BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Tag: Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020

  • The City Beautiful

    The City Beautiful

    We continue our road trip to avoid Wisconsin’s winter with a week in Orlando. The Fountains is one of our favorite resorts in the Bluegreen lineup because it offers a beautiful and relaxing oasis amidst the chaos of Orlando.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    On this trip we have more time than money and – since we all know Disney ain’t cheap – we skipped Mickey this time. I will admit it was tough to be so close and yet so far away from the Happiest Place on Earth, but we’ve visited many times so I guess I’ll survive. Even if you’re not really into rides, princesses and star troopers, Disney World reiterates the theme of this post – Orlando is the City Beautiful.

    Time to Kill

    We checked out of the Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee this morning and were moving a whopping 12.5 miles, so we had some time to kill before checkin. We came up with a plan for what to do with all that spare time, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.

    Pioneer Village at Shingle Creek is open daily for a self-guided tour, but a one-hour guided tour is available on Monday and Wednesday from 10:30-1:30. This place would have been pretty underwhelming had it not been for our tour guide, so keep that in mind if you visit. Al explained a lot of Osceola County’s history and added his dry sense of humor to the mix, making it a very enjoyable hour.

    “The Pioneer Village is comprised of a permanent collection of authentic structures which once stood in different areas of Osceola County. They were carefully relocated to our present location and gently preserved to demonstrate how life was once lived before our modern times.

    The village includes a general store and post office, schoolhouse, church, train depot, homesteads from Osceola settlers, Seminole settlement, a cow camp and working structures such as a blacksmith shop, citrus packing plant, cane grinder, and barn.” – READ MORE

    Time for Lunch

    We retrieved our trusty Playmate cooler, made a sandwich and spent several hours on the northern shore of Lake Tohopekaliga at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. All the while we were eating our lunch, we were being driven a little crazy by the song from a parked ice cream truck. Unfortunately, by the time we finished our lunch and our walk (when we really had a hankering for some ice cream) it was nowhere to be found.

    The marina area was quite beautiful and even though there was a stiff wind and the clouds rolled in and out, the sun was warm and the sky was a beautiful blue. The park has several pavilions with grills and picnic tables, playgrounds and plenty of sidewalks for some long walks. We saw signs to be on the lookout for alligators, but didn’t see any wildlife at all, except for a few more long-legged birds.

    Lake Toho is one of the best bass-fishing lakes in Florida and several major tournaments are held here every year. Be sure to check out the guy’s t-shirt in the photo below.

    Added Bonus

    A Lighthouse was an added bonus and stood proudly near the end of a short peninsula. Since I wasn’t able to find any info on the lighthouse, I’m assuming it’s just ornamental. Click on the link for some beautiful photos of the lighthouse at night. We walked for quite a ways and took a break on several of the park benches just for a different perspective on the lake all around us. This was a very good find and we enjoyed our down time while we were between accommodations.

    Home at Last

    Once we checked into the Fountains, we could feel ourselves relax. In the past, we’ve stayed in a presidential or two-bedroom units in one of the buildings that encircle the big pool. This time ours is the tall building just left of center in the photo below.

    Our one bedroom condo was beautifully updated and just the right size for the two of us. Our balcony provided a great view of the boardwalk behind our building that we had never really paid much attention to before, so we could hardly wait for a little exploration of the resort.

    A Little Nature with our Condo

    The serene setting of Lake Eve added another dimension to a resort that we have been to many times, by adding a little nature to our visit. What more could we ask for?

    According to a sign, “Lake Eve is an Environmentally Protected Lake. All fish caught must be returned to the lake. PLEASE HELP US SAVE THE WILDLIFE.” Ducks and fish were abundant in the lake, and lily pads provide a splash of color as well as lunch and a place to rest for turtles.

    Wakoola Springs Pool is Worth the Walk

    Although we had a pool right below our balcony, the height our building blocked the sun during a fair amount of the day. That would be a good thing in the hot summer sun but in mid-February – not so much.

    That’s when we took a short walk to the 75,000-square-foot tropical oasis of Wakoola Springs (seen in the birds-eye view above), which also offers the Wakoola Bar & Grill. This is by far our favorite pool, with a zero-entry kiddy section and two waterslides. The best thing about it is – even when the resort is in full-capacity mode – the pool doesn’t feel crowded. And it’s beautiful!

