Falling Waters and Florida Caverns

2 Chicas Didn’t Miss Our Water Until the Waterfall Ran Dry

The trip to Falling Waters State Park was a nice little drive up I-10. 

The up and down drive reminds one of a kiddie roller coaster  not too dramatic, but just enough to remind you that you’re no longer in west central Florida. 

Entering the park, the 2 Chicas were tingling with excitement; we were about to see Florida’s tallest waterfall.  The air was crisp and the sky was clear; it was the perfect day for exploration.

The park is primarily home to a gigantic sinkhole or should we say a series of sinkholes.  There is a cement sidewalk that takes hikers down to a boardwalk which surrounds the different sinkholes. 


Chica 1 asked in a deep serious voice: “Are you down down down for this adventure?”  Keep walking Chica 1; keep walking.

The ferns and coolness in the park contained a serenity that was only broken by the occasional cry of its resident birds. A scrub jay was seen flitting about announcing the royal arrival of the 2 Chicas.

Once the 2 Chicas ascended the stairs to the overlook area it became very apparent something was missing – like H2O. 

The waterfall was gone! Yes, gone…. A lack of rain had made the waterfall nonexistent. How is this possible? 

Chica 2 proposed that someone had robbed the park of its water and we should go in pursuit of the thieves. 

Calm down Chica 2. She insisted that there should be pretty clear clues in the huge trail of water. Ahem, maybe it’s time for this little explorer to get in a cat nap.

The 2 Chicas looked at each other quizzically, shrugged, and began singing in unison – “You can’t always get what you want.”

Since we believe we always get what we need, we admired the different sinkhole areas, took pictures of the wild flowers, enjoyed the birds, and went racing off to the Florida Caverns.

2 Chicas Cavort In the Caverns

The drive to the caverns takes you through Marianna which has a strip that is a part of the Old Florida Heritage Highway.  It is a little congested though so be careful not to get distracted while driving.

Florida has caves- can you believe it. Chica 1 spent most of her life believing that Florida was one step away from being totally underwater.

As an adult, she learned of the true diversity found in the state. 

The ground is made up of sandy areas, a rich loam, clay, limestone, shell deposits, and other minerals depending on where you are in the state.

These north Florida caves have an interesting history that is prehistoric, but we’ll get to that latter.

The cave tour is well worth the current $8.00 fee.  In 45 minutes you will go up and down, sideways, bent in half, and ducking through a gallery of stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, soda straws, wedding cakes, pools, continents, catacombs, and Christmas trees. 

The ranger provides full facts and shows off things like a prehistoric shark tooth embedded in the rock.  Chica 1 could have sworn the shape of that tooth looked closely familiar. Ms. Ranger are you sure you didn't turn your back on Chica 2?

There is also a lot of information shared on how the formations grow, the composition of the rocks, and the men who worked tirelessly to excavate the area.

Chica 1 was not too fond of some of the really tight areas in the cave.  There seemed to be some hyperventilating or at the very least some huffing and head bumping on the ceiling. 

Chica 2 chuckled and assured Chica 1 she was far too short to worry about bumping her head on anything but the floor! Tee hee he

There are a couple of fossils visible in the ceiling of the cave, and the ranger reported that a few full sized fossils were excavated in the park, including a mastodon.

The ranger towards the end of the tour turns off all of the lights and allows visitors to experience the cavern exactly as it is. 

It is difficult to describe total darkness.  It’s not the type of darkness in your home or outside. It's eerily nondescript. Chica 2 said maybe this is what death looks like. You can always count on Chica 2 for a good dose of profound insanity!

The hike back to the visitor center is far more strenuous than the cave tour so be prepared! After sharing some much needed oxygen, both Chicas vowed to get in caveman shape. One day we may have to out run a dinosaur! 

Spend some time walking around the caves on the trails and go upstairs in the visitor center to the learning room for more factoids. If you feel adventurous, rent a canoe and explore the Chipola River. 

2 Chicas give this “real Florida” experience four thumbs up and a finger snap. Only 2 Chicas could be so dramatic!


Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park – 2 Chicas and another Black Lagoon

The long winding road to the Wakulla Springs Lodge does not give any indication of the fabulous experience to come.

