Tag: FLORIDA

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Florida Jacksonville United States

Getting in Touch with Nature at Tree Hill Nature Center

Tree Hill Nature Center

Tucked away in the middle of the Arlington suburb of Jacksonville, Florida is a quaint 50-acre nature center that is working to preserve environmentally sensitive flora and fauna. The Tree Hill Nature Center offers interactive exhibits, a nature center, a learning laboratory, gardens, nature trails, and animal enclosures. It is the perfect place to take the kids for a few hours outdoors.

What is the history behind Tree Hill Nature Center?

Since 1971 Tree Hill Nature Center has worked to educate the public about the importance of taking care of our environment. The center encompasses 50 acres of hilltop forest, wetland areas, swamp, and a fresh water stream.

Tree Hill Nature center has partnered with Duval County Schools to educate the youth about the local flora and fauna.

What are the highlights of Tree Hill Nature Center?

  • Interactive Exhibits
  • Learning Laboratory
  • Indoor Nature Center
  • Hiking Trails
  • Butterfly Garden
  • Goat and Chicken Coops (Goat food is available or $1/cup)

The park consists of 7 easy to navigate trails each offering a pleasant walk through the woods.

Sabal Palm Trail: 488 ft and wheelchair accessible
Red Bay Branch Trail: 1670 ft
Longleaf Pine: 2620 ft intermediate trail
Howland Creek Trail: 2160 ft intermediate trail
Boardwalk Trail: 721 ft boardwalk
Happy Trail: 1263 ft easy/intermediate trail
Stable Loop: 1690 ft paved trail

Where is the nature center located?

Located just a few miles from Downtown Jacksonville in the Arlington suburb.

Physical address: 7152 Lone Star Road Jacksonville, FL 32211

Our Thoughts on Tree Hill Nature Center

We arrived at Tree Hill Nature Center just after 9 AM so we could beat the early-September Florida heat and hopefully avoid the mosquitos. First, we checked in at the indoor Nature Center and began exploring the interactive exhibits. The exhibits consisted of both live animals and stuffed animals that are local to our area. At the top of the ramp, there is a Learning Laboratory where you can view tanks full of snakes and turtles. The kids loved being able to touch the turtles and watch them swim about.

Next, we made our way over to the goat enclosure. The goats have TONS of things to climb on and even a cool “goat walk” that soars over your head and crosses over the trail. The goats were extremely friendly and super excited about being fed a little snack. Several chickens strutted over greet us.

Afterwards, we hit the trails. We took the Sabal Palm Loop to the Boardwalk Trail to check out the maze and community garden. The maze was a bit overgrown so we skipped it and followed the Stable Loop to the Happy Trail. The Happy Trail was easy to navigate for our family of 5 (including the twins who are 2.5 years old).

On our way out, we said goodbye to the goats and chickens and made our way through the gorgeous butterfly garden.

All in all, we had a wonderful time at the Tree Hill Nature Center. The kids enjoyed being able to run around on the trails and absolutely loved the goats. I mean, who doesn’t love goats? We strongly recommend being bug spray and some bottles of water along with you. Mosquitos are out in full force for much of the year here in the Sunshine State.

Our Tree Hill Essentials

OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets

What is there to do nearby?

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

Categories
Florida Jacksonville United States

A Recap of our August Adventures

August in Florida is hot. Dreadfully hot. We’re talking about sweat pouring, swamp ass, triple-digit hot. It is absolutely beyond miserable so we didn’t spend nearly as much time outdoors as we did in July.

August also brought a huge change our way- we went back to school and work for the first time since March. Re-entering civilization has cut into our adventures but we still managed to cram quite a bit into the 31 days of August.

We kicked off the month with a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo. Our zoo has an AMAZING little splash park that is a godsend in the summer months. That same day, we also hiked through the woods to one of our favorite isolated beaches, Blackrock. I know what you’re thinking- hiking in August? We must be crazy! The trail leading out to Blackrock is covered in a canopy, which helps keep it a little more cool. Plus, since it dumped out at the beach- we were able to take a dip in the cool salt water.

