Crazy about Florida: Camping-Hiking-Boating-Day Trips

If you are a Florida angler, you probably look forward to Spec season all summer. We do! As soon as the first cold front makes it this far south, it's time to go get some minnows and head for the lakes.

Speckled Perch or Crappie, as they are called up north, are some of the best eating freshwater fish you can find. They have a sweet, delicate flavor and are never fishy if frozen right away or prepared fresh.

Frying is the preferred method of preparing them. Once enough are caught there is no better fun than having friends and family over for a fish fry with coleslaw, hush puppies and french fries. Our favorite recipe is to soak them in buttermilk for at least half an hour, then sprinkle with a little salt and coat with our favorite corn muffin mix, then fry them up. Yummy!

Some of the central Florida lakes that are "turning on" for Spec are Lake Louisa in Clermont, Lake Dorr in Altoona (which is also part of the Ocala National Forest) and Lake Tohopekaliga or "Toho" for short in Osceola County.

Missouri minnows are the preferred bait but many anglers also use beetle spins and other small jigs and some will even "tip" these artificial lures with minnows.

You can troll for Spec or bobber fish for them. If one method is not getting results try the other. Also try different depths. Sometimes they hit high and sometimes they go deep. A good depth finder is a must as Spec tend to like deeper water.

So get out there and enjoy the cooler weather and you just might bring home dinner too!

We can scratch another Florida spring off our list. We finally visited Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest. We have been many times to Alexander and Silver Glen but not Juniper. We spent 4 days camping in there. We had made quick pre-camping visit to pick out a campsite and were amazed at how beautiful it was. From that point on, we could not wait to go.

There are three camping loops and all are wooded. Ours was very spacious and under a canopy of live oaks. The spring area had just been re-opened due to renovation. The swimming area surrounding the main boil is large and the turquoise color water is the typical 72 degrees which comes out of the Florida Aquifer. What a great place to cool off on a hot day. There are many picnic tables and a gift shop and concession. You can also rent a canoe and take a 7 mile canoe trip down the Juniper Run.

There are walking trails, one which leads to a lesser spring called Fern Hammock. This spring is protected and there is no swimming allowed. When you see how absolutely beautiful it is, you understand why it is protected. This spring is pictured above.

We absolutely loved our trip to Juniper and plan to go back often. It is only an hour and half from our home but we felt like we had entered another world while there. Next time we plan to try the canoe run when the weather is warmer. It was unseasonably cold while we were there, but that was half the fun! Love those campfires:)

For more information on Juniper Springs visit:

www.Juniper Springs.com

Last winter my husband and I decided that we wanted to visit all of Florida's freshwater Springs which have public access. We are well on our way. Each one is unique and beautiful. There is just something about the crystal clear water bubbling up out of the ground that sooths the soul. One such day trip was to Rainbow Springs. It is located between Ocala and Crystal River. It is now a State Park but was once privately owned and a paid attraction. These were the original Florida visitor's destinations before theme parks: Cypress Gardens, Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, and other natural attractions.
Much of the private influence can still be seen in the wonderful historic gardens that were part of the main attraction to this park. The stone pathways are lined with azaleas, lilies and other flowering plants. The landscape was permanently altered long ago to create high rock outcroppings with waterfalls surrounded by ferns and flowers. A State Park would never alter the natural landscape today but it adds to the natural beauty already there.
Rainbow Springs does not have a specific boil like most springs. The water comes from hundreds of small springs which are visible all around the main pool. The spring and river gets its name from the rainbow like colors of the water. We have never seen a spring with such vibrant colors. There is a very large swimming area which is a great way to cool off in summer. If you go, take a small float or noodle as there is no shallow area. You can also tube and canoe this river from another entrance from the main park.
This park does have a campground but we have not stayed there yet. There are some trails and a butterfly garden. I would recommend visiting this park in February specifically when the azaleas are in bloom. Then if you like the park, come back in the summer for a swim or tubing. If you are a camper, check out the campground and let us know how you like it. Check out the website and look at the park pictures. You'll see the flowers and beautiful spring www.Rainbow Springs.com.

