The Camping Bug

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2011-09-21T16:48:00.001-07:00

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19. Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve - December 19, 2009

2010-06-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is much like the park Tom currently works at, Atlantic Ridge. Except, because it is a park in its own right, there is no entrance fee. Based on my experience, there is no entrance fee to a preserve if it is not managed by another park. The next best thing about this park is it is only about 15 minutes away from Collier-Seminole, so you might as well ride out there.

The main entrance to the park has an 11 mile trail that goes through some of the flatland. Tom did not want to go very far on this, as it is rather bumpy and he was worried about his trailer. What was cool about this park is a pull-off right next to a Seminole Indian tribe (yes, they were selling dreamcatchers and any other indian gift you would want. No, they do not give tours of their village). The pull-off is called Big Cypress trail and it leads back to an oasis for the animals. We saw alligators, many types of birds, and it was beautiful. It was a little lake they had all to themselves (besides us gawking at the boardwalk).

Something unique about this park we were not able to see were the rare orchids. According to the guide book we picked up, there are several types of rare orchids in the park -- orchid enthusiasts from all over the world come and visit. The trails to hike to them are very difficult, and you have to know what you are looking for. We decided that adventure was not for us.

Til next time,

The camping bug

18. Collier-Seminole State Park - December 18, 2009

2010-03-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

I can tell you right now the #1 reason to visit this park - Royal Palm trees. Not the kind that line the side of the road in Miami, no. Those are a sham compared to these trees. These trees are so tall you can barely see them if you strain your neck as far back as it will go. So tall, if you standing right next to one, all of the other trees will shroud it unless you look closely. Their pom frons (leaves?) are long and flowing. This park is one of the only remaining natural Royal Palm hammocks in the United States. Many have recently been knocked down by hurricanes and other storms, leaving only a few survivors.

Other than that, there is not much to say about the park. We were there in the winter, making it a nice temperature. In the summer, it is probably terribly hot and full of mosquitos. They do have the only remaining dredge from the digging of the Tamiami Trail -- which, when it was built at the turn of the century, it was a marvel. To forge a road across the Everglades seemed impossible. The men who made this pioneering trail through Florida had long hours, no bathrooms, and were away from their families for months at a time. Often, they would be up to their knees in mud from th swampy Everglades. Could you imagine us doing something like that today?

They do have two separate campgrounds -- one for RVs and one for tents. Thankfully, we were allowed to stay in the tent one, which had much better shrubbery. It would, however, be a great place for an RV group to go, as there are many campsites all next to each other.

Til next time,

The camping bug

Canaveral National Seashore - November 28th and 29th, 2009

2010-02-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

On our second visit to Canaveral National Seashore, we decided to take a stab at the beach camping. It is primitive, and the person on the phone told us it would be a two mile hike. No worries however, we were prepared. Our friend Daniel brought along both of his backpacking bags, excited to try out his new one. Tom and I also borrowed his backpacking tent, preparing for the long hike.

We started on our journey at about 2 p.m., me being a little apprehensive because I too was carrying a backpack, albeit smaller than Tom and Daniel's. Was I going to make the entire hike? Was I going to poop out and have to pass my backpack to one of the boys to finish carrying it? Well, I was never able to find the answer to these questions. It turns out the hike is so short you can still see the boardwalk from where you camp. So short, in fact, that rather than go to the bathroom in the wilderness, I chose to walk back to the trailer where we signed in. Not that I am complaining, but they could have told us the truth. If we would have known, we would have wheeled our coolers and our giant tent out there. Come to think of it, maybe that is what they are trying to prevent.

The best part of this adventure was the peacefulness. Only 30 people are allowed on the beach per day, and they must obtain a permit. There is only one other campsite, and it is quite a distance from ours. We spent the evening walking the deserted beach and sitting beside our campfire in the sand. We fell asleep to the waves crashing against the shore and woke up to a beautiful sunset on the beach. Talk about a great trip. The camping fee is only $10 a night for up to six people. You can reserve only two weeks in advance -- which is nice for us late planners. However, beach camping is only open from Nov. 1 - mid-April, because of sea turtle nesting.

This is an experience I recommend, particularly if you like the beach.

Til next time,

The camping bug

17. Natural Bridge Battlefield - November 9, 2009

2009-12-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

Just across the way from Wakulla Springs is another small park (the smallest one we have been to yet) that is a battlefield from the Civil War. The state park system appears to only own a few acres here, so there is not much to do. Never fear though, there are picnic tables so we made sure to utilize them. If you are coming from Wakulla, one street past the turn off for Natural Bridge there is a Subway. Perfect picnicing food. There is an entrance fee of $3, but it is a drop box and I have a feeling people do not always contribute.

So, needless to say we really went here to fulfill our mission, not really thinking we would find anything enjoyable about this park. However, come to find out, this was a very interesting battle site during the Civil War, and it even tied to the last place we visited, San Marcos de Apalache (see blog post below). You see, Tallahassee was the only Confederate capital to not fall during the Civil War. Never really having the story explained to me, I did not give it much thought; honestly, I thought the Union was not interested in Tallahassee, and that is why it did not fall.

However, come to find out, a group of Confederates were stationed at San Marcos de Apalache, guarding the only way Union troops could get to Tallahassee by boat. The Union held a blockade so no supplies could get through either river (the St. Marks or the Wakulla) but the Confederates held strong. So, the Union decided to attack the fort by land, hoping an attack from both sides would cause the fort to fall. Well, the Confederates got wind of this and sent a messenger running to Tallahassee. Now, mind you, all of the able-bodied men from the age of 16 to 60 had already been sent off to fight in Atlanta or somewhere else. But, when the messenger reached Tallahassee, the men there knew something had to be done to protect their city.

