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Tag: Florida on a Tankful

  • Sequins, beads and jewels only outdone by feathers in theme park costume shop

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    TAMPA, Fla. — All that glitters is not gold.

    What You Need To Know

    • On The Town at Busch Garden Tampa Bay for Mardi Gras celebrations

    • Weekends through March 1

    • Four parades a day, jazz band and bead balcony fun

    • New Orleans insipred dining


    Just ask Loren Bracewell, longtime head of costuming at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

    “More is more, and more is never enough,” said Bracewell, standing in front of a fluffy mound of feathers, beading and sequins.

    It’s his handmade Mardi Gras masks and hats.

    Everyone in their weekend Mardi Gras celebrations is wearing a Bracewell design.

    It’s his visions on paper that bloom into walking creations — a traditional court jester, a dancing bird, a krewe queen.

    And he doesn’t waste — he repurposes.

    Applique from a sleeve one year might be part of a necklace the next year.

    And unlike a traditional stage show, you can’t hide imperfections in a parade — they’ll do four a day on weekends through March 1.

    “The audience is all around them,” Bracewell said. “Everything has to look perfect out there.”

    Bracewell credited the Costume Shop crew with bringing his ideas to life, some with tenures as long as Bracewell. That marks three decades of Christmas elves, Halloween zombies and Mardi Gras revelers.

    The color schemes and décor continue into the park — along with cuisine choices like beignets and boudin balls.

    It’s a way to keep the party going. Mardi Gras celebrations ended in South Louisiana on Tuesday, but the party doesn’t stop at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Gamble Creek Farms offers group tours, free family seasonal events

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    PARRISH, Fla. — Just steps off the Gamble Creek Farms market in Parrish lie acres of organic food, real and certified. 

    “We grow several types of lettuces,” said farm manager Natasha Ahuja. “Gold beets, red beets, candy cane beets. We grow kale. The curly kale, black magic kale.”

    And produce like that is helped along with animals on the farm. Red wigglers, better known as worms, make worm babies and manure — called castings.

    “And it’s really, really rich in complex microbes and nutrition for plant health,” said the farm’s General Manager Zachary Rasmussen. “We actually call them the hardest workers on the farm because they work 24 hours a day, they don’t complain, and they only eat your waste.”

    The goal here is organic food helped along by nature’s super-pooping, baby-making red wigglers.

    Gamble Creek Farms offers group tours and free family seasonal events.

    The next Health Harvest Festival is happening on March 28, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    Admission is free, and there will be live music, local vendors, a bounce house and wine and beer tasting.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Shoot 360 opens data-driven basketball facility in Vero Beach

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    VERO BEACH, Fla. — It’s a nondescript building where basketball players from around the area come to take their game to the next level.

    At Shoot 360 in Vero Beach, athletes of all ages step onto the court to train with a mix of traditional coaching and advanced technology designed to measure every move.

    What You Need To Know

    • Shoot 360 is bringing high-tech basketball training to Vero Beach, using smart sensors and real-time analytics to help players sharpen their skills

    • Coaches combine traditional instruction with video screens and machines that give athletes instant feedback on every pass and shot

    • Students say the technology helps them understand what they’re doing right — and wrong — so they can improve faster

    • Owners say the same technology is used by nearly every NBA team and is now accessible to everyday players on the Treasure Coast

    Coach and General Manager Charlie Miller says the instant feedback is what sets the program apart.

    “You’re going to get immediate, immediate reaction on how or when you pass the ball correctly or incorrectly on the screen,” Miller said.

    Large one-on-one screens guide players through drills, offering face-to-face instruction through video coaching.

    During workouts, Miller can be heard encouraging athletes, saying, “Good job, good job.”

    Miller says the system allows players to track progress over time.

    “You come in here, there are different levels, and you can always measure how much you’ve gotten better in here. So, this technology makes it a little bit different in play,” he said. “This measure has accuracy and precision right here.”

    Vittoril Mangieri, 13, has been playing basketball for nine years and has trained at Shoot 360 for the past two years.

    He says the technology has helped him improve.

    “As you can see here, this helps with your ball handling. And if you’re having a tough time getting better, if you’re having a tough time not knowing what you’re doing wrong. The machines here, the technology will really help you,” Mangieri said.

    Full- and half-court systems track every shot, showing players detailed data on their performance.

    Student Ryan Radocaj says the feedback helps her understand her success.

    “If I’m making them, you know, show me why I’m making them, and they’re all in the green. That’s a good shot,” she said.

    Owner Arthur Andrews says the technology matches what professionals use at the highest levels of basketball.

    “28 or 29 of the NBA teams use the exact same shooting technology. And so, these are billions of shots that have been loaded in, data analyzed,” Andrews said.

    Shoot 360 now has 60 locations across the country, including its Vero Beach facility.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Tampa Bay History Center explores 14,000 years of Florida history

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    TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay History Center tells the stories of our area, starting with the first settlers.


    The history center teaches about the arrival of Europeans, North Africans and more Native Americans.

