Entertainment in Florida - Part 2

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While you are staying in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, we have listed below some entertainment in Florida that you may well enjoy.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theater

The dinner theatre accommodates 450 guests, and features eight professional theatrical productions each season, along with an award-winning buffet.

Located at 1380 Colonial Boulevard Fort Myers, Florida

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has more than 20,000 tropical plants to see, including an outstanding collection of orchids and bromeliads.  There is also a museum, a learning center, a greenhouse and various gardens.

Located at 811 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34236

Mote Marine Laboratory

From its humble beginnings in tiny shed in a small Florida town, Mote Marine Laboratory has expanded to include a 10.5 acre campus in Sarasota with field stations and public exhibits in Key West and field stations in Summerland Key and Charlotte Harbor. Florida's extensive coastline and marine and estuarine environments have enabled Mote scientists to build a platform of marine research conducted in the nearshore environment.

From the original focus on sharks, Mote research has expanded to include seven major areas of concentration, organized into seven research centers. While each center focuses on its own specialty, Mote scientists are able to partner with others within the lab to integrate efforts across a number of fields. This approach has led to discoveries that establish Mote as a global leader in many areas of marine science.

Mote recognizes the importance of advancing the understanding of sea science to the general public. To that end, Mote conducts extensive public outreach and operates a public aquarium that serves nearly 400,000 visitors a year. Mote is one of the few organizations in the world that combines marine research with public outreach through a full-fledged aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratory is also one of the world’s few remaining private marine research laboratories and, as a nonprofit organization, is funded through federal, state and local grants and through the generosity of individual donors and foundations. Over the last five decades, the world has learned many things about its oceans. One lesson has remained constant: There is still much to discover.

Located at 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, Florida 34236

Sarasota Jungle Gardens

At Sarasota Jungle Gardens, you are able to enjoy a stroll along a trail that meanders through an ever changing landscape of cool, under story jungle growth and around open pond shorelines. As you find your way along the trail, amid an absolute abundance of plants and vegetation, you begin to wonder how it all began. 

Located at 3701 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Florida 34234

Panhandle Pioneer Settlement

The Panhandle Pioneer Settlement was founded in 1989 to document, research, and preserve folkways of past generations. In addition, the Settlement has acquired eleven period structures dating from 1840 to 1940. 

Located at Sam Adkins Park Blountstown, Florida 32424

Camp Gordon Johnston Museum

The Camp Gordon Johnston Association has taken on the task of building a Museum to preserve the memory of the Amphibious soldiers who trained and served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

Located at Amphibian Camp Gordon Johnston Association, Carrabelle, Florida 32322

The Zoo in Gulf Breese

A wildlife experience awaits you here with 900 animals surrounded by botanical gardens. Visitors will have a chance to see bears, tigers, rhinos and zebras. You can take photos of the colorful birds, watch playful primates and see sleek otters slip through water. Why not take a ride on the Safari Line Limited.  This is a train ride through over 30 acres of free roaming wildlife (small charge).  There is plenty to see and do at The Zoo in Gulf Breeze. 

Located at 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway (Highway 98), Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563

Astronaut Hall of Fame

Come live the human side of space like you never imagined you could - complete with the sights, sounds and experiences of the real astronauts who first ventured into the frontiers of space. Explore the world's largest collection of astronaut artifacts and see remarkable displays, exhibits and tributes dedicated to the heroes of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo.

Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center

Here, you can discover the fun of canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and camping at Coldwater Creek near Milton, Florida. You will be able to canoe or tube down clear, swift flowing streams past secluded, sugar white beaches, through the Blackwater River State Forest of Northwest Florida. Adventures Unlimited is just a short drive away from Mobile, Pensacola, Montgomery, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City.

Coconut Creek Family Entertainment

Coconut Creek Family Entertainment offers two 18-hole miniature golf courses, a giant human size maze and bumper boats. 

Located at 9807 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, Florida 32407

Lowe Art Museum

The Lowe Art Museum can be found on the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables, Florida. The Museum features 13 exhibits annually with a collection spanning 5,000 years of art. 

Located at 1301 Stanford Drive Coral Gables, Florida 33124

The Florida Aquarium

Enjoy wonderful exhibits about Florida's wetlands, bays, beaches, coral reefs, and offshore creatures.

Sam's Fun City

Sam's Fun City provide all year round fun for all the family. V The entertainment just never ends.  It is open 7 days a week and is located in the heart of Pensacola. 

Located at 6709 Pensacola Blvd.

The Pier

The Pier in St. Petersburg is an unique piece of Florida architecture that offers visitors a chance to experience the waterfront in the Tampa Bay area. Situated at the end of a mile long approach, this five story inverted pyramid features shops, restaurants, it's own aquarium, live music and even boat docks.

Located at 800 Second Ave. N.E. St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is the crown jewel of Fort Lauderdale's Arts and Entertainment District. It was built at a cost of $52 million.  It consists of the splendid 2,700-seat Au-Rene Theatre and the warm and friendly 590-seat Amaturo Theatre. Whether you like Broadway musical, serious drama, modern dance or ballet, classical music or Grammy winning pop concerts, the Broward Center will have something for you.

