History and nature come together at the Hernando De Soto National Memorial in Brandenton, FL. Don't confuse this site with the Fort De Soto Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. The National Park Service (NPS) operates this memorial. The government authorized the memorial in 1948 to keep the story of Spanish conquistador and exploration.
When we travel to new regions, we like to talk about the unique plants to the area. Just getting out of the car, you will see a Gumbo Limbo tree, native to Southern Floridan and the Caribbean. When you go into the visitors center, you can dress up in armor and watch a short film about the Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto. You'll appreciate the no cost entrance.
He began exploring at an early age of 14, taking a trip from Spain to Panama. He served Balboa and partnered with Hernan Ponce de Leon. De Soto traveled from Spain to Cuba to Florida with nine ships and 600 soldiers. As one of the earliest European explorers of North America, his expedition landed on Florida's west coast in 1539.
Fortunate timing allowed us to visit Camp Uzita, the living history camp operating December to April. Men in period costumes provided in-depth demonstrations, taking us through time while demonstrating different weapons.
After hearing the history, we took the half-mile trail on the south shore of the Manatee River. NPS places history stories along the trail. You might also see animals such as birds, fiddler crabs, pelicans and gulls, egrets, and herons. Beyond the mangroves, you will see the water. The park includes a small beach called Cove Beach. We had good timing. During the week, we walked along the shore as the only family exploring. Another great time to visit is during one of their fishing clinics (age 7 and up) or a 1.5 hour ranger led kayak tour. Visit the NPS website for event information and keep exploring.
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