When you are planning your next Florida vacation, you may be starting out with some ideas about the larger, more well-known Florida attractions that you and your family will want to visit. Your Florida vacation guide may be missing many unusual options that you can also check out. Some are near the more popular destinations, while others are just off the beaten path, but all are guaranteed to leave you with some great memories and interesting stories to tell when you get back home. Take a look at the following Florida attractions and discover all that this fascinating state has to offer.

Weeki Wachee Springs

Full of history, Weeki Wachee Springs on the North Gulf Coast offers visitors the opportunity to see “live mermaids.” Families looking for something outside of their traditional Florida vacation guide will want to stop by and check out the mermaid shows, which feature actual living “mermaids” swimming underwater with Florida wildlife. (You’ll have to visit to learn the secret.) Visitors seeking Florida attractions that offer fun water activities can also enjoy scuba diving or can play at the brand new Buccaneer Bay Waterpark.

The Nabor Kids Doll Factory

Another of the unusual Florida attractions on the North Gulf Coast is this out-of-the-ordinary doll factory and hospital in Homosassa. Nabor dolls are crafted from carved wood and have a unique look to them, to say the least. Check out the historical gallery that features many valuable doll creations from years past. You may even want to purchase one of these original creations to take home. You should definitely make this stop a part of your personal Florida vacation guide.

Coral Castle

One of the more beautiful and mysterious Florida attractions to visit is Coral Castle. It opened in 1923 and has been delighting visitors ever since with a beautiful castle made of over 1,100 tons of coral. To this day, nobody is quite sure how one man managed to move and carve this rock, which he did out of love for a young woman. Located near Miami, Coral Castle is an inviting side trip. Include this in your next Florida vacation guide, and take lots of pictures!

Solomon’s Castle

Solomon’s Castle is another of the remarkable Florida tourist attractions that families can visit. From afar, this castle simply looks like it is shimmering – up close, you’ll find that it is made up of discarded printing plates. The setting also features many works of art created by sculptor Howard Solomon, as well as the intriguing Boat in the Moat restaurant. Keep this in mind when you’re searching through your Florida vacation guide. Just a short drive from Orlando, this castle requires a whole day to fully explore all that it has to offer.

The Astronaut Hall of Fame and the American Police Hall of Fame

If your Florida vacation guide suggests a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, near Cocoa Beach, you should definitely include the Astronaut Hall of Fame in your day. As a great foil to the Space Center’s scientific angle, the Hall of Fame presents a more personal look at the men and women who have spent time in space. If you still have time after visiting these two Florida attractions, you can also stop by the American Police Hall of Fame, also located in Titusville, to view artifacts from the history of law enforcement and a memorial wall for fallen officers.

The National Museum of Naval Aviation

If you are searching for educational Florida attractions, make sure you stop at one of the largest air and space museums in the country, the National Museum of Naval Aviation, in Pensacola. Stop by and check out over 140 restored aircraft from various military branches, as well as a special IMAX movie and guided tours. The museum offers free admission and is open 362 days out of the year, making it a great addition to any Florida vacation guide.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Located in Key West, the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is a must-see for literature and history buffs seeking relevant Florida attractions. The home has been preserved and includes Hemingway’s furniture and his typewriter, which he used to write many of his best-known novels. Living alongside this history are dozens of six-toed cats, all descended from a cat given to Hemingway himself. The home is open year-round and provides an interesting and educational deviation from the traditional activities listed in a Florida vacation guide.

The Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates

If you’re looking for even more historical Florida attractions to explore, check out the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, located on the South Gulf Coast of Florida in Sanibel. A great addition to any Florida vacation guide, you can visit the homes in which these two great men spent winters, and take a peek into the chemical lab where many major experiments were carried out. The grounds also feature a beautiful botanical garden originally established by Edison for research purposes but later expanded to include plants renowned for their beauty.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum

This is one of those Florida attractions that is fun for the whole family! Primarily an art museum, the John and Mable Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida, also features a Circus Museum full of rare memorabilia. Stop by the Ringling Estate for the day and take in the official State Art Museum of Florida first, with its 21 galleries of European paintings and other fine artwork. Then step right up and enjoy viewing old handbills and posters while learning about the history of the circus.

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

While you’re enjoying the sunshine on Delray Beach, consult your Florida vacation guide and then take a detour to visit the beautiful Morikami museum and Japanese gardens. Take time to view the rotating exhibits that are full of Japanese artwork and cultural artifacts, and make sure you stroll through the stunning botanical garden that has been established in the Japanese style. If you’re lucky, you may be able to watch a tea ceremony or participate in one of the many other special events that are always going here at one of the more exotic Florida attractions.

Gatorama

Last, but certainly not least, on this list of unusual Florida attractions is Gatorama, located in Palmdale. If you’ve come to Florida looking for alligators, you’ll see more than your share here. Gatorama is a live, operating alligator farm where you can spend a day watching these fascinating creatures. It’s is also home to hundreds of other animals, including peacocks, raccoons, and even monkeys. This intriguing spot may not be number one in a traditional Florida vacation guide, but it is definitely worth a visit.

