Cedar Key

 

February 19, 2014

 

 

Cedar Key

Part of the forgotten coast, Cedar Key is one of those parts of "The Real Florida" that few tourists ever see.

Salt marshes and forests make up most of the area, attracting wildlife such as deer, bear, wild hogs, and birds, birds, birds.

 

 

 

 

 

The village itself is very quaint, with shops and restaurants occupying old buildings that once served other purposes. Styles from rustic unpainted and weathered, to tropical and gaudy, make for a very fascinating combination.

 

 

 

 

 

Golf carts share the streets with cars, adding to the relaxed attitude.

Boat tours ticket booths line one side of the dock area while restaurants line another. A beach, a park, and a play area for children complete the picture.

There is also a nice airstrip with a spectacular sunset viewing area at the end of the runway.



 

 



We had a picnic lunch in the park, visited a couple of the restaurants, and walked the streets, going in and out of the shops.

We also took one of the boat tours to the surrounding keys and islands. The boat ride ($26.00 per person) is a slow leisurely ride around a number of smaller keys in the immediate area. It lasts about 2 hours and is a great way to view all the migrating birds wintering in the area.



If you are lucky, as we were, you will get an escort by some dolphins.

 

 

 

 

 

Yep! Real Ones !

We found Cedar Key to be an excellent place to relax and become "Floridians" for awhile. 

 

Tony's Seafood Restaurant has won "Best Clam Chowder in America" numerous times.  Even the New Englanders in our RV resort agree.  "Me Too !"

 

 



                                                   The girls even found a Quilt Shop

 
 

A nice daytrip to Homosassa Springs and Crystal River for another manatee visit, and a stroll through a sanctuary for injured creatures was an easy and enjoyable trip, especially with friends Glen and Hilda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hilda was not ready for the day to end









The next day







                                                                                            Loves to pose !

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Silver Spring State Park

Silver Springs State Park

Since we expect to leave the area on Monday, February 17, to spend a week in Cedar Key with friends, we decided it was time to make good on my earlier promise to see how the state spent the money allocated for renovating the Silver Springs Park.
 

The first thing you notice when driving into the park entrance is a large and attractive sign to the entrance off of the Black Bear Scenic Byway, US 40. The sign sits between the entrance and exit drives, and is massive. This is one sign that you literally can't miss. Brick pavers make up the driveways and are very attractive.

The springs entrance inside the park is also new, and is a nice wide inviting structure. A long wide boardwalk ushers you into the Silver Springs area. Trees adorn the boardwalk and appear to be growing out of the boardwalk. The good craftsmanship makes a nice touch.

A number of small shops, a pizza parlor, canoe rentals, and a museum line the walkway to the glass bottom boats and the walkway has a covered roof. One of the older shops is being converted into a new visitors center and is currently where you buy tickets to the glass bottom boats ($ 9.99 each).

The boats have had a facelift and some have been fitted with new glass. The walking trails and the picnic areas have been updated and are attractive.


One of the complaints I had heard before coming to the Silver Springs area, was that the springs were milky and polluted. That was not the case today at least. The water was very clear as are all of the springs in the area, and other than normal algae and aquatic life clinging to the vegetation all seemed just fine. We did not see as many fish, turtles, and other water life as we thought we would, but that could have been due to the very bright skys overhead making for more than usual light underwater. We did get to see several species of fish, waterfowl, turtles, and an alligator.

All in all we felt the Silver Springs State Park is clean and attractive. Renovations continue in several areas of the park. It appears to us that the State of Florida is serious about restoring this fine landmark. We sincerely hope so. The park should continue to be a Florida attraction.

The waterpark adjoining the grounds is now part of the State Park, but was not available for visiting today.



 

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Bok Gardens and The Singing Tower

 

February 13, 2014

 

Bok Gardens and the Singing Tower

 

The beautiful sights and the wonderful carillon sounds of Bok Tower and Gardens, gave us a truly enjoyable day.

The history of Bok Tower and Gardens, combined with an understanding of the man behind the creation, also gave us inspiration and thoughtful reflections about what our country has meant to immigrants in days past, and what it should mean to all Americans today, in spite of it's shortcomings. 

Edward Bok came to this country as an immigrant at the age of 6. He attended public school in Brooklyn. As a young man he took a job as an office boy at Western Union Telegraph. He continued his education at night. Later he took a job at Henry Holt and company, publishers, eventually working his way up to advertising manager. After years of hard work and dedicated service, he was offered editorship of a small magazine called The Ladies Home Journal.

Under his leadership, The Ladies Home Journal became the first publication in the world to attract over one million subscribers.

While on a winter visit to the Iron Mountain area in Florida, (he was one of the original snowbirds,) he enjoyed walking to the top of the mountain and viewing the spectacular sunsets and vistas that could be seen from the top. As he sat gazing over the land, he would often reflect on his accomplishments and the opportunities America offered. As he remembered the advice of his grandmother; "make you the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it", he was presented with the vision to construct this incredible gardens with it's Singing Tower.

