Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida
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Hurricanes vs tornadoes
The Disasterville section of the Museum of Science and Industry lets you sample the impact of nine kinds of simulated natural disaster, including hurricanes and tornadoes. Do you know the difference between a hurricane and a tornado? A hurricane is a strong tropical storm with lots of rain and winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) or more. A tornado is a violent windstorm: a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud of wind that can reach 320 mph (515 km/h).
Hurricanes can be as much as 400 miles (644 km) wide; the average diameter of a tornado is 1 mile (2 km) or less.
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6. Ybor City
Cuban flavor in a cloud of cigar smoke
Facade of the yellow-brick building housing the Ybor City Museum State Park, Tampa
This Tampa neighborhood is named for Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, whose cigar-making business opened here in 1886, spawning the most vibrant Cuban community in the US. Head to the Ybor City Museum State Park, housed in a historic bakery, to find out more about Ybor City’s history, and to see how workers lived. Though the cigar industry has waned, Ybor City still makes for a colorful visit. Stroll along 7th Avenue, where the old architecture remains, along with the many cafés and shops that have opened more recently. The Saturday morning market in Centennial Park draws crowds for its farm-fresh produce, Cuban coffee, arts and crafts, and live music.
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Watch out for….
When you visit Ybor City, head for:
The Visitor Information Center. The Centro Ybor at 1600 East 8th Avenue is housed in the world’s largest cigar box, along with the Ybor City Museum.
José Martí Park. Located on the corner of 8th Avenue and 13th Street, this park honors José Martí, who fought for Cuba’s independence from Spain. The Pedroso family bought the land and donated it to what is now the independent Republic of Cuba as a memorial to Martí. So, technically, you are standing on Cuban soil.
Famous cigar smokers
Though smoking isn’t good for you, a lot of famous people have been photographed smoking cigars. They include past US presidents Bill Clinton and John F. Kennedy, Britain’s former prime minister Winston Churchill, and Cuba’s former president, Fidel Castro.
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7. Glazer Children’s Museum
Big fun for small kids
Budding architects in the Design + Build area in Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa
Tampa’s newest museum offers young children the chance to learn through discovery and play in mock settings – from a firehouse and a vet’s office to a bank. Flying an airplane, shopping for groceries, and serving as a waiter are some of the experiences that kids will enjoy. In Tug Boat Tots, children aged 3 and under can explore a boat, play at fishing, and listen to stories. The museum also features water play, as well as arts and crafts activities.
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8. Manatee Viewing Center
Florida’s favorite mammal, close up
Flamingos in the water at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
The Florida manatee is a swimming mammal and an endangered species whose closest relative is the elephant. It has a huge, seal-like body, flippers, and a flat tail, and can weigh as much as 1,000 lb (450 kg) and grow as long as 10 ft (3 m). These gentle creatures need warmth and, in cooler months, they flock to the warm water generated at the Tampa Electric Company’s Big Bend Power Station. They can be seen close up from the viewing platform at the Manatee Viewing Center, which is situated within the power station. Manatees are also drawn year-round to the warm springs at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (4150 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, 34446, 352 628 5343; www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings), located 87 miles (140 km) from Tampa. Here, manatees can be seen from the park’s underwater observatory. The park is also home to bears, alligators, otters, deer, flamingos, and a 50-year-old, 6,000-pound hippopotamus.
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Massive manatees
To get enough nourishment for their mammoth bodies, manatees spend 6 to 8 hours a day feeding. How much do you think you would weigh if you ate for that long? Full-grown manatees can eat 100 lb (45 kg) to 150 lb (68 kg) of food per day – and they are vegetarians. They only eat green things growing in the ocean. Would you like that many vegetables in your diet?
