I stopped because I always see the sign for it on 1-75 south. Come for the mansion, stay for the…read morewalking around the grounds. Walking around is free.

Surprisingly nice little state park to visit in Ellenton…read more This is a 1840s antebellum mansion that was donated by the Daughters of the Confederacy in 1925 to the state of Florida. The remaining grounds are a state park with open space, picnic tables, and even small BBQ pits. There's a small museum (free) in the visitor's center. And for $6, you can get a 30 minute tour of the mansion. I was prepared for anything with the tour, but it was actually lovely and informative. We were able to see all the restored rooms in the mansion, and while none of the contents are original to the Gamble (or Patten) days, they are contemporaneous, and the state ranger was able to provide information about how people in the 1800s did things without the technology we have now. He also was well versed in how many idioms came to be, like "sleep tight" or "pop goes the weasel." While the tour guide did not overtly decry slavery, he did not glorify the old plantation ways, which I appreciated. Overall, this was a nice way to use up an hour in Manatee County, and I learned a bit about 1800s domestic life.

The correct name for this historic site is the Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble…read morePlantation Historic State Park but the right name is too long for Yelp. This is one of Florida's 175 State Parks. Florida has one of the largest State Park systems in the country and includes nearly 800,000 acres and 100 miles of beach. The Florida State Park System is the first four-time winner of the Gold Medal honoring the nation's best state park system. This State Park in Ellenton contains the only surviving plantation house in South Florida. In 1843 Major Robert Gamble established a sugar plantation in a remote region along the Manatee River. It took six years to build the Gamble Plantation. Gamble was a bachelor but he built a lavish for the times 10-room, two-story mansion with two feet thick tabby walls and wide shaded verandas wrapping around three sides of the house. Gamble only operated the plantation for 12 years and left for good in 1856 due to sinking sugar prices. After the Civil War it is thought that Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin hid out here after the fall of the Confederacy. Benjamin was a prominent Jewish New Orleans plantation owner and a trusted confidante of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. At the Gamble Plantation he was helped by Archibald McNeil, a blockade runner who secured his passage to the Bahamas before he escaped to England. In 1925, the house and 16 acres of land were saved by the United Daughters of the Confederacy who restored the house and and donated to the state. The jewel of the park is the mansion which you can tour six times a day ,Thursday through Monday for $6. In addition to the Gamble Mansion the visitors center has a small museum with exhibits and a few objects from the Civil War. One of the most moving displays is a Census Bureau document listing the enslaved people on the plantation by name. During the tour park Ranger Jesse mentions it with a pledge "We know their names and we honor every one of them." Also in the park is the 1895 Patten House, a pioneer farmhouse also preserved and maintained by the United Daughters of the Confederacy but not open for tours during our visit. Other park amenities include picnic tables, benches, and restrooms. The visitor center is open from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 12:45 to 5 p.m., Thursday through Monday; it is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Looks pretty cool. Would love to be able to get in to see all the markers but all gates are closedread more

This archaeological site in Manatee county is in need of some love. The signs are faded, hard to…read moreread, or vague. There are 2 parking spots, but I guess that's ok, it doesn't seem to be heavily visited. The mound is literally in front of several people's homes, which means something, I'm sure. One picnic table, an In need of repair earthen stairway that leads to the top of the mound and 3 signs of any significance. Seems maybe there could be more.

Madira Bickell Mounds is a nice place off the beaten path to have a picnic. It is nestled in a…read moreresidential area which unfortunately has been built upon an archeologically rich area. What remains is the small area and the preserved mound used by Native Americans. The park itself is very small, and the mound is overgrown by vegetation and is hard to see. There are some signs that provide information about the historical significance of the mounds. This is not a major stop of a state park. It is very small and is best suited for anyone who does have an interest in the historical aspects of the park.

I often bring our grandson here and he absolutely loves it. I love watching him get excited about…read morebooks. All of the Manatee County Libraries have been amazing. I've heard they are going to be revamping this branch and changing up the children's area so I am excited for that!

Very friendly staff here and it is easy to request books from other branches. Funny to say out loud…read morebut this branch seems to offer more large print books than normal size font books. I experienced that mistake once and learned my lesson! Yikes, knock wood, not ready for that option yet.... Appreciate that you can drop off food donations for the Manatee food bank and donate books for the library book sale. Last weekend, there were plenty of kiddos enjoying a Saturday morning activity which was fun to see their enjoyment. This branch seems to offer many community activities, posted on their outdoor marquee, which is appreciated.

This is marker commemorates the history of Mr. Beall and his shop that became Bealls. His civic…read moreroll in bringing the Cardinals to town for spring training is also noted.

This was such a great experience! We did the Murder Mystery ride and it was amazing! The…read morecharacters were engaging and involved the audience in solving the murder in a fun way. The staff was friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious! Highly recommend this experience!

We had high expectations for the North Pole Express at the Florida Railroad Museum, but…read moreunfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The weather was extremely poor, which significantly affected the event, yet it still went on without any real adjustments or consideration for guest comfort. Long waits in the cold and rain, general disorganization, and a lack of clear direction made the evening stressful rather than enjoyable -- especially for families with children. The overall experience did not come close to what was advertised or priced. When we reached out afterward, customer service was slow and unresponsive, and a refund was denied despite the circumstances. The alternative offered was a future-use gift card, which isn't helpful if you're unable to return. To make matters worse, the amount offered didn't even match what we actually paid. Between the event itself and the way concerns were handled afterward, this was a frustrating and disappointing experience. We would not recommend this event based on how it was run and how customer issues were addressed.