Pioneer Park Days

Pioneer Park Days is an annual event held the first week of March in Zolfo Springs, Florida at Pioneer Park, which is located at the intersection of  US Highway 17 and State Road 64.

The most recent 43rd Annual Pioneer Park Days was billed as one of the largest and oldest antique tractor, steam engine and farm equipment shows in the Southeast. Over 400 exhibits and activities, including a daily antique tractor parade, basket weaving, toy making and wood burning, celebrated the 1800s.

In addition to the pioneer-themed activities, 450+ booths sold antiques, arts, crafts and flea market wares, numerous food booths were available throughout the park, and country and bluegrass music provided daily entertainment.

Southwest Florida Fair

The Southwest Florida Fair is held the last week of February for ten days and is similar to many county fairs held in the winter in Florida and in the summer across other parts of the country.

That familiar smell of smoking ribs, sizzling sausages, corn dogs, and cotton candy mixed with the smell of farm animals and mechanical rides slinks into the parking lot and surrounds you before you even reach the gate.

But, the fair is much more than food, rides and games. The agricultural and horticultural exhibits and the participation of school age children through their school displays, equestrian and small animal competitions and steer and hog auctions define the core educational purpose of the fair.

From the raising of farm animals for auction or competition to the planning and construction of a school exhibit, the fair offers a learning opportunity to the area youth. For some children, a visit to the fair is their only exposure to the agricultural side of the local community.

Florida Flywheelers Antique Show

The Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club was founded in 1972 to promote the history and restoration of antique engines, autos and other antique devices. Flywheeler Park, located  at 7000 Avon Park Cutoff Road, Fort Meade, Florida, was purchased in 1997 to showcase the 1,500+ member collections and preserve a part of history.

It has since grown to nearly 240 acres with multiple shows per year and includes a tractor pull track, club and member buildings, as well as, large engine collections.

The club advertises their shows as "wholesome fun for the whole family" with antique tractor displays, a steam-powered saw mill, an old engine ice cream maker, a pioneer village complete with cabins, barns, a church, a mercantile, blacksmith, schoolhouse, stores, stables, a jail, a firehouse, and gas stations, and miles of flea market items and carnival-style food.

Events are held in January, February and November with a special Christmas in the Village in December. Visit  Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club for the 2011 - 2012 schedule and more information.

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.

Goodbye Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens opened  in 1936 as Florida's first tourist attraction when Dick Pope, Sr and his wife showcased their botanical gardens. It became famous for its beautiful gardens, Southern Belles and water ski shows and was called the "Water Ski Capital of the World" because over 50 world water skiing records were broken there.

Sadly, its demise, like many other original Florida tourist attractions, began in the 1970s when it had to compete with Disney. Once the Popes retired and transferred the park to their son, successive owners would unsuccessfully keep the park at the necessary attendance levels. The first owner outside the Pope family was book publisher, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich who bought the park in the early 1980s and operated it until it sold the park to Anheuser-Busch in 1989. A group of the park managers, led by Bill Reynolds, then bought the property in April 1995 from Anheuser-Busch and operated it until April 2003 when the park closed suddenly, putting 529 people out of work with three days' notice.

The Friends of Cypress Gardens, founded by Burma Davis Posey, immediately incorporated and saved the park by enlisting the help of members in the United States and 27 other countries and raising 13,500,000 dollars in three and a half months. This group then sold the property to The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, who sold a conservation easement over the entire property to the state of Florida with the 30-acres gardens portion sold to Polk County.

Adventure Parks Group bought the balance of the property subject to the conservation easement and reopened the park as Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in November 2004 complete with a wooden roller coaster and other midway-style rides and  the adjacent Splash Island water park followed in 2005. Unfortunately, the estimated $30 million in damages from the horrific 2004 hurricane season led Adventure Parks Group to file for bankruptcy in September 2006.

Land South Adventures bought Cypress Gardens at a bankruptcy auction October 16, 2007, temporarily closed the park in November 2008, then reopened in March 2009 as two separate parks.Splash Island was expanded but the animals and many of the midway rides were gone from Cypress Gardens. Sadly, on September 23, 2009, the company announced the park was closing because they were unable to "keep the park running in its traditional form."

Merlin Entertainments, the world's second largest them park and attraction operator, bought the park in 2010 and announced it would become Legoland Florida with an October 2011 opening. It has been reported that the gardens will be incorporated into the new park ... this Florida native and history lover certainly hopes so.

Muscle Car Museum

Rick Treworgy's Muscle Car City features automobiles dating back to the 1920s, but its main focus is on muscle cars. So if you love Chevy Corvettes, Chevelles and Camaros, as well as, Pontiac GTOs, you'll enjoy this museum. The owner, Rick Treworgy, took an abandoned Wal-Mart store and turned it into a showplace for his vintage and muscle car collection.

The museum and gift show is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm with the1960s themed diner open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am to 4pm.

Check out their website for more information and special events.

Fort Denaud

Fort Denaud, located a few miles west of LaBelle, Florida, was established during the 1800s  and  has of one of the few remaining swing bridges left in Florida.

The historical marker on the south side of the bridge notes the fort was established during the 2nd Seminole War by Captain B.L.E. Bonneville on land owned by Pierre Danaud, a French Indian trader. It served as a supply depot for troops near Lake Okeechobee and was one of the posts linking American operations south of Tampa to the east coast until the war ended in 1842. After the outbreak of the 3rd Seminole War, Fort Denaud reopened in 1855 until a fire burned the post down in June 1856. It then reopened for the final time at a site north of the river until it was abandoned in May 1858.

Fort Denaud is also home to a cemetery -  where generations have laid their deceased to rest under the cabbage palms and oak trees. With grave sites dating back to the 1800s, it offers a unique historical marker of times past.

