Route 301 Route Through Florida; Watch Out for Speed Traps

When traveling from the Northeast and Atlantic states to the West Coast of Florida, Route 301 is the fastest route, avoiding the frequent backups on Interstate 4. It’s a route with some charms, and speed traps. The speeds run from 65 mph to 45 mph; each town along the way decides, and has a fellow standing by waiting. Read more

See the “Cracker Crazy” Documentary Before You Visit

If you are traveling to Florida, you need to see Georg Koszulinski’s documentary on Florida, Cracker Crazy. It gives the visitor a background how Florida was invented, and some of the main touchstones of the Sunshine State’s history. You can watch it right here on YouTube.

The film blends archives, especially from the state. It’s done with style and humor, never staying too long on each subject, and always showing the most interesting historic tidbits and video clips.

Baby Dinosaurs at Dinosaur World

PLANT CITY – Situated between Tampa and Orlando on Interstate 4, Dinosaur World welcomes the arrival of the new baby dinosaurs exhibit including Maiasaurs, Torosaurs and Igunadons. The funky attraction, which allows visitors to roam around life-sized dinosaurs, has over 150 models.

Activities include the Fossil Dig, where you can search through sand looking for fossils to take home; and at Boneyard, you can uncover a life-size skeleton waiting for visitors. www.dinosaurworld.com

Lu the Hippo Celebrates 51 Years

HOMOSASSA—The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park will celebrate Lu the hippopotamus’ 51st birthday at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 26 with a special birthday party open to the public. Read more

Bowling in Sarasota Near Siesta Key

SARASOTA – If you like old style bowling try the AMF Gulf Gate lanes near Siesta Key.

Call (941) 921-4447 or at 7221 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231

Catch Owen’s Fish Camp in Sarasota

SARASOTA - Owen’s Fish Camp, located in the cozy Burns Court area of downtown, is a throwback to the Florida fish camps of old. These fish camp restaurants, once plentiful, were but shacks with porches, plentiful portions and a focus on a few key dishes that had local origins, either vegetable or fish.

Owen’s, which opened in early 2010, is named for early Sarasota pioneer Owen Burns. The stand manages to be deliberately nostalgic without being affected. It’s the quality of the experience. On a packed Friday night, everyone seemed to have time and attention for everyone else. Patrons included families with grandchildren, couples on dates, retired folk, and young singles. No group so ruled the roost that they turned the place into their own territory. Instead, it was all about everyone.

Located on a back street under a banyan, it’s owned by the Caragiulo brothers, who run the successful Caragiulos on Palm Avenue. It’s a basic seafood menu, all reasonably priced, with some inexpensive sandwich items. Fish come three ways, with a few basic sauces, all well prepared. With a fish dinner, I got corn on the cob, served with mismatched corn-cob holders. Now that’s authentic Florida.

Menu items run to the retro, but not annoyingly so. Including menu items such as greens and rhubarb strawberry pie can quickly turn cliche, as if these items could be seen as somehow gimmicky. But they both were obviously on the menu for a sensible serious reason; they taste good, and give patrons something different.

My former co-worker and Florida food connoisseur Silly Goose loves the place.

Creating a hit restaurant that captures a moment and place is always a difficult thing; it’s even more difficult at the height of a desperate recession, but the reasonable prices and restrained atmosphere suit the times.

See Owen’s Fish Camp, 516 Burns Ct., Sarasota Fl 34236, call (941) 951-6936 or owensfishcamp.com

80th Year for Sarasota Tarpon Tournament

SARASOTA – This year is the 80th anniversary of the All-Release Tarpon Tournament.

The tournament was found in 1930 by the Palmer family of Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel. While the Sterling silver four foot high trophy resides at the Sarasota History Center, the competition is still very much on each year.

The event runs for five weeks, this year from May 22 to June 27. Find out more at www.sarasotatarpontournament.info

Weeki Wachee Mermaids Go To London

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Weeki Wachee Springs State Park’s famous mermaids made history this past week when they performed at the Sea Life London Aquarium in England. The trip marks the first time the mermaids have traveled internationally to perform; they are also, perhaps the first time theme park characters have been mascots for a state environmental agency.

“The Mermaid show has been a part of Florida’s history since 1947 and the Florida Park Service is pleased to present the magic of the mermaids internationally,” said DEP’s Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock. “One of Florida’s original roadside attractions, the mermaid show is a unique tradition that you cannot find anywhere else.”

Mermaids Marcy Terry, Stayce McDonnell and Shannon Tooker ‘swam’ all the way to London last week, representing Weeki Wachee Springs State Park with two days of performances for their international fans. The mermaids performed three times a day in front of standing room only crowds to the familiar tunes from Weeki Wachee Springs. The mermaids made some new underwater friends swimming with string rays, sharks and a variety of fish at the Sea Life London Aquarium and spent time out of the water signing autographs.

The mermaids plan to leave the Florida waters again to perform in other aquariums throughout 2010, including Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Located in Hernando County, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, ‘The Only City of Live Mermaids,’ is an important cultural resource and became the newest Florida State Park in 2008. One of Florida’s 33 first magnitude springs is found in the park, providing a valuable natural resource for preservation and protection. The park is home to the only underwater observatory built directly into a natural spring. The mermaids can be seen performing three times daily at the park, open 8:00 a.m. to sunset.

Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, the Florida State Park system has grown from eight to 160 parks in the last 75 years. Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association as the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation’s best park service.

For more information about Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, visit www.floridastateparks.org/weekiwachee

Florida Trust Issues Eleven Most Endangered List

FORT MYERS - The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation released May 13 released the 2010 Florida’s Eleven Most Endangered Historic Sites list at the Annual Statewide Preservation Conference in Lee County, Florida. The Most Endangered Historic Sites program is designed to increase the public’s awareness of the urgent need to save Florida’s neglected or threatened historic resources.

The historic sites included in the 2010 list include:

1. Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale, threatened by increased development continuously threatens the view corridors
2. Royal Poinciana Playhouse and Plaza, Town of Palm Beach, threatened by potential removal of historic landmark status and proposed development
3. Central Christian Church, Orlando, threatened by demolition due to neglect
4. Hialeah Park Race Course, Hialeah, threatened by partial demolition and new development
5. Coconut Grove Playhouse, Coconut Grove, due to development pressure
6. Sanford Grammar School, Sanford, because of redevelopment pressure
7. Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, threatened due to severe deterioration
8. Boynton High School/Mangrove Park School, Boynton Beach, threatened because of deterioration and increasing development pressure
9. Miami Marine Stadium, Biscayne Bay; redevelopment pressure
10. Milton Historic District, Milton, threatened by potential adverse effects from a proposed road widening project
11. Bob White Citrus Packing House & Strawn Sawmill National Register Historic Districts, DeLeon Springs, threatened by vacancy, lack of financial support, and demolition pressure.

Founded in 1978, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation promotes the preservation of the architectural, historical and archaeological heritage of Florida through advocacy, education and stewardship of historic properties.

The Trust’s Passport membership program offers free or reduced admissions and other special benefits at over 80 historic sites, museums and parks across the state of Florida.

For additional information, please contact the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation at (850) 224-8128 or visit www.floridatrust.org.

Polynesian at the Mai Kai, Hukilau Tiki Festival

FORT LAUDERDALE – The nation’s great tiki festival comes again to the greatest Tiki town in the nation, Fort Lauderdale from June 10-13, 2010.

It’s called the Hukilau and it is four days of all things Tiki, drawing over 1,000 to come hear music, see artists and get into the South Seas mindset. Read more

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