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by Jim Krumm
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Early History
In 1513, the Spaniard Ponce de León, discovered and claimed Florida for the Spanish Crown, naming it “La Pascua de la Florida” (Passion of Flowers). Legend has it that Native Americans in the Caribbean told Ponce de León of a fountain of youth that existed in the region of Bimini of the Bahamas Islands which led Ponce de León to Florida. Ponce de León's original landing in Florida is believed in the vicinity St. Augustine. Here Ponce de León was said to have been so impressed with how long lived the Native Americans were that it may have convinced him that the rumors of a fountain of youth may have been correct. If indeed Ponce de León’s believed this, it may have been because the Native Americans had a far healthier diet which caused them to live longer than Europeans. At the time Ponce de León set foot on Florida there may have been as many as 350,000 Native Americans living in Florida. On a return visit to Florida in 1521, Ponce de Leon was struck by a poison arrow fired by a Calusa in the Caloosahatchee region in the Ft. Myers region. He was taken to Havana where later he died.
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés officially founded St. Augustine in 1565, the first successful European settlement in the United States. St. Augustine went on to become an important fort in protecting the route the Spanish Galleons took in bringing gold, silver and gemstones from Latin America back to Spain. In 1586 that quintessential English pirate, Sir Francis Drake, captured and burned the settlement of St. Augustine.
Tampa, Weeki Wachee, Crystal Springs, Homosassa Springs, Venice, and Sarasota
Anna Maria Island has fine sandy beaches which feels a little like talcum powder. Bush Gardens is a popular destination for many. Bush Gardens is increasingly increasing the number of its amusement rides, but it has always had a nice assortment of animals including white tigers, rhinos, gorillas, etc. Weeki Wachee is famous for its mermaids which perform underwater. At Crystal Springs warm fresh water bubbles up into the bay making it a popular destination for boaters and divers alike to come and watch the Sea Manatees which winter here. The underground springs here are said to be fed by underground rivers which come all the way from Georgia. Early on a cool winter's morning you can see the mist rising from the warm water into the cool air. Passing through the limestone the water that emerges is crystal clear. Homosassa Springs also is the source of warm limestone rivers which mixes with sea water. In Homosassa there is an observation bell which sits in the mouth of one underground river where you can watch large salt water fish swirl round and round the bell. The manatees also like the warm waters of Homosassa Springs during the winter, and gather here in the crystal clear river as it mixes with sea water. Homosassa Springs also has a zoo featuring many species native to Florida including bears, panthers, alligators, salt water crocodiles, etc. At Venice Beach it is possible to find fossilized shark teeth that may be as old as 15 million years, right along side the occasional modern day shark tooth in the soft powder sand.
In the Cape Coral area it is possible for residents to grow grow coconuts, papaya, oranges, bananas, lemons, and grapefruit and only very rarely worry about frost. Many people here own homes with boats parked on the salt water canals making it possible to visit the barrier islands in the area which include Sanibel. There are many wonderful beaches in the area. On Sanibel there is the Lighthouse Beach, and Bowman's Beach which is a treat because it is natural, remote, has miles to walk, and has incredible shelling. The water here is also often clearer than many of the other beaches in the area. The sea is warmer here than most other parts of Florida because of the gulf stream. In the summer, the water at the beach may measure in excess of 90 degrees and in winter may be well over 10 degrees warmer than many of the beaches on the Atlantic side. However, because of all the water that drains the swamps in the area, the water in the area often has a tannish cast. There are also some fine beaches at Captiva which is connected to Sanibel by road. The toll over the Causeway to Sanibel costs $7.00. Gasperilla has beautiful beaches often with crystal clear water. Though Gasparilla is only a few miles from Cape Coral, it takes over an hour to get there because of the maze of waterways and the round about path which must be followed. The toll to Gasparilla costs $5.00. But it is worth the expense and the trip. In summer, Sea Manatees pass though frequently near shore rounding the point coming out of Charlotte Harbor heading for open sea. The first time you stand in water and you have a gigantic manatee approach as a dark shape in the water, it can cause a chill. Of course the manatees are harmless, and it is against the law to even touch them. Shark tournaments are held in both Cape Coral and Gasparilla each summer. Sharks usually come out at twilight or early in the morning and attacks on people are very, very rare throughout Florida. Honky tonk beaches like Fort Myers Beach are also in the area which have entertainment, restaurants, and shopping. If wildlife is what you are interested in then either Bunche or Bowditch Beach is very nice. Bowditch is strictly for wading and fishing. In the winter you can see all sorts of sea life in the water. Bunche Beach, on the north end of Estero Island can have literally hundreds, maybe thousands of birds sitting on tiny sandy shoals out from shore. Tiny crabs and conchs are everywhere. In the summer, you may see sting rays here, so be careful. They hide themselves well.
Ding Darling on Sanibel is a treasure. In the winter and spring it is astonishing the number of birds that are in the area. In Ding Darling, as well as numerous places on Sanibel, you can see an enormous amount of wildlife including alligators, salt water fish, spoon bills, raccoons, and blue crabs. The beaches on Sanibel are rated as among the very best in the United States and are frequented even by the international crowd.
Pan Handle of Florida: Pensacola, Panama City, Apalachicola
A long time ago a friend who taught me to sail said that the panhandle of Florida is one of Florida's greatest treasures. The narrow barrier island guarding Pensacola is beautiful and goes on for miles. The sands are so white they almost look like snow. A lonely road runs through the island which gives stunning views of the ocean, the beaches and the sand dunes. Talking to the locals in Pensacola those living near the sea have been battered in recent years by numerous hurricanes which have led to many homes being lost. Some rebuild, some don't. Panama City is busy, touristy, and also has a beautiful beach and is widely known as a great spring break destination. Apalachicola is a picturesque fishing town with a fine harbor. Mexico Beach and Carrabelle are a little off the beaten track, but again striking as is much of the panhandle.
Orlando, Cocoa Beach, and Cape Canaveral
 Dolphin at Sea World |
 Dolphin at Sea World |
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In the early 50's Orlando was paradise to grow up in. Here there were canals with small painted turtles sunning themselves on the banks, and thousands of minnows to catch. There were unspoiled woods to run through with miles of trails to explore. In those days the Mercury missions took off from Cape Canaveral, and were fun to watch. Seeing a Danish Paper at the Space Museum in Cape Canaveral reporting the first landing on the moon was fun. I watched the landing on the moon live on TV in Copenhagen, Denmark over 40 years ago. Cocoa Beach is an ideal place to watch the rockets take off. Here you can feel the ground shake over 5 miles away from where the rocket is launched. Even people in Cape Coral, over 200 miles away, can see the rockets take off from Cape Canaveral on a clear day. Recently I heard the last sonic boom of the last space shuttle flight and watched it descend to Cape Canaveral from Cape Coral. Orland now has Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and Epcot Center and is one of the top tourist destinations in the United States. And while it has gained something it has lost something too. Many of the woods and the canals are now gone now from the old neighborhood in Orlando, replaced with housing developments and mini-malls.
©All rights reserved by James Krumm. Originally made available at www.caspercomsci.com. Materials here can be used, and redistributed, provided proper reference is made to the origin and author(s) of these materials. Please send any corrections or suggestions to jkrumm@caspercollege.edu. Last modified Nov. 13, 2011.
James Krumm |
