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Day Trips
  Cà d’Zan, Sarasota |
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is a cultural attraction that’s a testament to John Ringling of the famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the legacy he left to his beloved city of Sarasota.
Cà d’Zan, Ringling and his wife Mable’s dream palazzo on Sarasota Bay, forms one part of the museum, and is modeled after magnificent mansions in Venice, Italy. It contains collections of art and furniture the couple gathered from around the world. The 32-room mansion was recently renovated to the tune of $15 million, and is a stunning reminder of the opulence enjoyed by the rich and famous during the Gilded Age.
The Museum of Art, another part of the complex, houses not only Old Masters paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck, but also contains a vast cache of Western and non-Western art.
The Circus Museum tells the story of the greatest show on earth, with costumes, performer highlights and vintage equipment, including circus wagons. It was recently expanded to include the Tibbals Learning Center, and a space to house a 3,800-sq.-ft. miniature circus model.
If you go...
A little more than an hour north of Fort Myers in Sarasota, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 17; tours of Cà d’Zan are offered daily and are reserved at the time of ticket purchase. 941-359-5700, www.ringling.org.
 Shopping in Naples |
A shopper’s (and gourmet’s) paradise awaits in Old Naples, about forty miles south of downtown Fort Myers.
Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are beautiful, pedestrian-friendly shopping areas that offer unique boutiques, fine art and collectibles, outdoor cafés and, in the case of Third Street South, a shopping concierge. Fifth Avenue South features palm trees, wide sidewalks and Mediterranean-inspired architecture, as well as art galleries, clothing boutiques, restaurants of all types, and the nearby von Liebig Art Center. Each month, the merchant’s association holds Evenings on Fifth, with live entertainment, street art shows and themed events all along the main thoroughfare.
Third Street South is just a short walk from the Naples Pier. This shopping and dining area offers a number of art galleries, and even sports its own Gallery Row. Collectors flock to this area in search of the next piece for their collection and the inside scoop on up-and-comers. Rounding out the choices are upscale clothing boutiques for men, women and children, chi-chi shops offering items to adorn the inside and outside of your home and fine jewelers.
If you go...
Third Street South, 239-434-6533, www.thirdstreetsouth.com
Fifth Avenue South, 239-435-3742, www.fifthavenuesouth.com
 Airboat ride in the Everglades |
The Gulf Coast Visitor Center of Everglades National Park is located in Everglades City in the southern reaches of Collier County, about an hour-and-a-half south of Fort Myers. From here, visitors can learn about human and natural history on a narrated boat tour, which leaves from the visitor center dock, or set out on a ranger-led canoe trip through the Ten Thousand Islands.
Birds and aquatic life, such as manatees and dolphins, are frequent sights throughout the year. Start the day inside the visitor center, where the varied ecosystems in the Everglades and maps of the intricately laced coastline are on display. There, find interesting books on wildlife and the cultural history of the area.
If you go...
Gulf Coast Visitor Center, 239-695-3311, www.nps.gov/ever
 Key West architecture |
Take a day trip to the Southernmost Point in the continental United States, located in the live-and-let-live community of Key West in the Florida Keys.
Key West Express operates high-speed catamaran service from Salty Sam’s Marina near Fort Myers Beach. It’s a three-hour trip to Key West. Adult round-trip passage is listed as $119, but passengers are encouraged to call for reservations to inquire about specials. Coupons are frequently available in local newspapers for under $100 round-trip.
While in Key West, enjoy the unusual architecture, influenced by ship captains and plantation owners, narrow streets and tropical atmosphere, great island-style dining options and fabulous people watching. Favored pastimes are cycling around the old town center and visiting author Ernest Hemingway’s home.
If you go...
For up-to-date rates and schedules, call Key West Express at 888-539-2628, or visit www.seakeywestexpress.com.
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