Florida is blessed with many fresh water springs, one of the highest concentrations in the world. Some of them we have know about and visited for years. One of the loveliest but one of the least known is Silver Glen. www.Silver Glen.com
It is in the Ocala National Forest and flows directly into Lake George, one of the largest lakes in Florida. This spring can be accessed by car or boat. We like boating so we access it by boat. The nearest public ramp is in Astor. From there it is a short boat ride down the scenic and historic St. Johns River to Lake George. After entering the lake, the Silver Glen run is about a 15-20 minute boat ride towards the North West. If you are going for the first time, it's probably a good idea to have a guide or map. As you approach the mouth of the run the dark tannic color of the lake begins to become clear. Once you reach the run it is truly a sight to see. The water is crystal clear. As you motor up towards the spring, you can see many fish swimming in the current like mullet, largemouth bass and bream. The bottom is either covered in eel grass or sand. Where it is sand, the color of the water is a beautiful blue like you would see in the Bahamas. You can bring you boat close enough to the spring to easily swim to it. If you want to access the park to picnic or hike, you can but there is an entrance fee. Snorkeling is awesome, the spring is filled with fish and if you snorkel over the boil, huge striped bass can be seen congregating where the water is coming out of the aquifer. You can also fish in the spring run for bass and bream but be sure to have your freshwater fishing license. There is no alcohol allowed between the spring and lake as it is governed by the National Park. However on the weekends this is a big party destination where people congregate along the run and in the lake near the entrance. If you are not into the party scene, I highly recommend visiting this park on an off day, not on the weekend. In either case it is well worth the visit. Many people also rent house boats along the St. Johns and anchor at the glen for days of swimming and relaxing. One of these days, we are going to try it.

August in Florida, it sometimes makes me wish for fall and winter. I think back to a rare cold day and a hike in Lake Louisa State Park. This park is a Central Florida jewel. You can access it by boat through the Clermont chain of lakes, at an equestrian entrance for horse enthusiasts, or via Highway 27 in Clermont. This park has a campground nestled between two pristine lakes, beautiful cabins, several good fishing lakes, hiking and horse trails. You can hike in the open, the forest, the scrub or our favorite along Big Creek. If it has been a rainy year this creek flows with enough current to hear it in the distance. Yes, the sound of flowing water in Florida. This trail can be accessed across from the first fishinng dock on lake Dixie. See map to park.www.Lake Louisa State Park.com
You can hike these trails all day if you like and come back the next for more. There is a primitive camp site if you are into that. Or you can just hike a few hours like we do. On our hikes we have seen hawks, otters, raccoons, deer, gopher turtles and many birds including the rare Pilated Wood Pecker. We are fortunate to live in Clermont and visit this park often. We have also stayed in one of the cabins (very nice) and in the campground in our camper. We enjoyed both.

We visited the Florida Aquarium in early October 2009 after reading about it in a newspaper article. The location was not far and the price was right, $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids under 12.
The Aquarium is right on Tampa Bay next to the Port and Ybor City. It is totally enclosed in a glass dome which houses live trees and birds. The first level consists mostly of a gift shop, café and Sea ray tank. Outside there are fountains squirting out of the ground for kids to play and cool off. Upstairs is divided into two main sections: A fresh and salt water wetlands and an enclosed area where deep salt water pools and aquariums are housed.
We especially enjoyed the wetland area which has live trees, birds and pools with swamps, freshwater fish such as bass and bream, alligators, otters and a mangrove swamp with huge Redfish swimming by. If you are a bird lover you can spend a lot of time here observing Ibises, a variety of Ducks, an Owl, Snowy Egrets and even a Pink Spoonbill.
The other side has Sharks, Groupers including a rare Goliath Grouper, Tuna, Jelly fish, Huge Tarpon, Sea Horses and a Penguin show.
We spent about three hours there and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend it for a day trip. While there you can also visit many of the shops and restaurants in Ybor City www.Ybor City.com
For more information on the Florida Aquarium visit www.The Florida Aquarium.com.
See our side show from this trip on this site as well.

