Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida
Page 5
Choice Cuban
Tampa and Miami, with their large Cuban populations, have restaurants serving Spanish dishes such as roast pork, arroz con pollo (chicken with spiced rice), and paella. Cuban sandwiches of ham, roast pork, cheese, and pickles served on crunchy bread are a mainstay. Versailles Restaurant is the best-known Little Havana stop on Miami’s Calle Ocho, and Tampa’s Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, founded in 1905 and the oldest restaurant in the state, is a must for its flamenco dancers, traditional decor, and great food. It has branches in Sarasota, Orlando, Clearwater, and St. Augustine.
Family favorites
Well-behaved kids will be welcome anywhere, but Florida’s many informal outdoor dining choices, especially those on the water, are good for families with young children. Watching the boats at The Old Salty Dog in Sarasota will help to keep youngsters happily occupied. The Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Johnny Rockets chains found in many cities offer burgers that are sure to please. For more formal restaurants, dining early, before things get crowded, is a good idea with kids. To be certain whether better restaurants encourage families, ask if they offer a kids’ menu. If children want more than the usual burgers, chicken fingers, or hot dogs, consider having them split an adult portion.
The Old Salty Dog, a waterfront restaurant that serves hearty food, Sarasota
Sweet treats
The most typical dessert found on menus is Key lime pie, truly authentic only when the tangy filling is made with the small, round, yellow-green limes grown in southern Florida. Flan, a typical Spanish custard, will appeal to youngsters. Many towns have locally owned ice cream parlors that offer specialties such as home-made cones or real Italian-style ices. Miami’s Dolce Vita Gelato Cafe is famous for its gelato, while St. Augustine’s Hyppo serves gourmet popsicles in unusual flavors.
Allergies and diets
Wheat, milk, and shellfish are mainstays of Florida cooking, so tell your waiter about any special food needs. Most restaurants are good about substitutions, including vegetarian dishes and gluten-free foods. Be sure to mention any nut allergies and carry emergency medications for the whole family.
Kids’ Corner
Florida food facts
Florida is known for its Key limes, which ripen from green to yellow and have greenish-yellow flesh. What is the famous dessert made from them?
Florida grows over a dozen kinds of tropical fruit. Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes are the most common. How many others can you name?
Cuban sandwiches are popular in Florida. They are made with ham, pork, cheese, and a suprise ingredient. Do you know what it is?
>> Answers
A citrusy history
The first orange trees in Florida were planted in the mid-1500s by the early Spanish explorers near St. Augustine. There are now more than 74 million orange trees in the state.
Armed to the claws
Stone crabs are found all along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts but are commercially harvested almost exclusively in Florida. The only part of the crab served is the big, meaty claw. Fishermen are allowed to take only one claw, at least 2 ¾ inches (7 cm) long, and are required to return the crab safely to the water. Claws detach easily and the stone crab can grow them three to four times.
< Introducing Florida
Shopping
The food court at Premium, one of the biggest outlet malls in Orlando
Whether bargain buys, high fashion, toys, books, arts, or handicrafts are on the most-wanted list, Florida does not disappoint shoppers. Children will find irresistible souvenirs across the state, from spacemen and rockets to clown noses and Mickey Mouse ears.
Opening hours
All shops are open from at least 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Sunday hours are generally noon to 5 or 6pm. Call ahead to check if you want to visit a specific shop or mall.
Bargain bonanzas
The state’s big outlet malls, with stores from major manufacturers, sometimes called factory stores, promise savings. The biggest outlet is Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise, with more than 350 shops including Polo Ralph Lauren for Children, Tommy Hilfiger Kids, and the Children’s Place Factory Store. Patient kids can be rewarded with stops at the Build-a-Bear Workshop, LEGO® store, and the Game Works arcade.
The Dolphin Mall in Miami offers well-known brands and factory outlets for popular stores such as Coach Leather and Banana Republic. Toys“R”Us will please kids, Gymboree has clothes for newborns to age 12, and Justice and Journeys are stores aimed at tweens and teens.
Premium is a major outlet operator with malls around the state, including in Orlando and St. Augustine. Silver Sands Premium Outlets in Sandestin offers GapKids, Gucci Kids, and The Children’s Place outlets. The customer service offices at the malls usually have a free coupon book with extra savings at selected stores.
Dolphin Mall www.shopdolphinmall.com
Premium www.premiumoutlets.com
Sawgrass Mills www.simon.com/mall/?id=1262
Markets
Most communities have weekly markets where local farmers display fresh produce and stalls sell savories and desserts. The Saturday Morning Market on St. Petersburg’s waterfront (see The Gulf Coast) is one of the biggest and best of these events, as is the colorful Daytona Flea and Farmers’ Market, where flea market finds add to the fun every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Daytona Flea and Farmers’ Market 1425 Tomoka Farms Rd, 32124; 386 253 3330; www.daytonafleamarket.com
Arty adventures
Artists and artisans seem to thrive in the Florida sun, and galleries abound in every town. The Quayside Art Gallery in Pensacola is owned and run by local artists, and the Florida CraftArt Gallery in St. Petersburg shows the best of jewelry and other creative crafts.
