Jessica almost stepped on
this playing manatee in Wakulla Springs as she swam.
(above)
Another at Apollo Beach catches a breath. (below)
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Statistics:
Dates:
10 days,
from Dec. 27, 2011, to Jan. 5, 2012
Areas Explored:
the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Naples;
Florida's Atlantic coast; the Keys.
Transportation: 2009
Dodge Grand Caravan
New Frontiers:
We did some snorkeling and underwater exploration and photography.
Camped in Everglades.
Cast:
Scott, Jessica, & Andrew
Trip Notes:
Day 1: We missed the birds so we drove through St. Louis, overnight into
Mississippi. Day 2:
Spent all day enjoying the French Quarter of New Orleans and Metairie
and then headed east into Gulfport. Day 3:
Explored the Biloxi coast, stopping for sandhill-hunting, and then
camped at Ft. Pickens SP, FL. Day 4: Spent
most of the day on Pensacola Beach and treked into the Panama City area
in the evening, overnighting in Tallahassee. Day 5:
Morning drive through Tallahassee's covered roads and then spent most of
the day swimming in Wakulla Springs, before heading east toward Daytona
for New Years' fireworks. Day 6:
Zipped over to Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island for bird and gator
watching and a swim. Raced through Miami to Homestead. Day
7:
Explored the interior of the Everglades, all the way into Florida Bay,
and then camped at Pine Island. Day 8:
Spent a cold day exploring the Anhinga Trail and then the Keys,
including a nice little snorkel on Key Largo. Day 9:
Crossed the Tamiami, stopping at Shark Valley, and then west into Naples
for sunset and ice cream. Day 10:
Started in Bradenton, stopped at Apollo Beach, and then north to Macon. Day
11:
Explored northeast Georgia and the Smokies in the daytime and spent the
night driving across I-75 and I-65 back home.
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