• We could visit Big Tree Park, which features the Senator, one of the oldest (estimated at 3,500 years) and largest bald cypress trees in the nation. Open from 8 a.m. to sunset, Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to sunset on Saturday and Sunday. Located off US 17-92 on the General Hutchison Parkway, Longwood. Free. Call 407-788-0405. They may have a picnic site.
• We could visit Leu Gardens, 50 acres of trails and botanical collections featuring colorful annuals, butterfly garden, palms, and more. The restored Leu home contains period furnishings. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Located at 1920 N. Forest Avenue, Orlando. $4 for adults. Call 407-246-2620.
• We could visit Bok Tower Sanctuary, a 157-acre nature preserve with gardens and a carillon tower. Built on peninsular Florida's highest point, 298 feet. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Located 3 miles north of Lake Wales at CR17A and Tower Blvd. $6 for adults, $5 for age 62 or older, but free for everyone before 9 a.m. on Saturdays. Browse to http://www.boktower.org or call 863-676-1408. They have a snack bar on premises.
• We could visit the University of Central Florida Arboretum, a 79 acre nature preserve featuring seven native-Florida botanical environments, hiking trails, and picnic areas, with group tours available. Open sunrise to sunset daily. Located at University Blvd. and Alafaya Trail, Orlando. Free with $3 parking fee. Call 407-823-3146 weekdays.
• We could visit Ravine Gardens, which is a natural steephead ravine park of 59 acres with extensive plantings of azealeas. The park has a paved 1.8 mile perimeter loop road. Hours are 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days per year. The entrance is located at 1600 Twigg St, Palatka. Entry fee is $3.25 per vehicle. They have a small, nice picnic area, but you have to get there early to claim it unless you can reserve it. Call 904-329-3721.
• We could drive to Boyd Hill Nature Park, 245 acres of natural beauty with three miles of trails and boardwalks. Has alligators, herons, gopher tortoises, and more in the hardwood hammocks, sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, and willow marsh. Picnic area with grills and sheltered tables. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except during daylight saving time open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Located at 1101 Country Club Way South, St. Petersburg. $1 adults, 50 cents for ages 3 to 17. Browse to http://www.stpete.org/ or call 727-893-7326.
• We could visit Sawgrass Lake Park, 400 acres of wildlife and natural beauty. It is possible to see alligators, blue herons, ospreys, soft-shell turtles, wood storks, and turkey vultures. Includes over a mile of boardwalk and an observation tower. Picnic facilities with shelters. Open daily 7 a.m. to dusk. Located 7400 25th St. North, St. Petersburg. Admission free. Browse to http://www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc/park/ or call 727-217-7256.
• We could drive to Kelly Park, a 200-acre tract featuring Rock Springs swimming pool, oak and palm tree shade trails, and picnic areas. Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Located 400 East Kelly Park Road, Apopka. Admission $1 age 6 and up. Call 407-889-4179.
• We could visit Moss Park, Orange County's largest urban park. There are 1,551 acres of it, nestled between two lakes, shaded by giant oaks. Nature walks, camping, picnicing, swimming, boating, fishing, and tennis are offered. Hours unknown. Located 12901 Moss Park Road, Orlando. There is a day use fee, probably small. Browse to http://www.icflorida.com/recreation/guides/ and then click on Moss Park, or call 407-273-2327.
• We could drive to Erna Nixon Park, a 54-acre nature preserve passing through three ecosystems: a pine flatwoods, a wetland, and an oak hammock. Many unusual plants and animals. An elevated boardwalk stretches 2,345 feet. A small pavilion with picnic tables is available. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 1200 Evans Road, West Melbourne. Fee for parking, but otherwise free. Free guided tours Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Browse to http://www.brevardparks.com/nature/ernanixon_programs.htm or call 321-952-4525.
• We could visit Lake Kissimmee State Park, 5,930 acres bordering Kissimmee, Tiger, and Rosalie lakes. The park's botanical bounty includes delicate mosses, butterfly orchids, sawgrass, cutthroat grass, fetterbush and gallberry. Expansive, colorful fields of lotus and pickerelweed. Habitat for bald eagles, sandhill cranes, ospreys, alligators, bobcats, and white-tailed deer. Thirteen miles of hiking trails and an observation platform. Guided tours and picnic areas. Open 8 a.m. until sundown. Located at 14248 Camp Mack Road, Lake Wales. Admission is $3.25 per carload, up to eight persons. Browse to http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/district3/lakekissimmee/index.asp or call 863-696-1112.