    Disney Springs

    Although we didn’t go to Disney World, we did spend a wonderful afternoon/evening at Disney Springs. We enjoyed live music and a few beverages at the House of Blues, as well as a stroll around part of the lake. We will definitely need a do-over there next year when we return.

    “Happily Whatever You’re After. Discover an unexpected side of Disney — where shopping, dining and entertainment dreams come true!” – READ MORE

    A (Little) More Nature

    We had a nice outing at the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve, but we actually saw more wildlife walking around our resort!

    A very nice Visitor Center was full of information about the area and had an enclosure for this big ole snapping turtle. Good thing he was awesome, because he was our only wildlife for the day – although technically not wild. The trail was muddy and narrow (and a little creepy) with the standard “Beware of Gators” signs posted at the entrance. It was not nearly as relaxing as previous nature walks because of the brush that was very close to our legs. Chomp chomp.

    But we made it through the scary part to a nice boardwalk, which ended at a small lake. Although there was not one bird, or gator, or turtle, I did enjoy the quiet and the nature that is Florida.

    Goodbye Orlando!

    That just about does it for Orlando. I don’t have a lot to report since we spent so much time lounging by the pool drinking those pretty red drinks! After a couple days with family in Fort Lauderdale, we make another move. If you think this was paradise, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

    Next up: Drink, Dine, Relax, Repeat

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Swan Lake

    Swan Lake

    We continue our week in Kissimmee to escape our Wisconsin winter. The weather is warming nicely, we’ve seen a few alligators and more than a few long-legged birds – so life is good.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Gorgeous Day for a Walk

    The title of this post may conjure up memories of a ballet you once saw – or an animated movie you watched with the kids (The Swan Princess). If you’d like to listen to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake while you read this blog, now’s your chance!

    Tchaikovsky has nothing to do with today’s post – nor does Odette’s lake that is filled with tears (thank goodness). And today’s lake is actually called Lake Eola, but you’ll see why I picked its name as we visit the beautiful Lake Eola Park.

    We strolled the sidewalk that encircles the lake for almost a mile, and really enjoyed its many interesting features. Although mid-February is a tad early for the beautiful flower gardens that it usually boasts, we loved the birds, turtles, water-features and even the Orlando skyline.

    The Sunday Farmer’s Market is every Sunday 10am-4pm.
    “Supporting community and arts programs each week since 1987! You’ll find The Orlando Farmer’s Market is much more than just your average farmers market. Find seasonal fresh produce, a wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants, artwork, handmade craft items like jewelry, pottery, and soap. We are dog friendly, so bring your pets and enjoy a perfect family afternoon.” – READ MORE

    Rainbow Amphitheater

    The amazing multi-colored venue shown below is the Walt Disney Amphitheater. Several concerts are held here each year like Christmas at Lake Eola and Fireworks at the Fountain, with concerts by the Orlando Concert Band and fireworks by the City of Orlando. A popular destination for festivals, concerts, fundraising walks and even weddings – there are various locations around the park that are available for rent. The annual Fall Fiesta in the Park features plenty of food, with arts and craft vendors.

    Inclement Weather?

    As we approached the beautiful swan paddle boats – all lined up and seemingly ready for take-off, an attention sign told us otherwise. Paddle boats were to remain docked – because of “inclement weather.” Visiting from southeastern Wisconsin, we don’t think they know the meaning of the words inclement weather, but it was a little windy so that must have been the problem. Jim didn’t seem too terribly upset by that development, but I sure was.

    Swans a-swimming, nesting and sunning themselves all around the lake just made my day. It was very exciting when one needed a little stretch or reconfiguration, revealing her future family.

    Take Flight by Douwe Blumberg depicts a flock of birds during take-off. “Capturing a fleeting moment of beauty and defying gravity, Take Flight embodies a spirit of freedom and transcendent joy.” – from See Art Orlando

    Lovely Pagoda

    We could see the Chinese pagoda coming for quite a while. Click on the link for an absolutely gorgeous photo of this pagoda at night. You’ll be glad you did!

