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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #8 - Anastasia State Park

6/3/2016

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As Ellison and I have mentioned before on this site, we love St. Augustine. And this past Memorial Day we had the chance to hang out in one of our favorite places in the city doing all of our favorite things - spending time with family, eating (tacos) and walking on the beach. A rare and relaxing weekend, for sure. It reinforced the need for presence (I didn't check my phone all day!), as well as our decision to have a slow summer filled with little things Ellison and I have been wanting to do together - baking, sewing, painting, drawing, riding bikes, starting a garden.
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anastasia state park

The majority of our weekend was spent at Anastasia State Park, a location much definitely preferred over the public access parts of St. Augustine beach where the city insanely still allows driving on the sand. Don't even get me started. It's nuts and I just can't even begin to understand. But, anyway, Anastasia is beautiful and the dunes restoration has made it even more so. While many people choose to set up right near the boardwalk, we always head away from the crowds and go much further down the beach. Since this was a holiday weekend it was more crowded, but usually if you are willing to walk a bit then the crowds thin out and the beach is all yours.

Our hike consisted simply of walking a little over 2 miles north along the water's edge looking for shells, jellyfish and horseshoe crabs and then coming back along the dunes scouting for sea turtle nests. We had turned on the mapmyhike app to get the exact time and mileage, but it didn't seem to be working for us that afternoon so no such luck. There is also a marked hike (Ancient Dunes trail) through the mangrove hammock and dunes (which you should definitely do!), but it was so hot that we decided to skip it and stick to the beach where there was a breeze.
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summer stargazing

Ok, if you don't have an astronomy app on your phone or tablet then get one. Now. I am the first to admit that I have only a rudimentary understanding of space at best, but thanks to Ellison I am now addicted to using these apps to see what the night sky has to offer. Ellison has such an interest in astronomy and honestly knows far more about cosmological workings than I do. She frequently watches shows like 'Cosmos' and 'NOVA' and to hear her ask such insightful, nuanced questions about space warms my heart.  So, with this in mind, we decided to take advantage of being at the beach on a moonless night and use some of our favorite apps to check out the current sky. It was really, really cool.

I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone who has even a slight astronomical interest. We used SkyView and Star Chart, but there are a ton of options. Ellison prefers Star Chart, but Trevor and I prefer SkyView (pictured below). They're both user-friendly, but I like the fact that with Star Chart you can just point the phone at the sky and up pops all sorts of information about stars, planets, constellations and satellites. The screen isn't too cluttered, making it easier to identify exactly what you're viewing, it works well for kids and beginners (that's us!) and also has soothing background music that gives your stargazing a kind of planetarium feel. Perfect. If you're in to planetariums, that is. 
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​"Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. The world would create new religions overnight. We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead, the stars come out every night and we watch television."
                                         — Paul Hawkens, Commencement address, University of Portland, 2009
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Ellison was so excited because she spotted Saturn, Jupiter and Mars all out at one time and was desperate to take a screenshot and send it to her friends, who she was quite certain had not experienced such wonders and were going to be very jealous of this tri-planetary sighting. We didn't end up sending any pictures, but Ellison has been talking about this night walk and seeing three planets at the beach all week. At her request, we are planning on spending much more family time outside observing the night sky once school gets out. I am happy to oblige. 
​See you back here soon!
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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #7 - Sweetwater Wetlands Park

