the Selby Gardens' Herbarium. Thus, Selby Gardens is both a research/education center and a beautiful showplace.

Selby Gardens is located at 811 South Palm Avenue in Sarasota, Florida. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas. Admission is $17 for adults and $6 for children 6-11. Members enjoy free admission.

Sanibel Island

People come from all over the world to enjoy the shell-rich beaches of Sanibel. What makes Sanibel Island ideal for shelling is the east-west orientation of the south end of the island. This natural land barrier easily captures shells from the swift moving waters. On the eastern tip of the island is the Lighthouse Beach and Fishing Pier. In addition to the historic functioning lighthouse and a fishing pier, the beach is one of the great places on the island to walk your dog.

From the outer beaches to the interior sanctuaries, wildlife abounds on Sanibel. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, named for Pulitzer Prize cartoonist and environmentalist Jay Norword Darling, is home to hundreds of birds, reptiles, and mammals. The four-mile drive provides spectacular up-close views of native vegetation and wildlife. One of the most popular activities during the leisurely drive is to stop and watch the roseate spoonbills with their bright pink feathers.

Going to and from the island is an experience in itself. The Sanibel Causeway, rebuilt in 2007, has a six-dollar toll and a million dollar panoramic view. The Causeway is approximately three miles long with three bridge spans and two man-made islands and is home to frequent dolphin, pelican and seagull sightings.

The Butterfly Estates

The Butterfly Estates is an eco-friendly botanical garden and butterfly conservatory located in the downtown Fort Myers River District.






The glass conservatory showcases an assortment of tropical flowers and plants that attract a variety of butterflies and small waterfalls that cascade down into fish-filled pools of water. Although small, it is a unique  interaction with nature best enjoyed in cooler weather.

Three historic homes from the early 1900s have also been renovated to reflect Old Florida charm as the Flutterby's Cafe, Mother Nature's Gift Shop and Caterpillars Ice Cream & Fudge Factory.

The Butterfly Estates is open 365 days a year with hours varying by season. Admission is priced by age with available discounts listed on their website.

Ravine Gardens State Park

Ravine Gardens State Park is located in Palatka where a ravine was formed by water flowing from the ridges of the St. Johns River over a period of thousands of years.

The gardens inside the park are the result of a joint effort of the City of Palatka, the Federal Works Progress Administration, and the Federal Civil Works Administration during the Great Depression. The park is one of nine New Deal-era state parks in Florida developed to help jump start economic recovery during the 1930s. Over 95,000 Azaleas were planted by 1934 and most of the original landscaping features - the main entrance, two suspension bridges, amphitheater, stoned terraces and columns, fountain and the Court of States - are still in place today.

The Ravine Loop, a convenient paved road that winds around the ravine, provides bicyclists and motorists with a view of both the formal and natural gardens throughout the park and gives access to hiking trails, parking, picnic areas and a playground.

The park is most spectacular and alive with color January through April when the Azaleas, Chickasaw Plums, Dogwoods and Camellias are in bloom, but the dense vegetation abounds year round.
 

Devil's Millhopper

Devil's Millhopper is an ancient sink hole located in Gainesville and is Florida's only geological state park.
 

The name came about because fossilized bones were found at the bottom of the funnel-like or grist-mill-hopper shape. Hence, the idea that the mill hopper fed the ancient bodies to the devil and the sinkhole became known as Devil's Millhopper. An Indian legend says the devil kidnapped a beautiful Indian princess. When the Indian braves followed them, the devil made the sinkhole for the braves to fall into and when they tried to climb out the devil turned them into stone. Although both tales are great stories, the sinkhole was actually  the result of a large underground cavern collapsing and is 500 feet across and 117 feet deep.

The water cascading down the limestone slopes sustains the dense vegetation and provides visitors with a glimpse of  times past. Descending 232 steps to the bottom, the different layers of sediment represent different periods of time. At the bottom of the sinkhole some of the water spilling out of the springs above travel down to a natural "drain" leading to the Gulf of Mexico.

This is a unique park that nature lovers will definitely enjoy, especially when the sinkhole is in its Springtime colorful splendor. Just remember that going up 232 steps is a lot harder than going down and take plenty of water when the temperature is above 80 degrees.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates

After a recent visit to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, it is easy to understand why it is one of the most popular historic home sites in the country.

The first thing visitors see from the parking lot is a massive Banyan tree. Harvey Firestone gave this small tree to Thomas Edison in 1925 while they were working with Henry Ford to develop a source of natural rubber.

Behind the Banyan tree is the museum, gift shop, and botanic research laboratory. The museum holds some of Edison's inventions and Ford's automobiles, as well as, educational exhibits and videos. The lab is a step back in time and home to the original tools, equipment and machinery.

Across the street, lined with palm trees that Edison had brought in from Cuba, the estate homes, caretaker homes, gardens, swimming pool, pier, garages, and Edison's office have been restored to their original stature.

Edison's vacation home, "Seminole Lodge", was completed in 1886. He used the estate as a winter retreat while working on his botanic research until his death in 1931.

Henry Ford's vacation home, "The Mangoes", is located next door. Ford purchased it in 1916 and spent many winters there while also working with Edison on botanic research. 

Both residences take the visitor back to a bygone era with its sprawling porches and open-air buildings surrounded by acres of tropical greenery along the Caloosahatchee river.

The Edison Ford Winter Estates offers something for both the history buff and the nature lover.