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Spirit of

Taking to the WatersFlorida

Legend has it that when Spanish explorer

Juan Ponce de León landed in Florida in

1513, he was looking for something more

precious than gold or silver. He was looking

for water, a spring, or a fountain that

would give him eternal youth and vigor.

The idea wasn’t new. Since ancient times,

people have sought the restorative powers

of water, and both sides of the Atlantic

are rife with tales of magical springs and

wells. From the 16th through the 19th

centuries, “taking the waters” was not only

fashionable, it was believed to be essential

for health. Spas and resorts were built

around bubbling springs, both hot and

cold, and visitors would bathe, drink, or

steam in the curative liquid.

From the Fountain of

Youth to Rivers of Fun, Florida’s

Waters Revive both the Mind

and Body

By Pamela Watson

Spirit | 115

116 | Spirit

Wild WatersWhen European settlers first arrived in Florida, they

confronted a wild land criss-crossed by rivers and streams

and honeycombed with a multitude of underground

springs. The climate was warm and humid, and exotic

birds and animals inhabited the lush jungles and

waterways.

Many of these creatures were strange and new to the

Europeans. In fact, some explorers believed mermaids

lived in the coastal waters of Florida, for they caught brief

glimpses of odd creatures swimming, and heard what they

thought were the calls of sirens. Today, we know these

shy creatures to be slow-moving and endangered marine

mammals called manatees.

In addition to manatees, many wild and some rare

species of animals still inhabit the 11,000 miles of rivers,

streams and waterways of the state. Alligators, once

endangered, have made a comeback and, yes, there is

a native crocodile in the waters of South Florida. Most

of the time, these creatures avoid humans, but if you’re

canoeing or kayaking in natural areas, be aware that they

are probably around.

With the advent of theme parks and major urban areas,

many people are surprised to learn that parts of Florida

still retain their pre-Columbian wildness. The state of

Florida maintains 160 state parks and 35 state forests,

totaling more than 1.2 million acres. In addition, there are

three national forests and 11 national parks and preserves,

including Everglades National Park, the third-largest in the

lower 48 states, another 3 million acres of protected forests

and wetlands.

Divers come to Florida to explore the many off-shore

wrecks, as well as the inland springs. Pure spring water

travels through underground aquifers, erupting into pools

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Today, we particularly like to play in water, whether it’s swimming, diving, paddling, boating, or just lolling in it on a rubber raft. With 825 miles of beaches, more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams and waterways, and 33 first-magnitude natural springs (more than any other state), Florida is the No. 1 place in the world to take the waters.

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118 | Spirit

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hundreds of feet deep; these are nature’s water parks.

Measured by the water flow, Florida has 33 first-magnitude

springs that pour at a rate of 100 cubic feet per second or

higher. With a steady temperature of around 70 degrees

Fahrenheit, these are definitely invigorating waters.

The inland waterways are also perfect for fishing and

floating. In fact, floating downstream in a big inner tube

is a popular way to spend a weekend. The Florida Paddling

Trails Association encourages the use of the many water

trails in the state for canoeing and kayaking, including the

Florida Circumnavigational Paddling Trail, the longest

paddling trail in the continental United States.

Resort WatersThe Victorians, famous for “taking the waters,” usually did

so at fashionable spas and in comfortable hotels. Modern

day seekers of healthy recreation do the same, and Florida

is a playground when it comes to resorts. Golf resorts,

beach resorts, health spa resorts—all are available to fit the

wants and needs of travelers seeking water recreation or

just a little R & R.

Panama City is one of Florida’s original beach

playgrounds, and the Panama City Beach Convention and

Visitor’s Bureau (visitpanamcitybeach.com) promotes

more than 27 miles of white-sand beaches, watersports,

and old-fashioned family entertainment. For instance,

Gulf World, a 1960s marine park and marine conservation

facility, offers shows and family fun at a reasonable price;

and a revival of the 1960s Miracle Strip Amusement

Park, called Miracle Strip at Pier Park, features old-timey

kids’ rides surrounded by major retailers and popular

restaurants.

The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors

Bureau also lists pet-friendly places (even beaches), as well

as fishing and natural areas to explore. In addition to the

award-winning beaches of St. Andrew’s State Park, the area

is home to Pine Log State Forest, Florida’s first state forest,

featuring more than 25 miles of hiking and horse trails.

Whether you’re staying a few days or a few months, the

Resort Collection of Panama City Beach has a variety of

accommodations. They represent seven luxury properties:

Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort; Majestic Beach Resort;

Long Beach Resort; En Soleil; Emerald Beach Resort;

Marina Landing; and Grand Panama Beach Resort,

offering one- to four-bedroom beachfront suites, golf

villas, restaurants, swimming pools, health and fitness

centers, spas, golf, tennis, and children’s activities. The

award-winning Firefly restaurant is located just across the

street from Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort and offers an

intimate, casual, fine-dining experience.

