Did you know there were caves in Florida? Cave diving is popular at many of the Florida springs, but Florida Caverns State Park is the only dry cave open to the public. Behind a heavy metal door awaits exploration into another world. How did these caves form? Millions of years ago, sea levels were much higher leaving a majority of the coastal areas underwater. Over the years, as sea levels fell, debris on the sea floor hardened into limestone which…
A tree covered boardwalk leads led to one of the most impressive sights, “The Senator,” a 3,500-year-old Cypress Tree. Unfortunately, it was lost to fire in 2012, and I was even more heartbroken to learn it was an act of vandalism. “The Senator” was one of the oldest and largest cypress trees in America. The Native Americans living in the area used this tree as a landmark while making their way through the swampy marsh. Serious sad face 🙁 I just…
This diverse state park offers a whole lot of nature and history, beginning with the Fairchild Oak, one of the largest live oaks in the South. It has stood in this very spot for over 400 years; just imagine the things it has seen, hurricanes, wars, floods, fires, and droughts, oh my. The Fairchild Oak marks the beginning of a 6.8 mile hiking trail, leading to Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park. While I love hiking trails, 6.8 miles seems…
Last week Florida experienced winter for the first time in 4 years, at least that’s what the news was reporting. I’m sure you probably saw the memes floating around social media: Floridians can handle category 4 hurricanes, but not winter. But hey, human beings weren’t the only ones struggling. Iguanas were literally falling from trees it was so cold, and manatees were making their way to warmer waters to get some cuddle time in. Blue Spring State Park is a…
I’ve put my nurturing skills to the test. A couple of weeks ago I took a trip to Florida Cactus, a nursery devoted to cacti and succulents. I first learned about this place on Instagram, of course. However, Instagram did not prepare me for how expansive it was. Row after row of succulents, cacti and various other plants filled 20 large greenhouses. If you are a lover of succulents, you will love this place. We checked in at the office…
We are now heading to the final square on our Old Havana walking tour. As we walk through an alleyway, we pass by this mysterious looking face on the wall of Casa del Marqués de Arcos. Once a mansion, it was transformed into Havana’s main post office in the mid-19th century. You’ll spot a few faces along the wall used for mailboxes. Directly across from Casa del Marqués de Arcos is a mural done by a Cuban artist depicting 67 of Cuba’s historical…
Our trip down yet another colonial style alleyway led us from Plaza Viejo to Plaza de Armas (Square of Arms or Weapons). Along the route, we passed by Hotel Ambos Mundos. This hotel once welcomed actors, actresses, writers and many American tourists. It is highlighted on the tour, as it was home to author Ernest Hemingway for seven years. That’s right; he rented a room on the fifth floor for $1.50 per night. Just think, if you were to visit Havana…
Our tour continued from San Francisco Square through the alleyway below to Plaza Vieja (Old Square). Before reaching the square, we passed by Havana’s oldest aqueduct, constructed in the 16th century. It was built to supply water to the city residents and harbor. We continued down the path to Plaza Vieja, which ironically is quite new due to a recent restoration bringing it back to its former glory. It was one of my favorite squares because of the vibrant colors and detailed…