  • Largo Well Park
  • Lillian S. Davin Park
  • Landon Park

Smiley and I also checked out a super-hip, totally modern playground called Landon Park. Smiley loved playing on all of the innovative structures and enjoyed strolling through the butterfly garden. While we were in the San Marco area we also checked out three other small parks, Lillian S. Davin Park, Largo Well Park, and Riverfront Park.

  • Southbank Riverwalk
  • MOSH
  • MOSH

Later that week, we went downtown to check MOSH (Museum of Science and History) and the Southbank Riverwalk. The museum focuses on local history and animals. I had the opportunity to teach Smiley all about our cities history. She was fascinated by the Timacqua people! While we were there, we were able to check out their annual dinosaur exhibit. It was really neat to see the robotic dinosaurs.

Catty Shack is a wildlife sanctuary that cares for lions, tigers, and other big cats that have been rescued. Since it is just a hop, skip, and a jump from our house, we popped in one afternoon to check out the felines. It was so hot that most of them were dozing away in the shade.

  • Sheffield Park
  • Huguenot Beach

We spent every weekend at our favorite beach, Huguenot Memorial Park. The beach sits right across the river from Mayport Naval Base. The naval ships, and passing cargo ships, serve as a really cool backdrop for this family-friendly beach. This is one of the few beaches that you can drive on in our area so it makes it easy to take the kiddos. We park in an area that is perfect for paddleboarding. Our goal this summer was to get the kids used to water and I think it’s safe to see that we were successful! All three kiddos love paddleboarding, kayaking, and playing in the saltwater.

While researching things to do in Jacksonville, I learned that I have unknowingly lived near a set of waterfalls for nearly 30 years! Waterfalls are a rarity in Florida since we’re such a flat state. Bulls Bay Preserve has 2 sets of waterfalls! While both of them under 5 feet, it’s still a pretty cool sight to see.

We ended our month with a visit to a local ice cream shop. It is the only indoor place the boys have visited since March (with the exception of Disney Springs). The ice cream shop, Mayday Ice Cream, has such a hip outdoor space they didn’t mind the fact that we ate al fresco.

 The best way to follow our daily life and adventures is on Instagram. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Categories
Florida Jacksonville United States

Exploring Bulls Bay Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida with Kids

Y’all, I have lived in Jacksonville for 29 years and I had no idea that I lived within 20 miles of waterfalls until just a few weeks ago. Yes, actual waterfalls in this flat ass state of ours! In 2019 the city of Jacksonville opened one of their newest parks- the Bulls Bay Preserve. The Preserve was established to protect the swamp-land and the tributaries leading to some of the major local rivers.

What is the history behind Bulls Bay Preserve?

Although it wasn’t until 2019 that the preserve was easily accessible to visitors, the area is full of historical significance for locals. Once known by the misnomer Paradise Plantation from the 1820s until the Civil War. This plantation belonged to one of Jacksonville’s founding fathers, Isaiah D. Hart.

Hart was a plantation owner, slaver and founder of Jacksonville. After moving to the area from Georgia, he began platting the town in 1822. He established his own plantation just a few miles away from what is now known as downtown Jacksonville. Hart went on to serve as a postmaster, judge, and a member of the Florida Territorial Senate.

Historians believe that one of the waterfalls on the property may have once been used for a gristmill where grains were ground into flour.

 Isaiah’s son Ossian Hart, later Governor of Florida, wrote of the natural beauty of the place:

“In the open pine woods, I loved to wander all day long, and while driving the cows home, admiring the tall towering Pines that rose boldly from their footstool earth, and reached high up into the air-amongst which no intruding undergrowth obstructed the view of their noble trunks upon whose smooth flakes of bark, as smooth to the touch as the velvets of the north, you might write your name; or a complementary to your Lady Love.”

