13208 State Rd. 72, Sarasota FL, 941-361-5511
Myakka River State Park Website
As of July 1, 2020, some but not all amenities are open at this park. Call before visiting 941-361-5511.
Heading south from St. Petersburg on the way to surprise the parents in Labelle, Myakka River State Park is my favorite of Florida's gorgeous state parks. The wilds and the camping facilities here are a pleasure. Business first: the roads of the campground and campsite number 84 are well-paved and spacious all around, back-in, with water, electric and sewer, plus grill, fire pit and sun, shade and some privacy behind trees. Next-door was a nice, clean shower facility with I think laundry. All the facilities were top-notch. Because we had to stop for a new battery in Port Charlotte (a story that will definitely be told) we arrived at night. We're still getting the timing thing down. But no matter, the cool campground host helped us back into the spot (another thing we're still learning).
Next day, Mab took a walk that ended up being a 5K because the park road and the park itself stretch for miles. The entire park is 58 square miles. Along the way she spotted gators. Later we went along the large accessible birdwalk, beautifully built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, overlooking the river floodplain (looks like a lake) to see the sunset as well as waterbirds and nearby wild hogs. Make sure you check out the website, because there's a lot to do that we didn't even touch, like water activities, wheelchair-accessible wildlife tours by boat and tram, and a canopy walkway above the treetops.
Great moment that night: at the end of the day we went to unwind at a ranger program of Florida tall tales. It was held in a small cabin built by the CCC, so all around was tight, superb woodwork. The guys were goosenecking through the whole program, wanting to climb up there and eat the wood or something. A ranger and a volunteer read Dave Barry and other Florida writers.
Finally the volunteer got up to talk about Bertha Palmer, and Mab and I looked at one another. Earlier on a map I found a Bertha Palmer homestead located on the far side of the park, miles away. That was the name of someone we both knew of, a socialite in Chicago a century ago, who helped start a lot of the things that millions of people still enjoy today, like the museums. Potter Palmer, her husband, established the famous downtown hotel, the Palmer House. We'll check into it later, we decided.
That night, listening to the volunteer's story, it turned out to be one and the same person. Bertha Palmer was vacationing in Sarasota (I forget, but it may have been after her husband passed away) and bought some land in Florida. She started growing rubber and it turned into a big industry for the area. Eventually she donated the lands, which became Myakka River State Park. Then came the funny part. At the end they asked where everybody was from, and when we said Chicago they asked if we already knew of Bertha Palmer. Mab is modest, so I just had to tell everyone that she is an actress (retired) and on one of her jobs she researched Bertha Palmer, looks, personality, history, everything. So here was one of their visitors who actually played Bertha Palmer. What are the odds? They will never hear that one again, for sure.
Life is a lot more interesting when you get out there meeting people. Can't wait to hit the road again.
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