Florida’s Own Fountain of Youth
One of the most prominent early European explorers was Juan Ponce de Leon who was born into Spanish nobility in the 1400s.
He quickly rose to military prominence and joined Columbus’s second voyage to the Americas in 1493. His exploration with the new lands did not end there as he took a high ranking government position on the island of Hispaniola before becoming governor of Puerto Rico in 1508. Rumors began to spread around the new Spanish colonies about islands that laid further north of where they settled.
Fountain of Youth Park
The Spanish Crown eventually granted Ponce de Leon permission to explore these waters and be governor of any of the lands that he could find and claim. Ponce de Leon set off from Puerto Rico and eventually reached Florida and gave the land its name La Florida meaning the land of Flowers in honor of its landscape and the Easter season in which he landed. The explorer was able to chart much of Florida’s coast as well as the Keys.
Later legends would circulate that he was in search of the legendary Fountain of Youth to cure his aging. The legend of such a fountain existed in European legend since Herodotus first recorded it in the fifth century BCE. The myth gained more credibility when European explorers began to hear similar stories told by Native Americans in the colonies when they first began to settle them.
Although the Fountain of Youth was never found the history of the legend and of early European exploration is kept alive today at the Fountain of Youth Park. Here, guests can see exhibits that range from Native American settlements through the history of Spanish colonization. The park even features a live cannon fire reenactment for guests. This park is a perfect place to visit when you attend one of Continuing Education Company's live CME conferences in Florida. With plenty of interesting activities for people of all ages.
Upcoming CME Conferences & Online Learning
Want to attend a live CME conference in a beautiful locale or complete an online course from the comforts of home?
At Continuing Education Company, we provide you with options to make your medical continuing education fun, engaging, and relevant. Check out our conference calendar to view the dates and locations of upcoming conferences as well as the online learning courses and live streaming that are currently available. And, for a limited period of time, take advantage of our Special Offer! Attend one of our LIVE conferences in person and you will receive a FREE online 15 credit CME course from CME365™.