Family Getaways 2008 - (Page 59) family getaways Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway Windows to Gulf Coast Waters www.sarasota-manateempo.org 7632 - 15th St. E., Sarasota, 941-359-5772. The first major highway that opened south Florida from Manatee to Miami. Seventy miles of historic road. The von Liebig Art Center www.naplesart.org 585 Park St., Naples, 239-262-6517. The Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center offers exhibitions, festivals and classes. Museums & Historic Sites Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo Association www.arcadiarodeo.com 124 Heard St., Arcadia, 800-749-7633. The oldest rodeo organization in the state of Florida, celebrating 80 years of rodeo tradition. $$-$$$$ Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota Clewiston Museum www.clewiston.org/museum Southwest Attractions Art League Bonita Springs 26100 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs, 239-495-8989. Located on the west coast of Florida. Provides classes, exhibitions, lectures and performances for all ages. Ë Gatorama www.gatorama.com 6180 U.S. Hwy. 27, Palmdale, 863-675-0623. “Biggest gators and crocs guaranteed.” Great historical attraction shows daily. “This place bites.” Allow up to 2 hours. 109 Central Ave., Clewiston, 863-983-2870. A historical and heritage museum about Clewiston and the surrounding area. Allow 1 hour. $ Collier County Museum www.colliermuseum.com 3301 Tamiami Trl. E., Naples, 239-252-8476. Journey back through 10,000 years of history, legend and adventure on Southwest Florida’s last frontier. Ê Ë $-$$ Ê Marie Selby Botanical Gardens www.selby.org 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941-366-5731. Explore a spectacular display of orchids and tropical plants in a 9.5-acre oasis on Sarasota Bay. Allow 2 hours. $-$$ Ê Art League, Marco Island’s Center for the Arts www.marcoislandart.com 1010 Winterberry Dr., Marco Island, 239-394-4221. Providing a venue for the visual arts for all ages since 1969. Ê Crowley Museum and Nature Center www.crowleymuseumnaturectr.org 16405 Myakka Rd., Sarasota, 941-322-1000. Experience Florida’s pioneer culture in historic buildings and museum; all in a natural habitat. Allow 1.5 hours. $ Ê Mote Aquarium www.mote.org 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., City Island, Sarasota, 800-691-MOTE. Sharks, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, touch pools and interactive theaters feature Mote research. Allow up to 3 hours. $$-$$$ Asolo Repertory Theatre www.asolo.org 5555 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 800-361-8388. From Nov. - June, the Asolo Rep actors present a unique rotating repertory from classics to new works. $$$-$$$$$ Ê Edison & Ford Winter Estates www.efwefla.org 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-334-7419. Discover 20 acres of tropical gardens, the homes of Edison and Ford, a museum and historic lab. Allow at least 2 hours. $$-$$$ Ê See ad on page 49. Reader Response 44 Billie Swamp Safari www.seminoletribe.com/safari Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, between Fort Lauderdale and Naples off I-75 at Exit 49, north 19 miles, Clewiston, 800-949-6101. 2,200-acre eco-heritage wildlife park in the Florida Everglades. Airboat and swamp buggy ecotours. Allow 3 hours. $$-$$$$$ Ê Ë See ad on page 45. Reader Response 42 Naples Botanical Garden www.naplesgarden.org 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples, 239-643-7275. Enjoy the Tropical Mosaic Garden, the Butterfly House and explore the 33 acres of Uplands Preserve. Allow 1 hour. $ Ê Ë G.WIZ - The Hands-On Science Museum www.gwiz.org 1001 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, 941-309-4949. “King Tut” Oct. 2007 - Mar. 31, 2008. Allow 1.5 hours. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens www.napleszoo.org 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd., Naples, 239-262-5409. Fun shows. Monkey cruise. Alligators to zebras in a nationally accredited zoo and a historic garden. Allow up to 5 hours. Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway www.cityofbradentonbeach.com 107 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach, 941-778-1005. Relaxed, tropical charm highlighted by narrow winding streets, sugar-white sand and abundant wildlife. $-$$ Ê Historic Spanish Point www.historicspanishpoint.org 337 N. Tamiami Trl., Osprey, 941-966-5214. Historic Spanish Point is a 30-acre environmental, archaeological and historic site museum. Allow 2 hours. $-$$ Ê Ë $$$ PAL Sailor Circus www.sailorcircus.org 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota, 941-361-6350. Sarasota’s very own youth circus. Truly, the greatest “little” show on earth. Established 1949. Allow 2 hours. $$-$$$ Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre www.broadwaypalm.com 1380 Colonial Blvd., Royal Palm Square, Fort Myers, 800-475-7256. Quality family entertainment featuring a lavish buffet and Broadway productions for all ages. Allow up to 2.25 hours. $$$$-$$$$$ Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium www.cityftmyers.com/imaginarium 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, 239-337-3332. Enjoy exciting interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, animals, 3-D movies, café and store. Allow up to 3 hours. $-$$ Palma Sola Scenic Highway 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-745-3709. This scenic stretch of highway is located on beautiful Palma Sola Bay in Manatee County. Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium www.calusanature.com 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers, 239-275-3435. Displays, butterfly aviary and boardwalks show Southwest Florida’s natural history. Planetarium star shows. Allow up to 4 hours. $-$$ Ê Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch www.colliermuseum.com 1215 Roberts Ave., Immokalee, 239-658-2466. Experience daily working life on a typical Southwest Florida homestead and citrus grove from the early 1900s. Ê Randell Research Center at Pineland www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc 13810 Waterfront Dr., Pineland, 239-283-2062. Explore mounds and canals at the largest Calusa Indian site in Southwest Florida accessible by car. Allow up to 1.5 hours. Circus Sarasota www.circussarasota.org 8251 - 15th St. E., Sarasota, 941-355-9335. International circus stars will amaze you. See their website for details. Experience the tradition. $$-$$$$$ $Ê Ë Sarasota Jungle Gardens www.sarasotajunglegardens.com 3701 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 877-861-6547. When was the last time you hand fed a flamingo? Ten lush acres of exotic plants and animals. Allow up to 4 hours. $$ The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art www.ringling.org 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, 941-359-5700. It’s all here - Museum of Art, Ca d’Zan Mansion, two circus museums and the Historic Asolo Theater. Allow a full day. $-$$$ Ê See ad on page 42. Reader Response 29 Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center www.conservancy.org 1450 Merrihue Dr., Naples, 239-262-0304. A 21-acre preserve in the heart of town. Boat rides, trails, Discovery Center and native wildlife. Ê The Shell Factory & Nature Park www.shellfactory.com 2787 N. Tamiami Trl. (U.S. 41), North Fort Myers, 800-282-5805. Huge gift store, a nature park, bumper boats and cars, mini-golf, video arcade and seafood restaurant. Allow 3 hours. $-$$ Ê Ë The Museum of the Everglades www.colliermuseum.com 105 W. Broadway, Everglades City, 239-695-0008. Exhibits about the building of a town deep in the Everglades and its rugged pioneers. Allow 20 minutes. Ê ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) www.echonet.org 17391 Durrance Rd., North Fort Myers, 239-543-3246. Guided tours of ECHO’s Global Farm to explore unique sustainable solutions to world hunger. Allow 1.5 hours. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center www.sbdac.com 2301 First St., Fort Myers, 239-337-1933. The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center provides art, music, events, weddings and more. $$$$-$$$$$ Selby Gallery at Ringling College of Art and Design www.ringling.edu/selbygallery 2700 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 941-359-7563. A season of exhibitions and events with the works of renowned artists, designers and photographers. Allow 1 hour. Ê $-$$ Ê Ë Florida West Coast Symphony www.fwcs.org 709 N. Tamiami Trl., Sarasota, 866-508-0611. Florida West Coast Symphony performs symphonic and chamber music concerts. $$$-$$$$$ Sun Splash Family Waterpark www.sunsplashwaterpark.com 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, 239-574-0558. Spend a day zooming, fluming and floating at one of the largest water parks between Tampa and Miami. Southwest Florida Museum of History www.cityftmyers.com/museum 2300 Peck St., Fort Myers, 239-332-5955. Historic train depot housing exhibits and artifacts tracing pre-historic Florida to present day. Allow 1.5 hours. $-$$ Ê Family Getaways 59 http://www.sarasota-manateempo.org http://www.naplesart.org http://www.arcadiarodeo.com http://www.clewiston.org/museum.htm http://www.gatorama.com http://www.colliermuseum.com http://www.selby.org http://www.crowleymuseumnaturectr.org http://www.marcoislandart.com http://www.mote.org http://www.asolo.org http://www.efwefla.org http://www.seminoletribe.com/safari http://www.naplesgarden.org http://www.gwiz.org http://www.napleszoo.org http://www.historicspanishpoint.org http://www.cityofbradentonbeach.com http://www.sailorcircus.org http://www.broadwaypalm.com http://www.cityftmyers.com/imaginarium http://www.calusanature.com http://www.colliermuseum.com http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc http://www.circussarasota.org http://www.ringling.org http://www.sarasotajunglegardens.com http://www.conservancy.org http://www.colliermuseum.com http://www.shellfactory.com http://www.echonet.org http://www.ringling.edu/selbygallery http://www.sbdac.com http://www.cityftmyers.com/museum http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com http://www.fwcs.org
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