Really Florida!

Florida Keys camping in the state and national parks can be awesome.  It can also be miserable.  What’s the difference between awesome and miserable?  It’s the time of year and place to camp.  Let’s take a look.

Best Time of Year for Florida Keys Camping

The most comfortable time of year, camping wise, is in the winter.  The days are generally balmy in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s.  The skies tend to be sunny (unless a front is coming through…and they don’t reach the Middle and Lower Keys that often).

Nights can be a little chilly at times, but not excessively so — upper 50’s.  Great sleeping weather!  Especially since there are no (or at worst a very, very few) flying insects to bother you.

Spring is the next best time of year, because it’s the tail end of the dry season, which again means fewer insects to “bug” you.  Weather is slightly warmer, with the days in the 70’s.  Can be a little cloudier, but usually the sun shines.

Fall can be a little iffy, depending on how wet it’s been during the summer.  Unless you’re at a campside on the water where you can get a sea breeze, you may be plagued by insects early in the fall.

Not-So-Great Time for Camping

Summer, hands down, is the worst time.  For campsites not on the water, the insects can be merciless.  And most campsites are not on the water.

Summer is also our rainy season, and while it may not rain every day, there’s a good chance of it most days.  And you really don’t want to be in a tent at least during a thunder and lightning storm.

Last but not least, Summer is our hurricane season.  Although the chance of a hurricane actually affecting Florida Keys camping is fairly low on any given week, it is a possibility.  Especially in light of recent years.

The Places for Camping

If Summer is your only option for Florida Keys camping, check out the water sites at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Lower Keys.  And if you don’t mind primitive camping, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas can be very interesting.

In general, camping in the Florida Keys parks that you can drive to are:

• Bahia Honda (Lower Keys)
• Long Key (Middle Keys)
• Pennekamp Coral Reef (Upper Keys)

Here’s more information on state parks in the Florida Keys and the camping opportunities.

Now what I’m about to write about the upcoming weather in Florida is purely speculation, but I think it may hold at least a grain of truth.  Unfortunately, we won’t know for sure until after the fact.  Here goes.

I have three cats, and the other day I noticed that their coats were unusually thick for July.  In the past, I have been able to gauge with some sort of accuracy the upcoming winter weather based on their fur length and density at various times of the year.

Well, this year, their coats are what I’d normally expect to feel towards the middle of September.  So, I asked my brother, Bruce, if he had heard of any predictions for the upcoming winter.  (Bruce is an amateur meteorologist, and has been following weather for as long as I can remember.  He’s pretty good, too.)

Lo and behold, he said that yes, the kitties might be right on, as this upcoming Winter in Florida is predicted to be colder than average.  Now he went on as to all the particulars as to why, but the upshot — it could possibly be like the winters of 1989 or even 1977 (when it snowed as far south as Miami).

So, there’s no telling as to how the Winter weather in Florida will pan out until maybe 7 or 8 months from now.  But you heard it from the kitties first; “It’s gonna be chilly ’cause we’re getting furry!”

In this 5th post of Florida vacation ideas, we’ll talk about feeding your mind with museums, historical sites and other ways of getting to know Florida.

Get a Little History

Granted, Florida doesn’t quite have the history that other states do — heck, Orlando’s orginal name was “Mosquito”, if that gives you a clue what it was like, pre-tourism.

Still, we do have history here; you just have to look in different places. For example, the Castillio de San Marcos in St. Augustine harkens back to when Spain and France were trying to decide who should get “La Florida”. If you’ve never been, it’s a must-see.

There are sugar mill ruins, old plantations, treasure museums and more. There’s history here, and part of the fun is finding it.

Be Amused in a Museum

If you think life is a circus, why not check out the Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota?  I know, it’s more common to see a State Fair than a circus tent these days, but this museum will help you remember the wonder and excitment of the Big Top.

While it’s also part attraction, the Kennedy Space Center houses a lot of fascinating information on the early days of space travel.  Not to mention there are still launches of various types on a fairly frequent basis.

If you’re near the Gainesville area, check out the Florida Museum of Natural History.  It’s housed at the University of Florida, and it’s a fabulous walk though time.  The displays and themes are always changing, so there’s no telling what you’ll find!

In the Florida Panhandle, check out the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.  Not only is there an air museum with 150 restored aircraft, but also there’s artifacts, flight simulators and an IMAX theater.

Any More Ideas?

So, how has that been, for some Florida vacation ideas?

Do you have some you’d like to share? Post a comment and tell us about them!

This is part 4 of Florida vacation ideas.   To see the other ideas (past, present and future), you can look here to see the posts of ideas.

Florida is known for it’s beaches, for sure.  But not everyone lives by the beach.  For those more inland, cruising or paddling the rivers and lakes of the Sunshine State makes more sense.

For today’s Florida vacation idea, let’s take a look at boats and boat rides!

Go for a Boat Ride

Florida is not only surrounded by water on three sides, but we also have lots of lakes and rivers. From canoes and kayaks to cruise ships, there are boating opportunities galore!