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9. The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
The Surreal world of Salvador Dalí
Aerial view of the spectacular Dalí Museum and Avant-Garden
The whimsical creations of Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, with his use of optical illusions and dreamlike canvases, intrigue all ages. Brought to St. Petersburg in 1982 by businessman A. Reynolds Morse and his wife, Eleanor, this is the biggest collection of Dalí’s works outside Spain. The 2,140 pieces are housed in a concrete building wrapped in a fantastic geodesic “wave.”
Key Features
1. West Entrance The austere west facade of the museum gives no hint of the surprises inside. The entry through a dim, grotto-like space leads to a light-flooded three-story atrium.
2. East facade The undulating windows on the museum’s east facade are made of 1,062 triangular glass panes, of which no two are alike. They infuse the interior with light and offer visitors a unique view of St. Petersburg’s waterfront.
3. Helical staircase The staircase spirals toward the skylight, leading visitors to the galleries on the third floor. While a permanent gallery holds the paintings, another gallery has Dalí’s sculptures and films.
4. The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus This painting, over 5 ft (1.5 m) tall, is one of eight “masterworks” in the collection. Each painting has its own gallery for best viewing.
5. Avant-Garden The museum’s waterside garden is a wonder, with boulder outcrops, eerie tropical plantings, a “golden rectangle” with multicolor paving, and a labyrinth. Some of the curved benches are draped with melting clocks.
6. The Disintegration of Persistence of Memory With its melting watches, this is one of Dalí’s most famous paintings.
7. The Hallucinogenic Toreador Painted in the years 1969–70, this is one of Dalí’s dreamlike paintings, employing optical illusions that are especially engaging to young viewers.
Left East facade of the museum Right Helical staircase
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Nothing is what it seems
While Dalí’s works don’t seem realistic, some were inspired by real events. Can you find a Dalí painting of a real event?
One of Dalí’s most famous paintings is his unusual impression of a familiar, everyday object. Do you know what it is?
Dalí often created optical illusions. Can you find a painting where figures of the Venus de Milo statue change into a bullfighter wearing a green tie?
>> Answers
What’s surreal?
Salvador Dalí is one of the most famous Surrealist painters. Do you know what the word “surreal” means? The dictionary defines it as “having an oddly dream-like quality.” Dalí described some of his works as “hand-painted dream photographs.” Have you ever had strange dreams? Do you think you could draw a picture of some of your dreams?
Dalí’s details
Salvador Dalí was born in Spain in 1904. His full n
ame was Salvador Domènec Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech, Marquis de Púbol–no wonder he cut it short! Dalí’s talent was recognized early. His parents built his first art studio when he was 10 years old. He had his first public showing in his home town of Figueres when he was 15, and his first solo show in Barcelona at 21. His most famous feature was his funny mustache.
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10. Bayshore Drive
Is that building the right way up?
St. Petersburg Yacht Club on the corner of Bayshore Drive
The Dalí Museum anchors one end of St. Petersburg’s extensive system of handsome waterfront parks, which stretch for some 23 blocks on Bayshore Drive beside Tampa Bay. A short walk away, The Mahaffey Theater – Duke Energy Center for the Arts hosts eminent international and national artists, Broadway shows, childrens theater, and musical performances that vary from classical to pop and rock. For soccer fanatics, the Al Lang Stadium, home to the renowned Tampa Bay Rowdies, is located next door. At the northern end of Bayshore Drive, the restored Renaissance Vinoy Resort is worth a stop to see photo displays of what life was like here in the posh 1920s. Vinoy Park is great for a stroll, with its view of the sailboats on the bay. A popular space for concerts and outdoor music, the park comes alive over the weekends.
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Detroit, Florida?
St. Petersburg was named by its co-founder, Peter Denems, who had lived in St. Petersburg in Russia. He and co-founder John C. Williams flipped a coin to see who would name the new city. If Denems had lost, the city might have been called Detroit, where Williams was born.
The sunshine city
St. Petersburg features in the Guinness Book of World Records. It recorded the most sunny days in a row of any city in the world – a whopping 768 days!