The many colorful outdoor fairs that take place around the state are fun for the family, and often offer a chance to talk to the artists. The Florida Folk Festival is one where artisans show and sell traditional folk crafts.
Crafts Fairs www.artfestival.com
Florida CraftArt Gallery 501 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 33701; 727 821 7391; www.floridacraftart.org
Disney delights
The World of Disney® store in the Disney Springs® Marketplace has everything any kid could want, from a Mickey Mouse watch to a princess tiara. Once Upon a Toy, a delightful toy store with a miniature train running on suspended tracks overhead, stocks some classic games redesigned with Disney themes and lets kids play with toys at the build-your-own light saber and Mr. Potato Head areas. The LEGO® Imagination Store here is sure to inspire young builders with its fun LEGO® display sculptures. Little girls love LittleMissMatched, where socks come in packs of three to be mixed not matched, and the age-old problem of the missing sock is resolved.
A plethora of Disney plush toys and memorabilia at the Disney Springs® Marketplace
Museum shops
Museum shops stock items to interest all ages, especially the ones in the Ringling Museum, which has all kinds of circus paraphernalia, including juggling balls and puzzles, and The Dalí Museum with its melted watches and other souvenirs.
Pocket-money toys
Learning Express stores, located across Florida, will please parents and kids alike with their stock of toys that are educational as well as fun. Stores such as Dollar General and Family Dollar, where many things, including toys and snacks, cost just $1, are a shopper’s delight. Almost every town has a dollar store and the variety of offerings is surprising.
Dollar General www.dollargeneral.com
Family Dollar www.familydollar.com
Learning Express www.learningexpress.com
Books
The big stores, such as Barnes & Noble, are almost everywhere, and have extensive kids’ departments, but book-loving Florida still has many independent stores. The enormous Vero Beach Book Center includes a separate store dedicated to kids. In St. Petersburg is Florida’s largest book store, Haslam’s Book Store, packed with some 350,000 new and used books.
Many
Florida communities hold outdoor book fairs that are fun for the entire family. Author signings and children’s events are part of the festivities. The biggest, the Miami Book Fair International, held in November, draws as many as 350 authors and includes a Children’s Alley with storytelling, puppets, and games. The Festival of Reading in St. Petersburg features a Children’s Storyland with costumed characters, games, and activities.
Barnes & Noble www.barnesandnoble.com
Festival of Reading University of South Florida, St. Petersburg; 727 445 4142; www.festivalofreading.com
Haslam’s Book Store, 2025 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, 33713; 727 822 8616; www.haslams.com
Miami Book Fair International, Miami-Dade College, 33132; 305 237 3258; www.miamibookfair.com
Vero Beach Book Center, 392 21st St, Vero Beach; 772 569 2050; www.verobeachbookcenter.com
< Introducing Florida
Entertainment
Dance performance at Miami City Ballet
Florida’s menu of entertainment runs the gamut from Broadway musicals and rock concerts to the ballet, with many performances aimed at kids. A wide range of events is found in southern Florida, especially in Miami and along the Gold Coast. Tampa and Sarasota are major cultural centers on the Gulf Coast, and theme-park haven Orlando has no lack of interesting happenings either. University cities such as Gainesville and Tallahassee also host exciting events.
Sources of information
In most Florida cities, the Friday newspapers usually include a weekend section listing regional events. Convention and Visitors’ Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce are good sources for brochures and local information.
Making reservations
It is best to check online for advance sales information and pay by credit card. Buying by phone or online usually involves a service charge anywhere from $2–8 above the ticket price. Some venues handle sales through Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com
Major venues
The largest venues feature a range of productions that may include appearances by touring Broadway companies and well-known national performers, and local companies. The largest centers on the east coast are the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, and the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. West coast centers include the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, and the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers. Rock stars usually play in stadiums such as the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Citrus Bowl and Amway Center in Orlando, and EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts www.arshtcenter.org
Amway Center www.amwaycenter.com
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall bbmannpah.com
Broward Center for the Performing Arts browardcenter.org
David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts www.strazcenter.org
EverBank Field 1 Stadium Blvd, Jacksonville; ; 904 633 6100
Florida Citrus Bowl www.fcsports.com
Hard Rock Stadium hardrockstadium.com
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts www.kravis.org
Theater
The Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota and the Florida Rep in Fort Myers present a range of plays, including many musicals that enthrall families. The Orlando Shakespeare Theater offers modern plays and the Bard’s works, along with plays for kids. The Riverside Theater in Vero Beach and Actors’ Playhouse in Miami also include kids’ theater, while the Miami Children’s Theater, Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater, and Jacksonville’s Theatreworks are devoted to young audiences. In Delray Beach, the Puppetry Arts Center delights with its puppet productions and museum.