So, the young boys and the old men gathered up what guns and ammo they could and went to defend Tallahassee. They met the Union soldiers about 15 minutes (by car) outside the fort -- a 20 minute drive from Tallahassee in today's standards. They met at a spot that was naturally raised in the middle -- a natural bridge. There, the standoff took place, with the Union soliders eventually backing down - Tallahassee was saved! To the right is a list of those who died in battle or from their injuries - as you can see the Confederate list is much shorter than the Union list.

This little plot of land may not seem like much, but it is one more relic of the Old South, just like Scarlett O'Hara dreams about. There is a battle reanactment once a year, and I would love to try and get up and see it sometime. If you have time, I would suggest stopping by here. A great place to teach children a little about Florida history.

Til next time,

The camping bug

16. San Marcos Apalache Historic State Park - November 9th, 2009

2009-12-25T10:48:00.000-08:00

Like Wakulla Springs, this park is about 30 minutes outside of Tallahassee, Florida. If you are visiting Wakulla, it is worth the drive as it is only about 10 minutes away. The fort is a $2 donation to look at the exhibits, to walk around the grounds and see the ruins of the fort is free. This spot is also where the St. Marks and Wakulla rivers meet, making it an extremely desirable plot of land when boat travel was the only way to travel.

When you first walk into the museum, there are different pieces of ceramic, coins, etc., that have been found on excavations throughout the years. In the second room, there are interpretive displays that show the lifetime of the fort. The plot of land the fort sits on was first used in 1528 when Spanish explorers, impressed by the meeting of the rivers, built and launched the first ships of the New World. The original fort was built in 1679, but there are no remains because it was completly made of wood. Construction on a stone fort was started by the Spanish, but due to a land change after the war, the English received control of the fort -- it was the first of many times the fort would change hands. The picture is of what the fort looked like during its use.

The fort went back and forth between the Spanish and the English for many years, finally being captured by General (and future President) Andrew Jackson, because the Americans in Georgia were constantly being attacked by Indians and wanted to protect themselves. Florida was then ceceded to the United States in 1821. One final conflict happened on the site, during the Civil War when the fort was occupied by the Confederates. The Union had been blockading the meeting of the rivers, stopping the supply of goods to Tallahassee. However, they were not able to get past the fort to seize Tallahassee. Union soldiers attempted to attack the fort from behind, in hopes to have it surrounded and force out the Confederates. However, the Union forces never made it that far, because of the Battle at Natural Bridge. Please see the above post for a description of what went on there. The picture is of the meeting of the headwaters, a place full of conflict for many centuries.

The museum did provide a pamphlet with a walking tour to look at all the different sites. There is a memorial and small graveyard as well. Many park staff were on site that day, because a hurricane was suppose to come through the next day. The picture I thought was interesting to show what happens to state parks when a hurricane comes through. As you can see, the picnic tables are tied to the tree.

Til next time,

The camping bug

15. Wakulla Springs - November 7th - 9th, 2009

2009-12-09T22:07:00.000-08:00

For my 23rd birthday, Tom and I stayed two nights at Wakulla Springs, which is a Spanish-style hotel that was built in the 1930's and kept time-period specific. The hotel is 30 minutes outside Tallahassee and a great place to stay the night if you don't mind being a little ways from town. All of the rooms have furniture from the 1930's, most of which matched and appeared to be original to the hotel. When the cleaning ladies had all the doors opened we happened to be walking around and they let us see all the rooms. The rooms are all the same price: $105 a night on the weekend and 95$ on weeknights. The two suites are always $105. Some overlook the water, some have one queen bed while others have two fulls, or two fulls and a twin, but they are first-come first-serve with no price differences, which is a trademark of the state park system.

One of the first things we noticed when we walked in the hotel, and something that kept us entertained the entire time, was an original elevator. We had to manually pull open the door and push a button for it to close. I had never seen anything like it. We rode the elevator every chance we got. Sometimes I think Tom would think of things we needed upstairs just to ride the elevator.

The last owner of this property, Edward Ball, bought the spring and the 2 miles of river it connects to and made it a wildlife preserve in the 1930's. He went as far as putting a fence up so that boaters could not get past. He was a millionare and had a lot of pull, so the fence stayed, with the ruling that the river was deemed impassible because it deadended in Ball's property. Because of this, the animals for generations have not been disturbed by people. To this day, they do not allow kayakers and canoers in the water.

The only way to go down the river is on the cute boats they send out once an hour. Tom and I actually went on the very first boat ride of the morning at 9:30 a.m. I suggest this because it appeared as though the others after ours were slammed full, while ours was only about 1/4 full. We saw many alligators, anahingas, turtles, manatees, etc. It was a very nice way to start the morning.

We did hike several of the trails, which were not anything special, but enjoyable nonetheless. The other part of the trip we really enjoyed was the food. We had a special package where for $135 you got your hotel room for one night, two boat tickets, and a three course meal and drink in the dining room. It was very fancy. For dinner, I had prime rib and Tom had New York strip steak. Both of got a yummy chocolate explosion cake for dessert. We also ate in the dining hall for breakfast, but I found that it probably would have been a good way to save money if we would have just brough bagels or Pop-Tarts. We paid about $7 each for French toast and eggs, which was not really worth it.

There is also a real live soda fountain on site. I thought it would be like in the pictures I have seen, but really all that is left of the soda fountain is the bar, which is made of marble. Tom got a mint chocolate chip shake (his favorite), while I got the house special - a ginger yip. It was basically a vanilla shake with a small can of ginger ale. I recommend it.

One of the nights we were there we watched "Creature from the Black Lagoon" on the only TV in the hotel, which was downstairs. The movie was filmed at Wakulla Springs, and if you ask they will play it for you. Of course, this means I asked. I found the movie quite enjoyable, and not scary at all. The Tarzan from the 1940's was also filmed there. The tree in the picture is the tree which Tarzan swung from. It had since died and will soon sink into the river.