• We could visit the Fantasy of Flight Air Museum, which exhibits vintage aircraft, operational flight simulators, hot air balloon rides, and biplane rides. Beautifully-restored aircraft. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Located at I-4 exit 44, 1400 Broadway Blvd, Polk City. $24.95 adults, $22.95 seniors, $13.95 ages 5 to 12. Call 1-863-984-3500. They have a good restaurant.
• We could visit the Flying Tigers Warbird Restoration Museum, featuring antique and WWII aircraft, armament, and equipment displays, guided tours, memorabilia, gift shop, and hands-on restoration school. Warbird Weekend takes place each December, with air shows, displays of race boats, military vehicles, and aircraft. Open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Located at the Kissimmee Airport, 231 N. Hoagland Blvd, Kissimmee. $9 for adults, $8 age 60 and over or 8 to 12 years. Age 7 and below free. Call 407-933-1942.
• We could visit the Valiant Air Command Warbird Flying and Restoration Museum. Features aircraft displays (including a Mig-17), restoration projects, tours, model aircraft, non-functional flight simulator, U.S. and foreign uniforms. Has a very good gift shop. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Located Tico Airport, off US1 or SR405, Titusville. $9 adults, $8 military and seniors, $5 ages 4 to 12. Free age 3 and below. Prices are exclusive of tax. Call 321-268-1941. There is also a separate restaurant on the airfield premises. And guess what? There are plenty of parking spaces on the Tico airfield from which you can watch space shuttle launches; the launch pad is only about 14 miles away. Maybe we could combine a shuttle launch observation with a trip to the Valiant Air Command Museum.
• We could visit the International Sport Aviation Museum, also known as the Sun 'n Fun Museum. Site hosts the annual Sun 'n Fun fly-in one week per year. Features homemade planes, ultralights, antique, and classic planes, and all types of aircraft engines, plus military aircraft and memorabilia. Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays. Located at 4175 Medulla Road, Lakeland, just south of the regional airport. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for ages 12 and younger. Browse to http://www.airmuseum.org or call 863-644-0741.

• We could take a Boggy Creek Airboat Ride, a half-hour guided scenic tour with a Coast Guard master captain. Available from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, but night tours are available on request. Located at both East Lake Fish Camp and Southport Park. $17.95 for adults, $12.95 for ages 3 to 12. Free for age 2 and below. Call 407-344-9550 for East Lake, or 407-933-4337 for Southport Park.
• We could take a Lake Harris Cruise aboard the restored 1930's antique yacht La Reina. Departs 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Located at the Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort, 10400 CR48, Howey-in-the-Hills. $12 general, $6 for ages 5 to 12. Free for age 4 and below. Call 352-324-2024 ext. 24.
• We could take a Space Coast Nature Tour, featuring a narrated boat tour on the Indian River Lagoon, with a view of the Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Departs 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily from Dock A23, Titusville Municipal Marina, US1, Titusville. $14 adults, $13 seniors, $10 age 12 and under. Call 321-267-4551.

• We could visit the Brevard Veterans Center Museum, which features military artifacts, memorabilia, and historical literature. Open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Located at 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, Merritt Island. Free. Call 321-453-1776.
• We could visit the Bradlee-McIntyre House, a 13-room Victorian winter vacation cottage. Open 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday, with the last tour departing at 3:30 p.m. Tours also depart by appointment. Located at 130 W. Warren Avenue, Longwood. Free, but donations are accepted (and probably expected). Call 407-332-6920.
• We could visit DeBary Hall, a historic 1871 house built by wine importer Frederick DeBary. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Located at 200 Sunrise Blvd, DeBary. Donations accepted. Call 386-736-5953.
• We could visit the Florida Museum of Natural History, with a natural science and anthropology collection, including exhibits of a North Florida cave, prehistoric Indian camp, fossil bone deposit, and limestone cave. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and holidays. Located at 34th St and Hull Rd, University of Florida, Gainesville. Free. Call 352-846-2000.
• We could visit the Railroad Museum, which features railroad artifacts and memorabilia with a particular emphasis on Central Florida. Open 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment. Located in former Tavares and Gulf Railroad Depot, 101 S. Boyd St, Winter Garden. Free. Call 407-656-8749.
• We could visit the Pioneer Florida Museum, a taste of old Florida. Includes the 1926 Lacoochee School, the office of dentist Irvin S. Futch with old dental instruments, and the Jack Bromley Shoe Repair Shop. Also includes native American artifacts, quilts, pottery, musical instruments, and dolls depicting Florida's first ladies in their inaugural gowns. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on major holidays. Located at 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, one mile north of Dade City on US301. $5 for adults, $4 for 55 or older, $2 students 6 to 18, free for age 5 and younger. Browse to http://www.dadecity.com/museum or call 352-567-0262.