For example, many of the Florida parks run concessions that rent canoes/kayaks.  One Florida state park that has great canoe trips is Wekiwa Springs near Orlando.  Myakka River in SW Florida has excellent canoeing as well. 

And if you’re into kayaks, check out the waterways at MacArthur Beach State Park.  And if you’re curious, the photo to the right was taken on the Loxahatchee River, which flows near Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

And one more:  the Florida Panhandle has some of the most beautiful rivers you’d ever want to paddle in a canoe (or kayak).  You can also motor along some of the larger rivers.

Take a Boat Tour!

Sunset cruises are big in the Florida Keys. And if you’re in SW Florida and hankering to visit Key West — there’s a ferry that departs daily.

The Florida Keys are especially great for boating and boar tours.  The waters there are usually pretty calm on the Atlantic side, due to the protecting effect of the coral reefs offshore.  The Florida Bay side is even calmer!  (I do have the tendency towards seasickness in rougher waters, but I never have been afflicted in Florida Bay, or on the Keys side of the reef.)

Watery eco-tours abound, especially around the Spacecoast on the Atlantic, and the Ft. Meyers area on the Gulf.  Usually canoe or kayak led for a true natural experience, there are also motorized boat tours for those so inclined (usually early and late in the day, so as to see the most wildlife).

So those are today’s Florida vacation ideas.  Check back in again later for part 5 in this series!

Here are the Florida vacation ideas that I’ve posted so far, and today here’s a new idea.  What does Florida have more of than almost any other state? If you guessed beaches, you’re right!

The Beach Is Calling

When people think of Florida, the top two things they think about are theme parks and beaches.  So, let’s check out the beach!

Actually, the Florida beaches were an attraction in their own right before the attractions showed up.  That’s what people came to Florida for — the sun, sand and sea.

Fast forward, and things have changed some.  A lot of beaches now have all kinds of “beach toys” concessions and rides, etc.  On the more popular beaches, you may see a lot of this.

Still, there are quieter beaches as well, where the sound of the surf is louder than most anything else.

Now I’m not your sunbathing type; I prefer to be either people-watching or looking for interesting shells, sealife, birds, etc. And there are beaches for both. For when you want to be alone with nature on a quiet beach. When you want to people-watch on a crowded beach. Or even when you just want to play with “beach toys” !

To add to your vacation ideas, here’s a list of some of the best beaches in Florida, for your perusal.  The list covers activity beaches, quiet beaches.  Beaches for snorkeling, surfing and families.

So go out and about — use these Florida vacation ideas (the beaches) as a place to start and explore.  Who knows what treasures you will uncover!

As I mentioned in the previous post, I thought I’d put up some Florida vacation ideas.  (Here’s the vacation ideas part 1 if you missed it.)

Park It (And I Don’t Mean Theme Park)

The Florida parks are the unsung heros of the Sunshine State. From State Parks like Grayton Beach in the Panhandle to National Parks like the Everglades, it’s a side of Florida that all too many people never see.

This photo was taken in Everglades National Park, at the Shark Valley entrance.  This is one park that can almost pass for an attraction, it’s so neat!  Plus there’s the awesome tram tour, which is not to be missed.

For example, there are caves in Florida where you can take a tour.  They may not exactly be Mammoth Cave, but Florida Caverns is worth a trip to the Panhandle to see.

There are two parks that are almost entirely underwater — Biscayne and Pennekamp in the Florida Keys are.  Both of these parks offer glass bottom boat tours of the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

There are state parks like MacArthur Beach where you may be almost alone on a gorgeous stretch of sand and sea.  I don’t know why, but the beach has been almost empty every time I’ve gone; if you like a quiet Florida beach, it may be for you.

If you love camping, there are places for beach camping in the summer (the sea breezes help keep the mosquitoes away) and more inland the rest of the year.  Spring and Fall are especially nice for Florida camping!

Before I forget, here’s something else to consider; Florida parks are great for your wallet.  The entrance fees are small, and even if you rent boats or take a tour, it’s far, far less than the cost of one of the major theme parks!

I hope I’ve given you some Florida vacation ideas.  In the meanwhile, here is a list of some interesting Florida parks — there should be one in your area.

Do you need some Florida vacation ideas?  Maybe you’re curious about the state.  Maybe you’re a resident and want to explore…but don’t want to use a lot of gas doing it.  Maybe you’re visiting Florida for the first time and are eager to learn all you can.

You’ve got the time off — now what do you do?  In this and the next few posts, let’s explore Florida vacation ideas, from around the state.

Attractions are Everywhere (Almost)

Yes, Florida is a tourist state, and so we have lots and lots of attractions, large and small.  Of course you know about the big three (Disney, Universal and SeaWorld), but they’re in Orlando and if you’re not, it could be a long drive for you.

Not to worry, there are very few places in Florida that are more than two or three hours from some sort of destination, and most often times much closer. 

For example, St. Augustine in NE Florida is loaded with all sorts of places to see.  From the Fountain of Youth, through Ripley’s Museum; trolley tours and ghost tours.  Most all of it is in one area, so you can roam from one to the next.

