Okefenokee Swamp, Brunswick GA & Jekyll Island

The day we left Florida we had rainy windy weather, the first since we left Tucson. I guess Florida didn't want us to go ;-)) Drove to Waycross GA and the Laura S Walker State Park. Found a spot looking right out at the lake. Then headed to the Okefenokee Swamp Park. It is a great setting, lots of gators, turtles, and water birds. Took in the nature show which was a bit cheesy but fun. John took a picture of me with a baby gator on my head. Train ride through the swamp and the old fish camp was fun.

Near Brunswick GA is the Hofwyl Broadfield Plantation. It was an old rice plantation and the home and grounds were in the family from the mid 1700s to 1973 when the last family member died and willed it to the state. The furnishings were the highlight as they were all family furnishings collected over 250 years. The master bed was a four poster built in 1770. On the grounds were live oak trees that were 500-800 years old. Walked the nature path to the marsh.

The gold coast islands are barrier islands just off the south eastern corner of Georgia near Brunswick. Jekyll Island was the hightlight. This was a private island before WWII. The Rockefellers, Goulds, JP Morgans, Goodrichs and other weathly families in the 30s bought the island as a hunting and beach retreat. They built "cottages" that you can tour today. Huge, beautiful homes that most of us would love to have for our only home. They said that at one time when all the owners were on the island they represented 1/6 of the worlds weath. Now there are miles of beautiful public beaches as the entire island is a state park. The bicycle trails are all paved and criss cross the entire island. Fascinating, fun place.

Kennedy Space Center

From the Florida Keys we had a very pretty drive to Biscayne National Park. Toured the visitor center, video and a lovely boardwalk stroll. Most of the park is best seen by boat but we just had an amazing boat trip to the Dry Tortugas so skipped this one.

On to the Kennedy Space Center. We were there the day the Discovery landed. Heard the sonic boom and had a running commentary over the park loudspeakers. Exciting. Really enjoyed the shuttle take off simulator and the rocket garden.

Stayed 2 nights at Blue Springs State Park and walked the boardwalks and trails there. Nice place in the palmetto forest. The spring is so clear and full of gar (spear nosed fish)

pictures soon....

The Florida Keys & Dry Tortugas

We are in the Florida Keys and loving it. When we got here I made a margarita to celebrate. Turned out pretty good; tequila, triple sec, grand marnier, lime juice and the juice of a tangerine. Yummo as Rachel would say.

I noticed in my recent blogs that I have overused the words wonderful, amazing, beautiful, etc. I guess you can tell we love Florida. We will only get this far SE once in a travels most likely so we are doing are best to see all the good stuff. I will try to be a little more reserved with my superlatives but..... after my post for the keys and Dry Tortuga. They are our favorites so far, especially Dry Tortuga National Park.

Our first day was driving the over water highway with all the spectacular views. It really is one of the most beautiful drives in the country. We got here mid afternoon and just had time to get set up and drive down to check out Bahia Honda State Park. It is exceptional. I tried for a year to get reservation to no avail and I can see why.

Day Two was our Key West day. So much fun. The tour on the trolley to see all the highlights plus stops at Kelly's Restaurant (owned by Kelly Gillis of Top Gun fame), the southern White House (that Harry Truman and other presidents favored) and a great tour of Hemingway House. We saw several of the 6 toed cats that are decended from the original cats that Hemingway kept. After walking the waterfront we were tired and decided to save the sunset fun for the next day.

The Dry Tortugas all day tour was the highlight of this trip so far. We have a beautiful 80 degree and sunny day, although quite a bit of wind. We decided the wind was a good thing as it kept it from getting too hot and also kept the bugs away. The ferry ride to the key was 2 1/2 hours which was very scenic. A nice breakfast on the boat. We had an hour tour of the old fort that was fascinating. It was built right around the civil war and is the largest brick structure in the western hemisphere. Beautiful arches and the views was to die for. After the tour we had lunch on the boat before exploring the island. Walked the moat wall and the top of the fort which is .6 miles all the way around. Saw lots of fish, jellyfish, sea fans, coral, and sea birds. Our favorite was the magnificent frigate with a 7 foot wingspan but only weights about 5 pounds. The ride back was bouncy and long but we had our books and enjoyed ourselves.

We got back to Key West in time for the sunset at the waterfront where local entertainers put on quite a show. Loved the guy with the house cats that did tricks like the lions in the circus including jumping through a ring of fire. Fantastic dinner at the Westin overlooking the water and the sunset. This was our wedding anniversary celebration and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. Wonderful..... and now I promise to be less flowery in my descriptions ;-))

Everglades & Big Cypress Natl Preserve

Gators, gators, gators

The Everglades are a 50 miles wide river of grass that is teeming with gators, turtles, and so many kinds of birds. We spent two days here and wished we had more time. Biked the Shark Valley 15 miles scenic loop with a huge observation tower half way. Had a great time on an airboat tour. The highlight was seeing a nest of baby gators, close to a dozen of the little guys. Look close and you can see them.