If you live in Central or South Florida, this is more than a day trip but its well worth a visit if you are heading to North Florida for two to three days. We made it an over night stay in Tallahassee. Tallahassee in itself is a great destination to visit our states capitol. The rolling hills and surrounding forests resemble central Georgia more than Florida.
Florida Caverns State Park is located west of Tallahassee off interstate I-10 in Marianna. The main attraction of course is the magnificent caverns. Guided tours are given every hour from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CST Thursday through Monday, but are not given on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yes this State Park is on Central time. We were reminded to reset our watches by the Park Staff when we registered for a tour. This cavern is enormous with magnificent limestone formations including stalactites, stalagmites, and draperies. On a hot day the caverns are remarkably cool and the approximately 45 minute tour is a refreshing way to explore Florida's underground and learn about t he geological history of this state.
This park offers more than just the caverns. There are picnic areas and pavilions and the park is dotted with blue holes formed by springs. There is a campground which centers around one such spring. The landscape is especially beautiful in the fall with Maples, Oaks and Sweet gums showing their colors which are a rare site in the Sunshine State. There are other State Parks near Florida Caverns, some with campgrounds such as Falling Waters and Three Rivers SP. For more information visit www.Florida Caverns.

What could be better than a sunset boat ride? Catching a big fish on a sunset boat ride. This fish was caught in Lake Susan, a lake on the Clermont chain in Lake County Florida. This fish was a total surprise. My husband just decided to throw out a line along the weeds and after one cast, landed this big mama. Definitely the biggest bass I have ever seen that was not on a wall. What was the bait you ask? It was a rubber worm! A Berkley gulp, color tequila sunrise to be exact. We have had lots of success with these lures. So if you are out for a joy ride, always keep some Berkley's along and a big net! You never know. We let her go by the way.

Clermont Florida is a well known suburb of Orlando, nick named "The Gem of the Hills". Fifty years ago it was known for its miles of rolling hills covered with orange groves, it's fishing in a pristine chain of freshwater lakes and the Citrus Tower www.Citrus Tower.com.
After several hard freezes most of the groves are gone, replaced with homes. Clermont is also where I call home. We don't need to roam far to find lots to do. Three large lakes and many smaller ones are connected with rivers forming a chain. You can fish, ski, wake board or just take a pleasure ride. The hills which are rare in Florida have attracted serious athletes who run, bicycle and swim in triathlons. Clermont and Lake County have improved many of the roads with designated bike lanes for these enthusiasts. Sugar Loaf Mountain is a favorite and one of the highest points in Florida at an elevation 312 feet.
There is also the National Training Center where many of the nation's top athletes train for a wide variety of sports. This center boasts names like Dot Richardson, a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and the Director/Medical Director of the National Training Center. It is also a premier health and fitness center accessible to not only professional athletes but anyone who is interested in joining. Check it out at www.National Training Center.com.
Even if you are not an athlete you can enjoy many outdoor activities. There is plenty to do. Lake Louisa State Park is close by for hiking, horseback riding and boating. The City has a beautiful bike trail around Lake Mineola. There is also a bike trail not far out of town called the Van Fleet Trail www.Van Fleet Trail.com.This is a 29 mile paved trail through the Green Swamp. It was formerly a train route so it is flat and straight. You can really get going fast, or take is slow and watch for deer and alligators like we do.
Clermont also had a quaint downtown section with shops and restaurants and a waterfront park, also the trailhead, with a beach, playground, picnic tables and fishing pier. There are also several other lovely city parks for the residents to enjoy. What we like best about this area is not only is there so much to do, but most of it is free or very inexpensive. Check Clermont and all of South Lake County at www.South Lake Chamber.com.

Hillsborough River is one of the oldest State Parks in Florida which opened in 1938. This river was and still is one of Tampa's main water supplies. Its head waters come from two springs and the Green Swamp to the north. Depending on rainfall the water can be crystal clear with a bluish green tint to tannic if the swamp is flowing. A portion of the river which runs through the park has enough fall in elevation and limestone rocks to cause rapids. The surrounding trees and vegetation says "Florida" but if you close your eyes and you could be in the mountains. This park offers miles of hiking trails for the serious hiker or you can just take a leisurely walk along the river. The park also has a canoe launch and rentals. We have canoed this river and found it not only beautiful but challenging with all the twists and turns and rocks in the river. There is abundant fish and wildlife to observe. Largemouth bass, bream and sunfish are plentiful. If you go in the Spring be prepared to see lots of alligators of all sizes. They will not bother you as long as you do not bother them.
This park also has a large beautiful campground. All the sites are wooded and several sites run along the river. You can take a very short walk to the river to fish or just enjoy the view.
This park is a great place for a day of hiking or canoeing or spending several days camping. You will not run out of things to do. There is also a large swimming pool and cafe. The pool is only open in the summer. Check this treasure out at
www.Hillsborough River.com

