The Official 2008 RVers Guide to Florida - (Page 16) REGION 1 A trip to the Gamble Plantation in Ellenton offers a glimpse into the workings of an antebellum sugar plantation. Built in 1850, the mansion was the hub of an enterprise which used to send molasses and sugar up the nearby Manatee River to markets in New Orleans. To the south, Sarasota has long been known for its worldclass cultural offerings. It’s here that John Ringling built his 30-room Venetian-styled villa, Ca’d’Zan (House of John) and housed his priceless Baroque, Italian and Flemish Renaissance art collection and exquisite 17th-century tapestries. Every piece in the collection at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is now owned by the state. Also on the grounds are the Circus Museum, an assemblage of original circus art and artifacts, and the historic Asolo Theater, the nation’s only authentic 19th-century Italian theater. For treasures of another kind, families can visit the Mote Marine Aquarium, south of Longboat Key. The centerpiece of the aquarium is a 135,000-gallon outdoor shark tank. After the shark tank, take the kids to the 30-foot “Touch Tank,” where horseshoe crabs, rays and sea urchins can be gently handled. For a change of pace, head inland to Myakka River State Park, Florida’s largest, to canoe or fish in freshwater and observe a variety of wildlife, including alligators. Those who prefer quiet getaways will find that the rustic charm of “old Florida” survives in many of Southwest Florida’s communities. Charlotte Harbor and the surrounding area are good examples. Fishermen and boaters flock to the harbor (part of the nation’s largest federally protected marine estuary) as well as to the nearby Peace and Myakka rivers. On the barrier island of Boca Grande, Cayo Costa State Park is as close to a deserted tropical island as most vacationers can get. The park’s vast stretches of sand offer great shelling, and acres of pine forest, oak palm hammocks and mangrove swamps provide for a spectacular display of bird life. Boca Grande, a sleepy Southern town, has succeeded in maintaining its quaint fishing village atmosphere. As a result, visitors can wander through numerous historic shops and inns that have been in business for nearly a century, among them the Gasparilla Inn. In Charlotte County, the Don Pedro Island State Recreation Area, accessible only by private boat or ferry, offers secluded beaches ideal for recreation and nature study. Off the Lee County coast, tiny Sanibel and Captiva Islands are among the best known islands in the region, popular for their excellent shelling and captivating beaches. Hundreds of varieties of shells can be found on their pristine shorelines. Visitors will find picturesque paths and historical gems tucked along Sanibel’s main thoroughfare, Periwinkle Way, with shops, galleries and restaurants framed by Australian pines and tall palms. Visit the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum, which showcases the island’s history with a pioneervintage island residence and 1920s-like versions of a general store, post office and tea room, or stop by the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum for a display of shells that wash up on the island. At the east end of Periwinkle Way, travelers can get an up-close look at one of the region’s most photographed landmarks, the Sanibel Lighthouse, which dates back to 1884 when the entire island was a wildlife refuge. Heading to the mainland, the Fort Myers area combines a rich history with the casual beach-town atmosphere of nearby Fort Myers Beach. RVers can hop on the downtown tram for a narrated tour of Fort Myers’ history. Among the favorite stops are the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, 16 2008 FRVTA RVers GUIDE TO FLORIDA
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