We have been enjoying northern and central Florida much more than we expected to. There are numerous rivers to paddle, countless paths to hike, and many trails to bike. One would need to spend a lifetime here to do them all justice. With just a few months to spend, we are seeking the ones that most appeal to us. For paddling we prefer narrow, winding rivers with clear water. For hiking our favorite paths are relatively flat and not too long. We have found that many rail trails converted for biking are often straight and boring, so we search for other types. Florida has it all for the outdoor oriented visitor, that’s for sure!
Florida is also loaded with natural springs. At Wakulla Springs, the world’s largest and deepest freshwater spring, we took an educational boat tour.
Vultures roost in live oak trees above spring.
LOTS of gators here!
Anhingas typically spear fish through their sides with a rapid thrust of their partially opened bill. This one is drying its wings in the sunshine.
Dense jungle surrounds the river the spring feeds.
Another fine specimen. Glad we’re not paddling here.
OK, that’s enough gator photos.
Hollywood visited the springs many times. The first film shot at the Springs was “Tarzans Secret Treasure” in 1941. In 1954 the underwater scenes for the 3D film “Creature from the Black Lagoon” were filmed.
The Wakulla Springs Lodge has an interesting history. Click link if you want to read about it.
Ornate hand-painted ceilings in the lobby, incredible slabs of Georgia marble throughout, and the oldest operating Art Deco elevator in the south (that I somehow failed to take a photo of). We did enjoy an ice cream cone at the old fashion soda fountain.
A relic from the good ol’ days in White Springs, our next stop.
Baby, mommy, and daddy chairs?
The Suwanee River runs through White Springs on it’s amazing journey.
Museum to the “the father of American music,” Stephen C. Foster in the state park bearing his name. This too is in White Springs.
This tower, erected to honor Stephen Foster, contains the world’s largest tubular carillon. It plays some of Foster’s tunes four times a day.
We biked the entire length of the Woodpecker Trail in the nearby Big Shoals State Park.
All to ourselves…lovely.
Our next destination of note…Itchetucknee Springs State Park.
These words helped us decide to make the most of our visit…under and above the crystal clear water.
We dug out the snorkel gear and dove into the 72 degree spring.
Looks like a swimming pool with grass, eh?
That deep hole to the left is where the spring emanates.
The next day we launched the kayaks a bit further down stream.
Paddling the Ichetucknee River.
Beaver den, didn’t see any of the critters though.
Turtles galore.
Lots of birds too.
Al trying to get a movie of this one taking off.
Crescent Beach on Siesta Key.
Only in Florida…
Directly on the banks of the Suwanee River near Old Town. It was so great we stayed longer than we ever have with a BW host. Thank you Butch & Judy, we loved your place!
We enjoyed a paddle down the Suwannee.
The next day we peddled over the Suwannee on the local rail trail.
We had a mountain view from our hotel room! That’s the Matterhorn Anaheim above the Golden Arches! The Camelot Inn is directly across the street from Disneyland’s main entrance, so we were able to take a break each afternoon before returning to the park for the evening festivities.
We spent our first day at Disney’s California Adventure. This is the Paradise Pier area in daylight.
We headed right to Cars Land, the newest part of the park to ride Radiator Springs Racers, which we did twice because it was so much fun. The mountain ridge in the left background is Cadillac Ridge. Can you make out the fins? Very creative!
Here’s the pier area after dark where we waited for the spectacular World of Color water light show to begin.
Here we are in Toontown, an area designed especially for Disney’s youngest guests. That didn’t stop us seniors from having some silly fun in this whimsical village.
Most everything in Toontown is designed to be pushed, pulled, poked and prodded. The result is a land filled with surprises and smiles. We had never visited this area before and were happy to finally have time to visit. It was so much fun, we even went on a couple of the kiddie rides.
Between Laguna Beach and Corona Del Mar, on one of Orange County’s most desirable stretches of oceanfront property, sit 46 rustic handmade cottages dating back to the 1920’s and 30’s.
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places as “the last intact example of early California beach vernacular architecture.” Crystal Cove captures a romantic era of California recreation. To learn more about Crystal Cove’s fascinating history 
Janet has a cousin who owns a house on Balboa Island. One of a select few circa 1940 cottages that has not yet been torn down and replaced by a 3 1/2 story monster. We have been meeting up there for a week together in December for nearly 20 years now. The photo above shows the ferry dock. There is a bridge to the other side of the island so this is not the only way to get there.
I always find time to ride a bicycle on the oceanfront bikeway on the Balboa Peninsula, a short ferry ride from the island. I lived in this neighborhood back in the 1970s so it always feels a bit nostalgic to do so.
The illuminated boat parade is always fun too. For more photos of my annual pilgrimage to Balboa island, visit my post from last year 
Travels with haRVy 