Fernweh at play

The Everglades

10/24/2014

I love wild Florida. A lot of people think all of Florida is wild but it isn't. I mean, yes, on any given day I could have frogs, lizards galore and maybe a snake in my yard, but that's about it. Alligator sightings are still rare enough to be super exciting but happen often enough to remind you that you are living in Florida. Jason is used to getting the one word text from me -"ALLIGATOR!!"- when I actually see one. I also love the flora that comes with wild Florida; mangroves, cypress trees and grasslands, to name a few.

Now, when I tell you I love alligators, I mean I LOVE alligators. I get so excited when I see one! I wish they were into cuddling because I would totally cuddle with one. I love their little eyes that watch you from the glassy surface of the water, I love the sound the little grunts make when they are calling to their mama, I love their soft, squishy, cool bellies.

I have always wanted to go to the Everglades and finally made it happen. It's not a difficult or expensive trip I just didn't make it a priority. I decided it was time and begged Lisa to bring the kids along. We were in for fun and I had heard they had alligators down there! ;-) Many people don't know that the Everglades, right here in little 'ol Florida, is the ONLY place in the world where you can find BOTH alligators and crocodiles. How can you tell them apart? Well, you won't see many crocodiles, if any, and also - the crocodiles are the ugly ones and the gators are the pretty ones. Now you know.

The Florida Everglades are the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and have been named a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. Visiting the Everglades allows you to explore a vast diversity of flora and fauna in different eco-systems: freshwater sloughs, marl prairies, tropical hammocks, pineland, cypress, mangrove, coastal lowlands, marine, and estuarine.

The Everglades used to span from Lake Okeechobee in central Florida all the way down to Florida Bay. Starting in the 1800's developers began digging canals and draining the wetlands. Agriculture and urban sprawl have eaten away at the Everglades every since. Now only 25% of the historic Everglades remains, which is being protected by the National Park.

The Everglades spans across 1.5 million acres that stretches all the way from central Florida, near Orlando, all the way south to Florida Bay. The Everglades is not a swamp like many people believe. It is technically a river, flowing at the slow rate of about a quarter mile per day. Water leaving Lake Okeechobee in the wet season forms this slow moving river which is 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long.

We took three different airboat rides, one of the mangroves, one of the grasslands and one more that was just for good measure. It was a blast, the kids loved it and we definitely saw gators but the highest concentration of gators was actually on a road called Turner River Road. The river runs parallel to the road for the length of it and there are gators every where you look! You can drive along in your own car and get out if you are brave enough. I'm not recommending it though. This is when a sunroof comes in handy!

We stayed in Everglades City, population 400. Total area of Everglades City is 1.2 sq miles. Only .9 of that is land. It's a tiny little city famous mostly for it's airboats and alligators. Lodging is old and nothing is fancy but it's sure convenient for exploring the Glades.

We saw tourists from all over so apparently even overseas they know how cool the Everglades are! It's such an easy, inexpensive trip so there are no excuses not to go! You'll love it!

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Sailing at Anna Maria Island with Kathleen D Catamarans

10/20/2013

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We recently went sailing while visiting our family in Bradenton. This wasn't our first time sailing with Kathleen D Catamarans and I know it will not be our last. Captain Casey and his wife Melissa were great guides and made sure we enjoyed every minute of our experience. Only 6 people are allowed on the catamaran so you don't feel crowded at all and if you're lucky, like we were, you'll be the only ones sailing that night.
You can bring your own snacks and drinks along if you choose. That's what we did and it was a lot of fun to just sit back with a glass of wine and let someone else do all of the work (although Casey and Melissa both seemed to be enjoying themselves too!) And don't forget to bring along your iPod so they can hook it up and play your favorite sailing songs for you.
We did a sunset cruise both times but they have other cruises available as well. Next time I think we will do the day cruise out to Egmont Key which includes lunch.
We highly recommend these guys if you are over on the coast.
Check out their website at www.kathleend.net.

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Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach

6/1/2013

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What she thought

Jason and I went to Fernandina Beach this weekend. Jason lived there for a while when he was younger and had been wanting us to visit for a while. We only had a couple of days but managed to see some really cool things. Here's a little info about Amelia Island ---

Amelia Island is the southernmost of the Sea Islands, barrier islands that lie off the coast from South Carolina to north Florida.

The Timucua people settled on the island circa 1000 and were there till the 18th century when the French came..... then the Spanish.... then the British. Enter James Oglethorpe. Being from Georgia and having lived in Savannah, I found it interesting that Oglethorpe founded a settlement on the island that actually had squares like the squares in Savannah. Apparently he was a fan of squares. Oglethorpe renamed the island Amelia Island after the British princess. The island has been under the rule of the French, Spanish, British, Mexico and the US.

Please check out info on our hotel
The Residence Inn Amelia Island by Marriott on our "Hotels we Recommend" page or by clicking here.

