Roseate spoonbills are one of my favorite birds. Apparently, I seem to have an affinity for pink fluffy things. I recall a grocery-shopping trip with my mother when I was about four years old, when she gave me permission to choose anything—ANYTHING—that I wanted in the store. I knew immediately my heart’s desire—pink fluffy marshmallow […]
Author Archive for Laurel (AKA chickadee) – Page 36
We first visited Goose Island State Park in 2009, and have wanted to return ever since. It was just as good as we remembered—actually, even better. Located on the Gulf coast near Rockport, Texas, this park ranks high on our list of favorites. We spent six nights this time, and could happily have stayed longer. […]
Iremember when the only way to get to St. George Island was by ferry. There’s a picture of my sister and me, circa late 1950’s, standing at the bow of the ferry with our great-grandmother, Mother Pearl; she in her calico dress holding us close, us knobby kneed in our summer shorts and seersucker shirts. […]
A two-lane road—Highway 98—leads across the bay and into the center of downtown Apalachicola. It’s a one-stoplight town, with wide, palm-lined streets, vintage storefronts, antebellum homes, classic Florida cracker houses, and run-down shacks. Shrimp boats, oyster boats, and fishing vessels ply the waters for the shellfish and finfish harvest that sustains the town. By some […]
Almost 30,000 people (us included) descended on the laid-back little town of Apalachicola (population 2,300) for the 49th annual Florida Seafood Festival, held the first weekend in November every year. It was a fun two-day party celebrating the bounty that has sustained Franklin County for centuries. Some of the highlights: The Blessing of the Fleet Shrimp […]
The first time I told Eric about Wakulla Springs, I had to prod him into going with me. “There’s a jungle boat cruise!” I told him. “You won’t believe how close you can get to the birds and the ‘gators, and we might even see manatees!” He looked at me skeptically, and I knew he […]
I’ve often heard it said that you can’t go home again. But for the several weeks that we’ve been in Florida, that hasn’t held true. The warmth of the welcome that we’ve experienced, from family and friends, has been without reserve, and we’ve had a wonderful homecoming. Visiting my sister and my nieces and their […]
Fishing for redfish at my dad’s favorite fishing spots, catching blue crabs and shrimp off the dock, shucking local oysters. Boating across the bay, navigating shallow sandbars and winding through grassy marshes into the river, observed by egrets, cormorants, brown pelicans, and the occasional ‘gator on the banks. Enjoying my mom’s crab-stuffed shrimp, trout amandine, […]
A shoreline of dunes, sea oats, and purple feathery grasses; miles of sugar-fine white sand edged with olive green and cobalt seas; and not a person in sight. Not exactly what comes to mind when you think of a Florida Atlantic beach, is it? It surprised us, too—the first time we descended from the long […]
One of the great treasures of Florida is the springs—crystalline cool waters that emerge from the underground limestone aquifer into north-central Florida. With more than 700 springs, Florida is the spring capital of the world. Some are mere trickles, but others discharge millions of gallons of water per day. I’ve spent many idyllic days swimming […]
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If you enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, birding, art, music, quirky towns, good food, and good friends—you'll enjoy traveling with us. Join us as we explore the backroads of North America—we love company and comments!