    Birdy Babies

    Two black swans were nesting in the landscaping. I felt a little like the paparazzi invading their privacy, but they weren’t too bothered by me. Unfortunately we weren’t able to see their eggs, but here is a beautiful video of four of the sweetest little black swan cygnets, who are actually a light grey color. March is probably a great month to see this place teeming with young families.

    “Eola House (below) is a great place for meetings, conferences, bridal and baby showers, board meetings, parties, retreats and more.”

    A ride in a swan boat may have gotten us an up-close and personal look at the fountain, but now that the wind has picked up it may have also gotten us wet! Since today was not the perfect day for close exploration, maybe we’ll give that a try on our next visit.

    A Marvelous Habitat

    “The fabulous Centered (by C.J. Reach) is a bold monumental sculpture made of eight individual forms arching in perfect balance with a kinetic yellow center able to spin in the wind. Centered makes reference to how Orlando is the center of family fun, experiences and memories. The yellow form in the center also pays tribute to Orlando’s clear and sunny weather.” – from See Art Orlando

    Around every bend, wildlife seems to find just what it needs to survive here. Just letting them “be” constitutes a fabulous day for me.

    Full Circle

    Well, we’ve come full circle for a different view of the amphitheater and a new view of this little slice of heaven, right in downtown Orlando!

    Next up: The City Beautiful

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Between the Greens

    Between the Greens

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    We continue our escape from Wisconsin winter with a week in Kissimmee. We originally had two weeks booked in Orlando, but since we keep forgetting that our Bluegreen points are not unlimited (duh!), we decided to come here for the first week using an RCI week that was due to expire soon. Although the Fountains is one of our favorite Bluegreen resorts, sacrifices had to be made. We booked the Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort, and it was not too shabby!

    Morning Visitors

    Since we both like to have what we (think we may) need, we tend to take advantage of our ample trunk space. We were very excited when we pulled up to our unit with parking right outside our door. Especially at a new place, many trips with a luggage cart can get stressful, so this was a pleasant surprise – as was our single-story, two-bedroom, two-bath condo.

    Our patio overlooked a small pond, a lake and a golf course. We spent many mornings sipping coffee on the patio, and often had a few Sandhill Cranes come for a visit. Our neighbors were generous with the snacks – so I’m sure they assumed we would be too. Since it’s been drilled into our heads to keep the wildlife wild, we just enjoyed the parade past our patio every morning.

    The Quiet Side

    Turns out, this resort is huge! There was a much more populated area with restaurants that we visited several times during our stay, but we always enjoyed coming home to the quiet. The high-rise area was very beautiful and the pools awesome, so you may prefer that area if you have kids in tow.

    Celebration

    The next day, I made a quick trip to Celebration to mail a letter and to look around a bit. Since I was on a mission, I didn’t do any shopping or check out the movie theatre that was beautifully situated on the lake.

    “The Celebration Community was formed with the concept of building a better place and a better way to live. There’s a reason Celebration is not a town, but a community in every positive sense of the word.

    In order to draft a blueprint for fulfilling such a vision and oversee its creation, the Walt Disney Company founded The Celebration Company. Utilizing the combined experience of a specialized group of world-renowned city and social planners, as well as the best architects of our time, The Celebration Company conceived five principles that would guide every aspect of the community’s creation. Those five guiding principles known as the Celebration Cornerstones, consist of: Sense of Community, Sense of Place, Focus on Technology, Focus on Education and Focus on Health.” – READ MORE

    Celebration looks like a beautiful place to hang out for the day. Maybe next trip we’ll give it another look.

    Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

    On our way down to St. Pete Beach from PCB, we stopped by the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to see what it was all about. Since we were pretty booked up that day, we gave a thought to returning to the area while we were in Kissimmee. Obviously we liked what we saw because here we are! It was slightly over a 90-minute drive today, but we took the scenic route, so it probably took us longer. Go figure.

    The Visitor Center was very nice with a great gift shop and lots of history of the area. As part of our fee we were offered two modes of transportation out to the island. Since the boat ride was narrated, we took that on the way over to the island and we returned on the tram.

    Our First Alligators!