Chica 2 was so excited to see the spear throwing fish that she ran out of the car and left it running. 

So remember to park the car, TURN IT OFF, and walk over to the old sign, through the boathouse type building to the springs. You have to keep it kind of simple for good old Chica 2.

If you do this exactly as described, you will immediately see the swimming hole, beach-like area and the old tour boats. Tee hee he...

Find out the time for the next tour and hop on board for a 45 minute ride in paradise.

Chica 2 scared just about everyone on the boat letting out a loud, crackly Tarzan call.  Luckily, the animals did not desert their sanctuary!

The springs are a part of the Florida aquifer and from the dock area, you can look straight down to the bottom.  Clear as can be!

Chica 1 was amazed at how the fish and flora intermingled to produce a whimsical musical dance. 

Chica 2 said it looked like they were doing the electric slide, no better than that, the wobble.  Sorry, Chica 2, I don't really see that at all.

The ebb and flow of the springs is beautiful. The boat tour is very informative and the birds, alligators, and manatee seem to perform on demand. The peace on the river is incredible. Thank God it has been preserved for all to share in the wonder and majesty of nature!

The anhinga and ibis pose throughout the park for photo opportunities.  Chica 2 also struck a pose very much like this bird, just not a stea
dy on the feet.

The lazy alligators are sunning up and down the river, and the egrets soar on demand. 

When the noisy motor of the boat is stopped, the sounds of the spring really come alive. 

After your tour, go to the observation tower and remind yourself of the great ecosystem you just explored.  Afterward, go to the lodge and try their famous Ginger yip. 

Tour around the lodge, review the history of Edward Ball, marvel at Old Joe – the murdered alligator, and then bid farewell to a perfectly preserved peace. 

Of course you could very well make a reservation and stay in the beautiful lodge. Just remember, no internet!

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Sanibel Island, FL

It’s funny how 2 Chicas’ travels seem to take them to such a variety of beautiful places. This trip is no different as we were headed to Sanibel Island, a mainland paradise located off the coast of Ft. Myers, FL.  Sanibel is considered a shelling capital. For some reason, because of its location, the waves seem to kick the most beautiful shells on shore.

The island itself is only 12 miles long and is conjoined with Captiva Island, which is less than 5 miles long. Neither island is very wide with Sanibel being about 5 miles across and little Captive being ½ mile wide. More than half of the island is preserved as a wildlife refuge.  

There are no gigantic skyscrapers blocking the view of the beauty. Strict rules limit buildings to be  no taller than the trees.  This makes the island a well kept paradise.

There is a $6 toll to go over the Sanibel Causeway Bridge, which tells you something about this tiny little strip of land. Although both islands are small, there is a lot packed onto this diminutive island.

Shopping, kayaking, cruising, shelling, skiing, canoeing, wading, hiking, swimming, birding, eating, conserving, museuming, enough of the made up names already!

2 Chicas and the Ding Darling Birding We Go

2 Chicas are just crazy birds – uh oh - crazy about birds!  So a visit to the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge was a prerequisite to hanging out on the beach. This guy was a cartoonist, conservationist, and the inventor of the duck stamp – a requirement for any duck hunter.

This stamp puts money back into conserving the lands where ducks thrive and as such, protects a wide variety of wildlife. Pretty cool stuff!

The onsite education center has wonderful exhibits and shares information on the habitat that you will traverse while in the park. There are three different types of mangroves that serve as the underpinning plant of the area. There were so many different birds hanging out in this hostel while in their migrating patterns, you would have to imagine the rooms are free. Tee hee he Some birds travel 20,000 miles just to drop in here.

As we went deeper into the preserve, there were numerous vantage points to get a bird’s eye view of the locals. One of the neat things is that a volunteer who goes through the park reporting bird sightings back to the education center, shows human visitors some of the very special bird visitors.

She also shares interesting information about the birds. She has a portable telescope that she allows everyone to look through to get an up close and personal view. How absolutely precious!

She told the kids about the white pelican that is native to Montana, Minnesota and Wisconsin and these suckers are huge!  Her little telescope made the birds seem as if you could reach out and touch them. Yet they were far away on a sandbar. Great job – you know customer service and it shows! Hey Chica 2, let the kids get a look why don’t you?