5/17/2016

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Ellison and I are still slowly plodding along on the 52 Hike Challenge and this week we completed Hike #7. Let me just start by saying that Sweetwater Wetlands Park is one of the most pleasantly surprising places that I have been in a long time. We have been meaning to check it out since the park first opened last May and it took a year, but we finally made it. Honestly, my expecations were pretty low (I'm not sure why) and I suspected it would just be just like any other local trail, but figured it was still worth a visit. Well, Sweetwater Wetlands far exceeded our expecatations and Ellison and I quickly decided that this is our new favorite park in Gainesville - for many reasons. The boardwalks, the well designed trails and lookouts, the beautiful vegetation and abundant wildlife, the purposeful habitat and water flow restoration. All of this attention to detail makes Sweetwater Wetlands exemplary in terms of city environmental efforts. Oh, and it's designed in the shape of an alligator head. Of course. 
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There are almost 4 miles of walking trails, laid out in multiple loops winding throughout the wetlands, partially on boardwalks and partially rock and gravel. We went in the early afternoon when the sun was almost directly overhead so we weren't expecting much in terms of animal activity, but again Sweetwater Wetlands delivered with dozens of bird species, eight alligators and a very curious cotton rat. Ellison was most excited about seeing a huge alligator up close as it swam right up to the boardwalk. It beat out the rare sight of alligators mating that we witnessed later in the hike, primarily due to her concern over the fate of the female. It wasn't pretty. We were all a little worried. 
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Below is a baby limpkin coming out of its nest. There were numerous mother bird species with their babies, but this is the only one of which I could get a decent shot. Limpkins only eat apple snails and Ellison made a game out of collecting as many empty snail shells as she could find. 
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The boardwalks overlook the manmade wetlands that restore the water flow to nearby Payne's Prairie. Ellison counted 5 alligators and ten different types of birds from this spot. Her favorites were the Great Blue herons because she appreciates the way in which they strut regally through the water. Mine were the Red-winged blackbirds because of the bright red wing feathers that make it look like they're wearing military epaulettes. 
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And now for the much anticipated cotton rat...
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Sweetwater Wetlands is such a fantastic little park and Ellison and I are looking forward to a return visit. We walked almost all of the trails, but did realize as we were headed back that there was one loop we missed. Even more reason to come back. We're thinking a dawn outing with our birding checklists to see how many species we can identify in one morning. There were numerous covered benches and seating areas seemingly designed for just this purpose. I think we could probably check off at least 20, maybe more. 
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This is Ellison's favorite shirt and she absolutely wanted me to include a close-up because she says she truly is happy every day. And I can attest to the fact that this is indeed the truth. I don't know how I ended up so lucky as to get his amazing girl in my life, but I need to find a shirt that says 'grateful everyday' because that would pretty much sum it up for me. 
See you back here soon!
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Mother's Day at the Zoo

5/11/2016

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It's been over two weeks since our last post, but I feel like it has been for good reason. Family to enjoy, a house to fix up, school projects to complete - you know, busy living life without much time to document it. But we're back with some Mother's Day love to share. Last weekend Ellison and I were so excited to get to spend time with all parts of our family over the weekend, but particularly with my mom, brother and nephews. We decided to meet up on Saturday at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens near Sanford. 
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While the zoo is pretty small, it is so nicely maintained with boardwalks leading to each enclosure and beautiful landscaping throughout the park. You can see it easily in a morning, but there are numerous picnic tables and a splash park if you want to make more of a day of it. Ellison couldn't decide whether her favorite part was playing on the playground (because you can't do that at any park?) or feeding the giraffe, but in the end decided she didn't care because she was just happy to see her cousins. 
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Zach posing with what has to be the world's most unattractive llama. I really wish I had gotten a shot of his face head-on. He was truly so ugly he was cute and everyone wanted a picture. There was a line and the llama was surprisingly agreeable to being photographed.
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The weather was perfect for spending the day outside, so when we finished with the zoo, Ellison and I went to lunch with my mom in Sanford. It has been rejuvinated since I had last seen it decades ago, with numerous restaurants, shops and art galleries downtown and a broad sidewalk along the waterfront that offers expansive views of Lake Monroe. 
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Below are some pictures of my two favorite women in the world just hanging out together unaware of the itchy grass rash that will plague them the rest of the night. They're pretty cute. And smart. And kind. You know, the usual best qualities. I love them both more than words can begin to say!
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As Ellison and I drove back to Gainesville we passed numerous natural areas that we wanted to check out this summer. We've included a few below in case you find yourself in the neighborhood and want to take to the trails. 