    “And what happens with Spanish Florida, English Florida and then eventually American Florida,” said Rodney Kite-Powell, Director of the Touchton Map Library.

    The native Seminole people survived multiple wars and removal efforts. They call themselves “The Unconquered.”

    The Tampa cigar industry brought new immigrants — Cubans, Spaniards, Afro-Cubans and Sicilians.

    “At its peak in the 1920s, it was about 500,000,000 cigars produced every year, all by hand,” said Kite-Powell.

    The next museum level offers a new historical timeline: war stories. Five-hundred years of Black history and a look at the pioneer life of Florida Crackers.

    At the Treasure Seekers gallery, young learners find out how explorers and pirates got here.

    Spoiler alert — it’s math.

    There’s recovered treasure, but all that glitters is not gold.

    They also have a rare map on display of St. Augustine in 1588.

    “The earliest view of any city in today’s United States,” said Kite-Powell.

    It’s courtesy of the center’s Touchton Map Library and includes a 1511 map showing the tip of South Florida, two years before Ponce de Leon arrived to explore Florida.

    They also have a 1524 map of Florida, the first time Florida is called “La Florida.”

    Together, these artifacts tell the story of the Sunshine State’s 14,000-year history.

    “But also how tied in the broader story of American History Florida really is,” said Kite-Powell.

    Florida history — our history — is American history.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Buffalo Soldiers, representing Black soldiers throughout our history

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Gasparilla krewes are the social and service organizations that you’ll see commandeering floats and throwing beads at parades throughout the Tampa Bay Area.

    That included the Buffalo Soldiers.

    Their float is a moving history lesson about the accomplishments of Black soldiers serving our country in all the nation’s wars, going back to the beginning.

    “A lot of them joined to fight for our freedom,” sand Krewe president Chris Bailey. “Once they finished and went back into their community, they weren’t welcome. They were treated like outsiders still.”

    The krewe, active since the mid-1980s, teaches lessons that are important to the Black community and the greater community at large, offering scholarships and mentoring for young Black children.

    It’s something they want children to learn.

    “Hopefully have them ask questions, at least ask us, or ask their teachers when they go back to school. What was it? Who are these people and how come we were never taught about them?” said Bailey.

    It’s Bailey’s wish and that of his Buffalo Soldiers Krewe to “Know your history.”

    Gasparilla

    Clad in a modified 1866 U.S. Army uniforms, the Buffalo Soldiers Krewe are living history.

    But in parades, they might as well be gods handing out gold. “Just getting some little plastic beads excites them—if it’s big beads, little beads it doesn’t matter—they just want beads, “ said Bailey. “So going out and handing kids beads or selecting kids out of the crowd specifically to give beads to not just throw them at them—it excites them it excites us it makes it all worthwhile.”

    All the fun comes back to this—educating people about history, celebrating where they are now, and helping young community members make their future. 

    “I get my feelings—my good feelings — from helping one person at a time. If I could help just one person, I’m good,” said Krewe member Antionette Stokes. “One person, one bead at a time.”

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Central Florida Zoo’s Rhino Encounter offers hands-on experience with giant

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    SANFORD, Fla. — From immersive exhibits to intimate animal encounters, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a busy zoo where learning comes to life.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens offers visitors a rare chance to get up close with a 2.25-ton rhinoceros, through its Rhino Encounter program

    • Guests can touch, feed and learn about rhinos while gaining insight into their care, diet and conservation

    • The program helps educate the public while supporting efforts to protect endangered rhinos in the wild, zookeepers say

    • The Rhino Encounter is available Friday through Monday, with pricing set at $25 for annual pass holders and $30 for non-pass holders

    It is focused on connecting people with wildlife in meaningful ways.

    One of the most unforgettable experiences is meeting PJ, the zoo’s 2.25-ton rhinoceros.

    Visitors can touch the massive animal and quickly realize just how unique the moment is.

    “It’s almost like hard, like stone. But you can, like, feel him breathing. It’s so warm. Still,” one visitor said during the encounter.

    Guests also get a behind-the-scenes look at how PJ is cared for, including feeding time.

    “And then he gets a few flakes of alfalfa hay,” a keeper explained.

    Rhinos may eat like horses, but on a much larger scale, consuming more than 100 pounds of food each day.

    Senior hoofstock keeper Maggie Funk describes PJ as far more approachable than many expect.

    “These guys are, like, gentle giants. He’s really sweet,” Funk said. “He really loves the interaction with people. And he loves getting scratches from them, too.”

    Visitors had their own creative ways of describing what it feels like to touch a rhino.

    “Imagine, like a mushy basketball,” Josh Brandel of Altamonte Springs said.

    Maggie Holley of Mount Dora added, “Hard to describe it. Rough. But, yeah, I feel the basketball kind of feel. I get that.”

    Emily Geist of DeBary shared a similar reaction, saying, “It’s actually kind of soft. Well, it’s hard to describe.”

    Like his wild counterparts, PJ loves to eat.

    Funk, who acts as both caretaker and chef, explained his daily diet.

