Some of the best things in life really are free. This is especially true in Florida, where nature speaks loudly for itself. Away from the magic of Disney World and the attractions of the theme parks, some of the most outstanding scenery in the world can be found. Even in the major cities of Florida, there are great adventures to be had.
“America’s Best Online” has named Fort De Soto beach the third best beach in the U.S. for 2010. Located on the Gulf Coast at the mouth of Tampa Bay, the park, like all parks and beaches in Pinellas County, is open to the public year round without charge.
Originally five keys that have filled in over the years into an island, Fort De Soto Park on Mullet Key has seven miles of fine, white sandy beaches and long fishing piers both on Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Its rich history begins with the landing and expedition of Hernando De Soto in 1539. In 1859 the area was surveyed by Army Engineer Robert E. Lee, who recommended the area of Mullet and Egmont Keys, protecting the entrance to Tampa Bay, be reserved for military use. By the end of the nineteenth century, fortresses had been built on both islands. A free, self-guided tour of the old fort is a fascinating journey back into a romantic past.
Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S..
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
727-893-9185
Palm Beach is an island on the Atlantic side of Florida, approximately 70 miles north of Miami. According to the Worth Avenue Association, “everyone from Hollywood stars to heads of state, from literary and artistic icons to Old Money and international business magnates, the allure of this lush island has been irresistible“. (See References 3)
The epitome of Palm Beach, Worth Avenue stretches four blocks from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean. It’s home to hundreds of designer boutiques, art galleries and antique shops. Most of the major international designers, including Ungaro, Chanel, Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani, Cartier, and Tiffany, have shops on the avenue.
Shoppers would find a stroll down Worth Avenue an entertaining way to spend a few hours. A complimentary guided walking tour of Worth Avenue starts at 11 a.m. on most Wednesdays during the winter season and Saturdays in the summer.
Worth Avenue Association
P.O. Box 2126
Palm Beach, FL 33480
561-659-6909
worth-avenue.com
Tampa Electric Company (TECO) has established an educational facility in Apollo Beach, south of Tampa, next to their Big Bend Power Station. The center is open to the public from Nov. 1 to Apr.15, when the waters of Tampa Bay fall below 68 degrees. During the winter season, manatees seek out the warm water produced by the power station. It is estimated that Tampa Bay is home to approximately 200 manatees in the winter and half that number during the summer. The average adult manatee, a gentle, vegetarian, warm-blooded mammal, is about 10 feet long and weighs 1,000 pounds.
The 50-acre facility offers free environmental exhibits, DVD presentations about the Florida manatee, games for kids, and a hurricane simulator, in addition to viewing manatees close up.
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman Road
Apollo Beach, Florida 33572
813-228-4289
tampaelectric.com/manatee
Some of the state’s most beautiful parks are located in the Keys. They are free and open to the public. The key deer refuge was established in 1957 to protect the endangered species of tiny white-tailed deer, which are only 24-28 inches tall at shoulder height and weigh 45 to 75 pounds. Numbering less than 300, the tiny deer are not found anywhere else in the world. They can often be seen from the road while driving on Big Pine Key, located in the lower Florida keys, 30 miles from Key West and roughly 100 miles from Miami. The refuge includes a .6-mile walking trail and an old, fresh water rock quarry named Blue Hole. In addition to being a watering spot for the deer, it’s home to alligators and water birds.
National Key Deer Refuge
Big Pink Shopping Center
28950 Watson Blvd.
Big Pine Key, FL 33043
305-872-2239
fws.gov/nationalkeydeer
