There is something about a park...

Sunny-Girl and I decided we needed a breath of fresh air as we like the rest of the nation have begun to dig out from all the cold weather.

We found this rustic park that allowed us to wander around and bask in the bright if not very warm sunlight while we got a sense of what Spring will have to offer. As usual, click each photo for a better view.

Evidently we were not the only ones and passed a number of others with the same idea. I had to smile as this Father, son, and dog trio rode past us. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. It was a great way to get in a bike ride and walk the dog at the same time.

You could tell we were still in the grip of Winter as it seemed odd to be able to see through the grouping of trees that are normally hidden by palmetto and other over-growth.

The park is filled with trails and benches for quiet reflection,

and rabbit holes like this one that made you think of Alice in Wonderland and almost expect to see the white rabbit come along and run in to it.

We could tell Winter had taken it's toll as we passed this dead tree that had now become the home of helpful parasites as they worked to eat their way toward clearing the area.

There was even forest art that was readily apparent in this odd shaped pine tree that reminded me of a piece I saw in a juried art show last year. Can you see it too?

There truely is something about a park that lets your mind wander and offers all kinds of flights of fancy if you are willing to follow what is presented. It is not Glee, nor as exciting as the latest news on Victoria Beckham, or any of the other modern day forms of entertainment, but we enjoyed our quiet adventure.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

I find it more than amazing that you can start out, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, in one direction and end up in a totally different place. For the Labor Day Holiday we decided to visit a State Park that offered canoeing only to have our plans derailed when we found out it was pretty much closed.

Alex did some quick thinking and we decided to drive a little further down the highway to Daytona Beach. I had been there ages ago coming in for a visit from Denver, so it seemed like a great way to take some pictures and end the Summer. As usual, click each photo for a better view.

To reach the beach, or "Beach walk" as they call it, you have to go over one of several bridges. The one we took offered an interesting view of some of the others.

Daytona Beach is a tourist area, sort of like Disney World, only the beach is the main attraction. The City has built in other things to do while you enjoy some of the nicest beaches around but you get the feel that the beach is why you visit the area.

Several massive hotels dominate the beach front. And, I liked how this shot came out because it highlights just how much these hotels dominate the skyline.

There is also a strange combination of the faux old and the modern. Like this fake old castle, which is really an amphitheater, with a modern style mall and movie theater right next to another big hotel.

But the fixture that got our attention was this ferris wheel on the beach walk. It was just beginning to get dark and we hung around to take pictures against the night sky.

I really like the way this one came out! You can almost feel the motion as you view the wheel.

And this one has an eerie look to it. It almost appears to be some strange machine like a Transfomer ready to change shape.

And what would a visit to the beach be without taffy? We didn't buy any but took shot after shot of the machine as it twisted the sugary concoction round and round.

Not a bad end of the summer trip... and we didn't have to fight even one wicked witch!

Orlando without the Mouse: Wekiva Springs

Prior to arriving in Orlando I did an online search of places to go and as you probably know, we are fans of State Parks. That was how I found Wekiva State Park. It is a undiscovered gem near I-4 which the locals know is well worth the trip. As always, click each photo for a better view.

The Springs bubbles up from the Florida aquifer and stays a constant 72 degrees F which can be cool in the Summer and warm in the Winter. For a mere $6 per car you are allowed entrance into paradise. But, be warned, plan to go during the week because over the weekend it is crowed with locals and once the park has reached capacity the rangers will turn you away (a real nightmare because you have to go through a long line up to the ranger station only to have them divert you right back out).

There are trails, either packed earth or boardwalks, throughout the park that will give you a glimpse of the real Florida.

You get a chance to see how the area changes with the birth and death cycle of trees and fauna.

And of course there is wild life. The website mentioned turkeys and bears, but when we went I guess they where hiding out from the heat. What we did encounter was this gray Squirrel we called "Peggy."

And when they say don't feed the wildlife, they mean it! Alex started feeding little Peggy bits from a cracker he had in his backpack. At one point he bent down, still holding the cracker, to continue feeding Peggy and I guess she decided that she didn't want the little bits he was providing. She grabbed the whole cracker scratching his finger in the process and clucked at us after she had it. We decided not to put up a fight and resumed walking.

In addition to the trails and swimming in the spring there is a river that runs from the location. You can rent a boat to travel out into the wilder, unseen portions of the park, which is an adventure in itself.

It was a great experience, despite the heat, that of course we could not resist... but that will be covered in another post.

The website said you could scuba dive down into the spring which we were not prepared or trained to do. The next best thing was a picture and a video clip where you can get as close as possible to doing that.

You can hear the ranger say on the video that I needed a special filter to get a view down into the spring. I love proving people wrong... while not perfect, it does give a clear view both down into the spring and a sense of how the water is continually bubbling up.

And so, if you are ever in the Orlando area and tired of the crowds and overpriced events. Give Wekiva Springs a try. Nature has by far outdone the mouse!