    “So he gets two full bales of this coastal hay back here,” she said. “And then this alfalfa hay is his favorite food that we use for a lot of training.”

    That training happens inside PJ’s rhino chute, where he learns behaviors essential for his health and safety.

    Keepers guide him through actions like lifting his feet and opening his mouth for exams.

    “Pitch foot. Good boy. Good job,” Funk can be heard saying during one session.

    According to Funk, the training is critical for veterinary care.

    “He comes in here for all of his vet care that can include anything from a blood draw to foot care, to anything the vets need to look at,” she said.

    The Central Florida Zoo’s Rhino Encounter blends education, conservation, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, offering visitors a chance to connect with the second-largest land mammal on the planet while supporting efforts to protect rhinos for generations to come.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • View wild birds at Marine Science Center’s expanded aviary in Ponce Inlet

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    PONCE INLET, Fla. — Sitting in the shadow of the iconic Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is the Marine Science Center, where birds native to Florida find a home to share their stories with visitors. 

    The expanded aviary allows guests to see seabirds up close, including pelicans, gulls, and other coastal birds recovering from injury or illness, or those that can no longer go into the wild.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet has expanded its aviary and added a new education center
    • The aviary is home to birds recovering from injury or illness and those that can no longer survive in the wild
    • Visitors get rare, up-close encounters with pelicans, gulls, owls, and other Florida wildlife
    • The center has helped tens of thousands of animals while educating the public about conservation
    • MAP: View more Florida on a Tankful locations


    Nearly every day, education manager Shell Rossi introduces wildlife to guests, turning each visit into a hands-on learning experience.

    “Look what he’s doing with his head,” Rossi said during a presentation. “What’s he doing? Oh, look at that.”

    She encourages engagement, explaining animal behavior in real time.

    “He’s going to grab his food with his claws, and he’s going to squeeze it,” she said. “Everybody, give me your best squeeze.”

    Rossi said the Marine Science Center’s number of rescues speaks for itself.

    “Because we’ve helped 19,000 birds since opening, and 28,000 reptiles,” she said.

    While rehabilitation and release is always the goal, Rossi said some animals can’t return to the wild and instead become ambassadors for education.

    One of them is Bubba the owl.

    Pelicans are among the most common patients at the center’s animal hospital.

    “We get a lot of pelicans that come in — 90% have fishing line injuries,” Rossi said, highlighting the impact humans can have on wildlife.

    The Marine Science Center is more than just a bird sanctuary.

    Inside the new education center, visitors can meet snakes and gopher tortoises, study animals under a microscope, and attend a variety of presentations throughout the day.

    “Try and do animal presentations during the day,” Rossi said. “So, people could spend half an hour or three hours here.”

    Among her favorite moments is feeding the seahorses, and Rossi hopes visitors leave with a deeper connection to wildlife.

    “I hope that people would walk away with a newfound love of an animal that they have never seen before, and never been able to touch before, and then want to continue learning about it and wanting to help it,” she said.

    The Marine Science Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

    Admission is $8 for anyone older than 13, $5 for kids aged 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Exploring The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Pete

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art opened in 2018 in St. Pete. 

    There are nine galleries that show about 500 artifacts in their 4,000-piece collection.

    And currently in their special exhibition space — Edward R. Curtis photographs. Curtis spent 30 years documenting more than 80 Native American communities.

    A gallery inside the Curtis exhibition holds more than 80 portraits — one for each of the communities he visited.

    Associate Curator Caitlin Pendola is working to identify the unknown people in Curtis’ portrait work.

    There are booklets of information available for visitors, with as much information as they have on Native American portraits.

    “So we have QR codes so that the public, if they have information, can write me directly,” said Pendola.

    She acknowledges it may take years, but they’ve already had success through family identification. Her hope is more people see the works. “Edward S. Curtis: Photographer of His Time” is on display through March 29.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Live venom extractions at Reptile Discovery Center in DeLand

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    DELAND, Fla. — A DeLand operation is quietly doing life-saving work one venomous bite at a time.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Venom Laboratory in DeLand houses some of the most dangerous snakes on Earth, extracting venom used for antivenom, pharmaceuticals, and global research
    • Director Carl Barden says venom from “about 25 or 30 different species” is processed and shipped worldwide, turning deadly toxins into lifesaving treatments
    • The work comes with real risk—Barden has survived 11 snakebites, including a cobra bite that nearly killed him—but he says the danger is comparable to other high-risk jobs
    • The center is also open to the public, offering live venom extractions, educational exhibits, and up-close views of snakes responsible for bite problems around the world


    The Reptile Discovery Center and Medtoxin Laboratory is home to some of the most dangerous snakes on the planet, where venom is carefully extracted, studied, and transformed into life-saving treatments around the world.

    When you visit this laboratory, it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance.

    Here, some of the world’s most deadly snakes are laid out, and venom is methodically extracted from one dangerous snake at a time.

    “Venoms are produced here from about 25 or 30 different species, and they are processed and shipped all around the world,” said Carl Barden, director of Medtoxin Laboratories at the Reptile Discovery Center.