We got to see a 2 Chicas favorite, the Roseate Spoonbills – there was an entire flock of pink just perched out on a sandbar chilling! There are other exciting finds like a crab trying to crawl up a tree trunk giant fish swimming everywhere in the water, prehistoric seashells that were just lying in the paths.

At an observation tower on the site, the 2 Chicas headed to the top of this three story tower to gaze out over another beautiful cove where flocks of birds posed for us. An osprey flew overhead, dipping into the water and coming up with a fish in his talons.

Chica 2 threatened to jump off the top story of the tower and see what she would come back up with.  We both agreed some seriously broken bones. Tee hee he

Although there was a shell mound, it didn’t really provide any ah ha moments like the other vista points, and the displayed materials did share very educational information about the Calusa Indians.

But remember, when visiting protected areas, only leave your footprints and don’t take anything out of the reserve with you but your trash! Enough of the birds – 2 Chicas are off to the beach!

2 Chicas Feeling Beachy and then Woozy

The beaches on Sanibel and Captiva Island are splendiferous! Pearly white sand covered with a variety of seashells made the beach feel like a far away paradise. 2 Chicas decided to try the beach at the end of Captiva Island.

Driving past the fabulous homes facing the Gulf of Mexico provided Chica 2 with the perfect excuse to play the lottery. We all know that’s about the only way we’re going to get one of these roomy homes!

Man, God ordered up one perfect day for a little fun in the sun. Parking at the beach is $2 per hour, so remember to pay before you play. When you round the corner after leaving the parking lot, you can’t help but think how lucky you are having all these wonderful pleasures right here in America!

Chica 2 pitched the sunbrella and we perched in our chairs admiring the crystal clear water glistening as the sun danced across the surface. We looked through the piles of seashells that washed ashore and marveled at the number of live shells still on the beach. BEWARE – collecting live shells is illegal. What is a live shell you ask – a shell that is still inhabited. There is a live creature still inside – simple enough.

So much for biology, Chica 1 dipped her toe in the water and was surprised that it felt like a cool spring.  Chica 2 said it was cold as ___ , which really isn’t cold at all is it? The pelicans put on quite a show diving in the water grabbing fish. Each pelican seemed to have its own fan club of small seagulls flying around looking for leftovers.

Walking on the beach is a true experience. Chica 2 got a stiff neck from strolling along the beach with her head down looking for seashells. She sailed sea shells. Say it over and over if you can! Chica 1 almost passed out from heat exposure, and this was early February!

As children splashed in the shallows and enjoyed moments of spontaneous water play, Chica 1 saw the beach slowly begin to spin. Chica 2 hustled Chica 1 off to the car for a quick cool down and a long tall drink of water. Remember to always hydrate when outdoors! There’s just so much of a tropical delight that anyone can take. So 2 Chicas packed up and went off in search of a good meal.

 

2 Chicas Eat the Cow

Chica 2 was determined to eat at the Island Cow – a restaurant that spent a good deal of time marketing their food to families. The colorful (almost coloring book) ad certainly mesmerized the not so latent child inside of Chica 2. So off we go to have a taste of the moo cow. 

First of all, the décor is a very casual, relaxed kind of island feel. There are a variety of knick knacks hanging on the wall and there is indoor and outdoor seating available. The dress code is flip flops and shorts! There was about a 20 minute wait to be seated, but you can wait out back on the patio.

Second of all, this place has quite a menu! While you are waiting you may want to begin to check out the offerings. Fortunately, breakfast ends at 11 a.m. most days so you won’t have to add that list of food items to your decision making matrix. Tee hee he

Chica 1 chose the BBQ Turkey Reuben which was interesting, but not that great. The turkey breast didn’t taste like it was grilled and the tropical slaw was just average. The food was served at a moderate temperature. It came with fries and hushpuppies which were pretty good. Chica 1 washed it down with a Mango Margarita, which was yummy!

Chica 2 had the Adobe Chicken with black beans and rice and veggies. She said the chicken was very tasty, but the sides were extremely salty.Not a good mix with heat as dehydration is sure to follow. The kids menu is very good and filling. 

