There are so many parks in Florida and they're well-worth the few dollars (some even free!). We trekked the two hours over to Sebastian Inlet on Saturday morning and it was a great day. This one was $8 (2-8 person vehicle) for us, but it's nice to have access to an undisturbed beach. And this park is actually open 24 hours/365 days a year! You can star gaze, swim, camp, fish, boat, kayak, bike, hike, and grill, among other things.
Tidal Cove
When we arrived, a little after 8 AM, it wasn't too busy. There were quite a few fishermen, but the beach/cove side was nearly empty, possibly because our mornings (and the water) have been chilly. There were a lot of picnic tables right on the sand and plenty of trash cans accessible. It was fun just watching the birds dive into the water. It's also supposed to be a hot-spot for manatees (and sometimes sharks!), but we didn't see any this time.
We started out at the North Jetty, which is by the pier, Tidal Cove, Atlantic beach, and a restaurant. The sand looks like thousands of crushed shells, more grainy than the powdery sand on the Gulf. It had a pretty shimmer to it in the sun.
Restaurant
We drove over the bridge to the South Jetty (free re-entry with receipt). This side houses the campground, restrooms, pavilions, boat ramp, and playground. There's also a fishing museum and some water access to the Indian River.
When leaving, we headed north on A1A, along Melbourne Beach. We stopped at Publix for subs (yum!) and to nearby Juan Ponce de León Landing. We sat in the shade of the boardwalk and had a picnic on the sand.
We made it home that afternoon. I really enjoyed Sebastian Inlet and the area around it. If we lived closer, I could see us going to some events there or star gazing on the beach.
Our last-minute Saturday afternoon plans took us to Madeira Beach.
It's a small beach town on the Gulf near St. Petersburg. It somewhat reminded me of Ormond Beach, being laid-back, without huge buildings packed together. Mostly hotels lined the street, but we found a public parking spot nestled in between ($2/hour). I'm not sure if it's because it was late afternoon, the time of year, or the area, but it wasn't crowded. We stayed for a couple hours to catch the sunset.
October 10, 2015
Madeira Beach, Florida
If you didn't watch the video, you missed the dolphins! From the beach, we could see a couple jumping near the boat. After reviewing the video, we learned it was actually about seven or so. I was told that this isn't uncommon.
The sun was starting to go down and we set the camera to time-lapse it. It's amazing to watch the sunset from a beach shore. The weather was perfect and it turned out to be a great spot.
After sunset, we went to The Mad Beach Fish House right across the street. We sat outside (upstairs deck) and listened to the live musician. The food tasted fresh/homemade and the price was an excellent value in regard to portion size and it being seafood fare.
As we were leaving, most of the town seemed to have closed up shop for the night. If you're wanting a relaxing beach day followed by some nightlife, you may have to make the drive to St. Pete or Tampa. Check out The Riverwalk while you're there!
We spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic so this is a long post with many pictures/videos. Enjoy :)
*A little bit of everything we saw in DR*
Wednesday
The 9th of September started very early. We left out of Orlando, had a layover in Puerto Rico, and arrived in Santiago by 12:30 PM. Thankfully, the family was waiting to pick us up. His aunt graciously let us stay at her house for most of the trip.
We met up with the rest of the family and had lunch there. Lunch was a main meal with most of the family. Everyone is so busy with work and school schedules that it seems to be the best time to get together (at least from what I gathered). We spent a while there, then stopped by the Monumento on the way to a family friend's house. Then we went to Abuela's house.
Monumento
View from her house
Thursday
We stopped in La Vega on the way to Jarabacoa. We met up with the sister of the family friend and she got us in touch with a reliable taxi driver to take us to Santo Cerro.
It's a long, winding drive up the mountain to a beautiful church on top, steeped in history. It was an awesome sight seeing the valley below.
There's a school right next to it and the children there loved the drone.
