Tourist Attractions – Page 4

Wandering around Saint Augustine

February 20, 2019March 14, 2019Posted in Florida, Lighthouse, Nature, RVing, State Parks, Tourist Attractions, WildlifeTagged Anastasia State Park, beach, Saint Augustine Alligator Farm, Saint Augustine Lighthouse, The Real Florida17 Comments

It’s been over 40 years since we last camped in Anastasia State Park. We were camping in a tent with our kids and back then you could drive on the beach.

Today there is no more driving on the beach in the state park. Instead, there is a huge parking area with walkways over the dunes and a wheelchair accessible beach mat to the beach.

It was chilly, foggy and raining during most of our stay. On the first sunny day we went exploring. After a drive south on famous highway A1A, we headed to the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park.

Founded in 1893, the Alligator Farm started out with just a few exhibits of Florida reptiles. It has expanded over the years to include not only reptiles but also birds and mammals from all around the world. Today, in addition to the educational shows and exhibits, it is also used for research.

As we wandered through the zoo toward the Native Swamp and Rookery to see the nesting birds (I posted about them here) we stopped to observe the many varieties of animal life.

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

Albino alligator from Louisiana

Baby alligators and turtles at the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm

Komodo Dragon

Maximo, a saltwater crocodile, is largest animal at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Galapagos tortoise

Parrot

We took a break for lunch and drove to the nearby Conch House Marina and Guesthouse to eat outside on their waterfront deck.

20190211-St-Augustine-Alligator-Farm-(17) — Lunch with a view at Conch House Restaurant

After lunch it was back to the Alligator Farm to watch the 3:00 alligator feeding. Can you say feeding frenzy?

Feeding frenzy at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm

The alligators go after a tasty rodent on the end of a fishing rod

Our next stop was the Saint Augustine Lighthouse. Gorgeous views were our reward for climbing all the steps to the top.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

St. Augustine Lighthouse Fresnel lens

View from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse

When we weren’t exploring St. Augustine we enjoyed being in Anastasia State Park. Our campsite was surrounded on three sides by natural vegetation and the beach was only a 10 minute walk from our campsite. One afternoon we explored the nature trail near the campground.

Beach at Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL

Beach at Anastasia State Park

Resurrection Ferns on old oak tree

Nature Trail at Anastasia State Park

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

February 16, 2019Posted in Birds, Florida, Nature, RVing, Tourist Attractions, WildlifeTagged Great Egret, Great Egret Breeding Plumage, Roseate Spoonbill, Saint Augustine Alligator Farm, Wading Bird Rookery21 Comments

The next stop on our winter RV journey was Saint Augustine, Florida. We had a beautiful campsite in Anastasia State Park to call home for a few days. The weather was lousy most of the time but we picked a perfect sunny day to do some sightseeing.

At the top of my to do list was visit the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Wading Bird Rookery. During nesting season wading birds come to nest in the trees in the Native Swamp at the Alligator Farm. The birds who nest here are wild and can come and go as they please. Although it was a little early in the nesting season there were a lot of great egrets and roseate spoonbills wearing their breeding plumage and some pairs were starting to build their nests.

The trees surround a swamp area filled with alligators. A boardwalk winds around the swamp giving visitors close up views of the alligators in the water and the birds in the trees.

A bird gathering at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

Roseate Spoonbills

Boardwalk through the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Native Swam and Rookery

The Great Egrets showed off their breeding plumage and pairs worked on their nests.

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(39) — Great Egret with breeding plumage at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(45) — Pair of egrets working on their nest

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(103) — Pair of great egrets at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(137) — Egrets at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(121) — You can take my picture now

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(162) — Great Egret Breeding Plumage

The Roseate Spoonbills were my favorite.

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(174) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(220) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(241) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(250) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(320) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(417) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(431) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

20190211-Alligator-Farm-(432) — Roseate Spoonbill at Alligator Farm Rookery

Coming up next, more about our St. Augustine adventure including other critters at the Alligator Farm.

Sunsets and the Okefenokee Swamp

February 13, 2019March 14, 2019Posted in Georgia, Nature, RVing, State Parks, Sunset, Tourist Attractions, WildlifeTagged Alligators, Georgia USA, Laura S Walker State Park, Okefenokee Swamp Park, only in Georgia, Waycross GA10 Comments

We are off again on our first RV trip of 2019. Our first stop was Laura S. Walker State Park in Hoboken, Georgia. We were there during the weekend and the park was full of families enjoying their days off. The park was a perfect home base to explore the Okefenokee Swamp Park which is a short drive away.