One kid had the cheeseburger and the other child had the chicken fingers and a fruit smoothie. Needless to say, both children were happy. 2 Chicas would rate the Island Cow as average, average fare.

2 Chicas Captivated on Captiva

The T’ween Waters Inn on Captiva Island is a well known property on the island. These cottages and the adjoining buildings have been on the site, some as early as 1914. The Old Captiva House was a former one room schoolhouse that is now a restaurant. What is unique about this current restaurant is that it was transformed from a school to a dining hall in 1925. There are great paintings throughout. The food is good, but a little pricy like most restaurants on the island.

The Mucky Duck Restaurant has been around since the mid 70’s. The owners gave this establishment a good old fashioned English pub name. The food is fantastic and the views from the outdoor patio are stupendous! This is a great place to enjoy a sunset!

Experiencing the Bubble Room is akin to having a meal in a fun house. It is a unique Captiva experience and should not be missed, especially if you have kids in tow. The place is outrageous, the food is fantastic, and the staff will make sure to give you a personalized experience. If you have problems with being over stimulated, this is not the place for you. There are so many things going on in here, you have to check it out for yourself. Reservations may be necessary during busier hours and seasons.

2 Chicas Get to Know you Better at the Sanibel Community Fair and Retail Expo

Now these Sanibel guys have the right idea about how to keep people coming back. This little expo is a great way to get to know the businesses and services offered on the island. The event is sponsored by the Sanibel/Captiva Chamber of Commerce and engages local business to share their wares. The support of the business community was amazing. Almost every business offered a raffle basket of goodies!

There was a gigantic slide and bouncy house as well as other outdoor activities and face painting for the kids.  The Sanibel Firemen were very helpful and informational.

They take time to walk each interested party around their truck and share information on the different equipment found on the vehicle. The kids faces really light up when they see the jaws of life.  Just thinking about how fit the fire fighters must be made Chica 2 thirsty. Go figure?

That leads the 2 Chicas to Bailey’s, who generously provided beverages and hotdogs. A local cake company provided scrumptious morsels of chocolate cake and orange dream cake. Every vendor provided a trinket, candy, or something worth taking with you. 

One of my favorite old Florida hotels, the Tween Waters Resort was a big sponsor of the event. It was fantastic getting to meet many of the local business men and women. They were very friendly and just based on the interactions alone, made you want to be a part of this warm community.

2 Chicas Blinded By the Light

2 Chicas headed over to the Sanibel Lighthouse to check out one of Chica 2’s favorite things, lighthouses.  Chica 2 loves lighthouses and on every trip, she has to go look into the light. Poltergeist you may ask? You never know with Chica 2.

The Sanibel Lighthouse was built for $50,000 in 1883. It was used to light the way for ships moving goods to Cuba, of course when that international relationship was better. This lighthouse is made of iron, which seems to be a peculiar choice of materials, but what do we know about constructing a lighthouse. The lighthouse now is the property of the City of Sanibel. This neat metal pyramid stands for all to see at the tip of the island known as “old Sanibel” island.

As 2 Chicas said goodbye to Sanibel Island, Chica 2 exclaimed a simple “Look!” Just as we pulled onto the causeway, a school of dolphins appeared. They seemed to be safely escorting us out and on our way.   What a perfect ending to a lovely island escape!

While in the area, be sure to visit the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter estates in Fort Myers, FL. The grounds are beautiful and the properties provide a great opportunity to see how the wealthy wintered! There is also the added bonus of being able to view one of Edison’s laboratories.

Tarpon Springs, FL

2 Chicas and the Case of the Strange Sponge

Tarpon Springs is a small village known for its large Greek community and their history of sponge diving. Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek residents in the country and is considered the “sponge capital of the world”. 

All of these traditions live on and the area has any number of Greek restaurants selling traditional foods. Snuggled up against the shores of the Anclote River, the historic sponge docks are a haven of fun for all ages. 2 Chicas are drawn to fun like a turkey vulture is drawn to road kill, so off we go.

As you drive through Tarpon Springs, it is hard not to notice how small the community is, yet it is so filled with tradition. Turning on to Dodecanese Blvd, you are immediately teleported to a different place and time. 