Some of the best places to hike in Seminole County include:
  • Black Bear Wilderness Area
  • Lower Wekiva Loop
  • Rock Springs Run
  • Spring Hammock Preserve
  • Wekiwa Springs State Park

Growing up in this area, Trevor and I both spent our childhoods out in these woods. These trails are the sites of some of our first hikes and our first dates (Wekiva Springs and Rock Springs Run) and we are both really looking forward to sharing more of them with Ellison. 
See you back here soon!
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April Birthdays

4/24/2016

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We celebrated the Smith family April birthdays yesterday (there are 3) in Orlando and, of course, it included a trip to the park for a bug hunt. And a light saber fight. And the cutest cousins ever just having frolicking fun outside like kids do. Just being kids in the park. You're welcome for the first picture. It's my new favorite thing in the world. 
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See you back here soon!
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Girls on the Run 5K

4/18/2016

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For the past few months Ellison has participated in the 'Girls on the Run' program after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. It has been the highlight of her week and I couldn't be more excited that she likes it because the program is amazing (despite the look of complete apathy on her face above). For real, it is everything you would want your daughter be doing and talking about after school. If you haven't already heard about 'Girls on the Run', then click on over to their website to check it out. But then come back here to read about and see pictures from the celebratory 5K that Ellison and I ran this past weekend.
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I first have to say that I was not particularly thrilled about the timing of this run mainly because it fell on the Saturday morning following my stint as a Prom chaperone and a late night (anything past 11 pm) means I need all the sleep I can get. But, once we got there and Ellison got her race t-shirt and met up with her friends, I got over it and was really excited to be able to run the race with her. As we waited at the starting gate (aka "makeshift Taylor Swift concert" - I guess being one of the few strong female role models meant her songs got all the airtime), I could tell Ellison was taking this run seriously. There would be no stopping to walk, no breaks - just going flat out until we crossed the finish line. And that's exactly what happened. She ran her heart out the entire race and even sprinted the last quarter mile to the end, leaving me to fend for myself about 2 minutes behind. I am so proud of her determination and am loving the fact that she was so into this whole running thing. It's something I think we can start doing more of together, if I can keep up with her. I don't know if Ellison is just really fast or I'm just really slow (absolutely), but I had to push myself to keep her pace.
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All in all, it was a good time. Maybe not the fastest time, but a good time nonetheless. And I can't encourage you enough to support the 'Girls on the Run' program in your area. As a parent, high school teacher and a woman I know firsthand of the ways in which low self-esteem and a lack of physical well-being can affect your life. Programs like these can help us raise a community of strong, active girls who are secure enough in themselves to make smart life choices. Thank you to all the coaches and volunteers who made Ellison's experience such a positive one. Ellison says y'all are awesome so you must be! She also says thank you for bringing really good snacks. 
​See you back here soon!
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It's National Park Week!

4/16/2016

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So, National Park Week starts today and in celebration the National Park Service is offering free admission to any of our country's 58 amazing national parks throughout the week. Since Ellison and I have some wonderful memories of times spent exploring these places, we thought we'd share some of our favorite national park memories.

First, we took a tally of how many national parks we had been to in our home state. There are 3 parks in Florida and we haven't been any! None. Trevor and I have been to 2, but it has been years so I'm not counting it unless Ellison and I have been there together. So, we really need a trip to South Florida to check out Key Biscayne, Everglades and Dry Tortugas. 


Next, we counted how many we have been to nationwide. There are 58 overall and together we have only been to 3. That's it. Only 3 of the 58 incredible and iconic natural areas. But, those 3 are unforgettable. So diverse and unique, but so representative of our country as a whole. I have written previously about our trips to each of these three here on 'Girls in the Park' - Great Smoky Mountains, Hawaii Volcanoes and Grand Canyon. 

Then we tried to decide what our favorite memory was from each of the parks, and from there we tried to decide which of the three parks was our favorite. We laughed while reliving some of the hikes we took and the misadventures involving bad weather and poor navigational skills, and it was fun to look through the pictures from these trips and try to remember the day when they were taken. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were driving through Hawaii and Arizona and making plans for our annual trip to Tennessee. I guess Gretchen Rubin was right when she said "the days are long, but the years are short."

So as far as favorites go Ellison said hers was Great Smoky Mountains because "it's her favorite place in the entire world. You know that." and I said mine was Hawaii Volcanoes because it has a little bit of everything - mountains, deserts, tropical rain forest. But, there are 55 parks left to visit so who knows. What I do know is that it is important to do all we can to preserve these areas and protect them for future generations. Our history is deeply connected to the physical landscape of our nation and our future is dependent on its preservation!