I could go on and on for pages, but I guess I will stop here. Wakulla Springs is an unusual state park -- an example of the park system not only saving a piece of natural Florida, but also a hotel from yester year.

Til next time,

The camping bug

14. Wekiwa Springs - October 23rd and 24th, 2009

2009-11-12T03:08:00.000-08:00

Wekiwa Springs is a common stomping ground for me -- since the water is clean because of the spring, my friends and I often go there to play around in our whitewater kayaks. Wekiwa Springs is about 45 minutes away from East Orlando in Apopka. It is one of the only parks so far that, rather than being in the middle of nowhere, actually has several suburbs full of well-t0-do homes. It is also minutes away from stores and restaurants you would find anywhere. I actually stayed there because I had a taekwondo competition at the Wide World of Sports in Disney and we were only about 25 minutes away.

A warning for this park: in the summer, it closes often. We went to Lower Wekiva River Preserve (which is a park within a park, if you will) over the 4th of July weekend, and the park closed every day. It is only $6 a carload, which is a great deal for a bunch of kids in the summer. When we went camping, I was very suprised at the amount of tent campers I saw -- the most I have ever seen at any park. The next day was the fall festival and that may have had something to do with it.

I also have two fun facts about Wekiwa Springs:

1. The name "Wekiwa" is Creek Indian for "bubbling water". The name Wekiva is Creek Indain for "flowing water". Therein lies the difference between Wekiwa Springs and Wekiva River.

2. Because of the overcrowding at the park, Wekiwa Springs purchased a tram that would take campers from the campground to the spring (because it was too long to walk), thereby freeing up parking spaces for others. However, people did not like waiting for the tram and the idea basically flopped. However, if you ever take the tram tour at Colt Creek -- guess where the tram came from?? Everything happens for a reason.

This park is also a great canoe. It is a little bit of a walk to launch your canoe/kayak, but not as long as Silver River. Then, it is about an hour canoe ride to Wekiva Island, which is a nice bar on the side of the river. We often stop there for a break. The owners changed over the summer and they really spruced the place up. I would recommend it. It is also usually easy to canoe back up river, as the current is not very strong. You will see many beginning canoers doing it.

Well, I guess that is about it, a great and busy park to visit! Note: The pictures are from several Wekiwa trips. Thanks Dan for their use!

Until next time,

The camping bug

13. Silver River - October 11th and 12th

2009-11-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

This park, by far of the others, has the most interesting mix of great parts, and not-so-great parts. As indicated by the name, the park is on the river which ends in Silver Springs, an amusement park that predates Disney World. They are both located in Ocala, which is 30 minutes outside of Gainesville. They were both easy to find, and we were actually able to drive through historic downtown Ocala, which I always love to do. I have never been to Silver Springs, but if you want to go swimming it may be the better choice -- there was no swimming in this park. Even if you were allowed, the area they had roped off was very small.

The best thing about the park is a man who calls himself "Mr. Sam". He is 79 years old and he works part-time at Silver River with the Marion County school system. He was born and raised in Marion County, at a time when the only people who settled it were "Florida Crackers". He told stories about living with his momma and daddy and six siblings in a two-room house they built. The boys slept on the porch with the dogs and the girls all slept together in the second room. They made all of their own food and clothing. He was a lucky one though, because his momma chose one girl and one boy who got to attend school (a two mile walk) and he was one of the lucky ones. When he started school, it only went to the 8th grade, but he got luckier still because by the time he finished it went to 12th grade. I have met few other storytellers to surpass the hold this man had on the audience. He only does his speech at the park one Saturday a month, and I strongly recommend you call ahead. He will make your trip and you will never forget him. We were the lucky ones that day.

The main problem with this park is how you actually get to the river: it is a mile-long walk that vehicles are not allowed on (though it appears they could drive on it if needed). Just so you know I am not exaggerating, they actually give the first hour of the canoe ride to you for free, because it takes half an hour to walk there and half an hour to walk back! It would be nearly impossible for someone to take their own canoe, unless you had a caddy. Also, once you get to Silver Springs, you aren't really suppose to get out because it is their property. Alas, we did not go canoeing there.

We did, however, enjoy several of the trails. One of them had a sinkhole that was formerly used as a trash dump (hey, it probably seemed like a good idea at the time, the hole was already dug!) The park (funding permitting) is currently working on restoring the sinkhole to its natural state.

It was a nice place to camp, with many very large spots. I believe it was $22.00 a night. There were also several cabins, which we drove past, and they were $105 a night. Maybe next time we will make it to Silver Springs!

Til next time,

The camping bug

12. Lake Griffin - October 9th and 10th

2009-10-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

Probably the quietest park we have attended so far, Lake Griffin State Park is about an hour outside of East Orlando in Fruitland Park. This is a small community with not much other activity. The park itself sits on 520 acres, which is small for a state park. There are only a few short trails, the picture on the left taken at one. We enjoyed the park for its serenity, spending a chunk of our time sitting on a bench next to the Dead River reading "1984," out current camping book.

There are 40 campsites, only $18 each, which is cheaper than many of the parks we normally attend. The one we picked, 26, was probably too close to the bathroom. When we go back, which we intend to do, we will probably book 22, 23, 0r 24.

The day we got there we canoed out to Lake Griffin. The park itself does not have access, but it is a short, probably 25 minute, canoe ride to the lake. I imagine naming the park "Dead River" would not have been as great for PR. We decided to rent canoes rather than bring ours, and it was only $4 an hour. Tom was pretty excited because they were aluminum canoes, which means they are much lighter but also bang up easier. The picture on the right is a reflection of the sky in the water.

