Tampa Florida
Florida Road Trip with Kids: Gardens, Urban Farms, and the People Who Built Things for Strangers
Welcome to Day 11
If you’re looking for things to do with kids near Lake Wales and Tampa Florida, this day is the quietest and most unexpectedly generous day of our entire trip. A tower built as a gift to a country by a man who came here with almost nothing. An urban farm growing food in the middle of a city for families who need it most. A four-mile sidewalk built so strangers could walk beside the water together. Everything we saw today was built for someone else.
If your kids are reading Ethan and Oliver Adventures: Florida Beneath the Surface, Day 11 is where Oliver says something about compost that turns out to be about renewal, and where Ethan connects all three farms from the whole trip in one quiet observation about roots that go where nobody can see them.
Day 11 Itinerary Overview: Lake Wales to Tampa, Florida
Total Drive Time: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours across the day Activity Time: 7 to 8 hours
Stop 1: Bok Tower Gardens — Lake Wales
Website: Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales FL
What to Expect: The entrance path curves between ancient oaks whose roots wove through the grass like hands pressed flat into the earth. Spanish moss swayed from the branches in long grey curtains. The gardens opened on both sides — azaleas, camellias, magnolias in bloom, and small clusters of cheerful yellow coreopsis along the path edges.
Oliver’s pencil was already moving. Got it! Coreopsis — state wildflower!
Ethan looked over. I already found the mockingbird AND the sabal palm.
Their competition wound through the garden, good-natured and slightly ridiculous, and somehow made the beauty of the place feel more alive rather than less.
Then they turned the final bend and the tower appeared.
205 feet of pale coquina and marble rising from the highest ridge in peninsular Florida — elegant and unhurried against the clearing sky. Both boys stopped talking at the same moment.
Mom read from a placard nearby: Make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.
Dad explained it. Edward Bok was a Dutch immigrant who came to America with almost nothing. He made his life here. And when he had enough, he built this — not for himself, for everyone.
Oliver looked at the tower. Then at the gardens stretching in every direction. Then back at the tower.
He just gave it?
He just gave it, Mom said.
The carillon bells began — soft, measured, melodic notes floating out across the ridge. The sound did something to the air. It made you want to breathe more slowly.
Ethan stood completely still with his eyes half closed. This is beautiful, he said. It wasn’t a performance. It was just true.
On the walk back Ethan said quietly: This place was built for people who weren’t born yet when it was built. Bok never met us. But he made something for us anyway.
Mom looked at him. That’s what legacy means.
NPS Stamp: No — but the gardens themselves are a Historic Landmark
Educational Tie-In:
- Florida State Wildflower: Coreopsis — blooming along the garden paths
- Florida State Tree: Sabal Palm — visible throughout the grounds
- Florida State Flower: Orange Blossom — the chapter’s opening conversation
- Edward Bok — Dutch immigrant, Pulitzer Prize winner, philanthropist
- The carillon — what it is, how it works, and why Bok chose it
- Legacy and generosity — building something for people you will never meet
STEM Tie-In: The carillon bells are a perfect entry point for discussions about acoustics — how do large bells produce specific pitches, how does sound travel across an open landscape, and what is the relationship between bell size and tone? The tower’s coquina construction connects directly back to the Castillo de San Marcos from Day 7.
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Stand beneath the tower and listen to the bells for five full minutes without talking. Then write: what did Edward Bok build this for? Who did he build it for? Then write: what is something you could build, create, or give that would outlast you?
Faith Connection: Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Bok built a tower and a garden and gave them to the country because he believed the world could be more beautiful. That impulse — to make something generous and lasting — is a reflection of a God who created beauty as a gift.
Practical Tips:
- Paid admission — worth it
- The gardens peak in late winter and early spring — azaleas and camellias are spectacular January through March
- The carillon concerts happen daily — check the schedule before visiting
- Allow 2 to 3 hours — the gardens reward slow walking
- The visitor center has excellent exhibits on Edward Bok’s life and work
- Great for all ages — stroller accessible on most paths
Stop 2: Meacham Urban Farm — Tampa
Website: Meacham Urban Farm, Tampa FL
What to Expect: Inside the gate the sounds of the street retreated and something greener took over. Raised beds overflowed with leafy greens, tomatoes, herbs, and fruit trees arranged in every available inch of space with the focused creativity of people who had decided the middle of a city deserved life too.