On our first day on the island Jason was visiting his aunt so I decided to drive around for a couple of hours to see what I could find. Of course I drove for a bit along A1A and wandered around till I found a beautiful view of Cumberland Island. We had camped there when I was younger and it was cool to see it in the distance across the sound. I found the original settlement on the island, referred to as Old Town. This is where the squares were that I mentioned before. Nearby was a really old cemetery called Bosque Bello cemetery, which was founded by the Spanish in 1798. Not far from there is the historic downtown area still busy today with little shops and restaurants.
Jason and his mom met me for lunch and we found a great little Mexican restaurant called Pablo's. If you are ever in Fernandina you must check this place out. Pablo's family has owned restaurants for 5 generations. He started in his father's restaurant washing dishes and now has his own place. They have been open in Fernandina for 6 years now. We ordered an organic agave margarita which was more like a margarita bowl!! It was soooo delicious! Pablo also treated us to a sample of "Pablo's tequila", their own organic mix of tequila, vanilla, cinnamon and orange. It's not on the menu so ask for it by name. You won't regret it. The bar at Pablo's has over 100 tequilas so you may need to plan more than one trip. The chimichanga was the best I've ever had!! They also have a courtyard for outside dining on those perfect Florida nights under the stars.

After lunch we headed to Fort Clinch and walked on the beach 'til sunset.
The next day we walked the beach for hours looking for sharks teeth and other treasures and finished our visit off with lunch at Slider's Seaside Grill. It's a great not-so-little beach bar sitting right on Fernandina Beach. The second story balcony is the perfect place to have lunch while watching the waves come in. The menu is just what you'd expect, burgers, sliders, etc. The drinks were huge (one can never have a glass of Coke that's too big) and the service was great.

Our trip to Fernandina was alot of fun. If you are looking for a staycation give it a try!

What he thought

The greatest memories I have of my childhood are of searching for sharks teeth on Fernandina Beach. I remember root-beer floats, miniature golf, wearing my polyester disco shirt to the skating rink on Saturday nights. There's something really special, for a kid, about living in a small beach community.

As an adult, you always want to recapture the emotions of those pivotal moments in your childhood. Though, I have traveled up and down I-95 past the A1A dozens of times in the last twenty years, I never visited Fernandina as an adult to reminisce about my experiences there as a youth.

One thing I most wanted to do in Fernandina was hunt for shark's teeth on the beach. As always is the case with a walk on the beach, it's an experience that helps you unwind, clear your mind and be fully in the present. Adding the mission of finding those tiny black triangles in the sand makes the meditation all the more intense.

Not many beaches in the US offer the prospect of shark teeth. It's one of my favorite features of Amelia island but on our trip, I discovered many other charms that I missed as a kid.

Small towns with history -- I just love'em. When they are pre-colonial with forts and cannons and the stories include names like Oglethorpe, DeSoto and expressions like, "when the indians attacked" or "British occupation" it's hard not to devour every detail. Fernandina will satiate any appetite for history! Eat it up.

We just missed the shrimp boat festival on this trip and I dearly regret it. I happens every year at the end of April (or thereabouts). The whole historical city center is transformed into a celebration of local arts, crafts, music, food and history. There's a parade, fireworks and boat rides. I did it many times as a kid and almost forgot about it. I think we'll be there in 2014 - look for me. I'll be the one dressed like a pirate and pretending not to be a big nerdy software developer. Hey - they have rum - what can I say?!

I don't know what other people look for in vacation destinations. For me, I expect nothing and just appreciate the exploration and time spent with my little lady. Fernandina is a place for people who aren't looking for big theme parks but are happy with sunshine, a nice beach and homey restaurants with cheap entertainment and reasonably priced fried food.

The history may surprise you. How quickly you're forced into "island time" is an unexpected gift. Accommodations are affordable -- especially for a coastal resort. You can find shark's teeth. What else could you ask for?

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St. Augustine

2/3/2013

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What she thought

We recently spent a weekend in St. Augustine, Florida. For Floridians, St. Augustine makes for a perfect staycation. There's plenty to see and do for everyone. For you history buffs, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city in the US. You can visit the fort, watch the cannons being fired, walk around the old buildings in town, chat it up with the authentically clad locals from days gone by or take a horse drawn carriage ride. For you foodies out there try one of the many restaurants and stores offering a variety of flavors - Greek, Spanish, seafood, local Florida wines and treats galore. And if shopping is your thing, this place is for you too. There's all kinds of little stores in the old town area - shoes, clothing, souvenirs, jewelry, antiques.....
So, get out your walking shoes and head over to St. Augustine for a weekend!
For tips on things to do, attractions, places to eat, cannon times at the fort and maps check out FloridasHistoricCoast.com

What he thought

I've never really been a history nut but I have to say, there's something about standing on the ground where major historical events unfolded. St. Augustine is a great place to feel the past.

When you walk through the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in America, the hairs on the back of your neck occasionally stand on end. We took a carriage tour through the back streets and our guide painted a very colorful picture of St. Augustine's original inhabitants. I wouldn't want to spoil the stories for you so I won't tell you about the blood, betrayal and scandals. I would ruin it anyway. Nobody could deliver like the guides who are dedicated to re-telling these stories. Highly recommended!

Renaissance Resort by Marriott at World Golf Village

We stayed at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village. We don't golf but if golfing is your thing, this is a great resort for you. It's right in the middle of World Golf Village conveniently located right off of I-95. They also offer a complimentary shuttle to downtown St. Augustine. It's 15 miles if you choose to drive yourself, which we did, but it's an easy drive. It wasn't the closest resort to St. Augustine but we got great rates and knew we would have a nice room since it was a Marriott hotel. The room was very spacious and had an extra large bathroom. The best part was that they have Aveda amenities in their bathrooms!

Here are some pictures from our trip including the Fort and Flagler College -