There were many birds on the river, I believe we saw a few sandhill cranes and also the type that swim underwater, the anhinga. I had never seen one in person before, so that was fun. When we canoed past them they would often dive right into the water! A gator also swam in front of us in the river, which is always fun. I am suprised at how used to gators I have really gotten.

The park also had a 300 year-old oak tree close to the entrance. It claims to be the fifth-largest oak tree in Florida. The park included pavilions and a playground for children. See my post about "Payne's Creek", as it is the same playground pictured there. We spoke with the park manager and one of the volunteers at the ranger station and learned that a project they are raising funds for is to build a boardwalk that goes farther out into the Dead River, I believe something like what Blue Springs had. It is a $500,000 project and he did not mention how much had been raised so far.

All in all, if you are looking for a quiet place, this is it. We enjoyed our stay.

Until next time,

The camping bug

11. Sebastian Inlet - September 19th and 20th, 2009

2009-10-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sebastian Inlet is one of two state parks in Brevard County, where my hometown is located. Suprisingly enough, I had never been there. One of the main attractions is the beach. I have been to Cocoa Beach many times, and also the beaches on the West Coast, so I didn't expect to find much new here. However, the waves were so much larger! One minute I was standing about thigh deep the next second I was at least 10 feet off the ground! It was not very crowded; we were there on a Saturday afternoon and we had a stretch of the beach almost to ourselves.

The campsites were nice. We were not lucky enough to book one that faces the inlet; those are probably booked several months in advance and we only booked about a month out. I believe they were $22 each. The sites away from the inlet were larger, however. They also had the most interesting crabs. They were very small and blended into the foliage on the ground.

We went for a sunset canoe ride through the inlet. I would not recommend this for someone unless they were a strong paddler. The tide was going in at that time and we went the length of about three football fields in 45 minutes. Then we drifted back (no paddling) in 15 minutes. Do not go downstream first! You will never make it back.

The next day, we went to the alcove they have roped off for swimming. It never gets so deep I couldn't touch, but it is large enough that there is plenty of room for everyone. There were little fishes and pelicans lined up on the rocks. People did not seem to bother them and we were able to get pretty close before it appeared as though we were disturbing them, and then we left them alone. The bridge in the picture is A1A.

There is a small museum on site, worth a quick walk through. Even though the video was fairly new, made in 2006, I wouldn't say it was worth the time. Most importantly, I did not think the McLarty treasure museum was worth the money -- it was an additional $2 on top of park entrance. It was not very big and had very few items that were actually pieces from the shipwreck. There is a walkout balcony to look out at the beach, which is where the picture was taken.

It was a nice park with great waves. I am sure we will go back again because it is so close to my home.

Til next time,

The camping bug

10. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park - September 7, 2009

2009-09-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I am ashamed to say I have never read one of Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's books. Not for a lack of not owning them either -- my great-grandma bought me "The Yearling" and my Aunt Diane bought me "Cross Creek" when I was a child. They both put beautiful inscriptions in them and they have always been in the "I will get to that eventually..." pile. Well, I have moved them to the top of the list after visiting her home. I imagine some people think it is silly to keep famous people's homes in tact. For me, it shows their personality and brings their writing to life.

To give an idea of what Ms. Rawling thought of her home, there is a sign at the entrance that is a direct quote from "Cross Creek." "It is necessary to leave the impersonal highway, to step inside the rusty gate and close it behind. One is now inside the orange grove, out of one world and in the mysterious heart of another. And, after years of spiritual homelessness, of nostalgia, here is that mystic loveliness of childhood again. Here is home." You can tell this is a place she truly loved.

Unfortunately, in the months of August and September the house is closed for repairs. Luckily, since the house was built before air conditioning, the windows were large and plenty. Ms. Rawling's bad and headboard is in her room, along with the same in the guest bedroom. As a matter of fact Robert Frost (I took the road less traveled by) and Margaret Mitchell (Gone With the Wind) both slept in the bed. There is a bathroom in the middle which was the first in the area to get indoor plumbing. We were also able to peek into the living room, dining room, etc.

There was a small house in the yard for the servant and a barn with many of the original tools. To keep the house authentic, they still had chickens and ducks wandering around, which I thought was quite interesting. Ms. Rawling used the farm and orange grove as a way to sustain herself while she wrote. There was a short path through some of the outer land, but it is not often walked and a little overgrown.

Once Tom and I realized the house itself was not open, we were worried about whether or not we would get our stamp. However, Tom is a very observant person and noticed a lady walking around barefoot. He said she must be a worker, and low and behold, he was correct. She was very kind and let us get our stamp. Also, the park was $3.00 to get in and the money had to be left outside in a box. When the house is open, the tour is an additional fee, but I believe it is nominal.

This house was a great place to visit to get a feel for Ms. Rawlings. Now if only I could get to those books...

Til next time,

The camping bug

9. Payne's Prairie - September 6-7, 2009

2009-09-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Payne's Prairie is a unique piece of Florida, the very first state preserve. I had previously walked through some of the trails with my Uncle John, and my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Wayne's house is close to the prairie, so this one was old hat. We paid $18.00 a night to camp there, a little cheaper than most parks. This is because they have "tent only" sites that have approximatly 1 electrical hook-up for every three tent sites. They then split the savings between the RV sites and the tent sites. Also, the RV sites have shrubbery between each one, while the tent sites are easily seen from one to the other. Therefore, I would recommend booking an RV site that has a tent pad (if you have a tent), so you do not have to set your tent up in gravel, but you have more privacy. Those numbers are 1, 3, 8, 11, 15, 19, 20-33, 37, 41, 44-46, 49 and 50.