Asolo Repertory Theatre www.asolorep.org
Florida Rep floridarep.org
Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater flct.org
Miami Children’s Theater www.miamichildrenstheater.com
Puppetry Arts Center puppetcenter.org
Theatreworks theatreworksjax.com
Dinner theater
A number of theaters serve dinner along with entertainment, the latter being generally family-friendly works, including Broadway musicals. Theme theaters such as Medieval Times, in Kissimmee, have special lures, in this case knights in armor jousting on horseback. The Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Fort Myers combines dinner with a train ride and the chance to solve a mystery.
Medieval Times medievaltimes.com
Murder Mystery Dinner Train semgulf.com
Music, dance, and film
The Miami Symphony Orchestra plays around the region, while a stunning Miami Beach building by architect Frank Gehry, the New World Center, is home to the New World Symphony. The Miami City Ballet dances in Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Naples, and presents free programs for young people in winter. The Sarasota Orchestra plays both classical and pop music, as does the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The Florida Film Festival draws international filmmakers to central Florida, while the Sarasota Film Festival devotes a day to “Short Stacks,” with pancakes to eat and short films for family viewing.
Florida Film Festival www.floridafilmfestival.org
Miami City Ballet miamicityballet.org
Miami Symphony Orchestra themiso.org
New World Symphony www.nws.edu
Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra www.orlandophil.org
Sarasota Film Festival www.sarasotafilmfestival.com
Sarasota Orchestra sarasotaorchestra.org
Circuses
Florida’s circus heritage can be seen in several shows that delight all ages. Circus Sarasota, a one-ring circus with many international stars, pitches its tent for the month of February. The PAL Sailor Circus, featuring young performers, takes place in Sarasota during the last week in December and January and the first week in April. The Flying High Circus shows off awe-inspiring routines in the air and on the ground in Tallahassee each April. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey brings its big traveling shows to Miami, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa, Tallahassee, Orlando, and Pensacola each year, usually in January.
Graceful aerialists performing at the Flying High Circus in Tallahassee
Circus Sarasota www.circusarts.org
Flying High Circus circus.fsu.edu
PAL Sailor Circus www.circusarts.org
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus www.ringling.com
< Introducing Florida
The History of Florida
Children riding on a flivver car in Coral Gables, a “tin can tourist” tent city
Beyond its sunny beaches and theme parks, Florida has a rich history to share – from prehistoric times and Native American settlements to Spanish arrival and an eventful couple of hundred years when the area constantly changed hands, before relaxing into a Golden Age. The grand buildings of yesteryear that sit alongside modern architecture are just one example of the fascinating remnants of Florida’s past waiting to be discovered.
Early settlers
Florida’s history began with the Paleo-Indians – big-game hunters who probably crossed the Bering Strait from Asia (Eurasia) into North America over a land and ice bridge as long as 12,000 years ago. They settled where fresh water was available, sharing the land with massive animals such as mastodons, giant sloths, and mammoths.
Over the centuries, tribes settled down into villages, grew crops, and began customs such as creating burial mounds, which can still be seen today. By the time Europeans arrived in this part of the New World, Florida was inhabited by an estimated 350,000 people from a number of tribes. The Spanish and British recorded the names of nearly 100 groups they came across; the largest among these were the Apalachee and the Timucua.
Spanish Florida
Florida’s written history began when the Spanish explorer Ponce de León “discovered“ the region in 1513, probably landing near St. Augustine. He named his discovery “La Florida” after the Spa
nish Easter feast known as Pascua Florida. More explorations followed, some led by the conquistador Hernando de Soto (around 1497–1542). The Spanish introduced Christianity, horses, and cattle to Florida, but they also brought new diseases such as smallpox and typhoid fever, and massacred many of the local people in their quest to find gold and treasure. In the 1770s, Florida’s Native American tribes became known collectively as Seminoles, a name meaning “wild people” or “untamed.”
Hot on the heels of the Spanish came the British, who wanted another kind of treasure – valuable hides and furs. They took control of Florida in 1763 by swapping Cuba for it. After the British lost the Revolutionary War to the US, the Spanish regained Florida with the Second Treaty of Paris of 1783. They remained in charge until 1819, when the region was handed over to the US to settle Spain’s debts and became a US territory. Spain’s lasting influence can be seen in the state’s churches, architecture, and food.