Sarasota, St Petersburg & Fort Desoto County Park

Feb 24-28 - Loved loved loved this area. Thanks again Doug P from Desert Trails. This county park is at the end of a long peninsula south of St Petersburg and the setting is amazing. It was rated best beach in the country in 2006 and it deserves it. Miles of beautiful uncrowded white sand beaches. Also miles of great bike paths and walking trails, along with big scenic camping sites.

So much to do in St Petes and it is such a pretty town. Started with the waterfront parks and the pier the first morning. Lunch overlooking Tampa Bay before a terrific afternoon at the Salvatore Dali Museum. I haven't been a fan of the artist but after seeing all his work I am now. From there we drove to the gulf coast and did the scenic drive from Clearwater all the way to St Petes Beach. 30 miles of amazing beaches with the big pink hotel at the end as the topper. One day spent at the park and running errands and chores but still fun in such a pretty place.

Our last day in the area we took a day trip to Sarasota. Drove around the town as it is lovely and historic before spending the next 5 hours at the Ringling complex. This place is not to be missed if you are in central Florida. John Ringling was one of the 4 Ringling Brothers who owned the original circus. The complex includes his mansion, a circus museum with a complete circus in miniature, his private train car used to travel to circus locations, and a HUGE art museum with a number of beautiful Reubens. You could spend days at this place but we only had one so we made the best of it.






Have to come back here some day......

Ocala and Silver River State Park

Loved this area and didn't really expect to before we came. Spent the weekend at a commercial park near the cross Florida Greenway. Took a great hike through the woods. Years ago there was a plan to build a canal like the Panama Canal across Florida. The plan was scrapped and a great trail was built instead. Spent some time catching up on Internet and laundry.

Silver River SP is fantastic. Campsites are huge, private, pull throughs with lots of birds and chipmunks. Several lovely trails to the river, the sinkhole, and through the woods. Great bike trail about 8 miles on trails the first afternoon here. Met a nurse on the trail that told us John Travolta's family lives here and his wife just had her baby at his hospital. Fun.

Toured the museum and the 'cracker town' at the park. I thought cracker was a pejorative term but in some places it means the original Florida pioneers. The museum was great. displays covering the prehistoric fossils found in the local sinkholes, through the Seminole Indian period, the Civil war and especially the 30's when this area was the first Florida theme park with glass bottom boats and alligators tours, monkeys, etc.

From Silver River we took day trips to Rainbow Springs SP, another old Florida theme park back in the 30-40 & 50s. This one was lovely because the azaleas, camellias, and magnolias were all blooming. Nice 3 mile walk to the river where we saw a river otter playing. Then headed to Dunnellon to see the old town and on to Crystal River SP. Crystal River is on the gulf and we saw more manatees in the wild. Super!

Our last day in the area we went to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings House State Park. She wrote the Yearling and was a com temporary of several authors. Lovely old homestead. Then on to Gainesville and the Devils Mill hopper State Park. This is a huge funnel shaped sinkhole with a boardwalk to the bottom and a half mile nature trail around the sinkhole. Pretty place on a pretty sunny day. The park got its name because the sinkhole is roughly shaped like the hopper on a mill and was thought to be a scary place, hence the Devil part. The stream flowing into the bottom is called the River Styx. Felt like I was on an upside down tropical island in the TV show Lost. Pictures coming soon.

We are in St Petersburg now and it is fantastic. Beautiful water everywhere you look with amazing beaches. Fort De Soto is an great country park. More blogging and pictures soon.

St Augustine to Ocala - Feb 18th

Friday.... Another pretty day and we are leaving Anastasia SP. It was a great place. The state parks fill up on weekends so we found a commercial campground close to Silver River SP which is our next planned stop. We decided to take the scenic route along the St Johns River and through the Ocala National Forest. It was a bit longer but the trip was lovely and the day even better. We plan to go back and explore the campgrounds and trails in the national forest. Arrived at Ocala Sun RV Resort around 3 pm. Nice place especially since we haven't had internet or TV for a week or so and both are good here. Anastasia was very secluded in heavy trees and vegetation. This campground is wide open with almost no trees. A good place to catch up on laundry and some chores around the coach, when we aren't hiking. Speaking of which, time to get going and check out the Cross Florida Greenway Trail nearby.