We were right by the pier on Cocoa, another first for me. Walking under the pier was a little like being in a movie, and it was a fun experience. The pier seems to offer food, drink, and live music. We never made it on the actual pier, but I’d like to go back someday to try it. Another fun sight is the surfers. Their dedication to their sport is really admirable, especially when you see how high some of those waves are.

As for the local area, we hit Ron Jon’s of course and sampled the Backwoods Grill and I Dream of Yogurt. It was neat to drive around and see Patrick Air Force Base, if only from the road. That area of Florida is different from the smaller and less developed beach areas that the suncoast of Florida offers. You really will feel like you are in a beach town like you see in those old movies. Or perhaps it will have that Jersey shore feel you’ve been looking for.

On the way to Cocoa Beach, we stopped at Dixie Crossings and sampled some fried mullet and other seafood. This a great family experience, especially the fritters with powdered sugar. You might want to make sure you also take this route!

Those that frequent only one coast of Florida really miss out. Both coasts are so different that you need both to get a true Florida experience. I’ll remind myself of that next time I think it might be too far to drive over there.

Here you’ll find a lot of history. The unfortunate part is that you won’t find the fort or a replica. However, this shouldn’t deter the history buffs or someone who wants to enjoy a fun day in a clean state park. I think the design of this park and the state of its facilities cannot be beat. It’s a great place for kids. It wasn’t busy on the day we went, but that was nice for a change. And I’ve never seen cleaner restrooms!

They have a hike to the site of the fort, along with some hikes that take you to historical markers and the meeting of the Peace River and Paynes Creek. That is one fast-moving body of water too. That alone is fun to see.

They also have a nice visitors center that offers up a small exhibit of the history of the area. There you can read about the massacre that happened there and see a partial replica of the trading post that used to exist there. It’s a good starting point for anyone traveling to all the state parks or for those that want to visit the big historical sites in Florida.

It is a short tram ride through Hillsborough River State Park to get to the fort. Along the way you are treated to a ranger talk that covers the history leading up to the building of the fort, as well as a good overview of the Seminole Wars. (Once you get to the tram stop though, be aware that there is a bit of a hike to the fort.)

Once upon Fort Foster, you are greeted with a large, oval wall made of wooden posts. The massive amount of beams that make up this historical place is mind blowing. Inside, you find buildings made of the same material. There are a few different buildings inside, along with a large cannon. You can look out the cannon door, as well as out most of the “windows” along the wall.

Most of the buildings in the fort have old props and furnishings reminiscent of the time, ones that are often used in the living history events the park has from time to time. It’s fun to hear the stories of these props and envision in how they might have been used.

A trip to Fort Foster is not to be missed. The accompanying Hillsborough River State Park is also a pretty cool place, with its large pool and picnicking spots.

Looking for some yummy sliders, mac and cheese, gumbo, or fish tacos? Have you checked out the Ringling Picnic yet? There you’ll find these delicacies and other delicious foods.

I recently stopped by and had an Asian BBQ slider and an eggplant slider from Flyin’ Sliders. My husband indulged in a root beer float from O’Macalicious and some delicious gumbo from My Sarasota Chef. We want to go back and try the fish tacos from Baja Boys that were hard to pass up and share some mac and cheese. They tell us that Thursdays and Fridays have the most trucks and are also the busiest.

Maybe we’ll see you there!

Gumbo from My Sarasota Chef

Sliders from Flyin' Sliders

A magical garden is tucked away in downtown Sarasota.

The Children’s Garden and Art Center allows your children to get lost in a magical wonderland designed especially for them. They’ll find a maze, pirate ship, fairy houses, dragons, and more in this whimsical paradise. Once your child can walk, they’ll be able explore to their heart’s content.

Found objects and sculpture adorn the pathways that meander the gardens. A room full of dress-up clothes will  delight boys and girls alike. They can be super heroes, princesses, and create their own look with all that the room has to offer. The Caterpillar House is full of fairy magic and is perfect for any child’s event. It looks like they can event host shows or performances at their amphitheater.

Hours could fly by and your child won’t even notice. It’s sure to be a magical day for everyone! Check out their family membership deals too at http://www.sarasotachildrensgarden.com.

One of the highlights is feeding the flamingos by hand. The centerpiece of the park is a lush grassy area with small lakes. This is where you’ll find the flamingos and their duck friends. You could spend hours feeding the birds here but they’ll make quick use of your food–so you might not be there as long as you’d like.

The park also has shows that feature reptiles, birds of prey, and the parrots. Fascinating facts and quirky antics like a roller-skating parrot are sure to enthrall your kids. And leisurely strolls through the gardens make for a relaxing afternoon.

Our latest visit was refreshingly similar to the one before, something that keeps generations of tourists coming back again and again.

The market only runs from November to April, so if you missed it this year–make sure you put it on your calendar for this fall.

Discover a bit of Florida’s past with each chapter’s intro and then delve into the color photos that represent the typical look of the souvenirs found in Florida’s history. I found the chapter on Seminole dolls particularly fascinating, with their beautiful patchwork clothes. The spoons of year’s past are really interesting (especially given the spoon collection someone started for me in childhood) with their alligator and fruit motifs.

If you are interested in Florida’s past and souvenir history, don’t miss checking out this important book.

View old engines of every type and meet the men and women who are restoring them. Interested in the Native American history of the area? Then visit the teepee they’ve set up. Looking for some good ol’ country food, step right up–they’ve got it here. And if you’re interested in a bargain, don’t miss out on this vast flea market/garage sale fest. It’s all at Pioneer Park Days in Wauchula, right on SR 64. Happening every March for as long as locals can remember, you don’t want to miss this true old Florida event.

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