About the Author

Fraser Hannah spent eight years working as a freelance television production manager and researcher before leaving to join his family’s business working with the elderly. He founded traveling2florida.com/ Traveling2Florida.com in 2003 after purchasing his own vacation home in Florida and being frustrated by the lack of vision shown by many of the existing vacation rental sites. Traveling2Florida.com, an online traveling2florida.com/florida-vacations.cfm?navid=28 Florida vacation guide, now connects thousands of travelers directly with the owners of high-quality traveling2florida.com vacation rentals in Florida, from Orlando to the Florida Keys.

We have all heard that “electricity and water don’t mix”; electrocution follows, so by all means, keep that in mind. Don’t mix them. On one hand it is true. I wouldn’t mess with it. But, in Panama “electricity and water do mix” in safe conjunction with each other. “Suicide showers” are an example.

Until I went to Boquete in the mountains of Panama, I had never heard of them. In this part of the world “suicide showers” are common. Let me explain. In a tropical climate humidity is high and heat intense. Drinking water and replacing lost electrolytes is recommended. Cold water is preferred and most of the time necessary. Hot water on a hot, healthy body doesn’t make sense. It’s great if your ill or getting hydrotherapy treatments, but there many choose not to heat it.

Americans take hot water for granted. Hot water tanks and heaters as we know them don’t exist in a lot of places in Panama and what I call “local atmosphere” of my style of traveling.

Ed, a friend in Boquete introduced me to this method of showering. I received an elementary lesson, which I don’t recall ever having instruction on that subject my entire life. My instructions were to turn the knob to the right, wait, and hop in when it’s warm. Ending with, “Don’t touch that.”

Luckily his timing was right. To shower in his place the light switch had to be in the “on” position. Under the showerhead there was one knob with no letters. In the United States I see letters all the time; “H” and “C”. There, I imagined seeing the letters “C” for caliente and “F” for frio. Well, that is not the case.

My eyes were open to this simple marvel and ingenious contraption. EMT wire was pulled from the power source, in this case the light switch, and attached to the showerhead. The switch activated the entire room and allowed a direct current of electricity to flow to the showerhead pipe heating the water in the half-inch, no pressure water pipe. He didn’t have the sink pipes wired. Whew. I washed my hands when I got there and wondered why it was cold.

I suggested a sign that warned, “Caution, HOT PIPE” or “It’s WIRED, DON’T touch”. I didn’t feel safe. My eyes didn’t leave the EMT wire. Fear crawled all over me. Was it going to fall off? Man if it hit the water, well, you know. And thus the phrase was coined, “suicide shower.” In Ed’s apartment, that was the way of it.

Water can be heated with fuel too, sold locally in propane-like containers, much like our outside grills propane tanks. Many who can afford this luxury have them attached to pipes under the kitchen sink. In this case, the tank has to be turned on and lit to allow the fire to heat the pipes. Unless water is hooked to fuel or electric it was just plain cold.
Having hot water at your disposal is nice to have in the mountains of Boquete as later in the evenings in warm blankets is advised. In David or the heat of the Panama City I opted for cold. On my visit with Ed, he would have been wise to, also. It is said to calm down the libido.

I was relieved Ed walked me through the process of “suicide showers” before I began or my “goose” might have been cooked before we had a chance to sit down to dinner and possibly have a real “goose”. Goose in Panama! Not.

Linda’s writing appears in From Eulogy to Joy, Beischel, Xlibris Press, 2000,

Interpreting travel advisories

The US Department of State has issued warning to travelers based on danger from tourist-related crime. You may also read sensational news stories of unfortunate crimes against tourists. Bear in mind, however, that thousands of tourists visit Kenya with no such unfortunate incidents. Before canceling or postponing a trip to Kenya, check with your Kenya travel agents, the airlines, or the department of State, to get more information about the basis of the warning. You should not disregard such warnings, but sometimes the actual danger is not as serious as it sounds.

U.S users should check the date of the travel Advisory, and make use of other services available besides Travel Warnings i.e. downloading incident reports, embassy addresses, tourist office addresses, terrorist profiles, and a number of special reports on specific criminal problems.

Africa vacation safari Luggage facts & information

Traveling by air, you are allowed two bags to check and one carry-on bag. Leaving Europe or Kenya, you may be subject to overweight charges if a checked bag weighs more than 20 kilograms or 44 pounds

Try to plan your packing to allow for the possibility of repacking a smaller bag with clothes for a particular safari. Sometimes there isn’t a lot of room for luggage in a small airplane or a safari vehicle.

Clothing on Kenya safari vacation

You will need comfortable clothes that are cool, but that can layer up to keep you warm at night or at higher altitudes. Casual is fine for daywear, but you may want some possibilities for more dressy dinners and evenings. Traditional “camouflage” colors are best when near wildlife. More rugged clothing would be necessary for camping, hiking, or riding.

