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Blowing Rocks Preserve
Date Visited: 12/09/2020 & 12/17/2021 As we left Jonathan Dickinson State Park in 2020, we had one more place we wanted to stop on our way to the Everglades National Park. Running along the east coast of Florida is Anastasia Limestone formation. We witnessed a small portion of this limestone outcropping during our trip to... Continue Reading →
Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
Date Visited: 12/07/2020 Once home to the hunter-gatherer tribes of the Tequesta, Jobe, Ais, and Jaega, this 1091 acre Federally Endangered Florida sand pine scrub is home to a number of federally listed plants and animals. Established September 30, 1969, this refuge system is actually divided into two parts that are split by the Indian... Continue Reading →
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State park
Date Visited: 1/13/2020 In the Florida panhandle where the Wakulla and St. Marks River meets, sits a National Landmark called San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park. For over 500 years, from the Spanish period through the civil war, this was a strategic landmark. In 1679 the first wooden fort was built. It housed 45... Continue Reading →
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park: Florida’s Miniature Rainforest
Date Visited: 1/12/2020 Okay, we all know I'm a little overweight, out of shape, over 50 and have an ongoing battle with heart-disease and diabetes, so I almost talked myself out of visiting this state park because I knew there were a number of stairs I'd have to ascend after descending to see the sink... Continue Reading →
Bulow Creek State Park
Date Visited: 12/31/2019 Standing as the focal point in this 5600-acre state park is one of the largest Live Oak trees in the South. The Fairchild oak is estimated to be between 400-600 years old and is a member of one of the largest remaining stands of Southern Live Oak forest along Florida's East Coast.... Continue Reading →
The Face in the Stone: Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Date Visited: 12/9/2019 Our next stop was one of those places were you want to visit and learn as much as you can, but you also feel as if you are trespassing on hallowed ground. This 61 acre Pre-Columbian site consist of six mounds dispersed around the property. There are burial mounds, temple/platform mounds, plazas... Continue Reading →
Civil War Connections to Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park
Date Visited: 12/9/2019 While in Homosassa Florida, we took the opportunity to visit the Historic ruins of the Yulee Sugar Mill located off of County Road 490 West. Although we've visited many of these such mills around Florida, this one was of particular interest due to it's association, not with the Seminole Wars, but with... Continue Reading →
How a Hippo Became a Honorary Florida Citizen
Date Visited: 12/9/2019 Before telling you about the rest of our trip to the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Park we need talk about the elephant, or rather I should say the Hippopotamus in the room. Lu, short for Lucifer, has been a resident of the park since 1964. He was born on January 26,... Continue Reading →
Preserving History at Fort Cooper State Park
Date Visited: 12/9/2019 Our first stop of the day was at the 710 acre site of Fort Cooper State Park. Established in 1972 this park was a great place to start our morning with a relaxed walking tour through the history of the surrounding area. Historical Significance As is the case with most of Florida,... Continue Reading →
The Beautiful Coquina Beach @ Washington Oaks Gardens State Park : Oceanside
There are Rocky beaches in Florida? Yep, it's true. Date Visited: 12/7/2019 Now I have a confession. Previously when I wrote about our first trip to Washington Oaks State Park I wasn't 100% sure that the beach across the street was actually part of the park property or just fortunate enough to be within close... Continue Reading →
Another Disappointing trip to Fort Matanzas National Monument
Date Visited: 12/7/2019 At this point in our travels we've grown accustomed to thwarted plans as our trip to Fort Matanzas in St. Augustine, Florida was about to be a disappointment for the second time. Our attempt to journey across the river and explore the fort (one that must be taken by the National Park... Continue Reading →
Faver Dykes State Park: A place to learn.
Date Visited: 12/7/2019 Sometimes when we visit a state park we are motivated purely by our interest in discovering whether we would plan a future camping getaway at the location. Our trip to Faver-Dykes State Park located south of St. Augustine, Florida was such an occasion. Or so I thought. As it turned out, I... Continue Reading →
We Saw a Coral Snake at Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
If there is one thing you can find in Florida with relative ease it's the ruins of a sugar cane plantation. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park is a 150-acre state park with hiking, canoeing and a brief, but interesting history. Around 1821 Major Charles Wilhelm Bulow began to develop his 4675-acre tract into the... Continue Reading →
I Thought we were lost at Ravine Gardens State Park
Date Visited: 12/5/2019 Timing is everything! When we decided to explore Ravine Gardens State Park in Florida it was after a fairly productive hurricane season. Not only that, we were a little to early for the Azalea bloom which is what the Gardens are most known for. However, we weren't going to let that deter... Continue Reading →
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