Boats and sponges are everywhere, and some of the boats have sponges attached! Chica 2, began dreaming of a luxurious drawn bath with large masculine servants pouring bubble bath into the water. Chica 2 put that sponge down! Incredibly, Chica 2 then began a rambunctious version of some song from Sponge Bob. It’s best not to ask; just go along with it!

Stop into the small Harbormaster/Visitor’s Center building and pick up some information on the area.  You can have all your questions answered and get some advice on an interesting boat ride to see the sights down the river. 

If not, there are plenty of “callers” on the block trying to entice you to take a ride on their boat. It is an interesting experience that harkens to a different time period. 

Next, go over to Sponge O Rama, where there is a free museum. The store also carries lots of trinkets, but so does about a hundred million other souvenir stores on the block.  Tee hee he! 

Wander down the block and check out the different Greek restaurants. Stop and have lunch or plan for dinner, but you can’t come to Tarpon Springs and not have some authentic Greek food. 

Chica 2 randomly picked a restaurant, Costa’s.  Chica 2 was reviewing the menu, looked up and yelled “FIRE!!” It’s not a fire Chica 2, it is actually a menu item.  Saganaki is a sharp Greek cheese doused with brandy and then extinguished with lemon juice. Naturally we had to secure our own order of flaming cheese. OPA! In addition to being a great presentation, it was also very tasty!  Chica 2 stuck to the Fish and Chips, but Chica 1 ordered the Dolmades.  Both dishes were very tasty.

Back out on the strip, there is an impressive bronze statue in honor of the sponge divers who lost their lives in the pursuit of their profession. The heavy helmet and small air hose made this a very dangerous occupation. Well, we don’t want to get into teary eyed thinking about all the handsome Greek men who didn’t make it back home…. 

Make sure you get a good picture of the old diving gear.  Chica 2, I’m not sure that head gear will fit, you better stick with your every day helmet – Tee hee he!

Spring Bayou is located just west of the sponge docks and it is the site of the annual Epiphany Celebration in January.  Fifty select young men jump into this very cold water in search of a cross that promises an extra special blessing. There is quite an impressive procession of individuals in bright, traditional Greek costumes, grand church pageantry and a few dressed as divers. 2 Chicas salute the town for embracing this spiritual ceremony. Otherwise, this body of water is home to manatees and other Florida wildlife. 

There are museums, tours of founder’s homes, and lots to do if you enjoy being out in nature. Come to Tarpon Springs and squeeze a sponge.  Yes that’s right a sponge Chica 2. Maybe you’ll get lucky and meet a handsome Greek hunk!  Chica 2 says she’s sure that it’s better than squeezing any old brand of toilet paper.  Only she understands. 

Myakka River State Park, FL

2 Chicas and Myakka How High Are Ya?

2 Chicas heard a lot about Myakka River. We were told: “it is so beautiful.” “It is so much fun.” “You mean you’ve never been?” So after much chiding, 2 Chicas had to check it out for ourselves. Chica 2 decided a day trip just would not do the park justice; she wanted the added adventure of roughing it for two days. So camping it is for the 2 Chicas.

Myakka River is one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks.  It is a wildlife wonderland with photo opportunities at every turn of the road.

It is a 58 square mile Florida phenomenon. At different vantage points, Chica 2 squealed she felt like she was on the Serengeti Plain! 

At some point she became really worried that she would have a hard time getting back into the country without her passport.  Huh? Chica 1 dreamed of traveling down the river in a kayak, but after seeing the size of the alligators, she woke up! 

As we pulled into the campgrounds, the 2 Chicas quickly unpacked their gear and began to set up camp. Chica 1 plopped in a recliner (yes a camping recliner) and eventually realized she had to set up her gourmet kitchen.  

Chica 2, assumed her role as the tent master. Before you knew it, dinner was cooking, and Chica 2 was proudly circling her beautifully assembled Vacation Cottage like a predator looking for a weak link!  Chica 2 is a superior tent director, so none were found.

Chica 1 had a treat for the kids.  She told them that they were going to make magic. She gave them a little packet one at a time and told them to take turns tossing the packets into the fire. 

The little envelops turned the campfire flames into different colors. The kids really enjoyed screaming out “ooh that one is red; look at the blue; I see green; that is magenta!” Magenta?  Only Chica 2’s proper children!

