US East Coast 2018: Beauty in Nature - The Florida State Parks

America is a land of spectacular natural beauty; and on this trip we have learnt that the National Parks Service manages and maintains site of significant national importance. Besides the National Parks, there are also State Parks, and these are managed by the governments of the 51 states in America. This post will be about the various State Parks and Preserve areas in Florida State.

Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island State Park has been named "America's 3rd Most Extraordinary State Parks". Located just off the Gulf of Mexico, the park boasts of lovely unspoiled beaches as far as the eye can see.

We got to enjoy a lovely day at the park, spending most of our time swimming and shelling, which is the local practice of finding, observing and collecting the sea shells left behind after sea creatures moult.

And despite an imminent storm, we went on a hunt for the various local wildlife here - the ospreys, the great horned owl and the bald eagle. We did manage to spot at least 7 of the 14 osprey nests, and managed to observe at least 3 of these birds, as they soared majestically through the sky, evidently in preparation for the storm that was to come.

Our first vlog for the trip. We realised that we have quite a

strong supporting cast.

Big Cypress National Preserve/Everglades National Park

"As a Junior Ranger, I Z & E, promise to teach others about what I learned today, explore other parks and historic sites, and help preserve and protect these places so
future generations can enjoy them."

That was the pledge made by our two kids as they completed a series of activities and gained their first Junior Ranger badges at the Big Cypress National Preserve located near the Everglades National Park area. It's an excellent programme by the US National Parks Board, and our kids tried their best to complete the tasks (with one more serious then the other in getting the tasks done).

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp support the health of the neighbouring Everglades National Park and provide sustenance for the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast. Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife in the area.

Ochopee Post Office

We drove past the "smallest post office in the United States" during our drive northwards from Miami towards the city of Sarasota via the scenic Tamiami Scenic Trail. This is the modern route that made obsolete travel by canoes in days gone by. Particularly poignant was the US flag, which was flown at half mast to honour the passing of the great statesman Senator John McCain.

Weedon Island Preserve

It's fascinating that this little island off the coast of St Petersburg, located near the busy city of Tampa, would be the place where prehistoric humans lived centuries ago! And this was even before the first European settler even set foot on the Americas.

The Island Preserve is truly a hidden gem! We learnt much about the island's colourful history - like how its second owner actually hid an Indian artefact inside a burial mound in order to entice the Smithsonian Institute to begin its archaeological digs here; and how the island subsequently became a commercial airport and a film studio - all before assuming its current role as a Nature Preserve....

In terms of nature, this is a rich treasure trove of mangrove plants and wildlife. We learnt how mangrove trees grow - the seedlings need to germinate before they detach themselves and seek out new grounds in the salt-rich mangrove. We also gained insight into how plants adapt themselves to survive in a hostile salt-rich climate.

I wish children learnt about biodiversity and life cycles and habitats and environmental studies in this manner. Their learning would be so much richer!

Payne Prairie Preserve State Park/Sweetwater Wetland Park

We chanced upon this natural wonder as it was the mid-point during our 4-hour journey from Florida into Georgia, having been diverted west from our original path of travel due to the advent of Tropical Storm Florence, formerly a Category 4 hurricane.

With our travel plans completely scurried by the path of Florence, we randomly selected the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park to break our journey. The region was historically known as the Alachua Savannah and was the stronghold of the Seminole tribe before it was taken over by American settlers. The land is home to bison, deer, racoons, alligators and other animals, several of which were sighted during the time of our visit. We were eager to encounter the bison or deer. Instead, to our surprise, we stumbled on a herd of 6 wild horses, which were grazing peacefully at the Sweetwater Wetland Park located in the area. It was truly a sight to behold!

Up close and personal with the horses.

The Previous Page - Good 'Ol Movie-Making Magic. Read here.

What's Next? - The Wind Blew Us - Hurricane Florence & Its Impact. Read here.

From the Beginning - Start reading the record pages of our US East Coast Travel Adventure here.

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