Day entrance to the park is $6.00. There is a nice visitor's center with a video about the park. It went through the changes the park had seen since William Bartram wrote about it in 1774, the first written record. For a short period of time, it was even a lake. A short walk outside the visitor's center is an 50-foot observation deck that looks high above the prairie. There are deer and alligators -- but mostly interestingly, if you are lucky you will see wild horses and buffalo. When it was decided to return Payne's Prairie to its orginal state, they decided to also bring in the animals located on the land that had been hunted to extinction. The horses are desendents of the original Spanish horses and the buffalo were brought in from Oklahoma -- the closet breed to the ones from Florida.

Tom and I walked the Jackson's Gap trail, which was about a mile. Nice and shady, there was another part of the prairie fenced off to look at, possibly animals graze there as well. Tom and Uncle Wayne walked the La Chua Trail, which is 3 miles long and sounded a little adventurous to me! The trail is raised, and it goes through a marsh with many alligators - Tom said he saw about eight. There is also a sinkhole on site the trail leads to.

There is also a canoe launch and playground near the campground. It seemed to me this park was best for its trails. Hopefully we will be able to go back sometime for canoeing. It would be nice to walk in the fall or spring as well, maybe I will have to catch another Gator game!

Til next time,

The camping bug

8. Devil's Millhopper - September 6, 2009

2009-09-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

As an undergrad, I attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. Sadly, during the two years I spent there, I never visited this park, only about 15 minutes away from campus. It is only $4.00 a carload to get in, so it would be a great way to spend an afternoon or take someone on a cheap date.

Basically, the park is a giant sinkhole, 117 feet deep. Why, you may ask, would you want to see a giant sink hole, particularly this giant sink hole? Because it is like desending into another culture, even another time. Fresh spring water cascades down the rock formations, causing the calming sound of a rainforest. Or, at least the sound they put in Rainforest Cafe. All of the different types of plant life were very unlike Florida. Since a boardwalk was installed for visitors, the life in the sinkhole has been restored -- there are no human footprints to be found.

To desend in the sinkhole, the staircase is 232 steps. When the park was first declared a geological site in the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps put in railway board to climb down on, which meant humans had the ability to go off the normal path. That was remedied in the 1970's with the boardwalk. There is also a bench at the bottom of the staircase, but I felt as though the park could do with another. It was almost as if they did not want you to stay down there.

Other amenities in the park include a 1/2 mile trail around the sink hole, an informative and fairly short video, and picnic tables for lunch. There seemed to be a lot of room by the picnic tables, so I was curious as to why they did not have a pavilion. When I went back to the ranger station, the park ranger had left so I wasn't able to ask. In case you were curious, the park is named for its funnel-like shape -- farmers used to grind their grain in a "hopper" that was a similar shape. In the walls of the sinkhole, it is said you can see the fossils of many animals. Therefore, early settlers saw this as a place the devil himself dragged people and animals into.

It was a quick trip, we were only there about an hour and a half, but worth it to see a sinkhole for the first time.

Til next time,

The camping bug

7. Colt Creek State Park - August 30, 2009

2009-09-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

Fun fact- Colt Creek State Park is not only the closest park to Tom's house, but it is also the newest state park in the system! In May of 2006, the park system, in conjunction with Polk County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, bought the land from the Overstreet family. Therefore, much of the park was undeveloped, but we were able to speak to a park ranger and learn of their plans.

Currently, the park is $3.00 a carload for entry (bring cash because you have to put the money in a box). There are a few nicely sized lakes to walk around. You can fish in these lakes, but I wouldn't say they are big enough for recreational canoeing. There were other guests riding their bike around the lake or walking their pets. There is about 10 more miles of trails, though the one we attempted to go down was flooded. There were benches around the lake, but they were also flooded. It would be a very nice place to take a horse, as the trails are considered equestrian. There is youth camping (like Boy Scouts) but no regular or primitive camping.

To obtain our stamp, we had to call the cell number of the park ranger. I did feel bad about this, but we needed our stamp! The park specialist drove up in her jeep to help us. We also asked her questions about the park, and learned that they have filed for permits to pave the trail around the lake and build a nice ranger station - the current one is temporary. Once the ranger station is built they are hoping to rent out the canoes and kayaks they already own. There are also more long term plans of building campsites and backpacking trails.

I enjoyed going to this park because for the first time we saw not what a park was, but what it has the ability to be. Seeing the development of a park first hand like that will be beneficial to Tom as he persues his park ranger/Americorps dream. Happily, he did put in his application to volunteer at the park!

Til next time,

The camping bug

6. Paynes Creek - August 28, 2009

2009-09-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend Tom and I helped his sister move into her apartment. Therefore, we were not able to go camping so we visited a state park 45 minutes outside of Lakeland, Paynes Creek historic state park. This site was one that does not monitor the ranger station, so make sure to bring $3.00 cash per vehicle. We went to the visitor's center first, which is on the right hand side when you enter the park. The visitor's center holds is small and holds a short history of the area. This park is built around where Fort Chokonikla once stood.

I know what you are thinking -- so what? Well, this fort was built during the Seminole Wars in Florida. What happened was, there was a small general store in town, called the Kennedy-Darling Trading Post. It was built to help improve settler/Native American relations, enabling them to trade with one another. Well, one night only a few months after the trading post opened, the Seminoles attacked and killed two of the owners. Obviously, this caused a public outrage. So, the fort was built. However, the fort only lasted a year before the extreme disease, loneliness, and boredom caused the U.S. Government to shut it down. There are only a few excavated remains of the fort, but the area is marked where it used to stand. As Tom dutifully pointed out, there were no tall trees around the vicinity of the fort, because they had been cut down to build it and for firewood. Interesting observation. The fort also led off into several trails. To the left is a picture of the fort area.