The land for the Bulls Bay Preserve was set aside in 1999. The Preserve consists of 1200 acres of the Bulls Bay Swamp that serves as the headwaters of two different tributaries to the St. Johns River, the Cedar River, and Sixmile Creek. One of the tributaries features a small, picturesque waterfall.

What are the highlights of Bulls Bay Preserve?

  • Waterfalls
  • Hiking/Biking Trails
  • Picnic tables
  • Grills
  • It’s pet friendly!

The park consists of 5 short and easy to navigate trails each offering a pleasant walk through the woods. The Waterfall Loop features something you don’t see often in Florida; a waterfall. Although it’s only about 4 feet tall, it’s still a pretty cool sight for our low, flat state.

Where is the preserve located?

Located just eight miles from Downtown Jacksonville and less than a mile from I-10 and I-295, it’s one of the most accessible waterfalls in Florida.

Physical address: 8017 Old Plank Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32220

Our Thoughts on Bulls Bay Preserve

Bulls Bay Preserve has a lot of potential. The park offers restroom facilities, picnic tables, and grills.

There are 5 short, easy-to-navigate trails that are perfect for hiking and even better for biking! The narrow trails could use a little more signage, especially at the waterfall. Parts of the trail were uneven or steep, which was a challenge for our toddlers to navigate but they handled it like champs. Older visitors shouldn’t have trouble navigating through the woods. I think as time passes and this park becomes more and more popular, the trails will be beaten down more and will become easier to navigate for all.

Unfortunately, the creeks are filled with trash which takes away from the natural beauty of the area. I’m sure most of it was carried down the creek, however, there is plenty of evidence of people coming to the preserve to “party” (if you know what I mean). We recommend bringing some bug spray and maybe a trash bag to help keep this park clean.

I have a feeling we’ll be checking this park out again, in the future to see how it evolves. I think with proper care and maintenance, this place has the potential to be one of the better preserves in Jacksonville.

What is there to do nearby?

Our family also recommends the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens and the Castaway Island Preserve as kid-friendly destinations.

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Florida Jacksonville United States

10 Fun Things to Do in Jacksonville, Florida

There are so many fun things to do in Jacksonville, Florida. Whether you enjoy museums, the beach, or spending time at the park, the Bold City has it all!  In fact, our city has the largest urban park system in the county! With more than 80,000 acres of parks, beaches, preserves, and green space there are endless opportunities for fun!

Fun Things to do in Jacksonville

Visit the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is one of our favorite hangout spots. The zoo is one of our city’s main attractions, with more than a million visitors checking it out each year. The zoo has over 2,000 animals and just as many plants in its gardens. The kids love being able to feed the giraffes, stingrays, and goats. The zoo also has one of the best tiger and primate exhibits in the country. Even better? The zoo has a super-fun splash park where your kids can splash around.

Blackrock Beach

Enjoy a Day at the Beach

One of the best ways to enjoy Jacksonville is by hitting the beach. Jax has more shoreline than any other city in the nation! We are home to 22 miles of beaches and 40 miles of Intracoastal Waterway. Many of our beaches, such as Jax Beach, are free to the public. Some of our favorite beaches are Huguenot Beach, Blackrock Beach, and Little and Talbot Island State Parks.

Castaway Island Preserve

Hit the Parks!

Jacksonville is home to the largest park system in the country! Our parks offer everything from hiking trails to splash pads, kayak launches, totally rad playgrounds, and stunning gardens. Some of our favorite parks include the Jacksonville Arboretum and Garden, Castaway Island Preserve, Landon Park, Riverside Park, and Memorial Park.

Catty Shack Ranch

Visit the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

One of the COOLEST places in town is the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. The ranch is a non-profit organization that offers a safe home for rescued exotic animals. Their goal is to educate the public about the dangers of owning exotic animals; you know- lions, tigers, and cougars…typical “house pets”.

