De Soto National Memorial

The De Soto National Memorial in Bradenton, FL, celebrates Hernando De Soto's army and their desire to conquer the area. This led to many years of resistance by the native people, and unfortunately, to the death of many in the 1500s. In addition to learning about De Soto's conquests, the actual hiking trails are quite nice around the bay, and even offer some swimming opportunities.

If you're a collector of the National Park Passport Stamps, you'll find a stamp at the Visitor's Center here. They also have a Junior Ranger program here to encourage children (and adults) to learn about De Soto.