Sunset at Laura S Walker State Park, Hoboken, GA

Crescent Moon over Laura S Walker State Park, Hoboken, GA

View from our campsite at Laura S Walker State Park, Hoboken, GA

During the last 12 years we have visited the Okefenokee Swamp several times from the southern end in Fargo. I posted about our last visit there at The Land of Trembling Earth It’s been over 40 years since we visited the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross. Our two young children were with us back then. Oh, the memories!

This well run and well maintained private park has been attracting visitors to the swamp since 1946. There are boardwalks with views of the swamp, a train ride, educational exhibits, and wildlife presentations which are all included in the entrance fee. For an additional fee, visitors can take a guided boat tour through the swamp.

Not all of the boardwalks were open when we were there. Some are closed due to the high water level caused by heavy rainfall in December and January. One of the boardwalks that is open took us by several American alligators in their native habitat.

American Alligators at Okefenokee Swamp Park

After seeing an interesting presentation on native reptiles of the Okefenokee we took the train ride through the swamp.

Okefenokee Swamp Park, Waycross, GA

Cypress trees in the Okefenokee Swamp Park, Waycross, GA

Trees are starting to bloom early

After so many visits to the Okefenokee Swamp in Fargo, it was fun to see it from a different location.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

October 14, 2018Posted in Excursions, Georgia, Road Trip, RVing, Tourist AttractionsTagged autumn, Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Copperhill TN, Fifth Wheel, McCaysville GA, River Vista Mountain Village, Toccoa River, Train Ride17 Comments

For the second year in a row we made a fall trip to River Vista Mountain Village in Dillard to explore the beautiful north Georgia mountains. Last year we explored Black Rock Mountain State Park, visited waterfalls in North Carolina and wandered around Tallulah Gorge State Park.

This year we had adventures in two new places. One day we went to the top of Brasstown Bald. Another day we drove an hour and a half to Blue Ridge, Georgia to take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

Our seats were in an open air car for the hour long ride beside the Toccoa River. The train departed the station right on time at 11:00.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Blue Ridge Depot

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Open air seating on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

As we traveled along at a whopping 10 mph we were able to enjoy the scenery and snap a few photos. A few trees were starting to show signs of autumn but we were too early for the brilliant oranges, reds and yellows that will come later in the season.

The V in the river is a fish trap made of piled rocks by Native Americans over 500 years ago

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

We rode beside the Toccoa River for most of the trip

The track follows the Toccoa river

It was starting to look like fall

The Toccoa River

The track follows the Toccoa river

Our destination was McCaysville, GA/Copperhill, TN. There was plenty of time to explore the town before the scheduled 2:00 departure. It’s hard to tell which town is which since the state line runs right through the middle of town.

20181003-Blue-Ridge-Scenic-Railway-Iphone-(3) — GA/TN state line

As we wandered around the town we crossed back and forth between Georgia and Tennessee several times. The state line even runs through the middle of some buildings. “Dine on the Line” is the motto for the Copper Grill restaurant where we had lunch. Their address is Tennessee but the state line goes right through the restaurant.

The GA/TN state line runs through the towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN

Georgia/Tennessee line

It was nice to sit back and relax on the return trip to Blue Ridge. Before driving back to Dillard we walked across the street from the depot for some fried apple pies from the Mercier Orchard downtown restaurant and store. These pies have been featured on the Food Network and are melt in your mouth delicious!

What’s not to love? A scenic train ride, cool mountain air, beautiful scenery, fresh trout and catfish for lunch, going back and forth between two states just by walking through town, and delicious fried pies! A great day!

Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s Highest Point

October 4, 2018October 6, 2018Posted in Georgia, Road Trip, RVing, Tourist AttractionsTagged Blue Ridge Mountains, Brasstown Bald, Highest Point in Georgia, River Vista Mountain Village9 Comments

Located in the northeast Georgia near Blairsville, Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia at 4,784 feet.

Just getting there is quite an adventure. We drove west from Dillard on beautiful Georgia mountain roads. The last few miles we drove on narrow Georgia Spur 180 with sharp turns, switchbacks, and steep grades before arriving at the parking lot for Brasstown Bald.

The parking lot is located .6 miles below the top of Brasstown Bald. We could either hike up a steep trail or take a shuttle. We chose the shuttle.

20181001Brasstown-Bald-(3) — The observation deck as seen from the parking lot

After the shuttle dropped us off at the top we walked up a few steps to the observation deck where the views were spectacular in all directions. On a clear day visitors can see 4 states. It was cloudy that day but we were able to see three states – Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. We also toured the museum and watched a short film about the mountain.