MOSH Mural

Spend Some Time at the Museum of Science and History (MOSH)

MOSH, one of the top museums in the city, offers many hands-on exhibits geared towards older kiddos. Smiley loved the Atlantic Tails exhibit which highlights many of the marine animals that live off of our coast. She also enjoyed learning about the Timucua people and the history of our hometown. This stop can easily be paired with the Riverwalk (see below).

Check Out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

The Cummer is one of the largest fine arts museum in the region. Smiley is really into art so she enjoyed checking out their sizeable collection. The museum also boasts incredible gardens that are perfect for enjoying a picnic on the river.

Boneyard Beach, Big Talbot Island

Spend the Day at the Timucuan Preserve

  • Our home is situated right on the border of the Timucuan Preserve. The preserve is a 46,000 acre National Park site that is home to countless parks, trails, and historical buildings such as Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation. Some of our favorite parts of the preserve include Fort Caroline, Kingsley Plantation, Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, Cedar Point, and Pumpkin Hill.

Hit the Water with Kayak Amelia

If you want to enjoy the Timucuan Preserve from the water, Kayak Amelia is the way to go! They are the official outfitters for the Talbot Islands State Parks. They offer kayak and SUP rentals and guided tours.

Explore Downtown with Go Tuk’n

Want to check out all of the amazing public art in our town? Join a Go Tuk’n tour for a unique way to explore the sites! There are several tours available including the Art Tour which takes you through historic neighborhoods such as Riverside and Avondale.

"Mirrored River: Where Do You See Yourself?" Mosaic on the Southbank

Enjoy the Riverwalk

The Riverwalk can easily be paired with a visit to MOSH. The Riverwalk is a three-mile stretch of land along the St. Johns River. From here you can check out Friendship Fountain, hop on a water taxi, or simply enjoy a stroll along the river.

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Updated: 11/2/21

Categories
Florida Florida State Parks Palm Coast St. Augustine State Parks United States

Florida’s Stunning Washington Oaks Gardens with Kids

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

We got a little stir crazy last month so we spent a lot of time checking out parks like Castaway Island Preserve, and Fort Clinch State Park, and the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. We added a new park to our list when we hit up the gorgeous Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. We’ve learned that parks are a great place where we can get out, stretch our legs, enjoy the sunshine, and still social distance.

What is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park?

Just south historic St. Augustine, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River is a stunning park called Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. The park preserves 425 acres of coastal scenery. Tucked in between the hammocks is an immaculate and extremely impressive 20-acre formal garden.

What are the highlights?

  • 20-acre formal gardens
  • 425 acres of coastal scenery
  • The largest outcroppings of coquina rock on the Atlantic Ocean
  • Fishing from the beach or the seawall along the Mantanzas River
  • Hiking and biking trails

Things to Know…

  • The cost is $5 per vehicle
  • The park is open from 8 AM until sundown
  • A1A passes through the park. The beach is located on one side of A1A and the rest of the park (including the formal gardens) is located on the opposite side.
  • The Coquina Rock formation is the largest on the Atlantic Coast. The formation is located nearly 1/4 a mile north of the parking lot.
A roped of sea turtles nest. DO NOT DISTURB

Where is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park located?

The park is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River in Palm Coast, Florida.

The physical address is: 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd Palm Coast, Florida

Our Experience

We headed south from Jacksonville to Palm Coast early in the morning, not really knowing what to expect of the park. We first headed to the seawall to watch the boats float by on the Matanzas River. The boys are obsessed with boats so they were in heaven watching all of the vessels sail by! There were a ton of fishermen on the seawall, so I assume the fishing must be decent there. There were also a group of people holding up signs asking boaters to slow down due to the presence of manatees in the area.

Next, we took a short hike down one of the trails. There were several markers indicating the various species of plants that lined the trail. It was a great place for the kids to stretch their legs after our car ride!

Afterwards, we checked out the formal gardens. They were absolutely lovely!