    It took us almost a month to see our first alligators but here they are! Most were basking in the sun to warm their blood to become more active, but it wasn’t really working. If they moved at all, it was in slow-motion, and probably because today’s temps were barely above that 70 degree mark.

    Over the pond where most of the gators were basking, were trees-full of nesting birds. It seemed to me a risky placement, since gators seem like they may enjoy a birdy-breakfast, but I was set straight by a man who worked there. The real predators for the baby birds are small mammals like musk rats and raccoons – who the alligators keep in short supply! Chomp chomp!

    “The life sustaining waters of the Homosassa Springs showcase the relationship between native Florida wildlife and people, giving the animals the stage to tell their own story of survival.

    Some of our wildlife were injured, some were orphaned, some were born in captivity; regardless of what brought them into our care, they all share the same chapter in their storyline: they are unable to survive in the wild on their own. Though the furred, feathered, and scaled inhabitants who call the park home would not be able to live on their own, they are serving an important role as ambassadors for native wildlife, sharing their individual stories with visitors from around the world.” – READ MORE

    Air Dry!

    I think our guide called the birds on the left vultures. I thought maybe they were doing some kind of mating ritual, but they are just spreading their wings to dry them out. I guess my mind always goes into the gutter! The white bird is a whooping crane and the grey guy is a heron.

    The Predators

    A hawk and two juvenile bald eagles were next up. Our guide said juvenile bald eagles have more brown on their heads until they reach maturity when their heads turn all white. I don’t think the little guy in the fourth photo got that memo. He is smaller than the other one, but has a pure white head already. Kids these days!

    The last two photos show a beautiful specimen with a problem with either his eyesight or hearing that keeps him from enjoying a normal life in the wild. He remains caged and his keepers change up their feeding regiment to keep his mind sharp. Isn’t he something?

    Yep, We’re Old!

    And by now you know much I love birds. A long time ago Jim’s little sister said all old people do is talk about the weather and watch birds. I guess we qualify.

    Lu the Hippo

    Lu is the oldest hippopotamus in North America, and the only animal in the park not native to Florida. Lu was born at the San Diego Zoo in 1960 and just celebrated his 60th Birthday!

    Lu has lived in the park since 1964 and is famously known for his performances in many movies in the 1960s. When the state of Florida took over the park in 1989 and wanted to feature only wildlife native to Florida, they wanted to re-home Lu. After public outcry, the state of Florida made him an honorary citizen and he’s been here ever since! If you’d like to hear him laugh at some silly tourists, click here.

    Warm Water Retreat

    Homosassa Springs is a beautiful clear blue spring – loaded with fish – and at other times of the year manatees can be seen in the underwater viewing area beneath the boat dock in the photo. They migrate and spend summers as far west at Texas and north as Virginia and the Carolinas, but return to Florida as the water temperatures start to drop. I suppose we just missed them this year, since temps are on the rise.

    “The springs environment creates a serene backdrop for the park’s three daily manatee programs, where rangers and volunteers provide visitors with interesting stories about the park’s non-releasable captive manatees and what they can do to protect manatees in the wild.

    The state park currently provides a permanent home to three non-releasable captive manatees. Manatee become non-releasable when their injury or illness is so severe that they are no longer able to survive in the wild.” – READ MORE

    Since my photos were horrible, I’ll share one from their website, since he’s a cutie!

    Next up: Swan Lake

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Gardens and Glass

    Gardens and Glass

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    We returned from Florida almost five weeks ago and went straight into quarantine. At first it was to protect the kids from us – but since someone in each of their households is still working, now it’s to protect us from the kids.

    We spent several hours yesterday afternoon venturing out during the COVID lockdown to get some fresh air. We were looking forward to a little sunshine, since it was the first time since we’ve been home that we were to top 60 degrees. We went into a wide open space where (maybe) two dozen people had the same idea, and even though Lake Michigan was the most beautiful shades of blue I had ever seen on that great lake, the 25-mile-an-hour wind made it pretty uncomfortable. Even though we only made one quick swoop around the park, it was an outing nonetheless and much appreciated. We called in a curbside pickup so we could bring home some lunch.

