November 2019 – February, 2020 ~ Once we decided to spend the winter in Florida, we got to work finding a campground. We decided to try Tropic Isle Co-op in Palmetto, FL. The RV Park is mostly semi-permanent structures, with empty lots scattered here and there for mobile RVs. The spaces are tight, but Scott got us expertly parked. Our lot happened to be grass with a small concrete pad where the stairs out of the RV end up. From the day we got parked up, I was nervous on how were were going to get safely out of there…both because we are a heavy RV and would be sitting on a soft surface for months, and because of the tightness of the roads in the park. The BLUF on that is Scott got us out as expertly as he got us in.
The Tropic Isle Co-op is a 55+ park with daily activities. It seemed like a very active place, and golf carts were the main mode of transportation in the park. The park also has a marina, although we never saw a single person take out a boat! Our site was just a few sites down from the water. Below are some pictures of the Co-op. The first picture is of our site after pulling out the RV. Notice the deep rut!
We ended up having really nice neighbors both next to us and in back of us. The guy in the mobile home next to us was interested in space and told us when and where to try and observe rocket launches from right in front of our rig. He ended up moving in the middle of the night and skipping out on his rent though. Weird! The couple in a fifth wheel in back of us were campground owners from Canada wintering in Florida. One day we went on a bike ride and out to dinner with them. Shortly before we left the Co-op, they had us over for dessert and conversation around the fire pit. We got their contact information and hope to visit their campground in the future.
Our favorite things to do in Palmetto were ride our ebikes and eat out. Preferably, ride our ebikes to a place to eat. That’s how we like to roll. Usually, we would start our rides with a visit to Emerson Point Preserve which was an easy ride from our rig. Emerson Point Preserve is on Snead Island and is where the Manatee River meets the Gulf. There is a paved, shared use trail which takes the rider from the entrance to the beach. There are also hiking trails, some of which are accessible to mountain bikes.
We saw quite a variety of birds, animals and sea life during our visits there.
On the way into the park, there is a dead tree. If there were such a need, this tree would be the type specimen of dead trees. It is the dead tree by which I shall forever judge all other dead trees. It is spectacular.
Bonus points awarded for VULTURES being on the dead tree!
One day, I noticed that a large sandstone rock that I had walked by many times actually contained a fossil. The light must have been just right that day to make it stand out.
Our favorite place to eat at was called Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, mostly for the view and atmosphere. Whether driving or riding our bikes there, we preferred the outdoor seating with views of the Manatee River. The tables were both covered and uncovered, so it is suitable for any type of weather.
Florida has done a clever thing with their bridges. When it comes time to build a new bridge over a body of water, Florida sometimes saves the old bridge, or parts of it, and turns it into a fishing pier. Some are even state parks with facilities. We rode our bikes frequently to a fishing bridge in Palmetto over the Manatee river. There were always people there fishing. There is a convenient parking lot at the beginning of the bridge and no vehicles are allowed on this particular bridge. I have seen other fishing bridges that vehicles can drive on.
One day we visited Ybor City. To be honest, it was kind of a “nothing burger” to me. Maybe it was because we could not hook up with a guided tour that day. Maybe it was because it was a week day. Maybe it was because chain bars, restaurants and entertainment venues seem to have taken over the area and I found it hard to get the vibe of what the place was like back in the day. Whatever the reason, I’ve been there and done that…no need to go back.
Ybor City was founded by Vincente Martinez-Ybor. Mr Martinez-Ybor had opened his first cigar factory in Cuba in 1852. He fled Cuba after his support for Cuban independence made things uncomfortable for him there. He then opened another cigar factory in Key West, FL. He relocated to Tampa where, in 1885 , he purchased 40 acres. Eventually Ybor City came to be known as “the Cigar Capital of the World.”
One interesting place we did find in Ybor City was Jose Marti Park. The park is dedicated to the memory of Jose Marti, a Cuban revolutionary, and is situated near the house he resided in when in Ybor City. The park is gated, but we were lucky enough to find the gates wide open. The park is the only piece of land in the U.S. ever ceded to a foreign country. Jose Marti Park is officially Cuban soil and is under Cuban jurisdiction. In fact, soil from Cuba was incorporated into the park.
Lastly in Ybor City, we passed the Columbia Restaurant. The restaurant was founded in 1905 and is the oldest and largest Spanish restaurant in the U.S. Originally opened as a cafe for cigar makers, it remains in the management of the founding family…the Hernandez’s.
Before the restaurant existed, there was a water trough for horses at this location, the intersection of Seventh Ave and 22nd Street. This road connected three army camps during the Spanish-American War in 1989. The Rough Riders rode through here to water their horses at the trough. COL Teddy Roosevelt often rode through here.
All in all, we loved our winter in Palmetto, FL. The bike riding was fabulous, and the opportunities to fish were plentiful. The weather was very pleasant, as were the people. This stay was the longest we have ever stayed in one location, we were never bored and hated to leave.
Years ago, we lived in Orlando, FL. I grew to hate Florida then…bugs, crime, heat, traffic. This winter in Palmetto has shown me what attracts so many people to this state…and I can’t wait to visit again. Only in the winter though, lol.