Then, we crossed A1A to hit the beach on the Atlantic side of the park. The water was incredibly choppy and wasn’t very safe for our little ones to play in. I also didn’t realize that the coquina formations were nearly 1/4 mile down the beach from the parking lot. We decided that it was too far to walk there and back with the twins so we skipped it.

After leaving the park to find somewhere more clam to swim, we ended up at a little cove known as Helen Mellon Schmidt Park. It was the perfect place for the kids to splash around!

Our Park Essentials

Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Beach Wagon

What is there to do nearby?

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure!

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

Categories
Florida Florida State Parks Jacksonville State Parks United States

Blackrock Beach in Jacksonville, Florida with Kids

Blackrock Beach

We’ve been going a little stir crazy this month so we’ve spent a lot of time checking out parks like Castaway Island Preserve, and Fort Clinch State Park, and the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens. We added a new park to our list this month when we hit up a stunning and remote beach frequently known as Blackrock Beach. You may sometimes hear it referred to as Boneyard Beach.

What is Blackrock Beach?

Blackrock beach is one of Jacksonville’s best-kept secrets. This secluded beach is located just off of Heckscher Drive. A 1/2 mile trail through the woods dumps out onto a photographer’s paradise. The beach is covered with sun-bleached fallen trees. The beach is named after the rock-like soil formations. This Mars-like beach is out of this world!

Things to Know…

  • Parking cost is $3 per vehicle.
  • The beach is open from 9 AM until 5 PM.
  • To access the beach, park at the Blackrock Trailhead and walk 1/2 mile through the woods.
  • Pack plenty of bug spray and sunscreen. This is Florida, after all.
  • Make sure you pay attention to the tides, the entire beach can disappear during high tide.

Where is Blackrock Beach Located?

The beach is located off of Heckscher Drive in Big Talbot Island State Park. To access the beach, park in the Blackrock Trail parking lot and walk 1/2 mile down a trail through the woods.

Our Experience

I’ve been visiting Blackrock for years. In fact, I used to come here with my friends when I was in high school. We’d pack a cooler and a small grill and post up for the day. Man, those were the days!

Of course, nearly twenty years later, things are totally different. Experiencing Blackrock with kids is a whole new experience. The 1/2 mile hike from the parking lot to the beach feels a lot longer these days! You’ll definitely want to have bug spray and a beach wagon to tote all of your stuff. The mosquitos and yellow flies in Florida are no joke!

The trail opens up to magnificent views of Blackrock Beach. You instantly feel as if you’ve been transported to another planet. Sun-soaked white-washed trees are scattered all over the beach haphazardly. Just down the beach are the Mars-like black “rocks” that gave the beach its name. This place is out of this world!

Smiley loves being able to climb on the fallen trees and jump in the tidal pools. She has a blast chasing after crabs and frolicking in the water. The trek out to the beach can be difficult for littles, but luckily the twins can hike with the best of them. Our beach wagon works well on trails and on the beach so it would definitely come in handy when hitting the beach.

 

 

Our Blackrock Beach Essentials

Beach Wagon– great for navigating in the sand
Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets
Toddler Striped Hooded Poncho Towels
Women’s 50+ SPF Shirt
Girl’s Roxy Rashguard

What is there to do nearby?

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure!

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

 

Updated: 7/25/2021

Categories
Disney Florida Jacksonville Monthly Recap Orange City Orlando Palm Coast St. Augustine State Parks United States

A Recap of Our July Adventures

We have had quite an adventurous month! After being quarantined for four months, we became a bit stir crazy and began spending a lot more time checking out our local parks.

We took a few trips to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens where we got up close and personal with a ferocious tiger! We spent a lot of time checking out our favorite animals, the bonobos.

This month we also visited the El Faro Memorial where we accidentally acquired a new kitten. We named him Captain Independence in honor of the fallen seamen and the 4th of July (the day we found him).

