Exploring our state parks
Last weekend, I spent time at several of Florida’s (there are 175 of them) state parks and got to check a few more off my list in my Florida State Parks guidebook that my sister-in-law and my brother gifted me. Yes, I have two of the same book which is great, since I hope to visit these parks more than once, and this way I can record the multiple times I visit in each book.
Blackwater River at Collier-Seminole State Park
Dredge machine at Collier-Seminole State Park.
Last Friday I spent time at Collier-Seminole State Park in Naples where I looked out on the Blackwater River and later got devoured by mosquitoes while admiring the historic dredge machine on display, the one used to build the Tamiami Trail. From there, I drove to my brother Mario’s house in Bradenton where we met my nephew Chris’s family for dinner at Joey D’s before heading to the St. Stephen’s Falcons football team of which Chris is head coach. It wasn’t a good outcome unfortunately, they lost, but I’m glad I went to support him.
Saturday my brother made me a delicious breakfast and then I had to get on the laptop and attend a virtual board meeting of the M1A One Acts Festival. After saying goodbye to Mario I headed home, but not without making a few stops along the way.
Tree canopy at Koreshan State Park.
House at Koreshan State Park.
Bridge to River Trail at Koreshan State Park
Bridge at Koreshan State Park
Nature trail beauty at Koreshan State Park
Machine shop at Koreshan State Park
River Trail view at Koreshan State Park
Tortoise on the Blue Trail at Koreshan State Park
Because I always like to squeeze as much into a road trip as possible, instead of visiting one state park, I visited two. On Mario’s suggestion, I chose Koreshan State Park in Estero and it was the right choice. After covering myself in bug spray, to avoid the attack from the previous day, I began my trek around the historic homes and buildings of the Koreshan settlement that date back to 1800s and 1900s. I stopped at each one, peeking in to admire the historic artifacts, machinery and more from that era. The quaint bridges guided me to the River Trail along the Estero River and after exploring there I veered onto the shorter Blue Trail where I finally spotted a gopher tortoise. When I stopped at the ranger station to fill up my water bottle and buy a sticker, the ranger was surprised I’d only seen one tortoise on the trail. “I usually see three or four,” she told me.
Beach at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
As I drove away and headed home, I passed several signs for state parks and of course, I couldn’t resist making another stop so I chose one that didn’t seem too far off the highway. I ended up at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, where I walked onto the sand, spread out my towel, stuck my toes in the water and spent just a few glorious minutes enjoying the blue sky and shimmery sun. Then, I got in my car and drove home.
Up until today it’s been pretty standard…
Watching the Miami Dolphins lose their game on Sunday, my food rescuing runs on Monday with a morning stop at Antonio Maceo Park again (I think that’s gonna be a regular thing for me) then a quiet Tuesday and Wednesday with trivia on Wednesday where we took second place.
A beautifully moving performance during Pioneer Winter Collective’s 10th Anniversary event at Green Space Miami.
Seeing the talented and spectacular filmmaker/artist and newly Emmy-nominated Gina Margillo at Green Space yesterday was a highlight!
Thursday night I went to an arts space I really like, to celebrate a dance troupe I really love. The event was at Green Space Miami in the MiMo District, celebrating Pioneer Winter Collective’s 10th Anniversary Season. It was lovely seeing so many familiar faces and being in such an inviting and joyful place. The moving performance by a solo dancer and accompanying vocalist and past performances by PWC projected onto the walls were the icing on the cake.
Today Vance and I have a fun Friday planned starting with a pop-up cruise line food and beverage reveal event at the Loews on Miami Beach then we’ll drive over to the Frost Science Museum to attend the members preview of their latest exhibition “The Science Behind Pixar.”
Saturday Nick will be back in action with his Special Olympics softball team, this time at a park in Broward and Sunday… the Dolphins play again. Go Dolphins, let’s get a win!
That’s all for this week. I hope you all have a good weekend and if you’ve got Monday off enjoy it doing your favorite thing!
Spotted these birds taking flight while at a stop sign in Biscayne Park on my way home. Look at them go, free as BIRDS!