Many, with such a vision, and the means to accomplish it, would have simply bought the land, constructed the tower and grounds, and tucked it away for their own private enjoyment.

 

 

 

Edward Bok, after constructing the gardens with it's Singing Tower, presented this magnificent gift to the American people on Feb 1, 1929, for all to enjoy. It is now one of our country's historic landmarks. He did this in appreciation for all the opportunities he had been given. See rest of story.
 

Many today, would view this gift as extravagant and wasteful. They view America as just a place that owes them something. Hard work is out, and resourcefulness is only measured in "how much you can get for free".

Fortunately, there are still lots of Americans who understand that our country is a land of opportunity, where one has the freedom to plan, work hard, and make a life for themselves and their families. This came at a price, and such freedom should not be taken lightly.

Pinewood estate, decorated in the 1930's style of the times, also sits on the property, and is described here.  

We spent over four hours strolling through the gardens and sitting and listening to both the 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm carillon recitals. The carillon at Bok Tower has 60 brass cast bells ranging in weight from the smallest at 16 pounds to the largest at almost 12 tons. The sound is rich and full and can be heard throughout the gardens.

Jo and I were both captivated the entire time we were there and were amazed when we realized we had been there as long as we had. It is a place that simply makes you slow down, reflect, and contemplate.

We both went into photographer mode. Jo couldn't get enough pictures of flowers and plants. See Jo's Pintrest Boards (here) I snapped over 70 shots just of the Singing Tower.

Pleasant paths, inviting alcoves, amazing architecture, and the carillon bells, all combine to give you a remarkable experience. We are keeping Bok Tower and Gardens on our list of places to return to whenever we are near.

And as an added visual bonus, the entire grounds are surrounded by orange groves. While we were there the fruit was hanging ready to be picked. And no, as much as we would have liked to, we didn't pick any oranges! We did, however, buy some on the way home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Visiting the Manatees

Manatees at Blue Springs

Manatees migrate up the St John's River to Blue Springs where they winter in the constant 73 degree waters of the spring. Today we were able to view these fascinating animals as they lounged about and played in the beautiful Blue Springs water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     

                                               Playful Manatee (Short Video)

                                               Then onto New Smyrna Beach........and

 

A Jumbo Fish Sandwich at an outside table

at Chases on the Beach

The weather was perfect with just a few fluffy white clouds on a blue sky. Later we visited the National Sea Shore at Canaveral.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Returned "home" to a nice community campfire, beautiful sunset, followed by our crockpot roast back in the coach.













 

                                                            


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Ponce Inlet

 

February 9, 2014

 

 

From the day we arrived in central Florida, Pam and Tom have been talking about Ponce Inlet.

"It is their favorite fishing spot",  "The jetties are beautiful", "the light house is the tallest in Florida", and other statements like that. This weekend we made them "prove it". 

             

 

Our first stop was at the Ponce de Leon lighthouse.

Now for those of you who think I am overdoing the lighthouse thing, you need to understand that Jo ranks lighthouses right up there with quilting and chocolate. She has a passion to learn the history of lighthouses, and has even had a collection of ceramic lighthouse pieces over the years. Now she is really enjoying visiting the places she has studied about. She likes to climb the ones she can, and, of course, she takes hundreds of pictures of lighthouses. I encourage it, because I enjoy watching how happy she gets when she actually sees the lighthouses.

 

 

 

And too, I have become a lot more interested, as I see the actual structures.

 

It is interesting to imagine what it was like to work in a lighthouse setting, and to accept the responsibility to mariners during those times. (And what it must have been like to get to the top and remember you forgot something). Of course, lighthouses for the most part, have become relics of history with the advent of sophisticated sonar and GPS systems that mariners use today. However, during the times of their use, the lighthouse often meant life or death to those who used them to navigate treacherous waters.

 

The Ponce de Leon light is indeed an impressive structure. Made with 1.25 million bricks, it is 32 feet across at the base tapering to 12 feet at the top of it's 175 foot height. The grounds have been made into a very nice visitors area with the lighthouse in the center and buildings you can tour that were the homes and workshops for the light keeper, and assistants.

                                                        

 Nice displays tell the story of the lighthouse in times past.

From the lighthouse, we drove a short distance to another parking area near the inlet where we had a very nice stroll out along the jetty, observing the breaking surf on the rocks. It was also nice to watch the activity of boats and people fishing along the jetty.

 

 

 

 

 

                        Ponce Inlet Jetty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A section of beach has been opened to dog traffic where you can walk and play on the beach with your pet. Another section is open to auto traffic where you can park right on the beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At one point during our stroll, we saw a pelican land on the side of a boat, much to the surprise of it's occupants.

 

 

Is it lunch time yet ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Pam and Tom for showing us Ponce Inlet. Their statements have proven true. Ponce Inlet is an extremely scenic place with relaxing palm groves around picnic tables, easy walking paths along the jetty and inlet, and of course the lighthouse. 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

While we did not come prepared to check out the fishing, they did show us their favorite fishing spot, but....shhh...., we will keep its location a secret.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    


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