Our family checked off several local parks with visits to Sheffield Park, Castaway Island Preserve, and Blackrock Beach.

We spent a day exploring Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and Helen Mellon Schmidt Park in St. Augustine, Florida.

We spent a long weekend exploring central Florida with stops in Gamble Rogers State Park, Disney Springs, and Blue Springs State Park. We also visited smaller parks like Gemini Springs.

Smiley and Mama Elle had a “Mommy and Me” day that included a day trip down to St. Augustine. We enjoyed yummy donuts on the walls of Castillo de San Marcos before heading south to Marineland.

Later in the week we visited The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Memorial Park and Riverside park in our hometown of Jacksonville.

We rounded out the month by spending some time at our favorite beach, Huguenot, and testing out our new paddleboard at our favorite lake.

Categories
Disney Florida Orlando United States

Dining at Rainforest Cafe with Kids

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Our family has been quarantined since the beginning of March. This weekend we did the unthinkable- we visited Disney Springs during COVID-19. Let me begin by saying we haven’t been out to eat at any restaurants, the kids haven’t been in any stores, and Ashley and I only run out to grab the essentials. We’ve been very careful about social distancing and are taking all of the precautions necessary to keep our kids safe. The fact that we ate at the Rainforest Cafe during our visit is a pretty big deal.

What is Disney Springs?

Disney Springs is essentially an outdoor mall and entertainment complex following many of the Town Center models found in most cities. It features countless Disney themed stores, as well as other shops and restaurants centered around Lake Buena Vista. It is a great place to get the “Disney Experience” without stepping foot in the theme park.

You could seriously spend a couple of days hanging out here and never get bored! There is a ton of things to do ranging from a bowling alley to a movie theatre, shops, and even boat rentals!

What is Rainforest Cafe?

The Rainforest Cafe is a kid-friendly restaurant chain that is sensory overload! From the minute you walk up to the volcano-shaped structure, you’re transformed into the rainforest. From the sounds of wild animals echoing through the building, to the rainstorms and orante decor- this place has it all.

Where is Disney Springs and Rainforest Cafe located?

Physical address: 1800 Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Park in the Lime or Grapefruit parking garage for the closest access. Head right (towards the Marketplace) and you will quickly notice the giant volcano near the lake. That volcano is Rainforest Cafe!

Our Thoughts on Rainforest Cafe

The Rainforest Cafe has a super fun kid-friendly vibe. When we walk into traditional restaurants, the kids aren’t really all that excited. But one look inside of this place had them grinning ear to ear! They loved being able to watch the fish swim by in the massive and gorgeous tanks. They loved the fact that there were robotic animals screeching or roaring all around us. There were periodic “thunderstorms” while we were in the restaurant that scared our boys (aged 2). The animals all around us got loud and there was “thunder” and “lightning”. Our son, 82, is terrified by storms so he cried each time one started. Fortunately for him, the “storms” lasted for only about a minute.

The waitstaff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Our food came out pretty quickly. Our kids (6, 2, and 2) were so captivated by their surroundings that they didn’t mind the short wait. The menu is perfectly tailored to a child’s taste and isn’t ridiculously pricey like you might expect. We spent $100 on a turkey wrap, shrimp tacos, 2 kids meals, and 2 alcoholic beverages, which honestly isn’t bad- especially in a touristy area.

This is a perfect place to grab dinner as a family, especially if you’re in town to visit the theme parks. Be sure to spend some time exploring Disney Springs while you’re here, it has a ton of great things to do with the kids.

The wait here can get pretty long, I strongly suggest making reservations in advance.

Our Disney Springs Essentials

Mickey Mouse Backpack Safety Leash and Harness
Mickey Mouse Water Bottle with Straw and Lid
Coppertone Kids Sunscreen

While You’re in Orlando

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

Categories
Florida St. Augustine United States

Visiting Marineland with Kids

A dolphin at Marineland

This week, Smiley and I added another great outdoor venue to our list: Marineland. We have been having so much fun exploring our home state of Florida during this quarantine. We’ve been exploring some of the incredible parks in our area! Some of our favorites have been Jacksonville’s Arboretum and Gardens, Castaway Island Preserve, Fort Clinch State Park, and Blue Springs State Park.

We were bored one morning so we hopped in the car and headed down to Marineland to check out the dolphins.

What is Marineland?

Marineland opened in 1938 as the world’s first oceanarium. It was originally designed for Hollywood filmmakers to be able to shoot underwater footage of ocean animals. While the park still honors its glitzy past, it has evolved into a center that focuses on protecting and preserving marine life.

What are the highlights?

  • Dolphin Show
  • Playing/swimming with Dolphins

Where is Marineland located?

The physical address is: 9600 Oceanshore Blvd, St. Augustine, Florida 32080

Our Thoughts on Marineland

I’ve visited Marineland a few times in the past, but this was our first trip with one of the kids.

Smiley and I arrived at the park just before 10 AM. We were immediately greeted by one of the employees that kind of took to us and taught us quite a few tidbits about the dolphins. We stayed at the park for about an hour and a half- which is more than enough time to see the park. If you aren’t planning on doing one of the dolphin encounters, the park can easily be seen in its entirety in less than an hour. In fact, if you aren’t doing a dolphin encounter; there really isn’t much to do.

Smiley really enjoyed her time at Marineland. She loved being able to watch the dolphins swim and play in their habitats. She was a little bummed, however, that she didn’t get to swim with the dolphins. We made a deal that when she learns how to swim, she’ll be able to come back and swim with the dolphins.

Honestly, I think the animal encounters are the best part about visiting Marineland. If you simply book a general admission ticket, the park isn’t nearly as entertaining. The park itself is tired. You can really tell that it’s over 80 years old. I’m hopeful that now that it is owned by the Georgia Aquarium, it will be rejuvenated back to its original glory.

We’re both looking forward to go backing, once Smiley learns how to swim, so that we can book one of the dolphin encounters.

Our Marineland Essentials

Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
Steel Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

What is there to do nearby?

Save a Pin & Start Planning Your Adventure

Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!

**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

Categories
Florida Florida State Parks Orange City Springs State Parks United States

Stunning Blue Spring State Park With Kids

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park will always hold a special place in our heart because it was the first spring that we visited with the kids.  It is an amazing place to swim, tube, paddle, snorkel, and even manatee watch!

What is Blue Spring State Park?

Blue Spring State Park is located in Central Florida. What was once a hub for steamboats is now a winter refuge for manatees. Temperatures in the spring run remain at 72 degrees, year-round, making it a safe haven for West Indian manatee. In fact, when we visited in January of 2023, there were 625 manatees in the run!! When the weather cools down, manatees congregate in the natural spring where the water temperature is warmer than in the surrounding areas.

What are the highlights?

  • Swimming/tubing in the spring
  • Snorkeling and scuba diving
  • Paddle boarding, kayaking, or canoeing (available for rent)
  • Hiking or biking the 3.6 miles (one way) Pine Island Trail
  • Guided river boat cruise
  • Camping

Things to Know…

  • Arrive early! The park frequently reaches capacity during the week and weekends during the winter and summer months. (see “Our Experience” for more info).
  • The park is open from 8 AM until sundown.
  • The cost to enter is $5 per vehicle.
  • You can rent inner tubes at the park.
  • If you bring your own inner tube, you can pay between $1 and $3 to have it inflated for you.
  • The water is a refreshing 72 degrees year-round
  • There is typically a food truck on-site however, you can also purchase burgers, hotdogs, corndogs, nachos, soft pretzels, etc. at the cafe.

Where is Blue Spring State Park located?

Physical Address: 2100 W French Ave, Orange City, FL 32763

Our Experience

Y’all, Blue Spring State Park is poppin’!  The springs open at 8 AM, 7 days a week. On Saturday morning we woke up and headed to the springs. We arrived just before 8:30 and they were already at capacity. Man, this place fills up quickly!