Kacey, the farm manager, walked them through and explained the mission as they went. Fresh produce isn’t equally available everywhere. Some neighborhoods have grocery stores nearby. Others don’t. Urban farms help fill that gap.
So it’s not just about the plants, Ethan said.
It’s never just about the plants, Kacey said. It’s about people. Access. Dignity. The idea that everyone deserves fresh food regardless of their zip code.
Oliver crouched near the compost station and peered in.
What’s happening in there?
Old food scraps, yard waste, coffee grounds breaking down into rich soil that feeds next season’s crops.
Oliver stared at it for a long moment. So old things become new soil.
That’s exactly what compost is.
Oliver sat with that. That’s like a second chance.
Kacey looked at him. That’s a really beautiful way to put it.
Ethan looked back at the beds one more time. We’ve visited three farms on this trip, he said slowly. They all looked different. But they’re all doing the same thing underground. He paused. Roots. You can’t always see roots. But nothing stands without them.
Dad looked at both boys. You know what the strongest root system is? When your foundation is God — not circumstances, not what the world says is possible — you can grow anywhere. Even here.
Oliver looked at the compost bin. Then at the vertical garden wall. Then out at the street beyond the fence where the city kept moving without knowing what was growing just inside it.
So God is like the soil, he said.
Mom smiled. He’s better than the soil. He’s what makes the soil work.
Oliver considered this. So if your roots go into Him…
Nothing can pull you up, Ethan said quietly.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Urban agriculture — how farms function inside cities and why they matter
- Food access and food deserts — what happens when fresh produce isn’t available in a neighborhood
- Composting — the science of decomposition and soil renewal
- Vertical gardening — making use of limited space creatively
- Community plots — shared stewardship of shared resources
- The three-farm thread — connecting Wesley Wells, the farm near Kennedy, and Meacham
STEM Tie-In: Composting is chemistry made visible — what organisms are involved in decomposition, what conditions accelerate or slow the process, and how the resulting humus differs from regular soil. The vertical garden walls are a lesson in space optimization and plant physiology — what do plants need from their environment and how can those needs be met in non-traditional configurations?
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Draw the compost bin. Label what goes in and what comes out. Then write: what in your life has broken down and become something new? Then draw the vertical garden wall and label how it uses space that would otherwise be empty.
Faith Connection: Jeremiah 17:7-8 — “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.” Meacham grows food in the middle of concrete because someone decided to plant roots in unpromising ground. That is what faith looks like in practice — not waiting for ideal conditions but growing where you are.
Practical Tips:
- Check the farm’s website or social media for visiting hours
- Community volunteer days are often available — a meaningful way to participate rather than just observe
- Allow 1 to 1.5 hours
- The farm market may have produce available — bring cash
- Best for ages 7 and up — younger kids may find the tour long without hands-on activities
Stop 3: Bayshore Boulevard — Tampa
Website: City of Tampa — Bayshore Boulevard
What to Expect: Bayshore Boulevard opened before them in the late afternoon — the bay on one side, wide and calm and silver-blue in the lowering light, and the longest continuous sidewalk in the United States stretching ahead of them in both directions as far as they could see.
Oliver looked down the sidewalk. Then the other direction. This just keeps going.
Over four miles, Dad confirmed. Built for the public. So people could walk, breathe, be outside, be together.
They joined the steady current of people already there — runners and cyclists and families with strollers and couples walking slowly enough to be watching the water. A pelican coasted in from the bay and settled on a mooring post with the dignity of a bird that knew it was impressive.
This place connects people, Ethan said after a while. Not just to the water. To each other.
Oliver had spotted the smoothie counter near the overlook and was already moving. The healthy choice is obvious, he announced.
Is it the biggest one? Dad asked.