*Santo Cerro*
We took a guagua from La Vega to Jarabacoa. We booked a night at Hotel Gran Jimenoa for that night. It wasn't originally planned, but I'm glad we did. Someone riding with us told us where we should get off in order to be "10 minutes up the road" from the hotel. Awesome. We walked a little, ate lunch at a small plaza place (where I realized that merengue soda is delicious), and started to walk up the road. After about 15 minutes, there was no sign of a hotel so we stopped to ask someone. Again, up the road. So we started again through the country. Little traffic and nice houses. Another 15 minutes or so, we saw signs for the hotel, but they were just attached to the street signs. No distance or direction listed. So we asked again. This time, we were told it is far and to follow the signs (the people here walk a lot and when they say it's "far," you can bet on it). A couple streets up and the sign said to turn. We walked down a dirt road, between cows on said road, and finally saw the hotel sign. Thankfully, it's right on the river and a peaceful place.
tl:dr It was a long, hot walk through the country, but I enjoyed it. We experienced things we wouldn't have otherwise and got to see rural DR.
Hotel road entrance
Hotel lobby entrance
*Hotel Gran Jimenoa*
Friday
We checked out and took a taxi (that is maybe a 10 minute ride) to the bus station. We went back to Santiago and spent time with the family. We were invited to have dinner with another aunt/uncle at their country club that night. It was a nice restaurant, where we had good company, good wine, and good paella.
Saturday
*San Jose de las Matas*
We went to San Jose de las Matas with Aunt/Uncle/Cousins. Along the way, we saw more mountain ranges than we had in Jarabacoa. It was one of my favorite drives, especially coming back at sunset. While there, we spent some time at a river park ironically called "Aguas Calientes."
Sunday
The family kindly offered to take us to Santo Domingo.
Along the way, we stopped for limoncillos (also tasty) and chicharron. There were plenty of vendors right along the road everywhere we went. Talk about fresh!
Once in Santo Domingo, we stopped at Jardín Botánico. We opted for the train ride through the park and the guide explained the various plants. We then walked around the front side of the park. There were a few joggers and I could see why this would be a perfect place to get some exercise.
Following the park, we went to Acuario Nacional. It is an interesting aquarium located right on the ocean.
It began to rain (the only time our whole trip, although it was cloudy a lot) so the family dropped us off at our hotel (Hotel Portes 9). When the rain subsided, we walked the area around the hotel. It was in the Colonial Zone and we were able to walk it easily.
We were warned that Santo Domingo is dangerous so we were cautious there. We had dinner when it was just getting dark and then walked back to the hotel. It was busy and felt safe then. There was also a tourist police station around the corner, which helped ease concerns.
Monday
We checked out and took a taxi to Faro a Colon (Columbus Lighthouse).
It is a massive structure a little walk off the road. It's a museum (and supposedly contains the remains of Christopher Columbus), but was not open when we were there. We walked around the front and one side and took some pics/video. Afterward, we walked back to the taxi that had waited and went to the bus station. I really liked all the history in Santo Domingo.
We arrived back in Santiago that afternoon.
Another uncle picked us up to go to Abuela's house again. He said he wanted to show us a river he used to go to. It was tucked away right outside the city in a small neighborhood. I believe he said the government built the old land owners a new house and took over the property to make it an official park. However, due to drought, the whole riverbed was dry and cracking. The entire city has had a water shortage for a few months now. It's crazy to think he said he was swimming in this river just several months back.
Tuesday
Tuesday was laid back. We hung out with Aunt/Uncle/Cousins for the day and they took us along to a home that belonged to a friend of theirs. We went swimming, ate dinner, walked through the mini orchard in the back yard, and relaxed.
Wednesday
We originally booked a hotel in the small fishing village of Punta Rucia. We didn't anticipate travel to it being that difficult, but there were no bus lines close enough and we don't know the area in between. We decided it would cost the same to book an all-inclusive in Puerto Plata rather than blindly trying to make it to the original hotel. Since we booked the new hotel the night before, we got a really good rate.
