Undiscovered Florida 2016 - (Page 17)
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Credit: St. Lucie County Tourist Development Council
Above: St. Lucie County is a naturally rich paddling destination
Central Florida Seeing is Believing
W
ith the theme parks front and
center in Central Florida, many
people come here ready to
pretend, to immerse themselves in fantasy
and fairy tale.
And that's great. But beyond the theme
parks and gated attractions, Florida's midsection is hardly soft when it comes to true
adventure and unexpected encounters.
River rafting, hiking through wetlands,
herding cattle, skimming across lakes at
incredible speeds, watching rockets blast
toward the heavens and exploring cultural
landmarks some people don't even realize
are there... is this really the land of make
believe? Yes, and it's about to get real.
Cultural Awakenings
With huge wilderness tracts on the Atlantic,
amazing islands and scenic bays on the Gulf,
and a piney interior filled with lakes and horses,
the variety of activity and topography in
Central Florida is nothing short of astounding.
One thing the entire region shares,
though, is a love of the arts, which grow,
thrive and revolutionize the worlds of visual
art, design and performance on a daily basis.
Undiscovered Florida
Just south of Tampa and fronting its own
shimmering bay is Sarasota, which lives up
to and surpasses its designation of "Cultural
Coast" with Ballet Sarasota, the Florida Gulf
Coast's first and only professional ballet
company; the Sarasota Orchestra, founded in
1949 and presenting more than a hundred
concerts each year; the magnificent Sarasota
Opera House and other astonishingly beautiful
performance venues; and a fascinating range
of theater companies, including the Players
Theater which dates back to 1936, and the
Venice Theatre, which started life in 1950 and
is now the third largest community theater in
the country.
But if the word 'Sarasota' is conjuring vague
images of the circus, you're on track for what
is arguably the city's most prized cultural
enclave-the Ringling Estate-bequeathed
by John Ringling of circus fame to the state
of Florida in 1936. In addition to the Cà d'Zan,
winter home of John and his wife Mable, the
estate includes the Ringling Museum of Art,
whose priceless collection contains more than
600 Baroque masterpieces and a Peter Paul
Rubens collection that is considered the finest
in the world.
Northwest of Sarasota, beautiful Anna
Maria Island is known for its history and
status as a nationally registered wildlife
sanctuary, but the arts are paramount here as
well, with galleries and studios showcasing
the work of local artists. A nationally
recognized historical society, live community
theater and a renowned orchestra also are
part of the island's cultural scene.
Also considered a top destination for
the arts is St. Petersburg/Clearwater,
where dozens of art and history venues
include the Chihuly Collection presented by
the Morean Arts Center, a stunning group
of works by renowned glass artist Dale
Chihuly. Nearby and housed in a dramatic
new waterfront structure, the Dali Museum
features no less than the country's largest,
most comprehensive collection of works
by Spanish surrealist, Salvador Dali, along
with the greatest number of his amazing
masterworks in one place.
Looking for more artistic superlatives?
How about the largest concentration of Frank
Lloyd Wright architecture in the world, set
on the campus of Florida Southern College
in Lakeland? Or the most comprehensive
17
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Undiscovered Florida 2016
State of Excitement
North Florida
Central Florida
South Florida
Undiscovered Florida 2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/undiscoveredflorida2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/worth/undiscoveredflorida/2011
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