After the Second Seminole War, in 1843, Major Robert Gamble took advantage of the Armed Occupation Act and claimed 160 acres along the Manatee River to establish a sugar plantation. It took six long years to build his mansion, but it still stands today as the oldest building in Manatee County and the only surviving antebellum mansion in South Florida. While the mansion survived, Gamble couldn't recover from the plantation's crop losses and falling sugar prices. He sold the estate and returned to Tallahassee. Eventually a portion of the land and the mansion was deeded to the State of Florida, where today it is part of Florida's state park system and open for tours.

• Gamble Plantation Historic State Park Review
• Gamble Plantation State Park Photo Tour

If you haven't been keeping up with this summer's Florida State Park series, "Nature's Theme Parks," take a look at the park's that have been covered so far: Amelia Island State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, Hillsborough River State Park, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park and Ybor City Museum State Park.

^{Photo © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}

Seven days, seven attractions and one unbeatable price add up to an incredible vacation value for Florida residents! Seven attractions and museums in Central Florida's Polk County have teamed up to help Florida residents s-t-r-e-t-c-h their vacation dollars, giving them unlimited visits for seven consecutive days to some of Central Florida's most popular attractions, including Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, Fantasy of Flight and Bok Tower Gardens. In addition you will have seven days of unlimited access to Explorations V Children's Museum, Florida Air Museum, Polk Museum of Art and the Water Ski Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Central Florida Play Pass is just $69.95 (plus tax) for adults and $39.95 (plus tax) for children (ages 3-9). You can purchase the Central Florida Play Pass online at www.VisitCentralFlorida.org/sc or by calling 1-800-828-7655 or visiting Central Florida's official information center, located 1/2 mile south of Interstate 4 (Exit 55) on Highway 27. Also, AAA members can save an additional $5 off adult passes and $2 off children's passes online or stopping by any AAA office. Offer ends September 30, 2008.

^{Photo of Cypress Gardens © Dawn Henthorn, licensed to About.com}