Ringling Museum:
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was created in 1927 by John and Mable Ringling for the people of Florida. Having made a fortune through the family-owned circus and, later through real estate and railroads ventures, John Ringling amassed an art collection of over 600 paintings, sculptures, and various decorative arts including more than 25 tapestries.
Website: Ringling Museum
Tampa/St.Petersburg (90 miles)
Busch Gardens:
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was the first to create an open-range animal habitat, home to hundreds of African animals. The park opened the 60-acre "Serengeti Plain" in 1965 with outstanding success and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay became a model for animal parks around the world.
Website: Busch Gardens
Adventure Island:
Adventure Island's 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun features the ultimate combination of high-speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. Within a soothing Key West atmosphere awaits an unrivaled blend of slides, corkscrews, water falls, a wave pool, children’s water playground and other family attractions such as outdoor cafes, picnic and sunbathing areas, gift shops, and a championship white-sand volleyball complex.
Website: Adventure Island
Tampa Bay Aquarium:
The Florida Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit institution dedicated to public entertainment, education and conservation, astounds visitors with the beauty and fragility of our eco-system. The facility is home to over 10,000 aquatic plants and animals from 1,340 species from Florida and all over the world.
Website: Tampa Bay Aquarium
Orlando (150 miles)
Walt Disney World:
Since its founding in 1923, The Walt Disney Company has remained faithful in its commitment to producing unparalleled entertainment experiences based on its rich legacy of quality creative content and exceptional storytelling. Today, Disney is divided into four major business segments: Studio Entertainment, Parks and Resorts, Consumer Products, and Media Networks. Each segment consists of integrated, well-connected businesses that operate in concert to maximize exposure and growth worldwide.
Website: Walt Disney World
Sea World:
Sea World is the synthesis of two imaginative ideas. Firstly, to present marine life in a series of spectacular show and secondly, to provide an interesting and educational marine oriented park for families enjoying more and more leisure time.
Website: Sea World
Universal Studios:
Universal's rich entertainment legacy can be traced back to 1906, when 39 year-old Bavarian immigrant Carl Laemmle (pronounced LEM-lee) opened his first nickelodeon theater in Chicago. From exhibiting short silent movies in one theater, Laemmle later moved to movie distribution and production. In June 1909, he formed the New York based Independent Moving Picture Company of America, or IMP, not only produce his own films, but to defy the monopolistic Motion Picture Patents Company that charged a license fee to all independent theater operators. Laemmle's first production in 1909 was Hiawatha, a one-reel adaptation of Longfellow's poem.
Website: Universal Studios
Cypress Gardens:
It started with a dream in a Cypress swamp more than 70 years ago and grew into a landmark of grace, beauty and fun known around the world. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park marks its 70th anniversary in 2006 and the park will celebrate by paying tribute to its rich and storied past with many special activities.
Website: Cypress Gardens