Florida Salutes the Military

Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum

by Adele Woodyard

When the Armed Forces Day weekend arrives May 15-16, active and retired servicemen will have FREE entry to a variety of events around the state. But first I must start with a salute to a military museum that’s FREE, not only to our men and women in uniform, but to every citizen. Opened in1998, Camp Gordon Johnston World War II Museum is filled with memorabilia donated by rapidly disappearing veterans, or their families, from around the country. Located in the little Panhandle town of Carrabelle, Camp Gordon Johnston was built in 1942 to train soldiers and their support groups in amphibious landings. A quarter of a million men had left their mark on the Gulf and its beach before it closed in 1946. Video, oral and written records of their personal wartime experiences add to the large collection of WWII artifacts representing each branch of the U.S.armed services. 850-697-8575; http://www.campgordonjohnston.com

Another museum that features WWII , although it includes wars through Vietnam, is the Armed Forces Military Museum, in Largo (1/8/09 blog). Opened in August, 2008, it, like the Carrabelle museum, is an effort to preserve its heritage after founder John Piazza found his granddaughter didn’t know who Hitler was. Vivid dioramas, real tanks, troop carriers, and other vehicles, a realistic attack on Pearl Harbor, a French church that has a paratrooper stuck on its spire, a D-Day landing on Utah Beach, are some of the 3-D scenes that fill the 35,000 sq. ft. building. You know the people are mannequins, yet they breathe life into a history that should never be forgotten. 727-539-8371. http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com

May 1-31 is a whole month of FREEBIES for active, retired and reserved military at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City. A valid ID will admit you to a museum of 40 rare and vintage aircraft, many restored to flyable condition. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
863-984-3500; http://www.fantasyofflight.com .

Punta Gorda’s Military Heritage Museum is FREE for everyone and honors all branches of the Armed Forces. It’s over 30,000 artifacts and military memorabilia goes back to the Spanish-American War up to the mideast conflicts. The Museum will celebrate Armed Forces Day from 1-3 p.m., Sat. May 15. Located in Fishermen’s Village, a waterfront mall, you can also spend a day shopping, dining, even take a boat ride. 941-575-9002; http://www.mhaam.org

During the Armed Forces Day weekend, Naples Zoo welcomes active and retired military with ID for FREE. Enjoy a day with the animals, historic garden, shows, exhibits, and take a boat ride. Your family will have $2 off the regular price of $19.95 adult, $11.95 ages 3-12. 239-262-5409; http://www/napleszoo.org

Saturday, May 15: from 1-3 p.m. Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales presents special carillon concerts to celebrate Armed Forces Day. FREE to active, retired or disabled military with ID. 863-676-1408. http://www.boktowergardens.org

Spending the Night on the Road

by Adele Woodyard

As a travel writer, where  I spend the night while on a trip largely depends on if it’s with a media group or on my own. Either way it can be quite an adventure in itself. On someone else’s nickel, I’ve been tucked  into such places as a two-bedroom two bath condo on a beach; an ultra-upscale hotel room with marble bath and crystal chandelier; a former schoolhouse complete with lockers; and an 1800s two room shack, fortunately with modern bath.  But when it’s out of my own pocket, it’s a cheapie like Motel 6, or even better, a tent. Until that is, last week, when I drove to the Florida Panhandle and divided my nights between a cabin and a B& B.

Even as a tent camper I  thought of a cabin, if I considered it at all,  as a rustic building with few amenities, similar to one I was in as a kid. Vacationing  on Cape Cod, we had a hand pump at the sink for water, kerosene lamps for light, and an outhouse in the back yard. But it was on a lake, and I loved rowing a boat by myself in the early mornings, when the only sound was bird chirps and the swish of the oars.

Like that one, the log cabin I just rented for two nights on Lake Seminole has pine paneled walls, but that’s where the similarity ends. The Three Rivers State Park cabin has a fully equipped kitchen with microwave as well as a stove and refrigerator. Air conditioning, ceiling fans, bathroom with shower, a wood-burning fireplace,  bedroom with double bed, and a loft built for young kids–or adult midgets, make up the rest. The screened porch with its own table and two rocking chairs is the perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine and watch the sunset reflect on the lake. I may miss no Internet but no TV is a blessing. Only the whisper of  wind in the pines, the thunk of cones on the tin roof, break the silence.

RV’s and one tent are scattered beneath  the trees around us, visitors here for a weekend in search of largemouth bass. Located near the Georgia line, Lake Seminole is not a place for swimming. From the wooden piers at its edge, we can see long black shadows drifting beneath the surface, big gators looking for a meal at dusk.  “The babies stay pretty close to shore,” volunteer camp host Babbette tells us. “They hide in the reeds, and the mamas stay nearby.” We decide not to rent a canoe.

Florida boasts one of the top state parks systems in the nation. Over 21 million visitors enjoyed them in the fiscal year July 2008-2009, and 19 of the 60 or more with campgrounds have cabins. Though this one at Three Rivers State Park require guests to furnish their own linens, most come fully equipped and newest ones may even have a dishwasher. However, if you really want to rough it while you get away from it all, Hontoon Island on the St. Johns River offers only bare necessities, like an electric light and ceiling fan. The ones on Cayo Costa State Park, a barrier island near Fort Myers, have even less. Both parks are only accessible by private boat or island ferry.

My third night is spent in a B & B in Carrabelle, a town on the Gulf side of the Panhandle that calls itself the Forgotten Coast. With its double deck wraparound porches, white paint walls and hot pink trim, half-hidden by tall, tropical greenery, the  Old Carrabelle Hotel reminds me of Key West. That impression continues from the Monkey Bar lounge, upstairs to the four bedrooms. White wicker furniture, pink walls, blaze of flowers, soaps and tropical fish doodads, in my room and bath continues the color scheme. Of course, there’s a TV. Unlike the cabin, it’s in the center of a town convenient to everything, yet  so small there’s no traffic light.

Both the cabin and the hotel make excellent bases for day trips. At $72.48 ($65 + 11.5% taxes) for the cabin, high $70s – low $100s (depending on season) with breakfast vouchers, for the B&B, even the prices are comparable. My one regret in both cases, was that my stay had to be so very short.

www.floridastateparks.org/threerivers ; www.oldcarrabellehotel.com