​Hawaii Volcanoes (June 2015)
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Grand Canyon (August 2015) * We don't really have any decent pictures of the two of us actually at the Grand Canyon. It was kind of a crazy trip. So you'll just have to imagine we're in the picture:) It went from super sunny amazing weather (see the first picture) to what you see below in like 20 minutes. 
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Great Smoky Mountains (November 2015)
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Here are some more links if you want some more details on National Park Week - head over to the National Park Foundation's website or go to the National Park Service site to find a park near you. It is also the 100 anniversary of the national park service so there are all sorts of cool things coming up to help celebrate the centennial. And remember, all week you get in free! 

Oh, and here is an organized checklist of the 58 national parks that is kind of cool to use if you're a list maker like me:)
​See you back here soon!
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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #6 - Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve

4/3/2016

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Just an hour west of Gainesville and with miles of available trails, Cedar Key seemed like the perfect place to spend a Sunday afternoon. For Hike #6 of our 52 Hike Challenge we decided to check out the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve. 
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The area along what is referred to as Florida's 'Nature Coast' has a ton of great scenic hiking. There are numerous springs, interesting coastal areas where rivers like the Suwanee meet the Gulf of Mexico and trails that are part of the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge on islands only accessible by boat. Even though Ellison and I wanted to have lunch in downtown Cedar Key, we decided that the scrub reserve would be the best place to hike on this trip even though it was a little further away than some of the other trails for no other reason than we had never been there before and we wanted to try something new. 

There are two different trailheads for this reserve and while we stopped at both, I decided we would start at the one off of CR 347 because it had longer trails and it led to a swamp, which just sounded more interesting that a trail that didn't lead to a swamp. But, they are connected so it is possible to walk from one to the other (though it would be much more comfortable to go by bike or horse, rather than foot, because it is quite a distance between them). 
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Ellison brought a friend with her on this trip and the girls had a great time hiking, but an even better time exploring the area down by Black Point Swamp. It is uniquely beautiful, so representative of coastal north Florida and was just the right type of place for them to create forest hideouts among the trees. They would have stayed all day if we had let them despite the gnats and ticks. It was my favorite spot, too. Despite heavy rain on Saturday (which made parts of the trail exceptionally muddy), Sunday's weather was near perfect with a cloudless blue sky and warmth tempered by cool spring breeze. We didn't see too many animals on this hike, mainly because we were out in the middle of the day, but we did find a nice hog skull. You know, if you're in to skulls and whatnot. 
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 We hiked roughly 5 miles of the 8.5 that were part of the marked trails at this trailhead. And, foolishly, we didn't bring a backpack with water, sunscreen or bug spray and we all ended up thirsty, sunburned and covered in ticks by the end of our trip. I had forgotten the backpack I usually carry as I was trying to get out the door in the morning and while I actually had all of those things in the car, I didn't have anything to carry them in so I said forget it. So be forewarned that the trails are all very much in the open sun with little in the way of shade so be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat if you plan on being out for more than a mile or so. You can see below how Ellison just about gave up at the end! But we rallied, went into town and after lunch and some ice cream the girls made a miraculous recovery. 
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If you are looking for other options (or maybe if you're planning on kayaking or boating to the trail), there are a number of places to hike in the Cedar Key area. Below are a few of the most popular:
  • Atsena Otie Key (only accessible by boat)
  • Dennis Creek Trail at Shell Mound
  • Waccasassa Bay State Preserve (only accessible by boat)
  • Lower Suwanee National Wildlife Refuge
Our next stop in this area is going to be renting kayaks and heading out to some island trails, most likely Atsena Otie Key. We're thinking of purchasing some of our own in the relatively near future so we can spend some more time on the water without being limited to places near rental shops. Any recommendations or advice? I'm thinking a single rather than a tandem would work best? Any thoughts on purchasing used versus new? 
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See you back here soon!
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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #5 - Manatee Springs State Park

