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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Utah Part 3

2 Chicas creating a Scene on the Byway

The Grand Staircase-Escalante is one picturesque piece of land, so much so, the road going through the area was designated a Scenic Byway.

At every twist and turn of Highway 89, there are slickrock benches, plateaus and canyons. This All-American Road, one of 27 nationally selected highways, winds through some isolated yet stunning public lands.

Fortunately, there are a few visitors’ centers to help you plan your outings should you remain in the area. At the very least, the experts can tell you where you are and how far to civilization. Tee hee he

Take your time on the drive and be sure to check out the numerous outdoor explorations. If you have more time, shine your light in the Devil’s Garden or drive down Hells Backbone Road.  Don’t let the names frighten you away.

Believe it or not, Escalante also has a petrified forest. There are so many hiking opportunities you’d be hard pressed not to find one to suite your needs, interests or abilities. It seemed as if each turn in the road shared an equally beautiful and different photo opportunity! It was much too much!

As we twisted through the red rock canyons and drove past formations that look like buildings from an ancient Greek city, 2 Chicas repeatedly said “I never knew this would be so beautiful!”

We knew Utah had incredible parks, but we did not realize how stunningly gorgeous and barren this huge expanse was. Once you rise and go through the Boulder Mountain, you will ride through part of the Dixie National Forest and the difference is amazing!

Beautiful lakes beckon you to take a dip, but 2 Chicas thought not; it was a little too cold. But it did look extremely tempting!

Chica 2 was threatening to pull over and jump in a waterfall thankfully, before you knew what was happening, we were down the mountain and back into a different ecosystem. Lush mountain forests quickly turned into a more desolate form of beauty. The richness in the landscape was a wonderful contrast to the previous turn.

2 Chicas Spend a Night and the Day in the Capitol

The drive eventually leads 2 Chicas down to Capitol Reef National Park where we would spend the night in Torrey, UT. We slipped into town for dinner and got a brief look at just how small this settlement really is.

It would be interesting to live in such a beautiful place, then again, maybe not; to each his own preference. The hotel is actually in the park so we sat out in front of the room and watched the sun set.

Chica 2 said the dark red rock against the sun made it seem as if we were on Mars. Chica 1 just enjoyed the beauty and started a simplistic smarty pants routine. Chica 2, did you know that somewhere out there is a 100 mile fold in the earth’s crust? Chica 2 replies “yes smarty farty, you have mentioned it no fewer than 30 times.” Chica 1 just rolls her eyes.

This crease is above a fault in the earth’s crust and is known as the Waterpocket Fold. Hey, it’s getting cold out here! The next morning we resumed our drive through Capitol Reef Country. Chica 2 was particularly intrigued with the petroglyphs that are on rock within eyesight of the highway and wanted to go add her handiwork to the drawings.

Thankfully she didn’t (and never would), but she did admire the talents of the ancients. Now to be honest, thesevtwo city girls were getting pretty tired. By the end of this drive, 2 Chicas had traveled about 1,200 miles!

Capitol Reef has more cliffs, domes, and just miles of rocks and wilderness. Enjoy the solitude, this area is notorious for being sparsely populated. 2 Chicas took pictures and headed back to Salt Lake City. We were needing a little city fix!

2 Chicas Bid Farewell to the Salty Lake

Our last meal in Salt Lake was at the Blue Plate Diner. This place has the most incredible Corned Beef Hash breakfast, made with real corned beef, fresh potatoes, and cheese.  Chica 1 has not yet had a better hash! If you are ever in Salt Lake, you have to try this item. Chia 2 had a burger with Swiss cheese and she said it was wonderful! She said it was juicy on the inside with a nice crust on the outside.

While killing time early Saturday morning, 2 Chicas headed to the outlet mall in Park City. It was a welcome diversion and interestingly, there are practice slopes right next door to the mall. Since 2003, this area has hosted the World Freestyle Championships, so please don’t underestimate the quality of the slopes in the area. Park City was established in the mid 1800s after silver was found in the mountains. Later gold, zinc, and copper were also discovered. Park City has a lot of history, and over 60 of the buildings in the city are recorded on the National Register of Historic Places.  Visit their main street if you love old buildings, you certainly won’t be disappointed.

Chica 2 mined the outlet mall for some great deals. So much so that she thought she was going to have to buy more luggage to haul all of her yields home. Fortunately, Chica 1 knows how to pack and got everything to fit in the suitcases we already had. Chica 2 waved goodbye to the Salty Lake and promised to come back to this great state. Chica 1 teased Chica 2, saying, she certainly hoped to return since the 2 Chicas didn’t make it over to Moab. Arches National Park is awaiting a visit from the 2 hilarious travelers!

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Rainbow Springs State Park– Dunnellon, FL

2 Chicas Somewhere Over the Rainbow

West of Ocala is Rainbow Springs, another Florida hidden treasure! Chica 1 purchased a state pass and has thoroughly enjoyed getting her money’s worth visiting state parks! Chica 2 on the other hand, has enjoyed calling off the names of parks that just so happen not to be in the state park system.  Chica 2 – please Universal, Busch Gardens, and Sea World are in a league of their own! Tee hee he

After finding and entering Rainbow Springs, Chica 2 wailed – “Ohhhh, look at that big hole! Do you think we're going to get sucked into that sinkhole?”


As it turned out, it was the remnants of a phosphate pit.  It is always interesting to see the residuals of man’s best intentions. 

Sometimes we just get it plain wrong!  Of course, phosphate was one of the key ingredients found in your favorite dishwashing liquids and laundry detergents.

Now because of the damage phosphate does to our waterways, it has been eliminated in products.  

Red tide, bacteria growth and algae blooms have at times sucked the oxygen out of local waterways. Chica 2 screams - "Enough! Get off your soapbox!"  Good sense of humor Chica 2! Tee hee he

All this talk of lakes, ponds, and streams made Chica 1 need a potty break before the adventure could continue.

Sometimes Chica 2 believes that although she is always accused of being a child, Chica 1 is the one who mistakenly received an infant sized bladder. 

Back to the park, once you pass the Ranger station, you pretty quickly get to see the springs and they are beautiful. Be sure to have on your comfortable walking shoes because you will encounter steep inclines and descents.

There are beautiful vantage points and overlooks to take pictures prior to your descent down the trails.

As Chica 1 looked over the beautiful spring, she could not help but think how many different areas the Creator made for us to enjoy.

A beautiful egret went hunting for dinner right before our eyes. Before we could snap a picture, he flew away to a quieter spot to enjoy his meal!
The 2 Chicas strolled down the paths and enjoyed looking at the waterfall.  What a picturesque little area.
Keep going and you will find a boardwalk that goes back to the bog area that surrounds the spring.

Throughout the park there are picnic areas with bbq grills. Rainbow Springs offers wonderful opportunities to spend the day and let the kids swim with the turtles in the spring. Looking down into the spring Chica 2 tried to imagine what was making the little bubbles in the sand.  Do you really think it is the Loch Ness monster Chica 2?

Chica 2 was finally quiet enough to catch a picture of a beautiful red cardinal hiding in the low brush. 2 Chicas looked at each other and smiled. It was so nice to have another opportunity to enjoy the perfection of God’s great land!

One of the trails takes you back to the butterfly garden and an abandoned zoo.  This park was originally a tourist attraction and even had a rodeo.  A few of the relics remain in the park.  The nature trail weaves you through different areas of the park.  

Chica 2 closed out the trip by running around like a kid trying to take a photo of the butterflies. Find your own little place somewhere over in Rainbow Springs.

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