Page 15 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

everything from boiled peanuts and fresh the parks and in the wild, visitors can NEED
blueberries in Gainesville to mangoes and observe them in conservatories such as
TO KNOW
lychees in the southern areas of Redland and Butterfly World in Coconut Creek and the
Homestead. Throughout the year, festivals Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum
—such as Plant City’s Florida Strawberry in Gainesville.
Many beaches, parks and festivals don’t
Festival in late winter and the mid-summer The 142 native species of amphibians and
charge an entrance fee or, if they do, it’s only
International Mango Festival at Fairchild reptiles, including around 50 kinds of
a few dollars. If you do run out of cash, ATMs
Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables— snakes—of which only six are poisonous—
are everywhere from convenience stores to
are hugely enjoyable, multi-day attractions. are equally fascinating. You can view these
festivals. Many stores allow debit card users
If you prefer bottled fruit, wineries are and the 50 plus additional non-native
to obtain “cash back” above their purchase
popping up everywhere, with many offering species at many zoos and safaris, ranging
without a transaction fee. Most banks are
both grape varietals as well as tropical fruit from Zoo Miami to Lion Country Safari in
vintages. Loxahatchee and ZooTampa at Lowry Park. open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to
At Jungle Island in Miami, brave guests hold 4 or 5 PM, however, TD Bank has locations
WILD ABOUT FLORIDA giant pythons. open every day, except major holidays.
Florida is home to more than 330 commonly Visitors who prefer to check out natural Banks and government offices, including
found bird species, which amateur ornithol- habitats where wild things reside can hit any the post office, are closed on major U.S.
ogists can track along The Great Florida section of the sprawling Everglades. There, a holidays. Most attractions remain open
Birding & Wildlife Trail. Completed in 2006 range of activities, from boating and fishing year-round.
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva- to biking and hiking, puts one in close touch Florida’s base sales tax on purchases is
tion Commission, the 2,000-mile trail with nature’s biggest beasts and smallest six percent, with some counties adding
comprises four sections—the Panhandle, insects. The curious can also arrange private discretionary taxes. In addition to pet
East, West and South—and lists what species tours with exotic animal rescue and rehabil- deposits, most hotels charge a “bed” tax
can be found where. itation operations such as the Zoological and some will add a “resort or amenities
Florida also has more than 170 native Wildlife Foundation and McCarthy’s Wildlife
tax” and even parking fees.
butterflies. In addition to finding them in Sanctuary, both located in South Florida.

CLEARWATER BEACH • CITY OF CLEARWATER/BOONE CLEMMONS