    Barden and his wife, Mara Barden, work as a team, safely guiding the reptiles to naturally bite down so venom can be collected.

    “We’re passionate about the work that we do here. It has a real-world impact—antivenom and a lifesaving drug,” Carl Barden said.

    That venom is used for antivenoms, pharmaceuticals, and research, with refrigerators full of compounds ready to be shipped.

    “This is the antivenom refrigerator,” Carl Barden said. “And this is where we store snakebite serums — antivenom from all over the world.”

    Some of that serum is kept solely in case Barden himself is bitten, and antivenom he would take with him to a nearby hospital to save his life, and it’s happened before.

    “I’ve had 11 snakebites in the last 35 years of collecting snake venom,” he said. “One of those was a cobra bite. That particular bite almost killed me, put me on a ventilator for 14 hours.”

    Despite the danger, Carl Barden believes the risk is no different from other professions.

    “If you look at the deaths from snake bites and snake handlers, the numbers are actually fairly low,” he said.

    Medtoxin is more than just a snake lab.

    Visitors are welcome to learn about reptiles and their role around the world, watch venom extractions from a front-row seat, and explore an outdoor walking trail home to various creatures.

    “So, things like king cobras and black mambas, kaboom vipers, puff adders,” Carl Barden said. “All of those snakes are on display at the Discovery Center, so people can come and see animals that are responsible for snake bite problems around the world.”

    Snakebites are a fascinating paradox: Snake venom, while deadly, holds the key to its own lifesaving treatments.

    The Reptile Discovery Center is open to the public Thursday through Sunday.

    Admission is $13.50 for adults, $12.50 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children 3 and under.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Brooker Creek Preserve offers walking paths, nature center

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Brooker Creek Preserve: To many, it’s a place where humans are invited to observe Wild Florida.

    And if you are lucky, you’ll see nature observing you. 

    “The preserve is close to 9,000 acres.”  said James Stevenson.  “And here is where you can find real Florida. The plants, the animals.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Brooker Creek Preserve is in Pinellas County


    James Stevenson has been here 13 years, telling the story of this north Pinellas County spot.

    Stevenson is a botanist, so definite apocalypse survival leader material. He can talk about air plants, lichen, uplands and swampy spaces.

    In the swamp, he points out that trees will have a wide base to balance in the saturated soil. “That’s a condition called ‘butt swell,’” he said. 

    Yes, butt swell.

    Now, there’s even more to learn in their education center, a lot of it, through touch.

    “They get to pick up snakeskin, who wouldn’t like that- and then they learn that snakes aren’t slimy,” Stevenson said.

    Their most popular exhibit: a super-sized gopher tortoise burrow to explore, five times bigger and perfect for littles to explore. And grown-ups too, if you don’t mind crawling in public. (Just do it — and you’ll see snake and a little rodent living there too.)

    “During a forest fire, there are about 400 species that will go into a gopher bureau (and) they all play nice,” said Stevenson.

    Back in the preserve, a family discovers a full-grown three stripe turtle crossing the nature trail. Crouched and backed away, they watch.

    “We’re here to observe, in quiet, in calm. Everything is very unhurried. This is where we can see wild Florida at its very best and at its quietest.”

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Florida Holocaust Museum honors the past while planning for its future

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There’s additional security, new artifacts and plans for upgraded renovations at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

    As museum head Eric Stillman stands in the building’s new lobby, newly installed security protocols are keeping people and artifacts safer.

    What You Need To Know

    • There’s new artifacts and plans for new renovations at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg

    • The institution’s mission is to honor the millions who suffered or died in the Holocaust and to now teach the inherent worth and dignity of human life

    • Eli Wiesel Experience will fill top floor of Florida Holocaust Museum 
    • New Danish fishing boat instillation tells story of hope as non-Jews saved their neighbors after Nazi invasion of Denmark 
    • GO INSIDE THE MUSEUM: The Florida Holocaust Museum

    New artifacts like Thor — a Danish fishing boat that served as a rescue vessel, secreting Jews to Sweden after the Nazis invaded Denmark.

    “The fisherman, he was a true upstander,” Stillman said. “And even though he wasn’t Jewish, and he was risking his own life and his family’s lives, and his livelihood, he risked it to help his neighbors to help his fellow country people.”

    The boat sits next to the Nazi-era boxcar that transported Jews to death camps during World War II.

    “And so that boxcar, which is huge, it towers over everybody, represents fear and death,” Stillman said. “And here it is, right next to the fishing boat, where it’s hope and future.”

    The institution’s mission is to honor the millions who suffered or died in the Holocaust and to teach the inherent worth and dignity of human life.

    New Danish fishing boat instillation tells story of hope as non-Jews saved their neighbors after Nazi invasion of Denmark. (Spectrum News/Virginia Johnson)

    Part of the museum’s plans include a new Eli Wiesel Experience, which will fill the museum’s top floor.

    Holocaust survivor and “Night” author Wiesel spent his life as a human rights activist and witness to human atrocities

    In 2024, his foundation chose this museum to house his private collection. Already on display, the jacket his wife Marion wore when meeting world leaders and dignitaries.

