Ideas Exploring The Natural WondersOf Florida (NAPSA)—For families looking to “shore up” delightful vacation plans, a great place to start is Florida’s Gulf Coast. Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island, plus the nearby Bradenton area, offer plenty of fun-filled activities to enjoy, including: There are many ways to explore the scenic wonders of Florida’s Gulf Islands. The South Florida Museum, which tells the Florida story from prehistoric times to the space age. The Parker Manatee Aquarium, which houses Manatee County’s favorite citizen, Snooty. At 54 years, this 1,300-pound sea cow is the oldest manatee born in captivity. Interpretive programs on manatees are presented at the aquarium several times a day. Around the Bend Nature Tours, where kids big and small are invited to discover the secrets of the area’s rich Indian heritage and take a hands-on approach to learning about native plants and animals. The North River Ex- perience lets visitors catch the aura of the ancients on the temple mound of a Native American culture center and walk in the footsteps of a naturetrail. Ray’s Canoe Hideaway— Canoe and kayak adventures on the Upper Manatee River and in Emerson Point Preserve, where visitors can enjoy a wide variety of subtropical vegetation and an area still rich in wildlife, with herons, egrets, hawks, ospreys, otters, bobcats and turtles. To learn more about Florida’s Gulf Islands, write to the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 1000, Bradenton, FL 34206, call (800) 462-6283 or visit www.flagulfislands.com.
