Florida – Page 7 – Wandering Dawgs

National Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse

March 14, 2016October 2, 2017Posted in Florida, Historic Sites, LighthouseTagged Blue Angels, National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola Lighthouse, United States Navy10 Comments

From the top of the walls of Fort Pickens we could look across Pensacola Bay and see the Pensacola Lighthouse. To get there by roads, we had to drive about 45 miles, crossing bridges and driving through downtown Pensacola before arriving at the Naval Air Station Pensacola where the museum and lighthouse are located.

National Naval Aviation Museum

The National Naval Aviation Museum is one of the world’s largest aviation museums and has been rated by TripAdvisor as the number 12 museum in the United States. The history of U.S. Naval aviation comes alive with more than150 beautifully restored aircraft hanging from the ceiling and on display on the floor for close inspection. In addition to the aircraft there are exhibits including an Apollo Space exhibit, models of air craft carriers, flight simulators, an IMAX theater, and the Blue Angel 4D experience (great fun!).

National Museum of Naval Aviation — National Naval Aviation Museum

Pensacola Lighthouse

Across the road from the museum is the Pensacola Lighthouse. The lighthouse is still in use as an aid to navigation. We had planned on climbing the 177 steps to the top but the tower was closed for renovations the day we visited. We wandered around the grounds and visited the keeper’s cottage before walking across a boardwalk to the beach for a look back at the lighthouse.

Next up, a wrap up of our Ft. Pickens stay.

Exploring Fort Pickens

March 11, 2016Posted in Florida, Historic Sites, RVing, Tourist AttractionsTagged Battery Worth, Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Bay, Rodman Cannon30 Comments

We spent some time exploring Fort Pickens and some of the batteries that are located within the National Seashore.

Fort Pickens was the largest of four forts built in the 1800’s by the United States Government to protect Pensacola Bay and the Naval Yard. Although it never had to be used against foreign enemies, it was used by the Union Army during the Civil War to protect against the Confederates. Ranger led tours are available but we chose to go on a self-guided tour of the huge fort.

Much of the fort is built using arches.

Another view of the arches at Fort Pickens

Civil War era cannons and a mortar are also on display at the fort.

One of the cannons atop Fort Pickens

The American Flag waves behind a mortar

With clear views of Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Pickens was in a great location to protect the area.

A great view of the Pensacola Lighthouse from the top of the fort

A great view of the Gulf of Mexico from the top of the fort

There are several batteries located throughout the area. Some were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

Endicott Batteries from the 1890's — Endicott Batteries from the 1890’s

We explored Battery Worth where huge gun pits held twelve inch mortars that could launch 700 pound projectiles 7 to 9 miles away. After World War I all but four of the mortars were scrapped. In 1942 the battery became part of the Army-Navy Harbor Defense Command Post for the Pensacola area during World War II.

There were big guns lining the shoreline ready to protect against enemy ships.

Big Guns Along the Shoreline

Aimed over the Gulf of Mexico

One of the Batteries

This gun would pop up above the wall and come back down after firing

Two of the big guns in the dunes

Next up: aircraft and a lighthouse.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

March 7, 2016July 14, 2017Posted in Birds, Florida, National Parks, RVing, Sunset, WildlifeTagged beach, Ft. Pickens, Gulf Breeze, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Nature, Osprey, Pensacola Beach23 Comments

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”
–Jacques Cousteau

A beach with perfect sugar white sand only a five minute walk from our campsite. I think I am in heaven!

Gulf Islands National Seashore at Ft. Pickens

Our home for a week is Ft. Pickens Campground in Gulf Islands National Seashore on Santa Rosa Island. I’ve been doing a lot of walking on the beach and beach chair sitting.

Ready for Beach Chair Sitting on the Gulf of Mexico

We’ve taken a couple of hikes on the half-mile Blackbird Marsh Nature Trail near the campground.

It is nest building time for Ospreys and several nests can be seen in the area. Ospreys are frequently seen soaring over the campground and a few of the nests can be viewed close up from the nature trail.

And the sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico are breathtaking!

More of the Fort Pickens area coming up in my next post.

Snowbird Season

February 23, 2016February 25, 2016Posted in Birds, Florida, Photography, RVing, WildlifeTagged Fifth Wheel, Nature, nature photography, Seasons, snowbird, snowbirding, Weekly Photo Challenge33 Comments

Snowbird – one who travels to warm climes for the winter (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

No, we’re not snowbirding this year – yet. Doctor’s appointments and household chores caused us to get a late start this year. Instead of hitting Florida during the peak snowbird season we will be arriving in Florida in early March just before spring break.

While we have been home, I’ve been thinking about all the places in Florida we have enjoyed. Here are just a few highlights from our snowbirding adventures from past years.

We had white sandy beaches almost completely to ourselves at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

The beach at sunset at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Watching the sunset was a perfect way to end the day at Cedar Key.

20090217Cedar Key (118) — Cedar Key Sunset

We loved Everglades National Park and camped at the Flamingo Campground twice.

Pa-Hay-Otee Overlook in Everglades National Park

There was a lot of bird watching in Cedar Key.

White Pelicans and Cormorants at Cedar Key

And lots of alligators in Everglades National Park.

Alligators along the Anhinga Trial, Everglades National Park 2012

It was fun seeing manatees at Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

This Gopher Tortoise walked across our campsite at Silver River State Park (now Silver Springs State Park).

Gopher Tortoise at our campsite Silver River State Park

We rode the Fort Gate Ferry across the St. John’s River near Salt Springs Recreation Area.

Waiting to cross the St. John's River on the Fort Gates Ferry — Waiting to cross the St. John’s River on the Fort Gates Ferry

And of course we went for boat rides.

Went for a boat ride in the Salt Springs Run

We ate our fill of stone crab claws and other fresh seafood.

Delicious Stone Crab Claws in Everglades City, Florida

Soon we will be hitching up the fifth wheel to do a little late snowbirding this year. We are going to a few new places and returning to a couple of favorites. Stay tuned to see where we wander next!

This is my contribution to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. For more Seasons photography go to WordPress Photo Challenge: Seasons

We Love Waterfront Camping

September 25, 2014June 20, 2015Posted in Arkansas, Birds, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, RVing, Sunrise, Sunset, Tennessee, WildlifeTagged Bald Eagle, Cedar Key, J Strom Thurmond Lake, Lake Barkley, Mississippi River, Ortona, Seven Points Campground, White Pelican18 Comments

Our favorite places to camp are the campgrounds with a view. There’s nothing like waking up with a view outside the RV or sitting outside in the evening enjoying the scenery around us. We’ve enjoyed campgrounds with views of spectacular mountains, glaciers, forests, and all kinds of water.

For us, the best camping is beside a river, mountain stream, lake, or any body of water for that matter.

We enjoy watching the different water craft go by.