    Weisel’s work mirrors the museums: witness the past of death and hope during World War II and beyond, and use the lessons to make the world a better place.

    “And so the contrast is pretty clear, I think, for just about anybody to see and understand,” said Stillman. “It only takes one person, just an average everyday citizen being an upstander to make a difference.”

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • Stetson Mansion reopens as Florida’s ‘Christmas Mansion’ for 2025 holiday season

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    DELAND, Fla. — The historic Stetson Mansion — once the winter retreat of hat magnate John B. Stetson and among the first homes in the world wired by Thomas Edison — has once again opened its doors as the spectacular “Christmas Mansion.”

    What You Need To Know

    • The historic Stetson Mansion in DeLand has transformed into the lavishly decorated “Christmas Mansion”

    • Owners Kayla and Frank Jennings say the estate draws nearly 20,000 visitors each holiday season

    • The Gilded Age home showcases original Tiffany-stained glass, intricate woodwork and early Edison-installed electrical features

    • Ten holiday-themed rooms highlight the history and legacy of John B. Stetson

    Owner Kayla Jennings begins decorating as early as June, describing the transformation as “bigger and grander than I could have ever expected. Thank goodness that Christmas is my favorite holiday.”

    Spanning nearly 10,000 square feet, the estate becomes a dazzling holiday showcase, featuring elaborate décor across ten themed rooms.

    Co-owner and husband, Frank Jennings, helps prepare the massive Gilded Age estate, noting, “We usually get around 20,000 people to tour the mansion for that time period.”

    Visitors are welcomed inside by Kayla — “Hello. Welcome to the Stetson Mansion. Come on in,” — where they discover Florida’s first luxury estate, built in 1886 and once home to John and Elizabeth Stetson.

    “This was John and Elizabeth Stetson’s winter home. They were our first snowbirds,” she adds.

    Inside, guests can admire an array of architectural styles and original craftsmanship, including stained-glass windows gifted by famed artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.

    “We have the original stained-glass windows. They were gifts from Mr. Louis Comfort Tiffany. We have over 10,000 panes of glass,” Kayla explains.

    The home was also groundbreaking for its time, featuring steam heat, running water and electricity installed by Thomas Edison himself.

    “We are the first home to have steam, heat, electricity and running water in the state of Florida,” Frank says.

    The master suite has been transformed this year to showcase special memorabilia commemorating the legacy of the Stetson brand.

    “So, the master suite this year has a lot of his memorabilia. It has a lot of history that we’re going to bring to the tour,” Kayla says.

    The mansion also once hosted some of the world’s most prominent figures, including the Mellons, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and even the King and Queen of England.

    “We had the Mellons, the Vanderbilts, the Carnegies, and the King and Queen of England several times here as well,” Kayla recalls.

    With its elaborately decorated grounds, historic charm and thousands of twinkling lights, the Jennings say the mansion delivers holiday spirit for all ages.

    “It’s suitable for all ages. And it’s an amazing sight to see,” Frank says.

    The Christmas Stetson Mansion is open from Nov. 1 through Jan. 18. Admission is $29.50 for adults and $19.00 for visitors 17 and younger.

    For reservations and more, visit the Stetson Mansion.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Florida farm brings unique Gypsy Vanner horses and their story to life

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    OCALA, Fla. — Deep in the heart of Florida’s horse country, one farm is offering more than just beautiful pastures and photogenic horses — it’s giving guests a cultural and historical experience unlike any other.

    What You Need To Know

    • Gypsy Gold Horse Farm in Ocala is the first U.S. home of the rare Gypsy Vanner horse breed.
    • Visitors can take guided tours that provide education, history, and hands-on animal interaction.
    • The farm’s founder imported the first Gypsy Vanner after encountering the breed in Europe in 1995.


    Gypsy Gold Horse Farm is the first in the United States to introduce the rare and striking Gypsy Vanner horse breed to American soil.

    Known for their feathered hooves, flowing manes, and gentle temperament, these horses were originally bred by British and Irish travelers — often referred to as gypsies to pull their ornate caravans.

    “This amazing breed that Dennis has been preserving for over 30 years now. These are amazing, beautiful creatures, and a lot of people that come on these tours aren’t even familiar with the Gypsy Vanner breed,” said Eileen Mahoney, who works with the horses daily at the farm.

    Founded by Dennis Thompson and his wife, the farm is home to more than 30 Gypsy Vanner horses, each with a unique story and heritage.

    Thompson gives weekly tours where he not only introduces visitors to the horses but also shares the journey that brought them here.

    “My late wife and I, in 1995, saw one horse and learned it belonged to a gypsy,” Thompson told a tour group.

    “Spent that day in a gypsy camp and basically became obsessed.”

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida. (Spectrum News)

    That encounter sparked a decades-long mission to preserve the breed and honor the culture behind it.

    For Thompson, it’s not just about the horses — it’s about correcting long-held misconceptions about the Romani people.

