Winston Churchill Museum - Fulton, Missouri

Museum entrance is under the church

On the grounds of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri you will find a wonderful museum.  The National Churchill Museum is worth taking a short detour off of the highway.  The museum is tucked under the beautiful Church of St Mary the Virgin which dates back to the 17th century!  The church was not originally in Fulton, but moved from London and reconstructed stone by stone at the present site.  It was designed by Christopher Wren and features an original Wren pulpit and hand crafted tracker organ.  The facility is available to rent for weddings and other events.

Adjacent to the museum is the walk through sculpture "Breakthrough" which was created from 8 sections of the actual Berlin Wall and designed by Churchill's granddaughter - Edwina Sandy.

Winston Churchill delivered his well known 'Iron Curtain' speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri on March 5, 1946.  The exhibits in the museum will take you from his childhood years through the Cold War and beyond.  Visitors will experience sights and sounds from different periods.  Many artifacts and personal items are included in the detailed displays and rooms including some of Churchill's artwork.

The museum is open daily 10 am - 4:30 pm (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day)
Admission is $6.00 with discounts available for seniors, AAA, AARP, college students and children.
There is a gift shop, scout programs and public programs.   www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org

While in Titusville, Florida - The US Space View Park

Just around the corner from the Space Walk of Fame museum is Space View park.  Take some time to explore this small area.  There are different sections with monuments to the space mission programs.  You can see the vehicle assembly building across the causeway - this is a great area to view a launch from.  There is a dock, restrooms and benches to enjoy the Florida sun and watch the seabirds.

The idea for this park was conceived in 1988 by a local physician to preserve the history of the US Space Program.   The city of Titusville liked the idea and the first section was dedicated in July of 1994. 

The Mercury missions area includes bronze hand prints of 6 of the original 7 astronauts and was completed in May of 1997.

The Gemini monument was dedicated in November of 1997. 

In July of 1999 (30 years after the Apollo 11 liftoff) the Apollo monument was started.  This area was completed and dedicated in July 2009.

The Space Shuttle program area is due to be completed this spring 2013. 

Take a little time to explore this park area and remember those who made our space program great!

U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum - Titusville, Florida

A small building that is packed with history!

Don't just drive through Titusville on your way to the Kennedy Space Center....stop and find out about the history of the space program from those who actually were part of it for FREE!!  The US Space Walk of Fame Museum is open 6 days a week, non-profit, run by volunteers and did we mention FREE?!  Staff includes space workers - engineers, managers, enthusiasts and retired pioneers of space exploration.  You will hear personal stories from those who worked behind the scenes of America's space program.  They refer to the exhibit as "the working man's museum".

The exhibits are personal items from many people - organized into mission rooms.  You will see Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle memorabilia along with items from the Russian space program and Fire/Rescue items.  There is a room filled with actual launch control consoles that are wired and lighted from complex 36A.  Kids enjoy finding the emergency switch and seeing what happens when it is used!

Take some time to talk to the workers at the museum.  They have a wealth of knowledge and great stories to tell about the space program.  There are special events occasionally and you might meet an actual astronaut.  Check out their website www.spacewalkoffame.com and favorite it on face book.

The museum is funded by donations and sale of items in the gift shop.  Buy a few souvenirs or make a donation to keep them going for years to come.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument - St Augustine, Florida

During busy times there are reenactors who talk about the history of the fort and times

St Augustine is a great city to explore in northeast Florida.  It is the oldest continuously occupied European established settlement and port in the continental United States.  Take the trolley tour to see many of the areas of interest without having to drive and park - or explore on your own the places that you like.   The fort is a must see while in St Augustine.  There is an admission charge of $7 per adult, kids 15 and under are free.  This is another opportunity to use your National Parks Pass or Golden Access pass if you have them.  www.nps.gov/casa

Those are some tight sleeping quarters

The Castillo de San Marcos is a masonry star fort (named for it's shape) and made of a stone called coquina.  This stone is made of ancient shells bonded together - similar to limestone.  Construction began in 1672 and possession of the fort changed 6 times.  Four different governments controlled the fort during different periods of history - the Spanish Empire, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Confederate States of America and the United States of America.

The tours are self guided and include some stair climbing and walking on uneven surfaces.  There is a short movie to watch and different rooms with displays to view.  It is hard to imagine how people lived in these close quarters.  Climb to the top of the wall to see great view of Matanzas Bay and displays of historic cannons.   There is a gift shop and restrooms available - many restaurants are within a few blocks walk of the fort.

Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge - Sanibel, Florida

When visiting Sanibel Island, make sure to stop by the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  Here you will find a visitor center with displays about the flora and fauna of the island plus information about the history of this refuge.  Learn about who J.N. "Ding" Darling was and what he did to protect the wildlife.   The information counter can give you tips on exploring the refuge, copies of guides and brochures, coloring booklets for the kids and more!  There is a geocache trail with questions you answer to earn a prize (and they will loan you a GPS with instructions)!   The gift shop has a wide assortment and all proceeds are used at the refuge.  The wildlife center is free to explore and a great place to start your visit of this refuge.