Become a human sundial
St. Petersburg celebrated the 100th birthday of its waterfront park system in 2010 by making a “human” Centennial Sundial. A semicircle of hour markers on the ground is arranged so that if you stand facing north in front of the half circle, your shadow will fall on the correct hour. Find the Centennial Sundial in Northshore Park, which is located beyond Vinoy Park.
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11. Museum of Fine Arts
Small museum, great artists
View of the stately building housing the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
Housed in a handsome building overlooking Tampa Bay, this museum is located in the center of the bayside park system. While introducing kids to fine art can be difficult if the museum is big and overwhelming, this museum is small enough to suit short attention spans. It contains a world-class collection of works by many great artists – Cézanne, Monet, Gauguin, Renoir, Rodin, and O’Keeffe, to name but a few. Other galleries display ancient Greek and Roman pottery and ceramics, and Asian religious and decorative objects, as well as Egyptian, African, pre-Columbian, and Native American art. The photography collection is one of the finest in the Southeast. The museum also has a sculpture garden, a Steuben glass gallery, and special exhibitions. A video screen at the entrance informs visitors of daily child-friendly activities, such as special family tours (11am Sat), treasure hunts, and the chance to create an artwork inspired by works in the museum. The museum café offers waterfront dining with a view of the downtown skyline.
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Be an art detective
The Museum of Fine Arts has many famous paintings. See if you can spot some of them as you go through the museum. Look out for: A big red flower
A girl reading a book
A foggy city on a river
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12. Great Explorations Children’s Museum
Create a robot, run a pizzeria
Kids take charge here, in little re-creations of grown-up domains such as a pizza parlor, a fire engine house, a veterinary office, and a supermarket. There is a pretend orange grove where they can pick, pack, and ship oranges, plus turn them into orange juice. A treehouse built for climbing, a lab for making moving robots, and the chance to create animation using a digital video recorder are among the favorite activities in this museum.
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13. Ringling Museum, Sarasota
The greatest show on Earth!
Circus Poster in the Ringling Museum of Art
Built in 1925, the art museum holding multimillionaire circus owner John Ringling’s famous art collection is just one part of his vast estate beside Sarasota Bay. Ringling’s original collection of 600 paintings has grown to over 2,000 objects, including Asian and contemporary art. Peppered with gardens, the estate boasts America’s only authentic 18th-century European theater, as well as the exquisite Ringling home and two museums filled with circus nostalgia and fun.
Key Features
1. Cà’ d’Zan The Ringlings’ restored Venetian-style palazzo, completed in 1926, has a bathtub carved from a huge single block of marble. Look up at the ballroom’s ceiling – it has a painting by children’s book illustrator Willy Pogany, showing dancing couples from all over the world.
2. Circus Museum Established after Ringling’s death, this documents the rich history of the circus, and also features colossal parade wagons, sequined costumes, and Ringling’s private rail car.
3. Historic Asolo Theater This restored theater serves as the venue for film screenings and concerts. Built in Italy in 1798, it was moved to the Ringling estate in the 1940s.
4. Ringling Museum of Art Now the State Art Museum of Florida, this houses priceless Old Master paintings. Look out for Rubens’ Gathering of the Manna – it is hard to say whether the figure of Moses has rays of light or horns coming from his head.
5. Courtyard of the Museum of Art Find casts of original antiquities and Renaissance sculptures, including the towering David by Michelangelo, along with two replicas of Roman fountains. The Fountain of the Tortoises is a favorite with kids.
6. Tibbals Learning Center Kids can walk a safe tightrope, fire a miniature cannon, dress up as a circus clown, and try to fit into a midget car here. The handmade miniature Howard Bros. Circus model fills an entire room, with eight tents and 152 wagons, and is very detailed, right down to the smallest dishes in the mess tent.
Left Tibbals Learning Center Middle Costume in the Circus Museum Right Ballroom ceiling, Cà’ d’Zan
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