Other than that, there are several other things to do in the park. There is a canoe launch into Paynes Creek, which is a tributary of the Peace River. It was a very steep launch and also a 20 minute walk down a dirt road that was closed to vehicles at the time, so I am glad we didn't haul the canoe. There are nice pavilions in a different section, along with a new-looking playground and swings.

Right past the playground there were two interesting trails. The first only took about 10 minutes for us to walk, and it included a suspension bridge! I felt like Indiana Jones, exploring a lost world.

At the end of the trail with the suspension bridge was the grave site of the two general store owners, erected soon after their death in 1849. Worth the short walk. There was also a trail that led to the site of the general store, but since nothing remained of it, we decided to pass. We had already walked several miles of trail that day. There is youth camping at this park, but no regular camping, which was too bad. I guess there are not enough attractions to warrant it. Nonetheless, I thought it was a good day journey to learn some Florida history first hand.

Til next time,

The camping bug

5. DeLeon Springs - August 23, 2009

2009-08-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, after our camping trip at Blue Springs, Tom and I packed up early in the morning and headed over to a site that doesn't have camping - DeLeon Springs. It is about 25 minutes from Blue Springs, so it is worth the trek. The most unique feature of this park is a "make-your-own" pancake house inside the Old Spanish Sugar Mill -- a great place to have breakfast. Tom and I arrived at the spring at 9:30 a.m., and the wait was already 30 minutes! Once we got seated, there was a griddle built right into the table. We were given two choices of pancake batter - one was a Native American recipe and the other was a whole grain. Both were all-you-can-eat for $4.50. We added chocolate chips, which were enough for both batters, for $1.75.

After breakfast, we took a walk through the trails. There is an old cypress tree that was more than 500 years old! The sign said the tree should have been cut down when the early settlers moved to the area because they used cypress to build things and for firewood, but for some reason this one was spared. There was also a trail that lead to Monkey Island, where monkeys used to live in the 1950's and 1960's (tourist attraction, more on that later). However, about halfway down the trail it was so flooded we couldn't walk past. Too bad!

Next we went swimming in the spring. This was the only part of the park I was not fond of. As I mentioned earlier, the area used to be a tourist attraction -- think roadside billboard before Disney. Same concept as Gatorland. Anyway, so the attractions included a water skiiing elephant, monkey island, and the Fountain of Youth, hence "DeLeon Springs" after Ponce De Leon. Well, the "fountain" was the natural spring water that most people had never experienced before, as most of the springs in the U.S. are in Florida, which was just beginning to experience its population boom (as Walt Disney later capitalized on). So, the spring was enclosed with a concrete wall that did not allow a lot of water to flow through. Therefore, since everyone was kicking up dirt, I could not see the spring even with my goggles. It was basically like a cold swimming pool instead of a spring.

It was a unique experience, but if I was a scuba diver I would have felt a little cheated.

Til next time,

The camping bug

4. Blue Springs - August 22, 2009

2009-08-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Tom and I ventured to one of our favorite spots this weekend - Blue Springs! I love this place because it has the biggest spring area to swim in that I have seen so far, which means the people are all spread out. There are two different entry points, both of which are a little ways from the spring. The second entryway is probably a few hundred yards away. It is more of an adventure because you have to swim from one area to get to the spring. Tom and I also brought our mask and snorkel, so we were able to dive down and look at the spring a few times. There are a lot of big trees underwater, so it is fascinating to look at those. The reason you cannot enter Blue Springs at the spring is because of the cliff area that surrounds it, which is caused by erosion.

We did camp there on Saturday night, which was $22.00. There is a nice restroom facility with showers and all of the campsites are private. What is nice about Blue Springs is even though the spots are private with shrubbery, there is a path cut between each one so that people can easily move from campsite to campsite if they desire.

On site there is also an old Florida home, circa the late 1800's. This house was built at Blue Springs because it feeds directly into the St. John's River, making the area accessible by water. For those of you that remember your history, all the first towns in an area used to develop by the water, because that was the only way to recieve supplies. The house had a lot of items on display and signs. One interesting fact was that up to four steamboats would come to the area every day! This made the owners of the house part tourism, part postman, and part supplier for the rest of the town. The demise of this area came when Henry Flagler built his famous railway in Florida. Then people started travelling that way and only one or two steamboats came through the area, then none at all.

The first time we came to Blue Springs, we also took our kayaks out on the St. John's river. There is a nice put-in spot in the second parking lot. You have to drag the boat a little ways though.

In other news, we found out Tom passed his teaching exam the day we were at Blue Springs!

I love Blue Springs! Until next time,

The camping bug

3. Little Manatee River - August 15, 2009

2009-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Tom and I journeyed to Tampa for my friend Devora's 30th birthday party. Obviously, no trip is complete without a state park visit! We decided to camp at Little Manatee River about 45 minutes outside of the University of South Florida in Tampa. It was $22.00 a night to camp and $6.00 a carload to get in if you were not camping.

The campsites were very nice, with plenty of shrubbery between each one. There was an electrical box for RV hookups -- we were able to plug our new radio into it! Also included was a picnic table and a fire ring. What I liked best about this park is it is exactly like what I pictured state parks would look like. All the buildings had a tall, slant roof like a triangle. They were green and brown in color. The women's bathroom (and possibly the men's) had a "book exchange" hanging from the wall as you walked in, which I thought was a very nice touch. There was even a book in it! If I would have known, I would have brought some of the ones I am donating...oh well. There was also laundry facilities next to the bathroom.

During the day we took a nice canoe ride up the river. My friends from college, Josh and Amanda, went with us. It was Josh's first time canoeing! What I liked most about the river was all the shade, it was a cool and peaceful ride. All four of us piled into Tom's canoe -- there are three really nice ones on site that you can rent for only $5.00 a hour (what a deal!), but it was raining so the park ranger wouldn't let us have one. We went upstream first for about an hour, so going back took us about a half hour. There were a lot of very large spider webs -- if you don't like spiders, don't look up! Oh, and I had to take a picture of the turtle crossing at the crosswalk -- this turtle knows how to cross the road!

