A Beautiful Transition
As our winter road trip continues, we transition to Savannah with a stop at our favorite visitor center to date! So much more than a visitor center, the GTM Research Center is educational, fascinating, and absolutely beautiful!
To start at the beginning of this series, visit Southeast to Sunshine
Time is too Precious to Waste!
Let me preface that headline with the fact that I’m nowhere near the obsessed vacation planner that I once was. When we only had two weeks of vacation a couple times a year, I would fill every hour with something that we may only see this once. It was highly unlikely that we’d ever return to complete my list of must-dos so we had to get it done now. No time to slack off. Although we were on vacation, there would be no relaxing!
This time when we left St. Augustine we’d have six hours between checkout and checkin, and only 180 miles to drive. We scored on a late checkout, which took that down to five, but it only makes sense to fill in some of that time seeing something new. Since we were headed into the unknown, we packed our Playmate cooler with some lunch and plenty of water for our adventure into the wetlands of Florida.
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM NERR)
Instead of getting on the Interstate, we headed north on A1A about a half hour to the GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center in Ponte Vedra Beach. We didn’t really know what to expect, but I had no idea it would be this fantastic! The Visitor Center is filled with information about migration and habitats, with lovely sculptures of fish, manatees, and whales “swimming” above us. Some, like the gorgeous turtle below, had its habitat behind glass so we could catch a glimpse of his day. It was really quite beautiful!
“The National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System is a network of 30 protected estuarine areas that represent different biogeographic regions and estuarine types within the United States.
Reserves are protected for long-term research, monitoring, education and coastal stewardship. The NERR System, created by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, currently protects over one million acres of estuarine lands and waters. The NERR System is a partnership program between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the coastal states.
NOAA provides funding, national guidance, and technical assistance for reserve operations and system-wide programs, facilities construction and land acquisition, graduate fellowships, and collaborative science projects. GTM’s state partner, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, manages the reserve daily, in collaboration with local and regional partners. NOAA also leads projects that integrate data or support decision-making at the national level.” ~ READ MORE
The Migration Story
A fascinating interactive display paged through the migration habits of whales, sea turtles, birds, manatees, cobia, and manta rays. A map with plenty of arrows indicates their routes and the times of year that they are likely to arrive. The last species they refer to is humans and their migration to Florida – particularly in the winter months. We can relate to that.
Break Time
After our fantastic visit at the Visitor Center, we ventured outdoors to see the area near the water. Unfortunately at low tide there wasn’t a lot happening, and even the “Manatee Area” was mucky and yucky. But the pelicans are always a treat, and our Playmate cooler once again brought refreshment to a great day!
Next Stop: Castaway Island Preserve
When we were in Alaska, low tide meant a flurry of birds scavenging for what the tide left behind, but today it’s just mucky and yucky. But it’s still better than a good day at work!
“Castaway Island Preserve is located along the Intracoastal Waterway and is adjacent to an intricate salt marsh ecosystem that is ideal for spotting marshland wildlife. Visitors may stroll along the Preserve’s wooden boardwalk, take in a view from an observation platform overlooking the waterway, walk along the kid-friendly interpretive nature trail, use the kayak launch to explore the marsh, and explore the theater-style education center during scheduled programs.” ~ READ MORE
Safe Arrival in Savannah
We arrived just after checkin, with leftovers for dinner and a cocktail on the rooftop lounge to catch a beautiful sunset. We look forward to spending four more days in Savannah to learn more history, see more sights, and have more seafood!
Next up: Georgia’s Oldest City
Happy trails,
Barb
