IWNA

then. So, too, has this beautiful grand dame, which opened in 1926

to a glamorous turnout after a staggering $1.2 million construction.

Now, as it was back in the roaring ’20s, going to the movies is

an event. Gargoyles grimace, goddesses preen, and a cotton

candy–colored sky — not unlike the area sunsets — fades to black

as the screen comes alive and stars twinkle overhead. Classics

that debuted as new releases often return to the screen here, along

with all kinds of the latest indie productions. Special events are held

regularly and musical guests appear, as well.

Some visitors are content to explore on their own before and

after a show. Others want to learn more about the building’s storied

history. For them, a Balcony-To-Backstage tour is in order. On

these 90-minute forays, guests investigate the building’s arguably

overwhelming art and architecture, an amalgam that includes

Greek revival and Baroque among others. Guides recant stories of

glamour and ghostly intrigue (it seems a former employee just can’t

seem to leave his post), and everybody delights in a demonstration

of the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Organ’s piped prowess. Tour tickets

are $7.50 for adults, $5 for kids 2 to 12.

Artists throughout history have pondered the realization of Eden,

its lush flora an idyllic and fertile backdrop to countless visual inter-

pretations. St. Petersburg’s own

Sunken Gardens

conjures much

of the same imagery. It’s billed as the city’s oldest living museum, a

4-acre paradise where, if you allow it, time and technology cease

and the primordial essence of the subtropics permeates the soul.

How could it not? Exotic plants, tranquil waterfalls, and the

heady perfume of its countless flowers engulf the visitors who

wend their way along its paths. And for all-around nature lovers, a

few animal species may inject a bit of extra fun and discovery

(especially for any children you might have in tow). Sunken

Gardens’ residents include birds and fish — though after some

time spent meandering you might not be surprised to see a fairy

or elf cavorting amid the roots and lily pads.

Grease, Gourmand & On-The-Go

If you like your cars and music classic, your onion rings crispy, and

your hoops decidedly hula, you’ll want to check out

Biff-

Burger

, a St. Pete fixture and last-of-its-kind throwback to the

chain that rose to popularity with the expanding car culture of the

1950s and ’60s.

IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD Spring 2015

G. Louis; G. Louis; Kirsco

Southern Exposure

A little farther down the coast, Sarasota’s splendid

waterfront awaits — and often with less tourist

traffic than its northern neighbors. You could eas-

ily while away the hours with a sun-splashed stroll

on Siesta Key’s top-rated beach, but The Ringling

complex is a three-ring haven for art, history, and

architecture buffs, and certainly is worth an

extended visit.

And southward in Fort Myers, the brilliance of

American icons Thomas Edison and Henry Ford are

on tap. Both built winter homes here, now comin-

gled into a 20-acre compound featuring botanical

gardens, research laboratories, and more. Indeed,

nine historic buildings throughout the Edison & Ford

Winter Estates offer a glimpse into the lives of two

of the world’s most famous inventors.

Be dazzled by the sprawling terrace and

ornate rooms of The Ringling Ca’ d’Zan,

the gilded mansion of the Ringling family.