All in all, I enjoyed the serenity of this trip. There were probably only about 10 other campsites reserved, normally when I go other places it seems like they are all full. It would be nice to go back and go on a longer canoe ride, I think we could have gone farther!

Til next time,

The camping bug

Chankanaab National Park - Cozumel, Mexico

2009-08-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

A special treat for our cruise was a visit to a national park in another country, the gorgeous Chankanaab National Park in Cozumel, Mexico. If you happen to go to Cozumel on a cruise, this has to be the most bang for your buck -- especially if you want to go snorkeling. Once you get off the cruise ship, walk through the shopping area set up for Americans (though I have to say it was very nice). Then ask for a cab to Chankanaab. We paid $15 there and $15 back, but with four or less people it will only be $10 each way. It is only about a 10 minute cab ride, so not a big deal. Everyone we interacted with spoke English very well and we had no problems. Much better than Nassau, Bahamas.

Once we arrived, it was quite simple to purchase tickets. It was $14 each because of a $2 off per person coupon we found on the Internet here: http://www.cozumelparks.com/eng/cupon.htm. If you are interested in doing this, do not go through the cruise line. They were charging double that price! There are packages available if you are interested in snorkeling, I am not sure of the prices but once you are in the park it is only $10 to rent the gear. We already have our own. They also have a dolphin encounter, which I know many people are interested in. I am not sure of the price, but I am sure it is cheaper than whatever the cruise ship is selling.

I have heard Cozumel is some of the most beautiful snorkeling in the world. I don't have much to compare it to, but it was very nice. As soon as we got into the water, fish of all colors and sizes swam right up to us! I wanted to reach out and touch them, but thought that might be damaging to them in some way, so I decided against it. Once we swam a little deeper, there was an array of coral directly off shore. There were purples, blues, pinks, the most beautiful and colorful coral I have ever seen. We were able to dive down and look at some, which were up to probably 15 feet high. Certainly taller than me!

Also available, free of charge, were hammocks, big shades made of straw, and wooden lounge chairs. There is something for all ages. Food can be purchased, as well as souviners.

A recommended trip if you are going to Cozumel.

Until next time,

The camping bug

2. Fort Taylor - Key West

2009-08-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

This past week, Tom and I ventured to Key West and Cozumel on a Carnival cruise. Naturally, we did our best to fit in a state park along the way. This one is quite the hidden secret. We went to Fort Taylor, which is about a five minute walk from the cruise ship, right next to the Navy Pier. It is only a 15 minute walk to the end of U.S. 1, the southernmost point in the U.S., etc. For pedestrians (which we were since we came from the ship) entry was only $2.50 each. I believe it was about $6.00 a carload. There is no camping there, which is always a little bit of a disappointment to Tom and I (not that we could have camped anyway). Above is a picture with us, the cruise ship and the fort. That is how close we were!

For the first leg of our adventure we visited the fort itself. I have previously visited another state park (before I created the blog), Fort Clinch, and it was in much better shape. Fort Taylor has certainly fallen into disrepair. However, on the flip side, it gave a more accurate picture of what a fort would look like if it had not been restored, which is valuable in its own right. There was a cook's kitchen, some original cannons and cannonballs throughout the fort. What I thought was most interesting is the fort used to be out in the water, on a island that had a bridge connecting it to Key West. However, in the earl 20th century, it was decided to make the fort land locked, which is how it is today.

The hidden treasure to the park was the beautiful beach that literally about 10 other people were on at the same time as us. The water is crystal clear and the sand is the white powdery kind that gently sticks to your feet. Certainly not like the gritty sand in Cocoa Beach. It did get deep rather quickly, so we were not able to walk very far out. I wish we would have had our bathing suits, but then I guess we wouldn't have made it to all our other fun spots.

All in all, this is highly recommended, even if only for the beach, if you are venturing to Key West.

Until next time,

The camping bug

Ocala National Forest - Alexander Springs

2009-07-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Tom and I belong to a camping club, the Outlanders at the University of Central Florida. This trip was our first trip of the summer with them. It is always nice to go with a group of people who enjoy the same things as you. Plus, you get to split the costs!

This was very easy to find, as it wasn't primitive camping like our last few trips. The area is called "Ocala National Forest Recreation Area" on county road 445 in Altoona. It was well marked, once we got to the general area there were many signs pointing the way. It is also located close to a small town, so there are places to eat and do things.

The campsites are $18.75 a night, but if you book on the weekends you have to book two nights. If you want to stay for the day, it is about $5 a carload, but, as usual, around 11 a.m. they closed the park for overcrowding. The campsite comes with a picnic table, a lantern post, a fire pit, and a grill. It was nice to see the grill and the fire pit separate. The campsites were semi-open, you could usually see a few other groups but it wasn't crowded at all. An interesting note about this campground is they do not have RV hookups. Eveyone is tent camping, which is something you hradly ever see these days.

At the spring, the swimming area was really nice. The ground was mostly sand, rather than walking around on rocks or vegetation. The spring was quite beautiful, so make sure to bring goggles or snorkeling gear. It is also possible to SCUBA dive in the spring. The only thing I did not like was the small area available for swimming. At Blue Springs only about an hour away, the swimming area is more than twice the size (but full of rocks and vegetation -- you win some, you lose some!)

Right next to the spring is a 1.1 mile walking trail we went through, with a nicely kept up boardwalk and a couple of lookout areas. The farthest lookout area is away from the spring, so it is nice to sit out there and watch the river. It would have been a nice place to sit and bring lunch to, as there are benches. There is also a biking trail and hiking trail, but we weren't up for that on this trip (and we didn't bring the bikes...).

