RINGLING CIRCUS
When we talk about the Herons Glen Travel Club, we commonly think of travel to faraway places such as the Galapagos Islands, Mykonos, Santorini, Scotland, or New Zealand. And there are many more locations that our members have visited this year. But there are a lot of locations close by in Southern Florida that are so very interesting, and beautiful, as well.
Daytrippin’ typically means going to a location and back home in the same day. But I’m going to expand that meaning to cover both one-day and two-day trips. So, what are some of the intriguing locations that can be seen in just a one-day or two-day trip from our Herons Glen paradise? There are many locations, but here are just a few.
The Ringling, Sarasota. This venue was originally developed by John Ringling, of the famous circus family, back in the mid-1920s, when John Ringling was one of the richest men in America. The 66-acre estate features his Ca’ d’Zan mansion, botanical gardens, two circus museums, and the world-famous State Art Museum of Florida. And the venue is just one hour and fifteen minutes away from us; an easy day trip back and forth.
However, if you want to stay in Sarasota overnight and see another venue, then head over to the Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium. This world-famous aquarium is home to numerous aquatic species that you can see up close.
And it’s not a stretch to go a little further north to St. Petersburg to the Chihuly Collection Museum; this 10,000-square-foot gallery is home to many amazing Chihuly glass artwork pieces. There’s also a blown glass studio right across the street where you can see glass artisans design beautiful glass art pieces.
But let’s head east from the Glen to Miami’s Little Havana section. Think vibrancy, a wonderfully authentic Cuban lunch, strolling through parks, perusing art galleries and countless shops. Or do a walking food tour for dinner and visit numerous Cuban restaurants for small plates or appetizers. This area is in the southern part of Miami, so how about combining it with other things to do in the area and make it a two-day trip?
Wynwood Walls, Miami. We’ve all been to large cities, like New York City, where there are sections of the city with amazingly beautiful wall art on buildings. Miami has a section like this also, called Wynwood, and you won’t believe the fantastic artwork on the city walls. Combine Little Havana and Wynwood Walls, and you have a fantastic two-day trip. If you have a little extra time and you’re looking for even more excitement on this two-dayer, then stop by Everglades National Park for a guided tour.
And let’s not forget Spring Training baseball games here in Western Florida: The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins both have their home field games right here in Fort Myers. You can travel a little further north to North Port and see the Atlanta Braves, or the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. If you’re a baseball fan, then Southwest Florida is perfect for you.
In short, while we all love to visit faraway places with strange soundin’ names, South Florida has many wonderfully interesting close-by places to explore also. Plan a one-day or two-day trip and see South Florida!