If you frequently travel I-75 between Ocala and Gainesville you have probably seen the sign for Micanopy. I had seen it many times and wondered what was there. Due to a tip from a friend we decided to take a visit. Once you exit the interstate and travel a mile or so it looks as though you have gone back in time. Out of the woods appears this charming little town with brick roads, antebellum homes and historic buildings, most dating back into the 19th century. There is a residential district but you don't see any modern homes. On the main road through town, Cholokka Blvd, the streets are lined with antique shops. They are filled with unique treasures. There is a shop which features beautiful stained glass works and other fine handcrafted gifts. Once or twice a year, they host a great arts and craft show. We attended one in October and it was one of the best shows I have ever attended. But if you don't like crowds visit any other time. It's a fun way to spend a fall or spring day. There is a Bed and Breakfast there if you would like to spend the night. It is in the historic Herlong Mansion. I would recommend making reservations at www.Herlong Mansion.com .We have stayed there and had a wonderful time. If you choose to stay there, here is a real treat: plan to eat dinner at The Yearling Restaurant in Cross Creek which is only about 15-20 minutes from Micanopy www.The Yearling.com. The food is very good and they usually offer at least one game dish like quail or venison. They always have frog legs and alligator tail. Cross Creek is another nearby place to visit and I will do another article on it. Payne's Prairie State Preserve is also very close and worth a visit. So you could easily make a day of it or more. If you are looking for a great day trip and like antiques, visit Micanopy www.Micanopy.com.

If you have a boat this is a Florida must see or you can rent a boat as well. This island or key, as it is sometimes called, is in the Gulf of Mexico near Tarpon Springs. We put in at a ramp in New Port Richey but it can be accessed from other launches. After putting in the island is about a 20 minute boat ride through the beautiful clear water of the gulf. Approaching the island on the north side is sand bar and a large shallows. We have seen bottle nosed dolphins, lots or rays, and sharks. The fishing around the island is great and trout can be plentiful. We recommend visiting between April and May or late September through October. The weather is still warm but the threat of bad weather is diminished. You want calm weather to get the most of the clear water. As you round the island to the gulf side, there is a long stretch of beach where you can anchor your boat anywhere you like to fish, swim and snorkel, have a picnic or just sun bathe. Primitive camping is also allowed on the island. Check out this park on the Florida State Park web site.

Like most love affairs, this one has changed over the years. Growing up as a child in Florida, I took for granted the paradise in which I had been born. I grew up in the 70's when childhood was still free and safe. In the summer my brothers, sister and I would spend the hot days roaming the woods hunting for gopher turtles and snakes and any other adventures we could find. No one worried about us. We would only come home for lunch and dinner. The summer curfew was to be home when the street lights came on. We did not worry about the heat or bugs or strangers. The only real pestilence was the sand spurs (we never wore shoes). We got dirty and loved it. If we got hot, we would play in neighbor's sprinklers and drink from their hoses. No one minded. It was truly a wonderful childhood.

Then came the teen years, I started to get annoyed at the heat. I couldn't wait for the short winters and cool days. As a family we made many trips to the North Carolina Mountains. I hated to leave them and once home longed for the mountains and the cooler climate. Coming home Florida seemed flat and boring. At this stage in the affair I had fallen out of love.

I went off to college in the mountains thinking how wonderful it would be to actually live there and for a time it was wonderful. The cool air, the gorgeous vistas, the snow, it was like a dream come true. Then as the winter grew on I began to miss seeing something green, anything green. I began to miss the sunshine and wearing shorts and flip flops in December. I grew tired of always being cold. Just in time came the winter break. Driving south things began to show green and low and behold, Florida was still green. I did not realize it yet but I was falling back in love.

I married and had children like most people do. But it was a different time. Kids no longer could roam free. Most women worked and most kids were in day care. We started to do more outdoor activities to show our kids some of what we grew up with. We went boating, fishing and took day trips. One particular day trip was to Cross Creek, a small town near Gainesville where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning book The Yearling, called home. Her home and grounds have been preserved as a State Park. We took a tour of her cracker home with tin roof and screened porches and the surrounding farm and orange grove. She had moved to this remote town to write her novels. She hoped to support herself with the proceeds from the grove.