3/24/2016

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Hike #5 of our 52 Hike Challenge is in the bag after we spent the day at Manatee Springs State Park. I know, it's almost April and we're only on Hike #5 - we need to get moving! 
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Ellison was determined to see manatees this Spring Break and I know there are some great spots in the central Florida area. We were initially planning on going kayaking but, honestly, I didn't feel like driving for more than an hour (ruling out Blue Springs near Deland, where we were likely to see the most) and I'm tired (kayaking would have meant a day of paddling and I just wasn't up for it this week). Plus, she has seen them many times before. That being said, the girl wanted manatees, so manatees are what she got. Because I'm pretty much a sucker for a kid who asks to spend the day outside.
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The park and campgrounds are expansive with the focus obviously being on the springs and related aquatic activities. You can swim, dive or rent a canoe, kayak or paddle board from an outfitter right in the park. On a clear day the water is the most intense shade of bluish green - a color unique to freshwater springs simply because of the way the water flows up from underground. We have a painting in our dining room that looks almost exactly like the photo below and it makes me smile every time I see it because of the vibrancy of the colors.
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Since Ellison was chasing a manatee sighting, we decided to first walk down the boardwalk and see if we could spot any from the docks. In the colder months, Manatee Springs is a great place to see tons of manatees as they come in to stay in the warmer water of the springs - a constant 72 degrees - and the picture below (not taken by me!) is an example of what it looks like in the winter. But it's the end of March and the weather has warmed up and most of the manatees have left their larger herds to go back out on their own.

I wasn't sure we would see any and had prepared Ellison for this disappointment, but she was adamant that there would at least be a few. And there were. Six of them swimming right at the entrance to the springs run - four adults and two babies. The kayakers and paddle boarders were lucky enough to watch them from a relatively close vantage point, but we could still see them clearly from our spot on the dock lookout. They are so slow, friendly and curious - making it easy to forget that touching (and interaction of any kind, really) is prohibited. We watched them for about ten minutes until they swam off away from the springs and up the Suwanee River. Ellison was super excited, the brush with manatees making the day a success regardless of whether or not we did any hiking.

​Just FYI, if you are looking for places to view manatees throughout Florida other than Manatee Springs, this article is really helpful.
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The boardwalk takes you through cypress swamps, with the knees popping up from the water like miniture headstones in a murky forest graveyard, and offers an opportunity to see a variety of wildlife. We saw turtles, a bard owl, numerous water snakes and countless types of water birds. It can be crowded so it's best to go either in the early morning or late afternoon - not only will there be fewer people, but your chances of seeing animals is better, as well. And if you're anything like us, wildlife sightings are a big part of the fun. 

In addition to the boardwalk, there are some longer trails at Manatee Springs and we covered about half of them on this hike - total mileage combined is around 8.5 miles and we did about 4.5 this visit. The paths are wide and well maintained, making for a very easy walk. And except for a pair of four wheelers, we didn't see a single person the entire time we were on the trails. The springs were relatively crowded, but apparently not one of them wanted to explore the park on foot. It really is their loss because this area is so beautiful. 
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While we have been here before, Manatee Springs is not somewhere we visit often though I'm not really sure why. Ellison and I had a great time! It is less than an hour west of our house and is a great park with a lot to do for the whole family. It will definitely be added to our regular rotation. 
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See you back here soon!
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Family Fun for Spring Break

3/16/2016

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If your life revolves in any way around an academic calendar, then you know it's Spring Break season. While the beach is always a classic Spring Break option, you might want to try something different. So Ellison and I decided to put together a list of fun family activities that incorporate the natural side of Florida. That being said, the picture below is of Ellison at the beach with her cousins many Spring Breaks ago. Adorable. So, the suggestions below are very general ideas - just click on the link to get more regionally specific details. We're going to be hitting up the springs - probably Blue Springs - next week to do some canoeing (and hopefully have a manatee sighting or two). 
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Here are ways to explore the more natural side of Florida this Spring Break:
  • U-Pick Farms
There are a number of u-pick farms offering all sorts of fruit throughout the state. Kids love to pick fruit, y'all. They just do. 
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  • ​ Florida's various freshwater springs
Florida has more freshwater springs than any other state. And we also have manatees. Enough said.
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*image courtesy of nationalgeographic.com
  • ​ Florida National Scenic Trail
Obviously you're not walking the whole thing. Or maybe you are. That would be impressive. Especially if you brought your kids. 
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  • Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail
Divided into 5 different birding regions, Florida has a huge variety of bird and wildlife. Spring is a great time to catch the migratory birds before they fly north for the summer. 
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* Image courtesy of bioexpedition.com
  • Trailwalker Hiking Program 
This program would be perfect for families to do together as it encourages you to visit Florida state forests by providing you with a trail log, postcards to mail in after each visit (you get mailed back stickers to put on your log) and reward patches upon completion of a certain number of forests visited (It's 10, then 20 and then 30). 
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  •   Trailtrotter Horeseback Riding Program
This is the equestrian version of the Trailwalker progam. The number of trails to visit in order to receive your patches is different, but the concept is the same. A log, stickers and patches. 
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* Image courtesy of deepcreekstables.net
In addition, there are numerous state and national parks, monuments and historic sites throughout the state that are beautiful this time of year. While this list is Florida-specific, there are sure to be similar options in your area. Just check your local Department of Agriculture website for natural activities in your state.  
​See you back here soon!
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52 Hike Challenge: Hike #4 - Big Talbot Island State Park