Oliver turned back. The biggest healthy one.
They ordered mango, strawberry, and fresh citrus smoothies and carried them to a bench overlooking the bay.
This tastes like fruit vacation, Ethan said.
Florida concentrated, Mom agreed.
Oliver took a long pull through his straw and looked out across the water with the expression of someone at peace. This place is good, he said simply.
Nobody disagreed.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In:
- Tampa Bay geography and ecology — what the bay supports and why it matters
- Public infrastructure as community investment — who built Bayshore and why
- Pedestrian health — the relationship between walkable public spaces and community wellbeing
- Tampa’s history as a port city — the bay’s role in the city’s growth
- Florida citrus in smoothies — connecting back to the farm and food themes of the day
Notebook/Conversation Prompt: Walk at least fifteen minutes on the boulevard without looking at a screen. Then write: what did you notice at walking pace that you would have missed at driving pace? Who else was using this space? What does a public sidewalk along the water say about what a city values?
Faith Connection: 1 Corinthians 12:26 — “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” Bayshore was built so the whole city could use it. Not just the wealthy neighborhoods. Not just the people who lived nearby. Everyone. That is community — built on the belief that when one person flourishes, it helps everyone, and when one person struggles, we all feel it.
Practical Tips:
- Free and open to the public
- Parking available along the boulevard — arrive early on weekends
- The smoothie and food options near the overlooks are genuinely good
- Great for all ages — strollers, bikes, and joggers all use the path
- The bay views at sunset are exceptional — time your visit accordingly
- Allow as much time as you want — this is a rest stop as much as an activity
What We Learned
- Edward Bok came to America as a Dutch immigrant with almost nothing — and gave the country one of its most beautiful gardens as a gift before he died
- Florida State Wildflower is the Coreopsis — bright yellow and blooming along every garden path
- Urban farms like Meacham exist because someone decided that every neighborhood deserves something living in it
- Composting turns old things into new soil — Oliver called it a second chance and he was right
- The three farms of the trip — Wesley Wells, the farm near Kennedy, Meacham — all look different but are all doing the same thing underground
- Bayshore Boulevard is the longest continuous sidewalk in the United States — built for everyone
State Symbols Spotted Today:
- State Wildflower: Coreopsis — blooming throughout Bok Tower Gardens
- State Tree: Sabal Palm — throughout the gardens and boulevard
- State Flower: Orange Blossom — the opening conversation of the morning
What We Ate
Cuban black bean bowls — black beans simmering with garlic and cumin, golden sautéed onions and peppers, white rice, sliced avocado, fresh lime, and cilantro. Cooked in a cast iron skillet over the camp stove that evening.
Oliver took his first bite and went very still. This is the best thing we’ve cooked. Of maybe my whole life.
Ethan took a bite. He’s not wrong.
Full recipe here: Cuban Black Bean Bowls from Day 11 — Coming Soon
Plan It Yourself
You can map this exact route — and customize it for your own family’s adventure — using Roadtrippers Plus. It’s our favorite trip-planning tool for finding kid-friendly stops, tracking drive times, and keeping everything in one place.
View our full Florida trip on Roadtrippers: Florida Beneath the Surface Map — Ethan and Oliver Adventures
Free Mission Pack — Day 1
Want to bring this day to life at home? Day 1 of our Florida Mission Pack is completely free. It includes hands-on activities connected to Fort Barrancas, Uncle Sandy’s, the Naval Aviation Museum, and the beach — plus family debrief questions and a Commander’s Prayer.
No trip to Florida required.
Want Days 2 through 20? The complete Florida Mission Pack is available here!
Reading Florida Beneath the Surface?
This post is the behind-the-scenes companion to Day 11. If you want to read what Oliver wrote slowly that night — the line about roots and God and soil that Mom said was one of the most important things written on the whole trip — the book is waiting for you.
Get your copy here.
Up Next: Day 12 — The Circus and the Artist
The Ringling Museum. A sibling argument that becomes one of the best moments of the trip. And the question of whether beauty is something you find or something you make.
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