Our bus was running about an hour late and we arrived at Be Live Marien around 2:45 PM. There wasn't anyone waiting and check-in took about 10 minutes. The room was clean and comfortable as well as the hotel grounds. It was a cloudy day (of course!), but at least not too hot. We went swimming, laid on the beach, had dinner at the buffet (themed with a good bit of selection), and met some nice fellow travelers. It would have been perfect to spend a couple days there, but one night was still appreciated. The beach did have a lot of seaweed, but employees were cleaning it up the next morning. It was a great time of year to go because the hotel seemed fairly empty and quiet.
*Puerto Plata*
Thursday
Outside the hotel is a large sign with prices to local attractions. We were already wanting to go to the Teleférico, but according to the sign, it was a $30USD taxi ride, one way (and $50 roundtrip). We spoke to an employee at the door, who contacted the taxi service, and negotiated a better deal. Luckily, we were able to do that because it was a picturesque sight overlooking the city of Puerto Plata.
The cable car goes up 800 meters (!) to the top, where there's a statue, walking trails, foliage, a restaurant, a lagoon, and a cave.
*El Teleferico*
We spent a couple of hours here. I recommend visiting if you're ever in Puerto Plata.
We left Puerto Plata for Santiago late afternoon. We spent the rest of the evening with family, who took us to Mao, and I tried mofongo for the first time. Delicioso!
Friday
This was our last full day here and stayed in Santiago. We went to Sun Street in the morning to buy souvenirs and see the city shops. We had lunch at Abuela's house and stayed there the afternoon. It was a busy day with work/school so we had a late dinner with Aunt/Uncle/Cousins at a burger place in town.
Saturday
We were already packed, so we got ready and had breakfast that morning. Family gave us a ride to the airport for our noon flight. The trip went without a hitch, landing us around 6:00 PM.
This was my first time visiting the Dominican Republic and it was great! A big thank you to the family who went out of their way to make us feel welcome. Their generosity allowed us experiences we hadn't planned on and it was wonderful meeting everyone.
On Friday night, we went to The Tampa Riverwalk. We got there around 8:30pm and weren't sure where to park since we've never been, let alone on a weekend night. We knew we were starting at Curtis Hixon Park and chose a parking garage right by it (probably paid too much, but that's ok).
The Riverwalk is a work in progress that will hopefully be 2.4 miles in length and contain benches, plants, parks, historical markers, and hotels/restaurants lining the edge. Although there's still some construction equipment, the work that's been done so far is great! Part of the walk leads over the water with canopies that have changing lights. You can see the drawbridges with matching lights and boats on the Hillsborough River.
It was not crowded at all and fairly quiet. There were walkers, joggers, couples, families, dog walkers, and cyclists. It was free (aside from parking) and felt safe. I think it's a great addition and use of the river for the city.
Filmed with DJI Phantom 3 Professional
"Riding" by Silent Partner - Youtube Audio Library
We decided to go to Ormond Beach near Daytona. It's been forever since we've been to any beach and have never been to the Atlantic side. So we woke up at 4AM, got gas, coffee and bagels, and drove the nearly two hours in the dark (no traffic though!).
We waited for the sun at Andy Romano Beachfront Park. It's in a great location with direct beach access, restrooms, outdoor showers, and seating. Plus, the people we spoke to here were all friendly.
The whole street is lined with smaller hotels so it didn't feel too crowded or overbearing either.
August 16, 2015
Ormond Beach, Florida
After we left the beach, we headed to Rockefeller Gardens Park. It's a beautifully landscaped riverfront park/trail located in The Casements. Rockefeller purchased The Casements in 1918 as a winter house and now it's open to visitors Monday-Saturday. The park also hosts "Movies on the Halifax" and a farmers' markets, among other events. To read about the history here, see tour times, or check upcoming events, visit The Casements website. We walked part of the trail that leads under the bridge to Fortunato Park on the other side. The picture below shows the view facing The Casements on the right and Fortunato Park on the left.
Although there are now newer houses and boat slips surrounding here, there was still an old charm that I liked. It would be interesting to go back and take the tour of the home.
Bridge over Halifax River leading to Ormond Beach
We drove part of the way back on the Scenic Loop Trail. It's a 30 mile double loop that passes three state parks, two rivers, beachfront, as well as city parks.
Coming from The Casements, we pulled off into Seabridge Park on John Anderson Drive. It's a short trail with a boardwalk over the Halifax where you can fish.
That's where we saw:
This guy and this other larger (and grumpier) guy. And tons of their friends. The crabs would run back into their holes on the side of the trail as we walked by.
This road curves through some canopy trees with a lot of cyclists and fishermen on the sides, so be careful driving it. It was a good reason to drive slowly and take in the view anyway.
Next we stopped at the North Peninsula State Park entrance on High Bridge Road, leading inland. The park is free and we started to walk into it, but the mosquitoes were quite bad along the river trail. We hadn't planned on hiking today so we didn't prepare for it. The website says there's two miles of untouched beach at the end of the trail. So next time, we'll bring bug spray and watch out for the gators! (Or drive to the main entrance off of Ocean Shore).
Knox Memorial Bridge
There's a drawbridge here, but we didn't get to see it raise. Across the road is a bait and tackle store and there were several small fishing boats in the water.
Our last stop was supposed to be Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park. However, when we arrived at the gate, we didn't have the $4 entrance fee in cash (honor system). We talked to the ranger and she informed us they only take cash or check. So, that concluded our day and we came home!
Based on our morning trip, Ormond Beach seems like a laid-back beach town. I liked that is was low key, had some charm, nice walking areas, and the people seemed friendly. It turned out to be a very pleasant Sunday morning.
Filmed with DJI Phantom 3 Professional "Octagon" by Silent Partner - Youtube Audio Library
Lake Eola Park is a nice break among the buildings of downtown Orlando. There are several art pieces around the lake, benches, an amphitheater, and foliage.
August 8, 2015
Orlando, Florida
It was a clear Saturday morning with joggers, dog walkers, and those just watching the fountain. It was still quiet though.
There's roadside parking with meters ($0.25/15 minutes), but pretty much all were open that morning. I would imagine nighttime is a whole different story.
The fountain has a nightly show of music/light coordination. There are also paddle boats available for rent, park rentals, the Eola House, a Sunday market, and other events. Visit the City of Orlando for information on prices, times, etc.
*I couldn't help but notice the homeless population there. It's summer in Florida and close to 100 degrees daily and many storms lately. If you'd like information or to help (or need help yourself), check out the Shelter Directory.*
Filmed with DJI Phantom 3 Professional "Pedro Versus the World" by Jingle Punks - Youtube Audio Library
It was dark out Sunday morning, but we decided to head out to Colt Creek anyway. It was quite a drive on a remote road through the Green Swamp (partially because we weren't sure where exactly we were going). When we got there, the ranger wasn't in the station and the entrance fee was paid by envelope. We dug out various change, but managed to make it (sorry for the coins!). There was a phone to call the ranger, but we didn't want to hassle him/her to use a card.
August 2, 2015
Lakeland, Florida
The pavilion area around Mac Lake has a pier for fishing, restrooms (which were clean!), and kayaks available.
We walked the short trail by the lake. With all the rain, it was very swampy. There were signs along the way describing plants, animal tracks, etc. Bring bug spray for this one!
We went to the equestrian trailhead after (off to the right when you first enter the park). There's a small lake, pavilion, and picnic tables. I wouldn't recommend choosing the table in the right picture- there was definitely an alligator somewhere around there.
Parking is by the rocks and the trail begins straight past the lake from there. It leads to another lakeview. This is where we stopped. There was marsh all around that area (and a gator we could hear, but not see).
On the way out, we saw two deer.
Overall, the park is mostly made up of trails and camping, which we couldn't/wouldn't do because of the weather. I think on a clear day it would be a good hike. There were several people fishing so it must be a good spot for that also.
Filmed with DJI Phantom 3 Pro
"Ever Felt pt. 2" by Otis McDonald - Youtube Audio Library