    Jim was my chauffeur, so as he drove I checked out the brown trees with no signs of life – not even a bud. I flashed back to the first week in February in Florida – one day in particular.

    Sunken Gardens

    “Sunken Gardens is a botanical paradise in the midst of a bustling city. As St. Petersburg’s oldest living museum, this 100-year-old garden is home to some of the oldest tropical plants in the region. Unwind as you stroll through meandering paths, lush with exotic plants from around the world. Explore cascading waterfalls, beautiful demonstration gardens, more than 50,000 tropical plants and flowers and a walk through butterfly encounter.” – from VisitFlorida.com

    A Feast for the Eyes

    Operated by the City of St. Petersburg, the Sunken Gardens have been around for more than a century. We read that Wikipedia calls it “one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the United States,” so we weren’t really sure what to expect, but usually when the word “Gardens” is in the name, it’s at least worth a look.

    With four acres of well-established botanical gardens, this place is fantastic! Coy ponds with waterfalls, fabulous iron gates, fences and bridges are just the beginning. We wandered along beautiful paths that meandered through some of the oldest tropical plants in this part of the state.

    Since 1903

    In 1903, George Turner Sr. – a plumber and avid gardener purchased land with a shallow lake that was below sea level. He drained the lake for his sunken garden and planted papayas and other citrus, as well as exotic plants in the rich soil around his home. By the 1920s he opened a nursery – selling fruits, vegetables and plants. He found that people would pay a nickel to stroll through his gardens, so in the fall of 1935, he fenced the property and upped the price to a quarter. Turns out the masses loved his place and it became one of Florida’s top attractions.

    After being handed down for two generations to his sons and grandsons, the Gardens were eventually sold to the City of St. Petersburg for over $2 million. They are now maintained by a group of volunteers who must love it as much as George did, because it is flourishing! “The garden atmosphere is peaceful and many of the plants are quite large (compared to typical specimens) due to their long history of protection and cultivation.”

    In 2016, twenty Chilean flamingos were added in with the two remaining flamingos from the original 17-bird flock. George and Lucy have lived here since 1956, and now have some youngsters to keep them company. Also on the grounds are turtles, fish in the ponds, quite an assortment of other birds (macaws, parrots, laughing kookaburras and more) and a wonderful butterfly garden.

    Tranquility, Inner Harmony…

    The Sunken Garden Growing Stone was originally found in the center of the sinkhole lake, which formed Sunken Gardens. Legend has it that, “He who sits upon the ancient stone shall be granted tranquility, inner harmony, and the talent to make things grow.” Of course I had to give it a try.

    This was an absolutely fabulous find, and I’d highly recommend a stop if you’re ever in St. Petersburg. Oh, and now it will cost you $12 each to get in. Inflation you know!

    We’ll Be Back!

    After two days of lounging around, I wandered the grounds at the Tradewinds one last time for some photos. Luckily, we had a beautiful sunset the night before we left to seal the deal – that we’ll return again soon.

    En route to Kissimmee

    Since we had some time to kill between checkout and checkin at our new accommodations in Kissimmee, we saved a day trip to fill the void. The Morean Arts Center in downtown St Petersburg is home to the Chihuly Collection. Ever since I stumbled upon a small Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix many years ago, I’ve been a fan of Dale Chihuly, but it wasn’t until today that I got to know a little more about the man behind the fabulous blown glass.

    Chihuly’s drawings are displayed throughout the gallery and were used to inspire his visions for glass. “Lively, swirling lines and forms burst their outlines with splats, drips and blotches.” The drawings were almost as beautiful as the blown glass they inspired.

    A Much Younger Chihuly

    Toward the end of our visit we watched a film that was running continuously in a room with many chairs. It felt good to sit for a while and although we didn’t see the entire film, what we did see was very inspiring. There was old footage of Chihuly experimenting and pushing the envelope as a young man. It was fun to hear of his travels to other countries where he met others who loved playing with fire and glass as much as he did, learning of their different procedures, sharing their love of the art and expanding their creativity in the craft.

    Since 1965, Chihuly has been experimenting with glassblowing, and that same year he came to University of Wisconsin – Madison to study with renowned glass artist Harvey Littleton in the first glass program in the United States. Around 1968 he traveled to Venice to the island of Murano, where he first saw the team approach to blowing glass.

