Catching up on Summer 2020 because it's been a crazy year! But, this trip to Florida meant exploring new parks and beautiful beaches; kayaking clear water, watching manatees, eating good food, and finding the best coffee houses. I always value my time there as I have grown to love the Sunshine State! It has definitely become another home for me and I am always eager to return.
The trip started out with lunch at Lilly's on the Lake, a fun place with good food and lake views. I am always up for fish tacos! The next day my Mom and I explored Deland, the cutest dang town! We started with coffee at Trilogy Coffee, where the barista used her skills to make a Pirate on top of my latte! We walked around downtown before heading the Kelly Park to take in the beautiful, crystal clear springs.
Rock Springs/Kelly Park was breathtaking! Because swimming in the Springs was not allowed due to Covid, we had the entire park to ourselves. We explored the springs, took in the Florida sounds, and hiked the paved trails around the park. It was worth the trade off of not swimming to be able to experience this without all of the normal crowds. Tomorrow, Kayaking!
Let's talk about kayaking at Lake Chaz. The Chassahowitzka River is about 5 miles long and is completely spring fed; and it is gorgeous! It is home to hundreds of species of birds and the infamous West Indian Manatee. The very first spring on our list was Seven Sisters Spring, and it's must see. Of course, swimming is allowed at this magical place. Up next was Baird Creek, a tributary that ends with a spring known as The Crack. Tip* you must walk the last section to reach the Crack, but it's easy to do ... be sure to watch for gators :) Worth it in my opinion! We ended the day with lunch at Crumps, a fun waterfront Tiki bar!
I couldn't go to Florida without taking a dip in the ocean! Today we checked out two incredible white sand, crystal-clear water beaches; Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island (only accessible by private boat or ferry). We spent some time on Honeymoon Island collecting seashells before heading to the ever secluded Caladesi Island where we took in the sun and incredible views. Our day ended with lunch at Pearlys Beach Eats in Dunedin!
More info here: Honeymoon Island State Park
Last but not least, we visited the Second Largest Oak Tree in the state of Florida; it's estimated to be between 300-500 years old and was first discovered in 1811. It is located at Lake Griffith State Park!
Shona
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