3/8/2016

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 This past Sunday we went to Big Talbot Island State Park where we completed Hike #4 of our 52 Hike Challenge. We haven't really gotten out much lately and the chance to not only hang out with our friends, Mandy and Charlie, but to visit a park that had been on our list for quite a while seemed like a great reason to head to the beach. 
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About 15-20 miles from downtown Jacksonville, Big Talbot Island is part of a group of seven different sites that make up Talbot Island State Parks (see list at the end of this post). I have been to Amelia Island a number of times and once to Little Talbot, but never to this particular park. Mandy had suggested it a few months earlier and has been here with her Master Naturalist class (because she's all outdoorsy like that) so she had all the details.

The two trails that lead you to the water are the Black Rock and the Shoreline. The Shoreline trail starts at the north parking lot picnic area and takes you to a beach covered in uprooted live oaks that form sun-bleached driftwood forests along the shoreline, thus earning it the nickname 'Boneyard Beach'. The Black Rock trail leads to Black Rock beach (obviously) where the eroded dunes create bluffs that make the coastline appear rocky and there are sections of black mud that sit almost lava-like over the sand, wallowing out tide pools that are sure to be full of sealife during the warmer months. (Ellison and I couldn't believe how much it looked like Hawaii. No, for real, it was so surprising for a Florida beach.) We all had fun scoping out these pools to see if there were any minnows or crabs, but they were empty, minus a few limpets and barnacles. This area is truly unique and Ellison and I loved every bit of it. Ellison said her favorite part was being able to climb on the driftwood trees and look out into the ocean (although she later revealed that her most favorite part was being able to pet Mandy and Charlie's cat, Chloe). 

If you want to get away from the beach, then you can take the Big Pine (less than a mile) or Jones Cut (about 1.5 miles) trails , both of which lead you through maritime hammocks and salt marshes. The Jones Cut trail is notoriously hard to find so be prepared to search around a bit for the trailhead. There is also the shady, paved Timucuan trail (around 4.5 miles) that connects Little and Big Talbot Islands. At the north end, it also links to the George Crady bridge, allowing for access to Amelia Island. Ellison and I really want to go back and walk or bike across the bridge and take the Amelia Island Trail. The trail is currently being extended with help from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and there are all sorts of awesome additions in the works. You can check out a map of the future plans for the Timucuan Trail multi-use pathway here and read more about the Timucuan Trails Park Foundation here. (There are so many great parks!) 

Gratuitous beach pictures below mainly because the sky was the clearest blue and so beautiful and because Ellison and I couldn't agree on which ones to include so we included all the ones we liked. And because we wanted you to see just how black the sand really was and how we weren't even lying when we said it looks so much like Hawaii. 
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Talbot Islands State Parks includes the following 7 parks:
  1. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park
  2. Amelia Island State Park
  3. Big Talbot Island State Park
  4. Little Talbot Island State Park
  5. Fort George Island Cultural State Park
  6. Yellow Bluff Fort Historical State Park
  7. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park

I feel like I'm late to the Talbot Islands party. Has everyone been hanging out there forever without me? This whole area is so pretty that I think Ellison and I are going back for more hiking over Spring Break (less than two weeks to go!) and then possibly on down to St. Augustine for a few days. And then I think we'll be going back again and again. And probably even again. 
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See you back here soon!
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    Welcome! 

    My family and I love to get outside and explore every chance we get. My daughter and I started this blog as a way to chronicle not only the places we have visited, but also as a way to preserve our time together. We hope you enjoy it and will make a little time for a hike with friends! 
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*All photos original to Girls in the Park unless otherwise noted