    The Team Approach

    I’m sure the team approach came in handy several years later when he was injured while bodysurfing, and was no longer able to hold a glass-blowing pipe. I suppose that is why the drawings are so important to him now. He can more clearly project his visions to the team of artists who create them. Once during an interview someone asked if he’s content in his new role of “more choreographer than dancer” and he said, “Once I stepped back, I liked the view” and now he can see the work from a different perspective.

    The displays provide a reflective surface to see each sculpture from a different perspective as well. The second photo is of the table below the sculpture which offered fabulous reflections.

    “A trip to Tokyo in 1989, was the inspiration for his Niijima Floats, which range in size from one to nearly four feet in diameter, truly stretching the technical limits of glassblowing... Their kaleidoscopic colors, often highlighted by gold and silver leaf, are reminiscent of both Japanese lacquerware and Chihuly’s childhood marbles, which he also linked to his early love of glass.” – READ MORE

    In 1995, after creating floats in many different sizes and colors in Finland, he plopped them into a river. He discovered he loved the look of the bubbles floating. When the current carried the floats downstream, locals would return them in their boats. He so liked the look of the boats-full of floats, that he has continued this concept ever since. It’s a little easier outside in a garden pond installation, but inside on the reflective surface that assimilates water – it looks pretty great too.

    A Fabulous Walkway

    Moving from one room to another was treat, as we passed under a beautiful display of random pieces on a plexiglass ceiling. The lighting above the display was amazing to me, and it was difficult to leave that area with its bright and beautiful colors and the fabulous wavy and textured glass.

    “Persians are dynamic, asymmetrical forms that take on a dramatic new presence when placed together in pedestal compositions and ceiling installations, called Pergolas. Bursting with color, these unexpected installations invite people to interact with art in a new way.” – READ MORE

    The Mendota Wall

    If you’re ever near the Kohl Center at UW-Madison, be sure to stop to see “The Mendota Wall”, which is comprised of more than 1,000 hand-blown pieces of vibrantly hued glass, forming the 120-foot-long installation. Seattle glass master and UW Alumnus Dale Chihuly created this piece in 1997 – 30 years after his graduation. In 2013, UW-Madison recognized him with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Click on the link to see this fabulous work.

    Next up: Between the Greens

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Island Living

    Island Living

    Our road trip to escape Wisconsin’s winter continues with six nights on Long Key – the barrier island that is home to St. Pete Beach. Three bridges lead into the city and connect it to three areas of St. Petersburg. With an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, we may finally get the warm weather we’ve been craving.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    One thing I love about road trips is that you see things that just beg to be googled. Along our route near Cedar Key yesterday were small piles of dirt or sand in the grass alongside the road. The piles seemed like the handiwork of a gopher, but since we both wanted an official version (and we needed something to entertain us for a bit) Jim googled it. This picture and description answered our burning question and just made my day. “They are actually dirt mounds dug by the pocket gopher, also known as the “sandy-mounder.”

    A Favorite Timeshare of Many

    We met the Bluegreen at Tradewinds Resort with great anticipation, since it is one of the favorites among our timeshare friends. It is also one of the higher-points resorts in the Bluegreen repertoire – given the fact that there are only partial kitchens, no grills and the rooms are on the small side. Once we checked in, all of those downfalls seemed to melt away.

    Lots of Amenities

    Bluegreen only occupies one of the buildings at the Tradewinds Island Grand Resort, but use of all of its amenities comes with a reservation. The list of activities for the kids would make this a great family destination, and with five heated pools, a three-story inflatable slide on the beach, and 14 restaurants, it would be possible to vacation here and never leave the resort! The resort is beautiful, with plenty of paths to explore and peaceful places to relax and enjoy the sunshine or a sunset.

    Relax and Unwind

    After two days of exploring the area between our last home-base and this one, we were ready for some relaxation and beach time. Since it was early February, beach time wasn’t so much laying on the beach and soaking up the sun as it was walking on the beach and soaking up umbrella drinks. The Tradewinds offered a way to “earn” t-shirts which involved coupon books and several of the establishments at the resort.