Speaking of restaurants, Florida is renowned for them,

particularly in the central Florida area where the father-

and-son team of Charley and Ron Woodsby has been

creating culinary memories since the early 1960s. Charley

opened the first Red Lobster restaurant in Lakeland in

1968 and later sold the franchise to General Mills. In

1973, the Woodsbys opened a steakhouse called Talk of

the Town, to which they later added five locations. Over

the years, they expanded to 10 award-winning steak and

visitpanamacitybeach.com 800.PCBEACH (722.3224)

PanamaCtyCVB.indd 1 10/27/10 4:13:41 PM

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seafood houses, including Charley’s Steakhouse, FishBones,

MoonFish, Johnnie’s Hideaway, Vito's Chop House, and

Texas Cattle Company. Charley’s Steakhouse has been

listed on America’s Top Ten Steakhouses every year for the

past 12 consecutive years.

From seafood to barbecue, you can eat anything in

Florida and have a romping, stomping good time as well.

One fun place to let your hair down is Howl at the Moon.

This high-energy mix of a bar and a rock concert plays all

kinds of music and incorporates a full band into its all-

request, rock 'n' roll dueling piano show. Each of the three

locations in Destin, Orlando, and Tampa offers shows and

the famous “howlin’ drinks,” liquid therapy of a different

kind. Having fun is also therapeutic.

The Victorians often traveled for their health, and that

idea still has merit today. For instance, health spas offer

several days of diet, exercise, and water treatments, but

did you ever think of taking a dental vacation? The West

Palm Beach-based Ferber Dental Group promotes the idea

of pairing affordable dental care with a resort vacation

experience. It offers cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry

from a staff of a dozen top-rated professionals offering a full

range of dental services for all ages. No need to go to Costa

Rica when a West Palm Beach vacation will do the trick.

If you’re headed to Fort Lauderdale, the Greater Fort

Lauderdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (sunny.org)

can help with vacation plans. Its list of family-friendly

things to do in the area includes one that brings back

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FerberDental.indd 1 9/10/10 2:34:34 PM

Celebrate the arrival of 2011 in true Panama City Beach style during "The Beach Ball Drop", hosted by Pier Park. This free annual event is known for its glowing 800-pound beach ball drop. The festivities begin on New Year’s Eve at 5:30 p.m. and will feature a family celebration complete with balloon artists, stilt walkers, and a family ball drop, consisting of more than 7,000 inflatable beach balls released onto Pier Park Drive on the boardwalk. This leads into the Midnight Celebration, featuring live entertainment, fireworks, and the New Year’s Eve beach ball drop. For more event details, follow us on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/PierPark), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ShopPierPark), or visit www.simon.com.

ABouT PiEr PArkPier Park is a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping experience located in the heart of Panama City Beach. opened in February 2008, Pier Park is the first of its kind within the destination. its distinct architecture achieves a warm, beach-like atmosphere that is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands each year. Pier Park is home to Dillard’s, JCPenney and Target, along with numerous restaurants, specialty shops, a movie theater and the activity-packed Miracle Strip. Built, owned and operated by Simon Property Group, Pier Park is one of more than 385 retail centers in Simon's vast mall portfolio.

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*Excluding En Soleil. Cleaning fee waived with two-night minimum stay. Not applicable to existing reservations. Limited availability.**Not included with stay

Book On-line at www.resortspcbeach.comPromo Code: NYE or call 877.278.0545

Happinessis Ringing in the New Year.

Festivities for your enjoyment!

Dinner Package 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.; $65 per person: Four-course dinner for Edgewater guests at Ocean’s Bar and Grill with live entertainment, party favors, and complimentary champagne or well drink.

Pier Park Celebration: Family-friendly event starting at 5:30 p.m. with fun activities for all including reworks,

a 148-foot-tall Beach Ball Drop, and live entertainment.

Dinner at Firey: Special menu, live entertainment, and a champagne toast at midnight**

Call 850.249.3359 for reservations.

Gulf-front accommodations starting at $99 per night at Resort Collection Properties.*

Rates valid through January 7, 2011

that “old Florida” charm. Flamingo

Gardens, once the 1930s home of Floyd

and Jane Wray, features 60 acres of lush

gardens showcasing exotic and native

plants, located between the everglades

and the beach.

Florida’s legendary beaches stretch

825 miles, and visitors have been

flocking to them for nearly two

centuries. Millionaire Henry Flagler

brought his wife to Jacksonville in 1876

for her health and built his Ponce de

León Hotel in St. Augustine in 1888

for visiting friends from New York. On

St. Petersburg Beach, the Don CeSar

still beckons visitors to its circa-1928

flamingo pink facade, and the hotel

Fontainebleu on Miami Beach has

welcomed guests from presidents to

the “Rat Pack” since 1954.

Lago Mar Resort & Club in Fort

Lauderdale, family owned and operated

since 1959, is also one of a dwindling

collection of “old Florida” beach

resorts. With 500 feet of private beach

and 10 acres of recreation, including

tennis, swimming pools, a children’s

playground, a putting course, and a

day spa, Lago Mar Resort and Club

offers luxury accommodations and

consistently rates a AAAFour

Diamond award.

