Commodity Classic Tour Descriptions

The Mosaic Company Mines Tour
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $48.00 per person
Box lunch included

The Mosaic Company is the world’s leading producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. On the tour, you will visit an active phosphate mine, board a dragline and watch it in action. You will also learn about water management practices and visit award-wining reclamation sites; learn about the fertilizer manufacturing process and phosphogypsum stacks. Mosaic has biologists, geologists and agronomists who are experts in field mapping, soil testing, agronomic consulting and fertilizer-blending innovations. You will see phosphate mining first hand. This is a tour you won’t want to miss. Please be sure to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes for this tour.

This tour includes:

Itinerary:
9:00 a.m.	Depart the Tampa Convention Center
10:15 a.m.	Arrive at an active phosphate mine and begin touring
2:30 p.m.	Depart Mosaic and return to Tampa Convention Center
4:00 p.m.	Return to the Tampa Convention Center

 

Sea Life Safari
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Cost: $45.00 per person

(Lunch not included)

 

Enjoy a relaxing sightseeing excursion where dolphins are a common sight and birds and shells abound. After boarding the Sea Life Safari, you will cruise the tranquil waters of Clearwater Bay up close to mangrove islands that are protected bird sanctuaries and home to pelicans, herons, ibises and egrets. The captain will point out present day sights of interest as well as historical facts. On your tour, a trawl net will be pulled to gather a variety of sea life such as sea horses, puffer fish, stingrays and much more. This cruise features a biologist on board (B.O.B.) to describe the assortment of sea specimen. At times, passengers can even touch or hold some of these fascinating creatures.   A stop will be made on one of the intracoastal islands so that guests may get out and have the opportunity for a little shelling time.  This is an experience which will remain in the hearts and minds of attendees long after the cruise ends.

This Tour Includes:

Itinerary:
8:00 a.m.	Depart the Tampa Convention Center
8:45 a.m.	Arrive in Clearwater
9:00 a.m.	Board the Sea Life Safari for exclusive tour
11:00 a.m.	Return to Clearwater Marina and board coach for return transfer
12:00 noon	Arrive at the Tampa Convention Center

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Highlights of Tampa Tour
9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $34.00 per person

(Lunch not included)

 

The city of Tampa comes to life as your guide highlights the area’s rich history.  Begin with a visit to the old Tampa Bay Hotel at the University of Tampa. This National Historic Landmark features unique Moorish revival architecture and dramatic minarets.  Soak in the splendor of days gone by as you see and hear the history of this fabulous hotel and its founder, railroad tycoon, Henry B. Plant.  A drive along beautiful Bayshore Boulevard and through the Hyde Park area will show you the diverse architecture that is Tampa.

Your next stop will be in Ybor City, the national historic landmark district located in Tampa.  Travel down 7th Avenue and hear the history of the cigar industry, learn of life in this Latin community and the influence these immigrants had on the city of Tampa.  A visit to the Ybor City State Museum and Restored House will provide you with a look into this area that was once the Cigar Capital of the World.

This Tour Includes:

Itinerary:
9:00 a.m.	Depart the Tampa Convention Center, drive by tour en route to The Henry B. Plant Museum
9:30 a.m.	Arrive at The Henry B. Plant Museum for docent led tour
10:30 a.m.	Depart the Henry B. Plant Museum for drive-by tour
11:00 a.m.	Arrive at the Ybor City State Museum and Restored House for docent led tour
11:45 a.m.	Depart Ybor City State Museum for drive-by tour
12:30 p.m.	Arrive at the Tampa Convention Center

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Friday, March 4, 2011

St. Petersburg Tour with the Dali Museum
12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $48.00 per person
Lunch on your own prior to the tour

You don’t have to travel far in St. Petersburg to see evidence of the Land Boom Era.  See unique and varied architecture as your guide brings history to life. Drive-by such landmarks as the open air Post Office, the Coliseum, Mirror Lake and more as you travel to the Salvador Dali Museum.

 

Situated on Tampa Bay in downtown St. Petersburg, the Salvador Dali Museum is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by the late Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali.

 

Your docent-led tour of the Dali Museum will provide you with interesting background and insight into the genius of Dali’s life and works. Collected by A. Reynolds and Eleanor R. Morse, Dali’s close personal friends and scholarly collectors since 1942, this collection includes 94 original oils, over 100 watercolors and drawings, plus 1,300 graphics, sculptures, holograms, objects of art and photographs.

Upon leaving the museum, a short drive along the scenic waterfront will bring you along Beach Drive, past the historic Renaissance Vinoy Resort and along Coffee Pot Bayou where you will see many of St. Petersburg’s beautiful homes prior to returning to Tampa.

This Tour Includes:

Itinerary:
12:30 p.m.	Depart the Tampa Convention Center
12:50 p.m.	Arrive in St. Petersburg for drive-by tour
1:15 p.m.	Arrive at Salvador Dali Museum
1:30 p.m.	Join the docent-led tour of the Salvador Dali Museum
3:00 p.m.	Depart the Salvador Dali Museum for drive-by tour
4:30 p.m.	Arrive at the Tampa Convention Center

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Saturday, March 5, 2011

From the Fields to the Packing Facilities: Florida's Winter Crops - Tomatoes and Strawberries
12:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $55.00 per person
Box lunch included

 

Florida is known for its “truck farming” and today you will learn more about what the Florida growers do to get their produce to consumer’s tables.

West Coast Tomato, whose mission is to produce the highest quality tomatoes for its consumers, was the first to try out a new technology to detect defects in the fruit and sort them out with the aid of a photoelectric eye, with a camera and computer, rather than strictly by hand labor. Visit a tomato field, meet with a grower; followed by a tour of the packing facility where they sort, clean, pack and ship their product to the marketplace.

March is the peak of Florida’s strawberry season; see the Parkesdale Farm and Packing facility, taste test some of the varieties of strawberries grown to extend the season and see how the fruit, once removed from the plant, is prepared for the marketplace. The tour will end with Strawberry Shortcake from the well-known Parkesdale Farm Marketplace.

This Tour Includes:

Itinerary:
12:30 p.m.	Depart the Tampa Convention Center
1:30 p.m.	Visit the Tomato Packing Plant and Field
3:30 p.m.	Travel to Dover area and Strawberry Country
4:00 p.m.	Visit a Parkesdale Strawberry Farm and Packing Facility & enjoy strawberry shortcake
5:30 p.m.	Depart for return to Tampa
6:00 p.m.	Arrive at the Tampa Convention Center

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Register for Tours Online

Click here for a printable version of the tour descriptions and registration form.