The Nature Coast has Weeki Wachee Springs; Tampa has Busch Gardens.

Orlando…well, enough said there!  Enough attractions to sink a ship.

Spacecoast has Kennedy Space Center; West Palm Beach has Lion Country Safari.

Florida vacation ideas involving attractions are certainly one of the first things a visitor (and often a resident) considers.  And while there is the occasional “dud”, most attractions are worth visiting.

Here’s a listing of some Florida attractions, by regions of the state — that should get the vacation ideas flowing!

This is part 1 of Florida vacation ideas; keep on the lookout for parts 2 through 5!

Captiva Island is snuggled up against Sanibel, so it was a natural that we decided to stop by for a look.  Actually, I had heard so much about the lovely beach on Captiva, that I wanted to take a peek.

Wanted to - yes.  Got to - no.

These photos were taken from the truck while we were stuck in traffic.  There’s really only one main road traversing Captiva, and it’s two lane.  Since they were doing roadwork, one lane shut down for awhile.  And there we sat.

This photo is looking out towards the Gulf of Mexico.  The water was a turquoise blue and very calm; it would have been wonderful to swim in.  The sand looked soft and inviting, and the shelling was terrific, I imagine.

Alas, by the time we finally got to the beach parking area, there was none to be found.  When someone tells you that the parking at the Captiva beaches is limited…believe them!  There wouldn’t have been room for my tiny car to get a spot, much less David’s truck (which we call “the beast”).

Sadly, we had to turn around and go back the way we came in.  And of course we got stuck in traffic again, so I was able to get another photo or two of the Captiva beach that was so close, but too far away.

We did pass ‘Tween Waters Inn, which I had heard so much about.  It was certainly pretty, with the pastel-colored cottages.  I don’t know what the other side of the property looked like, but the front side did face out onto a busy road; I can’t imagine there was a whole lot of scenery, until the traffic died down.  But I’ll bet the sunsets are glorious!

One of these days I’ll go back to Captiva and this time I will make it onto the beach.  Even if I have to get there at 6 AM to get a parking spot!

I know, I meant to write more about Sanibel much sooner than this. But I’m now back to the blog, so how about some photos of my favorite Florida bird — the roseate spoonbill.

Roseates are that wonderful pink color that one usually associates with flamingoes.  Well, I think the flamingo copied it from the roseate!

David and I were over in Ding Darling on Sanibel Island this past April (oh boy am I ever late in posting these photos), and while we were on the wildlife drive, we saw a bunch of people pulled off to the side of the road and a crowd gathering.

Lo and behold, there were three…wait, now four roseates gathered!  They were apparently interested in lunch more than a get-together, but what was interesting is that they were pretty close.  Every time I’ve seen roseate spoonbills in the past, they were waaaaayyyy far in the distance.

Now these birds didn’t seem to care too much about the growing crowd; they just keept on preening their feathers and then leisurely stopping to poke around for underwater treasures (i.e. food).

I tried looking up some information on these lovely birds, and wouldn’t you know, Wikipedia doesn’t have much in the way of info.  I searched around some more and found a link to the Honolulu Zoo (of all places).  Not a ton of information, but it was a start!

I have a book on Florida wildlife that has a photo of a flock of roseates in a mangrove tree.  It was truly a breathtaking photo, but then I thought…don’t they look like ornaments on a Christmas tree?

OK, back to Ding Darling and Sanibel. 

If you’ve never been over to Sanibel Island, on Florida’s SW coast, the first time you go you’re stuck by how crowded it is.  It’s a small island, but a big tourist destination, and people are everywhere.

What most people (aside from maybe Sanibel residents) don’t know is that 60% of the island has been set aside for wildlife.  Ding Darling is large part of the 60%.

It’s hidden, though; you have to want to find it.  David used to go over to Sanibel all the time and he didn’t know it was there!  (Naturally, the map reader I am, knew where it was.)

Sanibel is a lovely island, but next time you’re there, take a step back from the beaches and restaurants and hotels and take a look at the real Florida — naturally.

The roseates are probably still waiting for you to drop by!

Sorry I’ve been away for so long, and hopefully I’ll be back in a more regular mode of writing soon.

But meanwhile, I wanted to share something that happened with me this morning.  Call it the “tale of the wood storks”.

David and I decided to go out to breakfast this morning, and once we got to the restaurant, who should be strolling along the road but a momma wood stork and her two babies.   They didn’t seem particularly surprised to see people.

Well, we left momma and babies by the car and went into the restaurant.  About 5 minutes later, who comes strolling along the sidewalk?  You guessed it — the wood stork family.

We asked our server about them, and Nikki said that they come by all the time.  Occasionally they will tap their beaks on the glass window and stare in.  And naturally they are always interested in food (although the restaurant staff doesn’t feed them — it’s prohibited by state law).  It still doesn’t prevent the wood storks from hoping anyway!

I wish I had brought my camera along, so I could have taken pictures of these rare birds.  But I never thought to see any just walking by a restaurant!

Goes to show you — in Florida, just about anything is possible.