• We could meet somewhere, then do a short drive to the Spring Speedway Spectacular (classic and antique car show and swap meet) at Daytona Speedway on Saturday or Sunday in late March of each year. Admission is $10. A bewildering variety of foods is available from concession stands. This event makes for a great day of healthful walking, classic and hot rod car ogling, unhealthy eating, and goodies buying. Call the speedway if you need details.
• We could meet somewhere, then do a short drive to the Turkey Rod Run (classic and antique car show and swap meet) at Daytona Speedway on the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. Admission is $10. Food of all kinds is available from concession stands. This makes for a great day of healthful walking, classic and hot rod car ogling, unhealthy eating, and goodies buying. Call the speedway if you need details.

• We could drive to a picnic and watch fireworks some evening around the 4th of July.
• We could drive to and then tour the Angell and Phelps candy factory at 154 S. Beach St, Daytona Beach. They have daily tours for groups of 15 to 25. Call 252-6531 or 800-969-2634 for an appointment. They tour on weekdays only, last we heard.
• We could drive to and then tour Whetstone Chocolates of St. Augustine, at the corner of SR312 and Coke Road, just east of US1. They have a video theater which features candy manufacture, followed by a walk-through of the factory itself. And, of course, they have a store from which chocoholics may purchase candy. Open on Saturday, as we understand.
• We could tour an airport or FAA area control tower. We recall hearing that the Ft. Pierce control tower conducts tours.
• We could tour the Pyramax film studios in Lake Helen. We did this years ago, and it was quite interesting.
• We could drive to a simple afternoon or evening picnic somewhere, preferably with provisions for cover if it rains. Perhaps have a drive before or after, or maybe not.
• You might choose to host the annual CFMC Christmas party in your home, or plan it in some restaurant. We had it at the Bubble Room one year.
• We could visit Heritage Village, a collection of more than 20 buildings that serve as reminder of Florida's rich background. The 1850's McMullen-Coachman Loghouse is the oldest existing structure in Pinellas County. The Heritage Merchantile store is stocked with goods. There is a garage, a barbershop, the Harris School (reproduction of 1912 one-room schoolhouse), the Sulphur Springs Depot and Caboose (a railroad museum), and the House of Seven Gables (a 13-room Victorian home). Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays. Located at 11909 125th St. North, in Largo (that's in St. Petersburg, not Key Largo). Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Browse to http://www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc/heritag.htm or call 727-582-2123.

• For your meeting place, it's easiest to pick a fast food restaurant somewhere. Why? They usually have lots of parking, they have coffee and food to sell for those unable to get up in time for breakfast, and they have rest rooms. Don't even tell people a meeting time - people will arrive at your meeting place when they darned well want to, in order to catch breakfast, use the potty, or just meet and kick the tires. Hey, was that easy, or what?
• A driver's meeting should be very brief - one or two minutes, held about five minutes before departure time. All you need do is tell folks what you plan to do so they don't feel out of the picture. If you can hand out a paper with your drive route on it, that's gravy.
• Ask for help. Assuming you're going to lead the caravan, you'll need a tailgunner, someone with a CB radio who can communicate with you on the road from the back of the caravan to assure you that everyone made it through the traffic light and that everyone has made the same turn you made. People will be happy to tailgun for you; just ask. Also, you can ask those without CB radios to tuck into the middle of the caravan.
• We've already said the meeting time is unimportant. What IS important is the departure time; so be sure to publish your departure time, and specify that you'll depart at that particular time SHARP, and then do it. People will respect your punctuality. Do not, do not, do not permit yourself and your members to just stand around in discomfort after your published departure time. Get in your cars and GO!
• As you drive your route (and we hope you've driven it at least once by way of rehearsal, so there are no surprises), keep everyone including the tailgunner advised over your CB radio. Use expressions like: "turning right onto Latchkey Road." Shortly thereafter, the tailgunner should respond with something like: "all together on Latchkey Road."
• Keep in mind that you have a long "tail" of Miatas behind you, so don't step on it to make it through that yellow light. If the light is going to turn red, try to slow down and get caught by it, so your entire Miata caravan can keep together.
• Make your arrangements with your restaurant well ahead of time, maybe a few weeks if possible - then remind them. Give them an idea of how many people, and approximately when you'll arrive. Sometimes they'll put on extra help for you. Ask if there's a separate room you can have, but Miata folk will sit in small groups instead of all together if asked to. And then from your meeting place or on the road, call the restaurant on a cell phone if possible to let them know an actual head count and arrival time. The restaurant will appreciate it, and you'll get better service.

That's about it! Wasn't that easy? Congratulations! And you thought this was complicated.

One last thing... when you have your event date, your meeting place, and your departure time picked out, you need to advise Jeff or Barbara, of these plans so they can publish your event in our CFMC newsletter and on our CFMC web site, and so they can send out an email event reminder about a week in advance. After all, you want people to come, right?