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.

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.”

Gatorama

Gatorama, located on US 27 between Palmdale and Moore Haven, is one of Florida's original roadside attractions still operating today. Even more amazing is the fact that it is still operated by the same family of native Floridians into the fifth and six generation.

This 15-acre attraction makes its home in a natural hammock with a covered 1,000 foot walkway and a lengthy wooden bridge. The walkway meanders past baby alligators, bobcats, ducks, geese, panthers, raccoons and peacocks while the wooden bridge brings visitors up close to the many alligators and crocodiles. Gatorama is open daily, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Randell Research Center

Several sites across the state of Florida have been designated as archaeological and/or historical sites to preserve and honor Florida’s lost tribes and ancient people. One of these sites is the Randell Research Center.

The Randell Research Center on Pineland is a program of the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida. The Center consists of 50 acres of massive shell mounds, sand burial mounds, and remnants of an ancient canal believed to be part of a 200-acre Calusa Indian village that lasted for over 1,500 years.

The Calusa Heritage Trail encircling the Research Center is a 3,700-foot walkway with informational signs and observation platforms atop the massive 30-foot shell mound.

Smallwood Store

Tucked away in the mist of the 10,000 Islands and west of the Everglades, a red wooden building sits atop piers to keep out rising flood waters during tropical storms and hurricanes and to preserve a part of Florida history.

Chokoloskee Island, at the end of Highway 29, is home to both fisherman and the historic Smallwood Store. Ted Smallwood opened his store in 1906 where it served as an active trading post until it closed in 1982. His granddaughter has since reopened the store as a museum and gift shop. Many items in the exhibit areas of the store date back to the early 1900s and tell the story of Florida's early pioneers.