Les Jones

For sure go to the Castilla de San Marco. I've been to St. Augustine twice, and visited the Castillo twice. It's a fascinating old fort and well worth your time.

I could tell you cool places to go in Miami & the Everglades, but I don't have much to offer for the rest of the state.

I assume you're driving, at least between St. Augustine & Ft. Myers. If so, there are 2 or 3 TNC preserves along/near your route that are open to the public:

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/">http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/">http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/

Personally, I'd go to the Tiger Creek Preserve. It's not an exaggeration to say the Lake Wales Ridge is the Hawaii of North America -- there's buttloads of endemic species, pretty much all of which are in big trouble. From the description of the preserve, though, it sounds like there's not much point in going unless you're up for doing lots of walking.

There aren't swamp buggy rides in the Disney Preserve, but there are "off-road buggy" rides, whatever that means. Note that the page says something about the interpretive trail being closed -- obviously give them call before making plans.

Have fun, guys.

Thanks, Barry. We'll put that on our list.

Steve: we'll probably do the Everglades one day. Ft. Myers was a must because there's some family property in LeHigh Acres that my brother, sister, and I are wanting to sell. Otherwise we probably would have gone this time. Does Stuart still have a condo down there?

Yeah, they've still got the condo. I suspect they'd be happy to let you stay there -- next time I talk to Julia, I'll try and remember to ask her.

If/when you go to the Everglades, for gods sake DON'T GO IN THE SUMMER. Nancy and I went down in mid-May. One of those years the mosquitoes were just starting to get bad and it was semi-miserable, but the other year we got there before they really came out and it was wonderful. So...go in early May or before.

Something you might also want to consider one day, when the kid's bigger -- I spent a week or so when I was a Boy Scout sailing in the Keys. We camped on a different island every night, did lots of fishing, ate lots of lobster from unmarked lobster pots, did lots of diving, etc etc. Man, that was maybe the best trip I've ever had.

Let me know how you like it....St. Augustine is a beautiful city :)

As already mentioned, the fort in St. Augustine is the must see. I don't know if it's still there, but Marineworld was the precursor to Sea World and was way cool when I was a kid.

In Ft. Meyers, you absolutely positively have to go see Thomas Edison's winter home. The gardens are awesome (check out the banyan trees) as is the history of why he grew some of the plants. And his lab, well, you just have to stand there and soak up the genius. There's also a cool museum with many of his inventions. Don't miss it.

Uhh, that would be "Marineland".

P.S. If you're going down I-95 and across I-4 (or better yet all the way down and across Alligaor Alley through the Everglades) stop off in Daytona Beach and drive south on the beach to the Racing's North Turn Beach Bar and Grille (a/k/a the Turnaround) at the far south end of Daytona Beach (actually in Ponce Inlet). The food is ok, the beer is cold, the bar is fully stocked, and the atomosphere is pure Florida beach.

On your way back, if you can go through St. Petersburg check out the Salvador Dali Museum. You won't be disappointed.

OK, one more thing. I noticed you mentioned Cuban food. If it's still there, take a detour on I-4 over towards Orlando and try Rolando's in Casselberry (near Altamonte Springs, north of Orlando). There are probably a million good Cuban restaurants along the way in FL, and probably the further south the better, but this is one I am most familiar with and can recommend.

OK, one more thing. I noticed you mentioned Cuban food. If it's still there, take a detour on I-4 over towards Orlando and try Rolando's in Casselberry (near Altamonte Springs, north of Orlando). There are probably a million good Cuban restaurants along the way in FL, and probably the further south the better, but this is one I am most familiar with and can recommend.