A TRIP TO THE SUN

e [Music] there's always a friendly welcome and just to make certain it's more than a state of mind the government has established this Florida Welcome station testing the hospitality firsthand travel editor Carol West arrives in the sunny South Carol figures she wants to see for herself what she' talks about when making tour recommendations to her readers back home Carol learns the welcome is every bit as warm as the weather as Florida development commissioner Wendell Gerard arrives to dedicate the new state installation Silver Springs an early stop on the tour and a real surprise package the glass bottom boats are traditionally available for the curious and who doesn't want to examine the Underwater World here's a site for any fisherman who hasn't caught his legal limit Catfish by The Bushel newest addition to Florida's Silver Springs is the underwater theater through its many windows tourists frequently view the below surface film techniques of major television and Motion Picture producers industrial but still beautiful is Tampa the busy Hub of the state's West Coast the site of 650 major product manufacturers Tampa boasts modern hotels and transportation terminals of Excellence the city's deep waterer Harbor is a port of call for ships from All Nations the annual Gasparilla Pirate festival is one of the most colorful celebrations in the world hundreds of visitors block the Tampa each year to watch the exciting Pirate [Music] Invasion the inner self is is not neglected on the tour Carol visits a famous Tampa eating place lasn noades in 1890 at Cuban coffee and Spanish pastry rendevu it is now a cultural center of the area with a romantic old world [Music] environment a new look at St Petersburg the friendly Sunshine City of Green benches and Youthful golden agers here it's an honor to belong to the 3/4 century Club where 75-year-old youngsters play baseball Florida's Citrus industry contributes to the health of America as well as to the beauty of the state the miles of orange groves along the highways are a most Pleasant site while traveling a major point of Interest along the way is the mountain lake Sanctuary with its singing Tower at Lake Wales created as a retreat for the human and a harmonious setting for the tower a carolon presents melious recital the installation is a top Iron Mountain highest point of land in the Florida Peninsula a Tropical Paradise thanks to the hands of man and the consent of nature is Cypress Gardens in Central Florida [Music] the thrilling water ski show gives you action Galore featuring The aquam maads and champions in Precision routines and hij Jinks on the high jump la [Music] on the way of the smooth ribbon of highway is a Fame Gold Coast Miami beach with its multi-million dollar hotels its dedication to the pleasure seeking vacationist gems of glittering glass and marble with ornate facades that Dazzle the most sophisticated in Miami Beach and neighboring Miami the trend toward relaxation goes full swing after dark the top stars in the world of television motion picture and the theater make their frequent appearances here not far from the fabled beaches are other attractions meriting attention the Parrot Jungle at the serpentarium our travel editor wrestling with an 8ft black snake wonders if this isn't carrying things a bit too [Music] far A little more sedentary and relaxing is the sightseeing boat the quiet visit by water to the pretentious Estates of the wealthy is a relaxing change every year Miami offers one of the major sports attractions of the nation the Orange Bowl classic here Americans have their Sports fun in the sun another testimonial to American skill from an engineering and construction standpoint is the remarkable 116 M Overseas Highway to Tropical Key West this Southernmost city in the United States was first settled by men whose job was to fight pirates of the high seas with the demise of the pirate Key West residents made their living by going to the rescue of wrecked vessels salvaging cargo and craft and selling the Wares they [Music] acquired a visit to the martello towers at Key West is well worthwhile authorized by an act of Congress in 1845 as a military Bastion the construction of the towers was primarily a civil war project [Music] heading northward from the keys there are still other avenues of interest to explore on the tropical tour after a picturesque air conditioned ride North on East Florida's Gold Coast we arrive at Daytona Beach here the speed of many a stout Motorcar has been tested the hard packed Sands and the Wild expanses are lures for the heavy foot on the accelerator but Carol resists the temptation to speed as she tries out a special rented custom build Marine Studios sight of a most amazing display of live Denis of the deep here the undersea world can be viewed in conditions comparable to that of the Open Sea a 7 ton coral reef with sea fans Rock Grotto and caves creates a natural protection for the smaller fish there's no question about how good these porpuses are at play but really now can they talk that's the big question these days wherever the dolphin Dives ever since scientists began recording sessions of the grunts and whistles of the species the race is on to see who talks the most Mr porpus or Mrs and let not forget the other finny Fascinations here at Marine Studios like non-talking sharks and Carol's Newfound friend Moi the whale visitors rarely forget their arrival at St Augustine particularly when it involves negotiating the ancient Gates a couple of inches more and the bus would need a shoehorn something few persons realize is the fact that Florida is rooted in the past Carol has temporarily swapped the modern Scenic Cruiser for a bumpy ride past the oldest Schoolhouse in a horse and carriage that is very popular here St Augustine is the nation's oldest city with its narrow streets and quaint architecture the oldest house has seen life under four Flags Spanish English Confederate and American and of course there's the Fountain of Youth made famous by Juan ponon in his search for the elixir of life carrying on the tradition of his ancestors at the fountain of youth is James Augustine Pon who traces his lineage back 367 years to the Spanish explorer although Carol really doesn't need it she accepts Mr pont's invitation to sip of the Fountain of Youth Waters sort of an insurance policy you might say there are many points of interest in this park around the fountain they include the large Indian burial ground a historical space globe and a planetarium all surrounded by beautiful subtropical [Music] Gardens no visit to St Augustine would be complete without a tour of the Castillo a mighty Citadel which offered Refuge to the early Spanish seers it served as a defense against frequent attack for more than a century and a half Behind These Walls during the 1700s women brought their children to sleep in safety from The Savage raids of [Music] Indians there's nothing like winding up a busy tour with a relaxing episode at one of Florida's most modern [Music] cities high above the busy streets of Jacksonville is the Robert Meers rooftop pool Carol takes it easy before she remembers her responsibilities as a travel editor it's been an eventful 11 days jam-packed with fun and activity and well planned Carol's satisfied she knows what her number one recommendation will be to her readers back home who rely on her for advice and help it will be fabulous Florida as seen in Rolling comfort from the windows of an airconditioned Greyhound Scenic Cruiser