  There is a wildlife drive which was fun and informative.  It is a one-way, 4 mile drive which has an admission fee of $5 per car.  You can also bike the loop for $1 per person (kids are free).  Tarpon Bay Explorers rent bikes, kayaks, canoes and offer guided tours if you don't want to do the driving.  Their information and ticket booth is in the center of the parking lot by the visitor center.   There is one rest area on the drive and no vendors - so bring your own snacks and drinks if you plan on spending some time exploring.   If you have a smart phone there are QR codes along the road to scan and you can listen to short explanations about the area and wildlife.   There are places to stop and fish (if you have the equipment and license) which seemed to popular when we were there.

The Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge is a great place to try and spot many of the different species of birds that are found on Sanibel Island. 

 

 

 

 

Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum - Sanibel, Florida

Shells from around the world

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is a great way to spend a few hours while visiting Sanibel.  Perhaps you would like to get out of the sun (or rain) for a while, identify your beach finds, learn about how and why the shells are formed or just look at the shells - it is a small museum packed with a wealth of information.  Admission charge is $9 for adults, kids 5-16 are $5, 4 and under are free.  Hours are 10-5 daily - they are closed on most major holidays.

Who doesn't love to find out what can kill you in the ocean?!

This museum has more than 30 exhibits of mollusks from around the world and an extensive collection of local varieties. Shells are shown in art, history and you can view specimens both common and rare.  There is a video about the life of mollusks that runs on the hour - it is interesting and we learned a lot, but watching the 'fastest' mollusk move is rather like watching paint dry.

I never knew that scallops came in so many colors!

There are exhibits showing how shells have been used in history - from tools, trade and decorations used by the native people of the area to the elaborate Sailor's Valentines that were made by men at sea as gifts for their sweethearts back home.

 

 

There is a children's hands on area with a tank of local mollusks, activities and a video to watch.  Ask when entering the museum for the scavenger hunt listing.  Kids answer questions and are rewarded with a shell specimen to keep.

A small gift shop is on site - but oddly enough they don't sell shells!  The museum is a  non-profit organization and offers some great items for teachers and classrooms at nominal costs.  Check the website for more information and enjoy your shelling on Sanibel!  www.shellmuseum.org

 

Sanibel Island, Florida - a shelling vacation

Sanibel and Captiva islands are located just off the coast of Ft Meyers, Florida and a great place to enjoy the beach - especially if you like to find seashells.   There are many places to stay on the islands (hotels, condos, private homes) and public beaches available if you want to come over for the day.  In order to enjoy the island you must take the Sanibel Causeway bridge and pay a $6.00 toll.  Once on the island be prepared to pay for parking ($2/hr) and during peak times - the lots can be full.  Stop by the visitor center when you arrive and they will be glad to give you maps, information about places to stay, restaurants, shops, things to do, shelling and more!

Lighthouse beach on a weekend in October

Most people come to Sanibel for a relaxing vacation - walking on the beach, bird watching, reading, shelling, fishing, swimming and biking.  There is a 'laid back' type of attitude here with a small town feel.  Regulations prohibit new construction over 2 stories so no mega malls or huge resorts are here.  What IS here are 15 miles of beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, 230 kinds of birds and 250 types of shells and NO stoplights!  Public access to the beaches have paid parking, restrooms and some have showers and picnic areas.  There are a few rules to using the beaches: pets must be leashed and cleaned up after (no pets on Captiva beaches allowed), alcoholic beverages prohibited Nov-May, no open fires and no collecting of live shells.  Bring your own food, drinks, sunscreen, umbrellas, toys etc.  There are no vendors on the beach but many stores close by in case you forgot something.

One of the public fishing piers - lots of birds looking for an easy meal

Shelling is the main reason people come to Sanibel.  Tide charts are available so you can get out when the tides are the lowest and the shelling in the best.  Bring your bucket or bag and get ready to do the 'Sanibel Stoop' (walking bent over looking at the shells).  The island has some of the best shelling in the world because of it's unique east-west orientation as a barrier island.  One of our favorite places to shell was the lighthouse beach.  The Point Ybel Lighthouse was built in 1884 and an easy landmark to orient yourself to the layout of the island.  We rented a condo just a mile from the lighthouse and biked there most mornings.

Sanibel is a great place to enjoy a relaxing vacation or visit for the day to find some shells.  The USA Today lists Sanibel and Captiva as one of the 10 great places for families to escape the snow!  More information about the areas can be found on www.sanibel-captiva.org and they also have live online chat to help you with information about the area.