    “They don’t read and write — that is by choice because they don’t want to lose their culture,” he explained. “So, they have been treated with prejudice for a thousand years.”

    During the tour, visitors meet horses like “Little Big Man,” whom Thompson describes as “a grandson of Kushti Bok,” one of the original horses he imported.

    Guests can also interact with mules and exotic birds, like colorful macaws, all while walking the picturesque grounds.

    Visitors from all over the country have made the trip — some with a deep love for horses, others simply curious.

    “Yes, I’ve grown up with horses. I used to be a jumper — and then I got old,” joked Bonnie Mickley, a visitor from Georgia.

    “It’s so wonderful that people like Dennis are saving this animal,” added fellow visitor Chris Connolly.

    Thompson’s passion is simple.

    “When people come to Gypsy Gold, I hope they get a better understanding of the culture and a better understanding of the horses that they envisioned.” said Thompson

    The farm has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence four times and remains one of the top-rated attractions in Central Florida.

    For more, visit the Gypsy Gold Horse Farm.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Marine lab offers learning through touch

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    PANACEA, Fla. — Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea is a not-for-profit laboratory supplying marine life to schools and research institutions.

    It’s about 30 miles south of Tallahassee in Wakulla County and a stone’s throw from the Gulf.

    “So we have the largest assortment of animals in our touch tanks in North America,” said Aquarist Hunter Eicler. “So we have over 100 species in here.”

    All of these specimens come from northern Gulf Coast.

    And there are special opportunities for children — with a close-to-the-ground aquarium.

    “A horseshoe crab might look really scary, but once you get to touch it and see it up close, you’re no longer afraid of the animal.”

    This is how Eichler learned about sea creatures.

    She grew up here, learning triggerfish are totally “aggro,” nurse sharks uses super suction to vacuum in food and all these animals deserve our efforts to keep their worlds safe.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • St. Augustine’s Fountain of Youth Park offers more than just a legendary sip

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    ST. AUGUSTINE Fla. — In the heart of St. Augustine, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park marks the spot where legend says Ponce de León searched for eternal youth.

    What You Need To Know

    • The park features the reconstructed site of the first successful Catholic mission in the continental U.S.
    • Visitors can explore burial grounds, Timucua artifacts and remains from the original Spanish fort
    • The park blends archaeology, Native American history and Spanish colonial heritage — all beyond the myth of magical water


    Today, it offers visitors a glimpse into the state’s early history through archaeology, native culture and centuries-old stories.

    When you think of St. Augustine’s Fountain of Youth…

    Here at one of the state’s oldest tourist attractions is a glimpse into Florida’s ancient past, where its history is brought to life.

    Like the country’s first Catholic mission located in St. Augustine.

    “It is the reconstruction of the first successful Catholic mission in the continental United States,” said Shane Ohara, tour guide at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

    Missionaries came to the spot serving as a military and religious base for Spain.

    They aimed to gain a foothold in North America and convert native populations to Christianity — Native Americans known as the Timucua.

    “This would be 4,000 years prior to 1565. And Saint Augustine is established by the Spanish,” said tour guide Anthony Cappel.

    Guests at the Fountain of Youth can visit burial grounds and marked sites of early structures, where archaeologists uncovered Timucua remains, artifacts from 1565 and the first Spanish fort.

    “There is a burial ground that they found in the 1930s. And those are all Catholic burials of the Timucua people,” said Cappel.

    One after another, people line up — of all ages — to taste the famous fountain.

    Pets are no exception, as many bring their dogs.

    Many guests who come to the park have been there before.

    Karyn Berger visited the place in 1976.

    She believes the fountain is a state of mind.

    “The fountain of youth is what you make of it, what you believe in yourself,” said Berger, visiting from North Carolina

    Guests learn from guides about the explorer — but in a story lacking evidence he was truly in search of the Fountain of Youth.

    “So, this would have been a natural meeting spot for them to move to essentially free or interact with Ponce de León. We have no record of the conversation between the headman or the chief of the village and Ponce,” said tour guide Elizabeth Lynch.

    The park features historical presentations, roaming peacocks and a rich blend of Native, foreign and American cultures that left behind many mysteries.

    Admission to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is $22.95 for adults, $9.95 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for kids under 5.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Sea Cow recovery continues as ZooTampa revamps critical care home

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Manatees loooooove romaine lettuce.

    What You Need To Know

    • ZooTampa‘s construction continues at Manatee rescue and rehabilitation center with plans to open in spring of 2026

    • Will be renamed “Florida Waters,” and will host life from fresh to salty to brackish waters

    • Caretakers monitor manatees daily for any behavior change as a result of construction

    • MAP: View more Florida on a Tankful locations


    It’s something you can verify yourself at ZooTampa’s manatee habitat, where Senior Curator of Florida and Marine Life Molly Lippincott is in charge of their care.

    “So we’ve been working on this project for almost five years — the construction itself has been about two years,” said Lippincott.

    This project is an overhaul of the manatee rescue and rehab facilities.

    “Florida Waters” will be their new home.

    Waters in plural because manatees live in fresh, salt and brackish waters.

