Clewiston, Florida "America's Sweetest Town"

Sugar cane thrives in a tropical environment, and in central south Florida, the small town of Clewiston, situated on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee and sixty miles west of Palm Beach, there is "America's Sweetest Town."

Clewiston got its start from the sugar cane crop that has thrived locally for decades. Sugar cane is locally grown, non-dependent of tropical countries in the sugar cane trade; the most prominent being Cuba.

Clewiston is so inundated in the sugar cane crop, that there is an annual Sugar Cane Festival. They should have renamed Clewiston "sugar-town," for the main road is called Sugarland Express. There is also a Sugar Cane Park for children, and various businesses and establishments with the word "sugar" in it.

Clewiston's largest industry may be sugar, but the rich soil content also yields citrus fruits and vegetables, in part due to the banks of nearby Lake Okeechobee; one of the second largest fresh water lakes in America. This lake is also bountiful with bass, and the popular sport of big bass fishing takes place in Clewiston in both a sport and leisure capacity as well.

What to see and do in Clewiston

The Clewiston Sugar Festival

This event sponsored by Clewiston's U.S. Sugar Corporation, is annual, held in April. There is yummy sugar-laden treats, a baking contest called the Sweet Taste of Country Dessert Contest, and a Miss Sugar Contest. A popular draw to the event is the antique car show, and bass fishing tournaments at nearby Lake Okeechobee. Displays pertinent to the sugar cane business include agricultural equipment. There is also old-fashioned sugar cane grinding, a rodeo, carnival rides and entertainment. Think country singers and family friendly.

Sugarland Tours

There is an easy way to tour Clewiston's sugar cane fields; for there is a guided tour bus called the Sugarland Express. Just over four hours, this small guided trip throughout Clewiston's agricultural compound is a comfortable way to get around seeing the sights of local agriculture--out of the sun and in the air conditioning. Learn first-hand about Lake Okeechobee and Clewiston's history as the leading producer of raw Florida cane sugar.

The bus makes a stop at the cane fields; tall stalks of grass, that look like green bamboo shoots, various agricultural facilities, including the sugar mill; where fifteen-foot sugar canes are to go through a variance of processes that will turn the stalks into raw sugar and sticky molasses. Then lastly, there is the Clewiston Museum. Here one can find books, old photos of the town's beginnings and more.

The tour begins early at 10 a.m. most weekdays, weather permitting, and includes lunch at the historic Clewiston Inn. Group rates are available. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed on the tour, and both individuals and groups must make reservations. The bus may be handicap accessible for wheelchairs, but it is a good idea to call ahead. There are some rules to adhere to once at the sugar refinery, so check out the tour flier page and scroll to the bottom.

http://www.clewiston.org/sugarland%20tours.html

http://www.clewistonmuseum.org/