Bring a sweater or a light jacket for early morning game drives. Light weight, comfortable walking shoes are sufficient for most safaris. Pack bathing suit. Don’t forget a hat or your sunglasses

I advice to pack lightly. It is possible to get clothing washed and ironed.

Optional Africa Kenya safari equipment

• Camera equipment (extra film, video recorders are great for game)
• Field binoculars (light weight)
• Snorkel and mask
• All-purpose knife, with corkscrew
• Flashlight (extra batteries)
• Pocket calculator
• Alarm clock
• Large and small plastic bags (for storage, against dust)
• Notebook and pen for a safari journal
• Reading material
• Guides and maps
• Sugar substitute (if desired)
• Decaf coffee (if desired)
• Humor-you will need it to enjoy your safari
• Patience-and lots of it

Taking care of yourself on safari

First aid Kit
Most drugstore items are available and inexpensive in Kenya. Consider including for your safaris:

• Sun block (bring lots)
• Lip Balm
• Moisturizers/lotions (bring plenty: hot sun, low humidity)
• Insect repellant
• Acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen for pain or fever
• Antimalaria tablets for prophylactic or attack
• Antidiarrheal agents
• Antibiotics (for lower bowel problems and for broad spectrum use against infections)
• Antihistamines for allergic reaction
• Antifungal powder
• Antiseptic ointment
• Alcohol swabs fro cleaning wounds or insect bites
• Adhesive bandages, gauze dressings, tape
• Thermometer
• Lens solution for contact lenses
• Small packs of tissue (for allergy “noses” or “rest stop “ emergencies)
• Disposable towelettes

Robert is a Kenya travel agent of Landmark safaris- One of travel agencies in Nairobi. At Landmark, we provide you with African Kenya travel advisories, Health and disease information and preventative injections and medications. Let us know where you want to go and your travel health questions here
landmarksafaris.com landmarksafaris.com

The visual identity of the American southwest has certain iconic signifiers: desert plains, tumbleweeds, rusty-red rock formations and a certain towering cactus called the Saguaro. These cacti, some as tall as 50 feet and as heavy as 8 tons, are one of the greatest symbols of America’s wild deserts.

The Saguaro Cactus is found only in the Sonora Desert, from sea-level to elevations of approximately 4,000 feet, and limited by freezing winter temperatures. Though their habitat is threatened by human encroachment, the Saguaro is a common cactus and is not endangered. They are a protected species in the confines of Arizona’s Saguaro National Park.

Though it may eventually grow as tall as a 2 story house, the Saguaro is a very slow-developing cactus that only grows between 1 and 1 1/2 inches in the 1st 8 years of its life.
Its initial survival strategy involves finding protection under the bows of a “nurse tree”.

Species of trees used by the Saguaro in this manner include the Palo Verde, the Ironwood and the Mesquite. Often, as the Saguaro grows ever-larger, the nurse tree is killed as the cactus monopolizes all the nutrients and water in the soil. The Saguaro cactus is considered and adult at 125 years old. Its life span is normally between 150 and 175 years, though some are thought to be as old as 200.

The Saguaro cactus has a number of distinctive physical features. The roots of the Saguaro grow in a radial pattern, the better to absorb moisture. Pleats on the cactus’ surface can expand to store enormous amounts of water, which comprise most of its bulk. Inside the cactus are a number of interconnected woody struts or ribs, numbering the same as the cactus’ pleats, which provide the structural stability needed to support its great weight. When the cactus reaches approximately 35 years of age it begins to produce flowers, normally on the tips of its branches and its trunk, and continues to do so for the rest of its life. The famous arm-like branches of the Saguaro begin to appear when the cactus is between 50 and 100 years old, depending on the amount of precipitation its habitat receives. Damage or mutation sometimes causes the formation of rare fanlike crests on the top of the cactus.

The Saguaro cactus is an important source of food and shelter for a variety of Arizona wildlife. Birds as diverse as the Gila Woodpecker and the Red-tailed Hawk make their nests in these cacti (one on the inside, one on the outside). Birds, coyotes and other animals eat the Saguaro’s fruit when it ripens in the late summer. The cactus’ pulpy flesh is also a food-source for everything form large animals like deer and Bighorn Sheep to rodents like jackrabbits and packrats. Local peoples also use the fruit as a foodstuff.

From April to June the bats, birds and insects that feed on the nectar of the Saguaros’ large, white flowers help to pollinate the cacti. When animals eat the Saguaro’s fruit its roughly 2,000 little black seeds pass harmlessly and unharmed through their digestive systems to be scattered throughout the Sonora Desert in the creatures’ droppings. Though only a tiny number of seeds take root, and few cacti survive to reach their gigantic potential, enough do to ensure the Saguaro’s status of the American King of Cacti.

Looking for more information on visitusa.com/arizona Arizona Deserts check out visitusa.com your outdoor adventure travel guide.