Chica 2 brought fudge graham crackers for the kids to make Smores. As we concluded our dessert, there was the most peculiar feeling that something was watching us. The noises coming out of the forest reminded us that we were not in the city. 

Turkey vultures were landing their gigantic bodies on the palm trees, making a crashing kind of Jurrasic Park sound. 

No more songs around the campfire. It was a prehistoric ending to an otherwise modern camp evening!! That is until the no see ums started biting. 

So the 2 Chicas with kids in tow ran into the perfect tent for a restful evening. With the kids snuggled into their sleeping bags and watching bootleg movies (Chica 2 - who else? Just joking about the bootlegs. This is a figurative urban colloquialism). It was a fairy tale ending to a perfect day. Tee hee he

Chica 1 always has to have that late night bathroom break.Lawd! Chica 2 always worries that a blind possum will try to follow Chica 1 back to the tent thinking he has stumbled upon his perfect mate. Even with their keen sense of smell? Not sure what to think Chica 2. Tee hee he

Day two the 2 Chicas went to tour the Upper Myakka Lake with the park ranger. The vehicle of choice is one of the world's largest airboats, and the ride comes naturally with a fee. 

The trip down the river is very relaxing and informative. The guide points out different species of birds and tries to get the group as many up close alligator encounters as possible. 

We even had an alligator do a quick drive by on the boat. The curious reptile wove his way into the path of the airboat and after a swift yet somehow random bump, he quickly lost interest and drifted away.

Chica 2 mercifully took the children out for a nature hike and discovered the canopy walkway.  This area has a large watchtower and a neat suspension bridge. If you go to the top of the watchtower, you will have a panoramic view of the entire park. Chica 1 was using her alone time wisely by taking a power nap and enjoying the peace and quiet of the campground village.

That serenity was about to quickly change. Chica 2 and the kids were back with tall tales about their adventures on a nature trail. Our friendly neighbor to the east checked out and took his camper on a faraway adventure. 

About ten professionals and their children began moving in. The cars just kept coming and the pop up tents kept going up! Isn’t there a limit to the number of individuals on one camp lot?

As quickly as you could say – “you’re not in Kansas anymore!” Our peaceful journey turned into an Appalachians holler nightmare. Although it all started innocently enough….

Initially, the neighbors took all the kids on a scavenger hunt in the woods. The kids played together happily finding feathers and other forest delights. Dinner time came and peacefully went with no drama. As the sun began to set and find its replacement, the moon, assuming its position in the sky, the freak in the teachers came rolling out.

The children were quickly squirreled away into the tents to go to sleep while the adults sat around the campfire drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. Chica 1, returning from her normal nightly bathroom run, was even offered the opportunity to puff puff pass. What?  Uhhh, no thank you….

To make matters worse, after staying up until 2 in the morning sharing the most intimate stories, they left all their food out. That is, what food was left over after the many munchies breaks! Later, Chica 1 was awakened by the sound of an animal or two bumping against the tent as well as snorting noises. Now a few times our drunkard neighbors tripped over the tent stakes returning from the bathroom.

But something was different.  Chica 1 looked suspiciously over at Chica 2, blissfully asleep on her air mattress tucked tightly in her sleeping bag. Chica 1 then accusingly looked at the children down at the other end of the tent, but these grunting noises were outside.

The following morning, the 2 Chicas exited the tent to find the entire campsite had been trashed by wild boars rooting through the food left out by our inebriated neighbors! The feral hogs dragged the items around as if they had engaged in a mad food orgy! 

The 2 Chicas looked around in total disbelief.  Then we looked around for Courtney Love’s Tour Bus. Tee hee he What a way to ruin an otherwise wonderful camping experience.

Our sheepish neighbors coyly asked if they had misbehaved the previous evening. Chica 1 shared that she now knew far too much about each of them to have not been properly introduced.  While they profusely apologized, it is important to note they are entrusted with our most precious treasures on a daily basis. Lawd!!

It was time to bid farewell to our beautiful Myakka River. 2 Chicas also noticed that there are as many bike enthusiasts as there are hikers. Don’t forget to do some serious bird-watching. 