Located at 201 SW Fifth Avenue Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312

Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens opened in 1977.  Since then, it has been the centre for Japanese arts and culture in South Florida.  There are tea ceremonies, which are performed every month in its Seishan-an tea house.  Traditional Japanese festivals are performed for the public to see several times each year.  There are also many exhibitions for the public to see within its various galleries.  Local schools and other educational establishments are also invited to see how the Japanese live and work. 

Located at 4000 Morikami Park Road Delray Beach, Florida 33446

Key West Aquarium

Perhaps one of the most unique aquariums in the world, the Key West Aquarium has delighted visitors since 1934.  It features many sharks, sea turtles, tropical fish and other sea life that is a natural inhabitant of the seas around Key West.  During the Great Depression, Key West had turned over its charter to the federal government due to the economic disaster that had hit the island. The federal government believed Key West, with its great weather and location, would make a wonderful tourist destination. The Works Project Administration (WPA) was sent in and built the Key West Aquarium between 1932 and 1934. The Aquarium was originally an open air aquarium, one of the first and largest at the time. Today, it is nearly twice the size of the original with the addition of the Atlantic Shores exhibit and the large outdoor holding pens. 

Located at 1 Whitehead St. Key West, Florida 33040

Ringling Museum of Art

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which is associated with Florida State University, is the largest museum / university complex in America.  The 66 acre estate is the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936), one of the great business tycoons of his day. The Museum of Art is recognized as the state art museum of Florida and includes 21 galleries of internationally recognized European and American art with paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Poussin and other baroque masters. In addition, the estate comprises Cà d'Zan, the recently restored 32 room Ringling mansion, te Circus Museum, te Original Asolo theater, the Rose Garden and beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.

Located at 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, Florida 34243

Ernest Hemingway Home

Ernest Hemingways home is to be found amid the heart of Old Town Key West.  This very unusual property was at one time home to one of America's most honored and esteemed authors. Ernest Hemingway lived in this house for more than 10 years where he wrote several stories.  The house is called Key West home.  It is around all of this area that Ernest found peace and comfort particularly in the blue waters that surround Key West. 

Located at 907 Whitehead Street, Key West Florida 33040

Jungle Adventures

Jungle Adventures Nature Park and Zoo located at Christmas is one of the oldest, all natural and native attractions in Florida.  The 20 acre park and wildlife sanctuary is dedicated to "eco-tourism," in that it is a unique experience for close encounters with native wildlife.  It is the natural habitat jungle home of the famous 200 foot long roadside wonder, Swampy, the World's Largest Alligator (gift shop, ticket counter). Come and experience Live Guided Wildlife Encounters with Rare Florida Panthers, Black Bears, Gray Wolves, White-Tailed Deer, Tropical Birds, Reptiles and Mammals. Take a Jungle Swamp Cruise and be surrounded by more than Two Hundred Alligators. The lifestyle of Spanish explorers is highlighted in the replica Spanish fort as well as Florida Indians in the recreated Indian Village.

Located at 26205 East S.R. 50 Christmas, Florida 32709.

Fishermen's Village

Fishermen’s Village is one of the most interesting vacation waterfront complexes in Southwest Florida.  It can be found on the water in beautiful Punta Gorda.  There are many shops, excellent dining and great nightlife.  You can do something different every day.  You can find all your holiday needs including a marina with cruise boats, fishing boats, rental speed boats and jet skis and bicycles. You can even learn to sail.  Fishermans Village is also home to the Military Heritage and Aviation Museum. 

Located at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, #57A Punta Gorda, Florida 33950

Ace of Hearts Ranch

The Ace of Hearts Ranch invites you to unwind, forget about traffic and schedules and take in hours of beautiful Florida trails.  Here, you can relax, enjoy wild flowers, unforgettable scenery and wild life, while traveling through the many different habitats and terrains this area has to offer.  The stable is state of the art, and the horses are gentle and well cared for.  You will enjoy the country ambiance of wooden rockers, porch swings, and yard gliders.  The ranch uses natural landscaping making a beautiful backdrop to your large group gatherings, weddings or birthday parties.  Hotels and restaurants are around two to files miles drive away.  The ranch is just minutes away from Kennedy Space Centre, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island wildlife Refuge, airboat rides and kayaking.

Directions - From 50 go east past I-95, go south on 405 to Grissom, south to Ranch Rd, west 1 mile to Bridal Path Lane.  From 528 Beeline go east to 407 (Titusville exit) turn right on Shepard Dr., go one mile to stop sign, turn right on Grissom, go 2 miles south to Ranch Rd., turn right go 1 mile, turn right on Bridal Path Lane.  From I-95 coming from the south take exit 208 go east, turn left on Grissom, go 2 1/2 miles north, turn left on Ranch Rd. go 1 mile we are on the right. From US 1, go west on Kings Hwy at Port St John, go all the way to the end, go south on Grissom, go 1/10 mile, turn west on Ranch Rd. go 1 mile we are on the right

The Ace of Hearts Ranch offers horseback trail rides, beach rides, log cabin getaways, horse camps, day trips plus quite a lot more.

Located at 74000 Bridal Path Lane, Cocoa, Florida 32927