A unique aspect of the campground is bears. Apparently they frequent the area and steal people's garbage if it is left out. They also said to not even leave it in your tent, as they will sniff it out and come into your tent. Then you will have an unexpected bedmate! At first I didn't really believe them, but after seeing the dumpster, I was a believer. The dumpster was covered in claw marks. We, however, did not see a bear during our trip.

All in all, I would say this is a great campground to visit, especially for tent campers! (and they allow alcohol...)

Til next time,

The camping bug

Canaveral National Seashore - July 11th and 13th, 2009

2009-07-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

Tom, even though he is a Florida Native, has never seen the shuttle go off from the Space Coast. I knew we had to remedy that, and the best way was to involve a park! We set off Saturday morning to see the shuttle launch from a primitive island campsite at Canaveral National Seashore, a national park. First off, let me tell you there are many entrances. We started at the southern most entrance in Titusville, which is not where the primitive camping is located. We drove about another 40 minutes to a town called "Oak Hill". There, you will find a sign that says "Seminole Rest" on Canal Street. Another entrance is to turn right at Halifax, or the blinking yellow light in the town. If you see a RV campground called "Mosquito Lagoon", you are in the right place. The national park entrance is right next door. The northern most entrance is in New Symrna, which is also not correct for primitive camping.

All you can see from the road is a parking lot and some restrooms. Trust me, this is actually the entrance. Get out of the car and follow the path to a gorgeous yellow home. This was built in the early 1900's on top of an Indian shell mound. It is one of the last remaining in Florida. A woman bought the mound and the surrounding property in order to preserve it. You gotta love the early pioneers of what is now the park system. Here you can pick up your permit for island backcountry camping. Here is a link to a backcountry map: http://www.nps.gov/cana/planyourvisit/upload/camping-02.pdf

Island camping is $10 a night for up to six people. Where else can you get your own island so cheap?? It comes with a picnic table and a fire pit, although ours had a manmade structure for a toilet and a trail someone made with stone. This is primitive camping, which means no electricity and no bathroom. Fun! From the Seminole Rest home, it only took us about 30 minutes to canoe to site 10, with site 9 being even closer and sights 11, 12, and 13 not being far off. From our island we could clearly see the Vechicle Assembly Building, which is where the shuttle is stored.

Out in the canoe, we saw a school of dolphins who swam around us...it was quite lovely. There were also several manatees, jumping lady fish, and many types of birds. Some of the other boaters had fishing poles and seemed to catch many fish, though we thought of it too late. The bugs were minimal at our site, though this time we had the Off! clip on spray hanging in our tent. Let me tell you, that stuff works. We were able to set up our tent facing the water, and it was beautiful. Sadly, once we arrived at the island the shuttle launch was scrubbed. Hopefully we will be able to try again in the future.

I would recommend this trip as a nice getaway. There is also the ability to primitive beach camp here, but it is currently closed for turtle season. Hopefully we will make it there in the fall.

1. Wekiva River, Lower Preserve - July 2nd and 3rd, 2009

2009-07-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

This trip proved to be a challenge for even the hardiest of campers...mostly because we got lost. However, the trip started out well. When we arrived at Wekiva Springs State Park, we checked in at the ranger booth. We had already booked a primitive camp site called "Buffalo Tram". It is the closest site to where we put in at, Wekiva Island. More on that in a minute. As it was one day after the start of the fiscal year, it was the first park we had gone to after the price increase. Not a big deal, the primitive campsites went up $1 per person per night, to $5. I wish they would have told us on the phone, but no big deal. What was exciting was that WESH 2 news pulled up about the same time as us, noticed the car and asked to speak with us. Of course, we were more than obligied. They asked us what we thought of the rate increase, and also informed us 19 parks would have closed without it. Well, there you go. That sealed the deal for us. We certainly don't want any parks to close. They taped the car driving away, and we sure got a kick out of it.

Now, when you go to Wekiva Springs, you do not want to put a canoe at the spring. You have to carry (not even drag because of the concrete) the canoe for a good 15 minutes. Not recommended. Instead, drive down to Wekiva Island (right next to the State Park) and launch your boat from there. Wekiva Island charges $6 per boat, whereas the State Park is $6 a car. The state park is a little cheaper. Wekiva Island also charges $5 a night if you park overnight, which you will if you camp. However, if you are just going to swim, drive to the State Park. Also, get there early on busy weekends -- the park closed at about 11 a.m. on July 3rd (a holiday) due to overcrowding.

Now, once we put in at Wekiva Island, we had been told by the park ranger that it was about a 2 hour canoe ride to Buffalo Tram. Well, apparently we are fast canoers, because, unknown to us, we passed it after about an hour. I would start looking early. The sign is rather small, on the left hand side of the river. You will come to a small island where you cannot go to the left because of underbrush. Go to the right, but then immediatly look to your left. You will see the sign ------->

If you come to a downed tree a canoe can barely go under, you are about 45 minutes too far. Tom and I went 2 hours to far, turning it into a 5 hour trip. I felt like Gilligan.

Once we made it to the site, it was very nice. The grass had recently been mowed and there was a fire pit. Some sort of old, wrecked boat was off to the side, which we may have explored if we had more time. Most interestingly, a raccoon, who was not scared of us at all, wandered through camp. We made sure to keep our food in the tent. There were also a lot of bugs - I would recommend some sort of standing bug spray, like the new Off! clip on. We got bit quite a bit. It is a private site, with other people who canoe by not even usually seeing you, as it is hidden a little. It would be a great spot to camp in the winter, when it is a little cooler and the bugs have exited.

All in all, it was a great trip. I will post again I am sure about the spring and kayaking, as this is the closest state park to my home.