Parksdale Farm Market

Photo from public-domain-image.com

Parksdale Farm Market in Plant City, Florida (exit #17 from I-4) is famous for its strawberry shortcake available January through April. It's also a great place to visit year round and offers seasonal produce, citrus, jams and jellies, honey, gifts, and plants.

The market began in 1956 when company founder R.E. (Roy) Parke, Jr. (an immigrant from Northern Ireland) moved from Pennsylvania to Plant City, FL. He saw a great opportunity to grow winter crops including strawberries and the family eventually expanded the farm into hundreds of acres and added their own plant nurseries and greenhouses. Roy’s daughter Cheryl and her husband Jim Meeks opened the Parkesdale Farm Market in 1969 and it is still going strong.

The market is located at 3702 West Baker Street, Plant City, Florida and is open 7 days a week from 9 am – 6 pm.

Wildlife Visits

Living near pine flat woods and wetland areas have made unexpected wildlife visits part of a normal existence. Recently these two sandhill cranes found my bird feeders and started making them a regular stopping place.

They are sensitive birds that don't adjust well to the disappearing marshes, prairies and pastures. Since they eat both plant and animal matter, their diet consists of seeds, berries, insects, mice, snakes, lizards, frogs, and crayfish. However, they do not fish for food. Florida sandhill cranes stay with the same mate for years and they live up to 20 years. They can be up to 4 foot tall and they have a distinctive trumpeting sound that can be heard for miles.

In 2002, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made it illegal to feed sandhill cranes. They can become aggressive toward people, become more susceptible to cat and dog attacks, more susceptible to being killed by lawn pesticides and vehicles, and their diet is disrupted when they constantly eat corn and bird seed.

So, although I miss them, as well as, the cardinals, doves, and other birds that often visited, my bird feeders now stay empty to discourage return visits that may put them at risk.

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.

Fisherman's Village

Fisherman's Village is an eclectic waterfront complex. For the day tripper, a unique variety of boutiques, shops, restaurants, day spa and a military museum awaits. Vacation villas overlooking the harbor and a full service marina are also on site.

The boutiques offer everything from beachwear and Florida casual (tee shirts and flip flops) to resort wear. In the gift shops, you'll find an assortment of art, collectibles, bath and body, novelties, pet accessories, souvenirs, toys and water sport apparel and equipment. One of the most unique shops is Fuse Weld Grind owned by Joe and Mackie Clifton. Joe is a "recycle" artist who recycles old farming implements, garden tools, kitchen utensils, propane tanks, rebar and more to create unusual yet beautiful works of art, animal sculptures and bird baths, human sculptures, planters, wind chimes and more.

The restaurants vary from sandwich shops, to casual, open air and even fine dining. Several offer a great view of Charlotte Harbor and with the waterfront location, it is no surprise that seafood is the main draw at many of them. Near the entrance, the Military Heritage Museum has artifacts from the Spanish-American War up to the recent Iraqi conflict. Admission is free, but donations are welcome to enable this non profit organization to continue their mission of promoting the military heritage of the Unites States and the sacrifices of veterans. Their web site domain name says it all: "freedomisntfree.org."

Fisherman's Village is located one mile west of U.S. 41 on Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, Florida.The boutiques and shops are open Monday through Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 12pm - 5pm but restaurant hours vary.

Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary

The Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary is a non profit retirement village for abused and neglected animals. The animals living at the Octagon were not taken out of the wild. They were rescued from businesses, circuses, individuals and even zoos. Many of them were confiscated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and/or USDA Federal officials and brought to the wildlife sanctuary where they get their "last chance" to live out their final days. 

If you're visiting or live in Southwest Florida and love animals, put the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary on your list of places to visit. Bears, lions, tigers, and leopards are some of the more than 200 exotic animals you'll see and your admission fee will go towards the care of  these beautiful creatures.

The wildlife sanctuary, located off Highway 31 on Horseshoe Road in Charlotte County, is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. However, guided tours or weekday visits require advance appointments by calling 239-543-1130. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (55 and older)and children ages 8 to 17. Children under age 7 are free with a paying adult.

If you're unable to visit the wildlife sanctuary in person, please visit their website to learn more about the sanctuary and how to help with donations.

The Shell Factory

The Shell Factory, located off US 41 in North Fort Myers, is over 70 years old and a testament to perseverance. Despite being damaged by Hurricane Donna in 1960, nearly destroyed by a fire in 1980, ignored after the completion of I-75 detoured traffic away from US 41 in the mid 1980s, and in the clutches of bankruptcy in 1997, it remains as a historic tourist attraction thanks to Tom Cronin, a local businessman, who looked to preserve a piece of Florida history by saving the Shell Factory and improving upon its original stature.

The Shell Factory has always been a mega attraction for its massive collection of seashells, as well as, for its many shops of jewelry, Florida Style casual wear, Christmas items, collectibles, shell craft items and souvenirs. However, multimillion dollar renovations have added to the family entertainment experience with bumper boats, miniature golf and a nature park consisting of hundreds of animals, a petting zoo and a 7,000 square foot aviary with tropical landscaping and colorful birds.The renovations have also brought back some of the Shell Factory’s original flavor with a Florida souvenir and sweet shop, an old-fashioned fudge shop and an ice cream shop.

A steak and seafood restaurant, an outdoor bar, a post office, a Subway eatery, as well as, the largest free private Natural History Exhibit have also found a home at the Shell Factory. The Shell Factory remains in a constant flux of change while giving respect to the past, celebrating the present and looking to future.

The Shell Factory is open seven days a week where their motto is “At the Shell Factory we guarantee a warm welcome, magic moments and a fond farewell.”