    A hard hat tour revealed a new freshwater “Otter Oasis” habitat, double the size of their current digs.

    There is also a partially completed walkthrough of a mangrove forest, leading to the underwater manatee viewing in their saltwater tank.

    Nearby large cylinders columns will be filled with moon jellies — all floaty and aglow.

    And just across from them, a ceiling to floor aquarium filled with fellow Florida reef dwellers.

    And finally, a planned tank of brackish water with animals that live there — at the mouths of rivers, etc.

    The construction has happened as the zoo continues rescuing and rehabbing injured manatees.

    Closing it for expedited construction was not an option.

    “There are only two critical care facilities currently in the state of Florida. We are the only nonprofit critical care facility, the largest in the world.”

    So they planned building around manatee care, covered the viewing areas and tested the waters.

    “So we worked hand in hand with them to do behavioral observations as well as we put a hydrophone in the water every day to listen to the noise — and their vocalizations,” said Lippincott.

    So far so good, she says — the mission of conservation and education continues.

    “It’s something that we love sharing with the community, and we need the community to care just as much as we do,” said Lippincott

    It’s community members who spot manatees in distress and call for help.

    On the front lines to save the gentle sea cows.

    ZooTampa plans to open the facilities in the spring of 2026.

    And visitors will once again have access to the underwater viewing theatre, in addition to meeting all the animals that live in the manatee’s water world — whether fresh, salty or brackish.

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    Virginia Johnson

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  • 3 Brothers Boards brings visitors face-to-face with wildlife on Silver River

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    MARION COUNTY, Fla. — For more than 10,000 years, humans have been drawn to the serene waters of the Silver River near Ocala — a place where Florida’s ancient past still lingers.

    What You Need To Know

    • 3 Brothers Boards offers guided paddleboard tours on the Silver River, showcasing its crystal-clear waters and abundant wildlife

    • Visitors frequently encounter manatees and rhesus macaque monkeys, making it a unique eco-tourism destination in Florida

    • The company was founded 17 years ago by Justin Murray and his brothers, who began building their own high-quality paddleboards

    • Each board features the signature of their late brother Jason, honoring his memory and keeping him part of every journey

    When mastodons and giant ground sloths roamed the peninsula, the river was already a source of life.

    While those prehistoric giants have long disappeared, Silver River has become home to a new, unexpected variety of creatures that continue to awe visitors.

    “This river just has a wow factor,” said Justin Murray of 3 Brothers Boards, a Daytona paddleboard outfitter and tour company.

    The water is so clear that few of its aquatic inhabitants can remain hidden — including the gentle manatees often seen grazing beneath the surface.

    “So, the manatees eat hundreds of pounds of grass every single day,” Murray explained.

    Every week, Murray and his team guide guests through this pristine spring-fed waterway, using custom-made paddleboards — some with transparent bottoms offering an unmatched view of the river bottom below.

    “Being able to see them on the paddleboard is definitely way easier than when you’re lower to the water in a kayak,” he said.

    Murray and his brothers began their journey 17 years ago, inspired by the natural beauty surrounding them and a growing need for quality paddleboards.

    That idea launched 3 Brothers Boards.

    “This is the largest artesian spring in the state of Florida. We have over 550 million gallons of water come out of this spring — every single day,” Murray said.

    Though his younger brother Jason has since passed, his legacy lives on in every board.

    “If you look at the bottom of every board we’ve ever made, we have his handwritten signature that we got off his schoolwork just so he can be part of making the boards and part of that process. Like to think he’s with us every time we hit the water,” Murray said.

    The wildlife visible along the trip on the river is abundant — including deer, birds and pigs.

    In addition to manatees and birds, one unexpected group steals the spotlight: rhesus macaque monkeys. About 400 of them roam the area — descendants of monkeys accidentally released in the 1930s, contrary to the myth that they were part of Tarzan film productions.

    “The monkeys that we have here are rhesus monkeys. And for many years, people believed that the monkeys were here from the Tarzan films,” Murray said. “However, after looking into every Tarzan film that was filmed here, there was never any rhesus monkeys used in those films.”

    For Murray, the river is more than just a tour destination — it’s a sanctuary of natural wonder.

    “Most people who even live in Florida (in) their entire lives have never seen such a diverse array of wildlife in one spot,” he said.

    The 3 Brothers Boards store is located in Daytona Beach.

    For more on its paddleboard adventures, visit 3 Brothers Boards.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Discovery Flight gives everyone the chance to fly a plane over Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Thousands in the United States have earned their private pilot’s license, often after four to eight months of training — but you don’t need any of that to experience the thrill of flying a plane.

    What You Need To Know

    • Discovery Flights let people of any age, even without a license, take control of a small aircraft with an instructor
    • A 12-year-old named Simon recently flew over Lake Apopka and downtown Orlando during his hands-on aviation experience
    • The flight also includes a full pilot pre-check, teaching participants about safety and aircraft controls
    • Orlando Flight School offers these one-hour flights near the Orlando Executive Airport as part of an introductory flying program


    At Orlando Flight School, anyone can sign up for a discovery flight, which is a one-hour experience that lets you take the controls of a real aircraft, no license required.