It was there I purchased one of her books Cross Creek. It is a book that tells of her trials and triumphs at the creek. She tells wonderful tales of the folk living there. But I was most impacted by her love of Florida. Here was a "Yankee" woman (of her own description)living on the most meager means, tested by all the rough elements the Florida wilderness could throw at her, but she had fallen in love with Florida. She loved the grove and the sweet fragrance of the orange blossoms, the lakes, swamps and creek, the cabbage palms raising their heads above the hammock, the Magnolias with their large white blossoms and jade colored leaves. She loved the birds and native animals, she loved to fish and hunt and cook. Her love was contagious and I found myself loving this land as much as she. It was then I realized what a wonderful place in which I had been born. She wrote, "For this is an enchanted land" and I have to agree. I was as smitten as Marjorie was with Florida; the lakes, rivers, hammocks, oceans and trees, the huge live oaks with the Spanish moss swaying in the wind, the cabbage palms on the pastures.

The hot days are tempered with the afternoon thunderstorms, the cumulous clouds billowing up into the blue sky. They are an awesome sight to behold. Florida is the lighting capitol of the country and I have been through several hurricanes. Sometimes living here can be fearsome. But I am bound to this land and could not think of living anywhere else. I have read all of Marjorie's books, some several times. She is my favorite author. She once asked "who owns Cross Creek?" Her question could just as well been "who owns Florida?" Her answer was "It belongs to the wind and rain, to the sun and seasons, to the cosmic secrecy of seed, and beyond all, to time". This Florida which Marjorie loved, this Florida which I love, this is my home. The Good Lord knew what he was doing all along by making this the place of my birth. I encourage anyone who lives here and loves this fair State like I do to read her books. Cross Creek is a good place to start. When the Whippoorwill is also a favorite which I highly recommend. I invite you to visit her home in Cross Creek. Who knows, you may fall in love as well.

To learn more about Marjorie Rawlings visit:
www.Marjorie Rawlings.com
To get information about visiting her home visit:
www.Florida State Parks.com

Long time central Florida residents know about this beach. We know it as Playalinda beach. It has been a long time favorite for surfing, fishing, sunbathing and swimming. It is actually part of the Canaveral National Seashore. We have many friends new to Florida who have never heard of this beach. They drive to Cocoa, New Smyrna or Daytona. Once we direct them to this beach, they want to go back again and again. Since it belongs to the National Park System it is as pristine and the impacts of man are minimal. There are no condos or hotels, no trash on the beach. The water quality and clarity are superb and there are no cars on the beach to worry about with the kids. You can access this beach from Titusville. The daily park entrance fee is $3:00 per person or you can get an annual pass for $35.00.
This entrance also gains you access to the Merit Island National Wildlife Refuge which is fun to visit in the cooler months. You can take a driving tour of the Black Point Wildlife Drive. There are hiking trails through a woodland hammock and bird watching trails. We have seen many wading birds, otters, lots of alligators.

The beach is accessed through a number of sites marked by parking areas and restrooms. Lot 2 is manned with a lifeguard. It is so refreshing to enjoy a beach the way nature intended it to be. Sea Turtles come up at night to lay their eggs and their nests are often seen, but don't disturb them in any way or you can be fined. The Park has designated times when you can meet with rangers to watch for the turtles to lay their eggs. Check out the web site.www.Canveral National Seashore.com

As a bonus to your trip the Kennedy Space Center is with in plain sight of this beach and can be seen on the road to the beach from several observation areas along the way. We have seen the Space Shuttle on the launch pad many times. If you plan a trip to this beach it's a good idea to check the web site. If a launch is scheduled the park will be closed 3 days prior to a launch.

It's well worth the drive to check out this beach. There are restrooms but no showers. We fill several old gallon jugs with water and take it along to wash off with after our day. Have fun and stay safe, watch out for lightning. If you hear thunder, get off the beach.

Always take tin foil camping. It has so many uses. Of course you can cook in it, then wrap up the leftovers. No messy plastic bags to fool with, then re-heat in the foil.

Use it to cover a dirty grill or better yet, ball it up and scrape heated grill grate to clean. We forgot our grill brush once and the foil worked great.

Even been camping and it would not stop raining long enough to keep a fire going or cook? Use foil to "tent" the fire. Use sticks or a campfire tripod for support. Just leave a small opening for a vent and your fire will stay lit in the rain.

Use it to cover a pot if you don't have lid.

I am sure there are many others, just take some along and see.