"Old Florida” Water AttractionsMore than 80 million travelers visit

the Sunshine State each year, leaving

a $60 billion impact on the state’s

economy in their wake, and they are

all after one thing – fun. With its

mild, sub-tropical climate, Florida has

particularly attracted winter visitors

for decades, who come for the beaches,

the fishing, the boating, and other

water attractions. Some of the state’s

oldest tourist attractions, several of

which opened in the 1920s and 1930s,

have stood the test of time and are still

drawing visitors today.

Travel Promotional SeriesTravel Promotional Series

The Fountain of Youth Arch-

aeological Park in St. Augustine is

one of Florida’s oldest continuously

operating attractions. It preserves the

dated stone cross Ponce de Leon laid

to mark his claim for Spain, as well

as the excavation site of the 1565 St.

Augustine colony. You can drink the

sulfur water from the natural spring,

said to be therapeutic, but you might

want to hold your nose while doing so.

A few miles south of St. Augustine

is Marineland. Built as an underwater

filming studio, it was a hot spot for

Hollywood stars in the 1940s with its

dolphin shows. Today, Marineland

still features these beautiful creatures,

but it has been “reporpoised” for

interactive dolphin encounters and

marine education.

Waldorf Astoria OrlandoSince the original Waldorf and Astoria hotels were opened in New York in the 1890s, The Waldorf Astoria has epitomized luxury accommodation and impeccable service. Located in the heart of Central Florida’s theme-park playground, the Waldorf Astoria orlando carries on the same tradition of elegance. With guest rooms ranging from one king- or two queen-bed Deluxe rooms to the Presidential Suite, guests find The Waldorf Astoria touch in every detail.

on-site amenities include a variety of dining options, golf, the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Spa by Guerlain®, and private cabanas by the pool, where poolside attendants will cater to your every need. There’s also shopping, nightlife, and kids' activities. Special packages such as Discovery and Stay (where you can swim with dolphins) and unlimited Golf (which includes a day of unlimited golf per each night’s stay) will add to your Central Florida vacation experience. Best of all, the Waldorf Astoria orlando is a great base from which to explore the parks and all that Central Florida has to offer.

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In Ocala, the famous glass-bottom boats

of Silver Springs have opened a window for

visitors to the 99.8-percent-pure artesian

spring waters since the 1870s. As “Florida’s

Original Tourist Attraction,” Silver Springs

has expanded over the years to include rides,

a botanical garden, and wildlife exhibits, but

glass-bottom boats are still the draw. Today,

the springs are a registered National Natural

Landmark of the U.S. Park Service.

Finally, remember those mermaids? Weeki

Wachee Springs State Park began in 1947 with

Newton Perry, a former U.S. Navy SEALS

trainer who invented the method of breathing

underwater through free-flowing air hoses.

His “spring of live mermaids” became one

of the most popular Florida attractions of

the 1950s and 1960s. Today, along with the

mermaid shows, visitors can take a boat ride

down the springs into a natural jungle that

once covered the entire state.

So, if you’re in need of water rejuvenation,

remember that feeling youthful is a state of

mind that depends on which state your

mind is in.

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Go to spiritmag.com to register by December 31, 2010. (Only one entry per person.)

OFFICIAL RULES: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE AN ENTRANT’S CHANCE OF WINNING. To enter, go to spiritmag.com, and click on the Sweepstakes. Entries must be received no later than midnight, December 31, 2010 Entrants must be at least 21 years of age. Employees of Pace Communications, Inc., Southwest Airlines, all contest sponsors and their immediate families are not eligible. The winner will be selected in a random drawing at Pace Communications, 1301 Carolina Street, Greensboro, NC 27401, on or aboutFebruary 15, 2011. Only one entry per person is allowed. Odds of winning are dependent upon number of entries received. For a list of winners, send self-addressed, stamped #10 envelope to Waldo rf Asto ria SOUTHWEST AIRL INES SPIRIT SWEEPS/ Dece mber, Pace Communications, 1301 Carolina Street, Greensboro, NC 27401. The winner will be notified (by email, telephone and/or US mail). A detailed prize winner letter will be mailed within 21 days of notification. The winner is requested to sign off that the winner agrees with the rules of the contest. If the winner does not agree with the rules of the contest, or does not meet the requirements of eligibility to enter this contest, you will be excluded as a possible prize winner. Federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. The Approximate Retail Value of the prize package is $1,600. The winner will receive a 1099 IRS tax form. Void where prohibited by law, and all federal, state and local laws apply. Prizes are non refundable, non transferable, are not redeemable for cash, and may not be substituted. *Round-trip airfare for two included. Selected blackout dates may apply.

SweepSEnter to Win a Two-Night Stay at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Package for Two Includes:Two-Night Stay at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Two $50 gift cards to a Talk of the Town Restaurant

Two Tickets on Southwest Airlines • CourtesyofSouthwestAirlinesSpiritmagazine.

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