There is a neat little dam area with a mini pier for fishing and a nice boardwalk area for birdwatching. We saw two alligators having a picnic with a flock of turkey vultures and roseate spoonbills.  Only in Myakka!

Don’t let our camping experience deter you, but just in case, there are also cabins available. 2 Chicas has visited the park more than once to experience the versatile fun!

Ocala - Juniper Springs and Silver Springs, FL

2 Chicas Feeling a Little Springy

The 2 Chicas began by heading east on State Road 40 toward the Ocala National Forest. After going back and forth about where we should go, we decided to stop at Juniper Springs. What a great find!  This cute little spring was alive with activity. 

When they say the spring is 72 degrees, they ain’t lying!  It was pretty cold on a 92 degree day, but once you get in, the water is fine. (You know we’re lying right???)  

But you can’t live your life filled with fear!  Enjoy! Live! Explore! Freeze a little!

This little jewel is also the home of the original fish spa pedicure.  So if you have hammertoes, bunions, and crusty feet, dip in the springs, because the fish will nibble you clean!  Lawd have mercy! 

Chica 2 started calling out the names of people she was going to tell about this free pedicure.  

But she thought about it and felt it wasn't fair to put all that pressure on this handful of fish!  Just might make them sick.  Tee hee he 

On to our next adventure - Silver Springs! Now this was another fun trip.  Check online to find two for one coupons for admittance.  Chica 1 remembered the glass bottom boats from her childhood, and really that had not changed.  

Chica 2 said she didn't think boats had motors when Chica 1 was a child.  Just paddles and little hand carved canoes.  Very funny Chica 2.

The guide gets the tour going and after a few moments up the river, you are transformed into a slower, quieter time in Florida.  What fun. 

Nowadays, everything is automated, but the only other motor at Silver Springs runs the Merry Go Round.  

You have to capture your imagination by interacting with Kodiak bears, a giraffe, a hilarious ride through the “back country” to view llamas and emus and wild Rhesus monkeys. 

There is also an alligator exhibit that is truly funky, including a couple of white alligators. 

Don’t forget to check out the bird show and the panther shows. 2 Chicas enjoyed just talking and laughing about the different exhibits.  

Take some time to stroll the park and just talk with your children and loved ones.We really enjoyed the pace of the place. 

You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have without over the top rides and entertainment.

Grab a scoop of ice cream or stroll alongside the old fashioned store front area.  Spend sometime in the museum where Tarzan movies are running and in  the old time carnival  - the Love O Meter chair is particularly intriguing to the children.

End your visit by viewing the reptile and cool albino alligator exhibit.  There are a number of interesting cast of critters!

Check out this hidden wonder and don't forget to tell them that 2 Chicas said Hi Ho Silver!!

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Ocala, FL - Overview

2 Chicas Horsing Around

Ocala is a horse lover’s wonderland, but there is so much more. There are so many fancy farms in the area that you might think you’re in horse Hollywood!  

Chica 1 has never been to Ocala when there was not some type of horse show going on and it is common place to see trucks with equine trailers in tow. 

Some of the farms are open to the public, but if you generally have poor manners and don’t like to follow rules, avoid these homes at all cost.  No one wants piggish people invading their private spaces.  Tee hee he

In addition to horses, there is the Don “Big Daddy” Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, that takes a historical look at this uniquely American sport. It is a short distance speed fiend’s delight! 

Big Daddy Don Garlits was one of the first to popularize drag racing and this museum is the only of its kind in the world. 

Chica 2 said Big Daddy is pushing some serious horse power in the right town! Cute Chica 2, but kind of corny.

Kids who enjoy model cars, NASCAR, antique cars, and weird looking cars will thoroughly enjoy this museum.  It is a good place to have a few WOW moments with the family.

With all that in mind - Ocala! What in the world can 2 Chicas do in the national forest in Ocala?  The Ocala National Forest was designated a national treasure by President Theodore Roosevelt.  It is massive in size and in opportunities to be alone. 

Now all this was mighty nice, but the 2 Chicas also came to Ocala to experience one of the oldest attractions in Florida, Silver Springs. 

Well, based on our recent visit, we sat in a number of natural springs and hiked through scrub country. Let's get to telling you about our little trip!