    Flight instructor Parker Mayhorn recently helped 12-year-old Simon Rodriguez Gasca do just that.

    “I’m about to let a 12-year-old fly a plane,” Mayhorn said just before takeoff.

    Simon’s discovery flight began like any other — with safety checks and instructions through a headset.

    The two took off from Orlando Executive Airport, and shortly after, Simon was at the controls.

    “Some get a little bit nervous, but once you’re in the air for a good five minutes, you get used to it. And you know not many people can say they flew in a plane,” Mayhorn said.

    Simon piloted the plane over Lake Apopka and downtown Orlando, enjoying the view while learning to steer, turn and stay on course.

    “Flying the plane, there are some bumps that give you little goosebumps, but it’s actually very easy fun,” Simon said.

    Before ever getting off the ground, participants learn everything a licensed pilot does before takeoff.

    That includes checking fuel levels, control surfaces and safety protocols.

    “Take the flaps and put it all the way down. You remember how to check the quantity? Good. So right now, we’re taking a sample of the fuel to make sure we have the correct type of fuel and that there’s no contaminants,” Mayhorn said while instructing Simon during the pre-check.

    “You have to check everything to keep the plane and ourselves safe,” said Gasca.

    While flying may seem intimidating, Mayhorn says the controls of a small plane are actually simple to understand.

    “For example, over here you have your airspeed, which shows you how fast you’re going. Your altimeter, which shows you how high you are,” Mayhorn said while pointing to the control panel inside the plane.

    For Gasca, the experience was unforgettable.

    “I guess everybody should do it because it feels amazing,” he said.

    Orlando Flight School is next to the Orlando Executive Airport.

    For more information about discovery flights, visit Orlando Flight School.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Visit rescued animals at Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge in Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s a place where the cute, the hungry, the mysterious, and smart often end up because their lives are in jeopardy. 

    “We’ve been receiving squirrels, at least ten each day, since last month,” animal technician Frida Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    Other animals attacked many of the squirrels brought to the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge.

    “A lot of them are either cat attacks or dog attacks. So, pets that are not, like, leashed or kept inside,” Acavedo-Sanchez said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Since 1989, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge has rescued injured wildlife throughout Central Florida

    • An average of 3,000 to 4,000 annually — or 10 animals per day — are dropped off at the Orlando facility

    • The nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates a variety of animals, hoping to return them to the wild

    • The faculty is open to the public (by reservation) where guests can walk through and see many of their animal ambassadors

    Every day, one after another, people drop off injured animals at the front desk of the facility needing rehabilitation. 

    “But a lot of times they come in, they have injuries. And so, we have to assess the injuries that they have,” refuge executive director Debbie Helsel said.

    For over 25 years, Helsel has been treating injured wildlife. 

    It’s non-stop examining, moving creatures around the grounds, hand-feeding animals and making room for new patients. She said there is one reason animal injuries are not going away soon.

    “We’re doing so many things to the environment that it’s making it much more difficult for them to survive,” Helsel explained.

    Some 3,000 to 4,000 injured creatures end up at the refuge each year, which measures out to around 10 per day. Often, they don’t have enough cages and space for everyone.

    By appointment, guests can visit the facility and get to meet some of the ambassador animals.

    Those animals can’t return to the wild, and the Orlando facility gives them a permanent home.

    That includes owls, foxes, bobcats and tortoises. 

    Helsel hopes guests learn something about wildlife when they visit.

    “The goal really is for them to be in the wild where they’re supposed to be, not in a habitat where they have to spend the rest of their life,” she said.

    The nonprofit relies on donations.

    Self-guided tours and guided tours are available for $10 per adult, and children under 3 are free.

    Visit the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge for details.

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Cedar Key Historical Society Museum reopens a year after Helene

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    CEDAR KEY, Fla. — Cedar Key is a piece of old Florida. Home to spectacular sunsets and resilient residents like Anna White Hodges. 

    This is what recovery looks like one year after Hurricane Helene’s arrival.

    “With Helene it was so serious,” said White Hodges, Executive Director of the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum.

    As the storm moved north through the Gulf into the Big Bend region in late September 2024, waves covered the island.

    “Outside the building — eight feet,” said White Hodges.

    The reinforced historical building took in four.

    Volunteers moved the artifacts but lost everything else.

    In their recovery, they found new ways to share the story of the island.

    The museum shows remnants of the people who fished the island shores before colonizers arrived.

    And it tells the Civil War story with a model of the USS Fort Henry, part of the Union’s naval blockade off Cedar Key.

    “The union was going after blockade runners. And that’s when they got too close to the shoreline. And that’s when the militia, the southern militia, they shot at them,” said White Hodges.

    A wooden tombstone marked the grave of a Union soldier from the gunboat.

    Today, the peaceful waters are the subject of aquaculture at the museum, where the town stands now.

    The residents of this small island rebuilt this space.

    And, in turn, have become part of its history.

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    Virginia Johnson

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