Regional Getaways

Lovers Key

BarbaraL — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Producer: Kristy Vaughn

Southwest Floridians don’t have to look too far to find paradise. Couched between Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach is a string of four small islands called Lovers Key State Park. This urban oasis makes an ideal getaway for a weekend, an afternoon, or even a lunch hour.

Everglades Adventures

BarbaraL — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:33:00 GMT

Writer/Producer:
Lynne Howard Frazer

Florida's great swamp, the Everglades, attracts more than a million visitors every year. Although parks and preserves provide easy viewing areas -- the Everglades reveals its secrets only to those who are willing to venture into it.

Lake O

BarbaraL — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:26:00 GMT

Producer: Rod Clarke

Do ghostly spirits stalk the hallways of the historic Clewiston Inn? Maybe. Maybe not. But some things are absolutely certain here. Hungry bass ambush their unsuspecting prey in the murky waters of Lake Okeechobee, and birds of all varieties virtually darken the skies above.
Put another way, the fertile lands surrounding this iconic body of water are also fertile grounds for ghosthunters, anglers, bird watchers and droves of visitors in search of old Florida.

Regional Getaways - Unusual History

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:08:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Southwest Florida’s history has taken some unexpected twists and turns through the decades. At the end of the 19th century, one of the strangest chapters was written when Cyrus Teed led his cult of visionaries to the banks of the Estero River to examine the world from the inside out. Today, a state historic site allows visitors to peek in on this unusual settlement. On Useppa Island, history comes in layers, from the island’s ancient Calusa mounds to its training site for Bay of Pigs operatives. Barbara Sumwalt Museum takes visitors through the intriguing eras. In modern times, Solomon’s Castle near Arcadia is a quirky monument to one man’s imagination and recycling artistry. Howard Solomon’s creation continually grows to thrill pilgrims to this out-of-the-way attraction.

Resources:

Koreshan State Historic Site:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan/

Useppa Island History:
http://www.useppa.com/history.html

Barbara Sumwalt Museum
http://www.useppa.com/society.html

Solomon’s Castle:
http://www.solomonscastle.org/

Regional Getaways - Funky Roadside Attractions

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

By definition, a classic roadside attraction should be kitsch at best, bordering on hokey. Tamiami Trail’s brand of roadside attractions fall in line, but yet they boast their own twist and bite, namely nature -- especially alligators. The oldest, Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs, has been around since 1936. Since then, the road has moved, but the zoo attraction persists. East of Naples, The Trail dips into true Everglades territory, where circa-1950s Wooten’s Airboat Tours and the Skunk-Ape Research Headquarters turn the public’s fascination for the wilds into tourist attractions on the funky, swampy, sometimes far-fetched side of things.

Resources:

Wooten’s Everglades Airboat Tours:
www.wootensairboats.com

Skunk-Ape Research Headquarters:
www.skunkape.info
www.roadsideamerica.com

Regional Getaways - Fun Festivals

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Spitting seeds, creating crazy fruit hats a la Carmen Miranda, and building architectural sculptures out of Spam: Southwest Florida festivals take food to a whole new level. Every May, the town of Arcadia turns out to celebrate one of its tastiest food crops – the watermelon. Things get juicy as townsfolk and visitors compete in eating and spitting contests. Not to be outdone for fruity fun, MangoMania at Pine Island features two days of decorating Mr. Mango Head, parading in fruit-full hats, devouring mango pie, and crowning the Mango Queen. For Goodland’s Spammy Jammy, PJs are the requisite dress code and canned ham products the requisite creative medium.

Resources:

MangoMania:
www.floridascreativecoast.com

Little Bar Restaurant:
www.littlebarrestaurant.com

Arcadia Main Street Program:
www.arcadiamainstreet.com

113 Regional Getaways - Audio Live

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:26:00 GMT

113 Regional Getaways - Marco Island

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:24:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Marco Island experiences mood swings from funky old Florida style to fashionable beach vacationing. Visitors can explore its historic side or use it as a launching point for on-the-water adventure in the nearby Ten Thousand Islands.

Resources:

Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce

Greater Naples Marco Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

113 Regional Getaways - Gasparilla Island

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:20:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Wealthy industrialists first discovered the great getaway powers of Gasparilla Island. Phosphate shipping and the railroad built the delightful little town of Boca Grande. Tarpon fishing and the lovely Gasparilla Inn gave it a reputation for charmed vacationing that visitors can still enjoy today.

Resources:

Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce

Gasparilla Inn

Gasparilla Island State Park and Lighthouse

Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau

113 Regional Getaways - Pine Island

admin — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:16:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

For a look at the flipside to Southwest Florida’s beach islands, travel to a time and place known as Pine Island, where fishermen, artists, seafood houses, and intimate accommodations welcome visitors with something genuine.

Resources:

Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce

Florida’s Creative Coast

Randell Research Center

Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau

Regional Getaways - CHEC

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:32:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Get back to nature on the backwoods trails and through the programs at the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center in Charlotte County. Parks and visitors centers in Punta Gorda and Englewood introduce kids and adults to bald eagles, gopher tortoise, alligators, bob cats, and things that squish between your toes on the mud flats.

Resources:

Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center

Related Forum Posts:

Regional Getaways - National Panther Wildlife Refuge

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:31:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Shawn Holiday

Explore a refuge for the Florida panther that is also a place for people to visit. Although this shy creature is hard to spot, there is plenty of wildlife to view on the public trails. It also serves as a reminder about the importance of preserving the last of the Florida wilds.

Resources:

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge

Larry Richardson
Biologist
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
3860 Tollgate Blvd.
Naples, FL 34114
(239)353-8442
floridapanther@fws.gov

Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge
www.floridapanther.org
Lisa Ostberg, president
lisa.ostberg@floridapanther.org

For Panther sitings, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (800)404-3922

To buy a license plate that supports Florida wildlife, visit
http://myfwc.com/c-w-tag/index.html

Florida Trail

Forum Topics:

Have you ever seen a Florida panther?
Do you think the Florida panther will survive in wild 50 years from now? 100?
What is your favorite park or refuge?

Regional Getaways - Audio Live

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:03:00 GMT

Join host Jim McLaughlin as he explores a few of Southwest Florida’s regional getaways that let people get back to nature. Learn more about the relatively new Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Lee County. And about the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center which offers two sites for outdoor education and recreation. Whether it’s bird watching, hiking, biking, paddling or even horseback riding…there are plenty of choices right here in Southwest Florida.

Regional Getaways - Caloosahatchee River Park

admin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:02:00 GMT

Writer/Producer: Chelle Koster Walton

Whether you prefer to take to the trails on foot, bike, horseback, or kayak, Caloosahatchee Regional Park can take you there. Its 768 acres along the Caloosahatchee River include hills created from mud dredged to straighten out the river. Yes! Hills in Southwest Florida! Perfect for mountain biking and challenging, scenic hiking.

Resources:

Lee County Parks

Florida State Parks

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Refuges

Visit Florida

Forum Topics: