The De Soto National Memorial

The De Soto National Memorial in northwest Bradenton has something for just about everybody: for nature lovers, a beautiful trail along the Manatee River with enormous gumbo limbo trees and other subtropical foliage; and for those who enjoy history and psychology, interpretive exhibits and a living history camp that offer a glimpse at the life of the first white man who set foot in North America, Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto.

The 27-acre national park at the mouth of the Manatee River marks the spot where de Soto and his crew of 600 most likely first made landfall in North America in 1539, nearly 70 years before Jamestown was established, park superintendent Charlie Fenwick points out. From here, de Soto and his men made a four-year, 4,000-mile trek across the Southeast United States, plundering and pillaging along the way, in their quest for gold to take back to the king of Spain. One can consider de Soto America's first-and certainly most controversial-tourist.

"The story of the de Soto expedition and de Soto himself is incredible; it would make a great mini-series," says Fenwick. "It's about everything-greed, riches, love, war, all the things that motivate and interest people in real life." No gold was ever found, and de Soto and half his men died, but the survivors made it to Mexico and left detailed chronicles of their adventure that later served as inspiration for other Europeans like John Smith to colonize the new world.

Nearly 250,000 visitors from around the world visit the park each year to watch living history programs by costumed park rangers in a model Spanish encampment, named Camp Uzita after an Indian chief, and to view exhibits and a 20-minute documentary about de Soto and his men.

The De Soto National Monument is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's; the living history camp operates from Christmas to Easter only. For details, visit www.nps.gov/deso.