We returned later that day, at about 4:00 and the park had started to empty out. Since we weren’t going to be there long, we didn’t bother to break out the floats. We grabbed “Smiley’s” boogie board and put floatation vests on all of the kids and made the short trek from the picnic area, down the boardwalk, to the spring. The water felt freezing when we first got in, but our bodies quickly adjusted to the temperatures. It was amusing to watch everyone’s initial reaction to hitting the water. We floated down the spring run to the exit landing, which was just a short distance away.

Our son “82” hated it, at first, most likely because it was the first time he’s ever been in 72 degrees water. “Stinky” quickly adjusted to the water and was fine after the first initial tears. Smiley was in heaven!

Day Two

The next morning, we got to the park at 7:27 which was 33 minutes before the park was scheduled to open. At that point, we were the 72nd car in line (yes, I counted). One of the rangers told me that they were going to cut the line off at 150 cars. Once the park opened, it took us about 30 minutes to reach the ranger station to pay. The admission was $5.

Fortunately, we were able to stake out a picnic table where we could leave our stuff and have breakfast and lunch. We quickly saw that most people made this an all-day event! The park filled up rather quickly, we were fortunate to have been able to claim this spot.

Click here to order this awesome float!

The park has floats that you can rent. We brought our own, however. You can pay between $1 and $3 (depending on the size of the raft) to have your raft inflated. To me, this was well worth saving all of my hot air.

The kids adjusted to the water much more quickly on day two. They loved being able to ride in our float, kick their feet in the cool water, and check out the fish that swam by. We saw several different fish in the spring ranging from gar to tilapia.

After a couple of rides down the spring run, we decided to take a walk. We spotted hundreds of fish and even a decent-sized alligator, not far from where we had been swimming.

St. John’s River Cruise

After lunch, we hopped on a boat and took a one-hour “cruise” on the St. John’s River. It was a little slow-paced for the kid’s taste. The captain was very knowledgeable and stopped several times to point out various birds along the way. We didn’t spot any manatee or alligators on the river.

After our river cruise, we took one last run down the springs and called it a day. I think it’s safe to say that we all had an incredible time. Hitting the springs is the perfect way to beat the Florida heat!

 

Our Winter Experience

As I mentioned above, during the winter months, manatees flock to the spring because the water is warmer there than in the river.  Over the last few years, the number of manatees that migrate to the wildlife refuge have skyrocketed!  On our visit (1/15/23) there were 625 manatees in the run!  When we originally published this post in 2020, it was a big deal to have 300 manatees in the spring.

The park opened at 8 am and when we pulled in at 9:15.  At that time, there was already a long line waiting to get inside the park.  It only took us about 15 minutes to get inside the park.  

We walked out on to the floating dock, along the boardwalk and were able to see hundreds of manatees.  It was pretty cool!  Admittedly, it was harder for the kids to see the manatees because they often just looked like shadows in the water, unless the manatees were surfacing.

While it was cool for them to see, it was definitely more entertaining for adults.

Our Spring Essentials

Floats and Rafts

SportsStuff Noodler 2
River Run Inflatable American Flag 2 Person Tube Float with Cooler
Giant Flamingo Float
Giant Unicorn Float

More Fun Stuff!

Inflatable Kayak
Inflatable Paddleboard (I swear by this one!)
Full-Face Snorkel Mask

Safety

Puddle Jumper Vest
Swim Vest
First Aid Kit

Skin Care & Insect Repellent

Coppertone Kids Sunscreen
OFF! Family Care Insect Spray
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets

Towels & Swim Suits

Toddler Striped Hooded Poncho Towels
Women’s Boardshorts
Women’s 50+ SPF Shirt
Girl’s Roxy Rashguard

While You’re in Orlando

 

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**Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. All opinions are my own. Pinkie swear**

 

Updated:  1/15/2023

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