    Fort De Soto Park

    But you know us – we have to get out and explore a little, and after discovering an IHOP right down the block, we made a plan for brunch and a day trip to Fort De Soto for some history and a LOT of bird watching.

    “Welcome to historic, picturesque, natural and recreational Fort De Soto Park where visitors can swim, picnic, fish, bike, birdwatch, camp, boat and much more.

    Fort De Soto Park is a chain of interconnected islands, or keys, providing 1,136 acres of beautiful parkland and beach. A source of great pride for Pinellas County, the park hosts more than three million visitors per year.” – READ MORE

    Sandy Beach and Birds!

    This place combines over seven miles of waterfront, almost three miles of beautiful white sandy beach, an extensive history and a lot of fabulous birds for one great afternoon. If you are a history buff, please click this link for a great resource from the park that includes the details, but in a nutshell:

    The Tocobaga Indians lived here first, several Spanish explorers (including Hernando De Soto) visited in the early 1500s. In 1849, U.S. Army Engineers (including Robert E. Lee) anchored offshore on Mullet Key to survey for coastal defense. The area was used again during the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World War I. After World War I it was sold to Pinellas County for private use, which was short-lived and the government bought it back when World War II broke out. After the end of World War II, Mullet Key was sold back to Pinellas County and on May 11, 1963, Fort De Soto Park was officially dedicated. Whew!

    Bird’s Eye View

    After we paid our $5 fee, we parked and walked up a sidewalk ramp to the top of a small hill. From that point we had great views of the Gulf of Mexico and another white sandy beach. Fort De Soto Gulf Pier is pictured on the right and we’ll come back to that later.

    We took some stairs, which lead down to either the beach or the Fort. As we proceeded to the backside of the “hill”, we discovered it was actually a fortification with a great display of the remains of this military post, built after the U.S. entered the Spanish American War.

    Mortar Batteries

    Two mortar batteries defended the fort. Battery Laidley contained eight 12-inch M 1890-MI mortars. Of those eight, four remain (two are shown below) and they are the only mortars of their kind left in North America. Battery Bigelow contained two 15-pounder, 3-inch Driggs-Seabury rapid-fire guns, but it collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico. Its ruins can be seen from shore in the surf below.

    While I waited for Jim to finish up, I sat down on a bench and was blessed with the presence of an Osprey high up in a tree. Although he didn’t smile for the camera, he did sit there long enough for me and the camera to get a good look.

    Dinner Time

    I started to walk over to the pier and Jim decided to grab the car to make our exit quicker and easier when we were finished here. That turned out to be a great idea because we spent a lot longer here than either of us expected we would.

    We found a shorter pier and had some great views of the sparkling water for a while, until we were left with a pretty grey day. When we first arrived there were only a few birds around, but someone must have rung the dinner bell, because it wasn’t long before chow was ON! What I found was that pelicans are quite the contortionists as they dive for their dinner, and some of these pictures just cracked me up.

    Resting Place

    A partially submerged pier or something concrete created some interest and a landing spot to rest. Could this be the remains of Battery Bigelow that collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico?

    Fort De Soto Pier

    As we came up to the Fort De Soto Pier, it was quite impressive – and teeming with pretty-birds, playing on your sympathies for a few snacks. It was clearly marked on signs to keep the wildlife wild and resist the urge to feed them. What a wonderful testament to nature and the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico!

    Distant Lighthouse

    We saw Egmont Key Lighthouse from the pier and we stopped at another area where the ferry to Egmont Key departs. Turns out we missed the boat – literally. Since it’s early February, the ferry only runs on certain days and today was not one of them. We pencilled in another trip to Fort De Soto next year, as well as a ferry-ride to Egmont Key Lighthouse. Today we’ll have to settle for a few more birds!

    From that same vantage point, up the coast we could see a huge flag with a nest on a high pole and there was definitely movement. We drove up the coast a ways till we found that big flag and pulled over at a ranger station. I walked the path down toward the shore and got a pretty good view of another Osprey. What a fantastic day!

    A little history, the Gulf of Mexico and LOTS of birds. Life is good!

    Next up: Gardens and Glass

    Happy trails,
    Barb