Nature – Wandering Dawgs

Florida’s Tallest Waterfall

March 26, 2016December 15, 2016Posted in Butterflies, Florida, Nature, RVing, State Parks, Waterfalls, WildflowersTagged Carolina Jasmine, Falliing Waters State Park, Florida's Tallest Waterfall, Honeybells, Long Leaf Pine, Nature, Plant City Strawberries, Spring, Wild Azalea, zebra swallowtail18 Comments

When I first read about Florida’s tallest waterfall at Falling Waters State Park my first thought was “I didn’t know there were ANY waterfalls in Florida!” I had to see it with my own eyes.

So off we went to Falling Waters State Park to check it out. The campground sits at 324 feet above sea level on top of one of the highest hills in Florida.

An easy trail down the hill leads to a small pond and boardwalk trails to the waterfall and around several sinkholes. We observed the 73 foot tall waterfall from a platform above the falls but construction on the platform near the bottom of the falls prevented us from seeing the water dropping into the sinkhole at the bottom.

Florida's Tallest Waterfall at Falling Waters State Park — Florida’s Tallest Waterfall at Falling Waters State Park

The trails meander through a long leaf pine forest with southern magnolias scattered among the pines. A few wildflowers blooming along the trail let us know that spring was almost here.

Boardwalk trail at Falling Waters State Park

While exploring the trails we did some more geocaching and found two in the park. We’re getting better at this!

A Zebra Swallowtail became fascinated with my shoes when we stopped to take a break along one of the trails.

We continued our quest for good local food and stopped at the Main Street Market in downtown Chipley for some Plant City strawberries. These wonderful, sweet strawberries are only available for a short while and although we had been getting them at grocery stores I had to have some more. While we were there I was thrilled to see some Florida Honeybells. These strange looking orange citrus fruits are sweet and juicy. The also have a very short season so of course I grabbed some of those, too.

Falling Waters State Park is located south of Chipley, Florida just a couple of miles from I-10.

My review of Falling Waters State Park can be found on Campendium.

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