Florida

Feb

2020

Manatees of Blue Springs State Park

We went north of Orlando a few miles and visited Blue Springs State Park. It’s January, and the Manatees are here. On the day we were visited, the count was 380 animals.

Blue Springs State Park is based around an underground spring that remains a constant 72 degrees F year-round. When the seawater gets below 66 degrees, the Manatees start looking for warmer water and Blue Springs, with its proximity to the St. John’s River, is high on the list.

In summer months, Blue Springs is a popular park for swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The springs offer a chance for divers to explore a cave system that descents more than 100 feet underground. There’s a campground too, so visitors can spend several days.

The crystal clear waters of Blue Springs State Park are home to Manatees in the coldest winter months, but in the summer, it’s a popular swimming hole. Snorkeling and Scuba diving are also on the list. The spring that feeds more than a million gallons of water a day river extends down more than 100 feet into the earth.

May

2018

St. Augustine’s Old Town

Not long ago we ventured north from Orlando to visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. It’s nesting season up there and we wanted some new bird images. While we were there, we walked through St. Augustine’s old town.

You may know that St. Augustine prides itself as being the oldest continuously inhabited European city in the U.S. The debate continues though, because the town of Taos, New Mexico, maintains that it is the oldest continuously inhabited city in America. The difference being the word, “European.”

In any case, we enjoy St. Augustine and can always find something interesting when we visit. Take a look at our brief video and see what you think.

The old town at in St. Augustine is a prime tourist attraction these days, with the restaurants, bars, and shopping, but it’s easy to see that this place has history. It’s a fun walk about town and always worth some time.

Mar

2018

Disney’s Magic Kingdom – A Photo Gallery

There are only a handful of places on earth where millions of people plan for years to come and spend a week, and the Magic Kingdom is one of them. You would think that a simple amusement park wouldn’t hold so many in awe, but people come to see it, and come back again and again. It’s not just marketing either. For many people, it’s been a life long relationship. Walt Disney set out the rules for making an amusement park that everyone could enjoy over 60 years ago, and that foundation holds true today. After all it’s still the “happiest place on earth”.

Entrance to the Magic Kingdom

Camel
Camels at The Magic Carpets of Aladin, Magic Kingdom. Image by Bonnie Fink

Splash Mountain

Liberty Belle
Traditional paddle wheel reminiscent of those used along the Mississippi River. Image by Bonnie Fink

Chip, or Dale?
It's Dale. Image by Bonnie Fink

Sleepy Hollow Inn
Great fast food with room for sit down eating near the Haunted Mansion. Image by Bonnie Fink

Balloons

The Electrical Parade
Night time at the Magic Kingdom is about lights. Whether it's the Electrical Parade or fireworks, there's plenty to see. Image by Donald Fink

Goofy
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The Electrical Parade
The Electrical Parade has been retired at the Magic Kingdom, but lives on here in our gallery. Photo by Donald Fink.

Fireworks over the Castle
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Fireworks over the Castle
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Fireworks over the Castle
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Fireworks over the Castle
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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The newest ride at the Magic Kingdom, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train features cars that are gimbal mounted as they travel along the mine's tracks. Image by Donald Fink

Splash Mountain
There's a lot going on at Splash Mountain, from an easy floating log ride to a plummet through the briar patch. Image by Donald Fink

Tom Sawyer's Island
Go back to Mark Twain's day with a stroll around Tom Saywer's Island. Image by Donald Fink

Disney' Rail Road
Travel through all the lands at the Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Rail Road. Image by Donald Fink

The Magic Kingdom
View of the Magic Kingdom from the Seven Seas Lagoon. Image by Donald Fink

Mar

2018

Downtown Disney, or is it Disney Springs?

Downtown Disney is in full construction mode these days. It’s rare to walk through and not see something new from the day before. It’s getting exciting because new businesses are starting to open, parking areas are in full construction mode, and things are just changing on a daily basis. Here are a few images of some of the newest developments at Downtown Disney.

Mario and Enzos
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Coca-Cola
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Characters in Flight
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Downtown Disney
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Disney Springs
Hints of the new Disney Springs name are starting to show up here and there around Downtown Disney. Image by Bonnie Fink

Art of Shaving
A new shop called the Art of Shaving recently opened across the walkway from Paradiso 37. They feature men's shaving accessories as well as a full service barber shop. Image by Bonnie Fink

Food Court
Food trucks have become exceedingly popular and that appears to be true as well at Disney. A dedicated food truck court has been recently constructed in the West Side between Starbucks and Bongos Cuban Cafe. Image by Bonnie Fink

Not Quite Open
A new shop, called the Sound Lion is set to open on Pleasure Island near Paradiso 37. Can't see in the windows yet. Image by Bonnie Fink

Lot 2 Demolition
Demolition of an administrative building in the old Lot 2 parking lot is underway. Image by Bonnie Fink

The Boat House
Scaffolding surrounding the lighthouse at the new Boathouse was recently removed revealing a new landmark at Downtown Disney. Image by Bonnie Fink

New Construction
If you walk over to Saratoga Springs and look back on Downtown Disney, you start to get a sense of the scale of the construction underway. Image by Donald Fink

Marketplace Boat Landing
A newly constructed boat landing at the Market Place serves boats from the Old Key West Resort as well as local water taxis that serve downtown. Image by Donald Fink

New Bridge
The new bridge at Downtown Disney's Market Place between The Rain Forest Cafe and T-Rex is very near completion. Image by Donald Fink

Bridge
Workers are finishing the handrails on the bridge between the Rain Forest Cafe and T-Rex. Won't be long now. Image by Donald Fink

Spring Construction
Construction along the side of T-Rex from the water to parking Lot #2 appears to be a combination of new shops and what appears to be the beginnings of a water feature. Could this be the new "Disney Spring"? Image by Donald Fink

Chapel Hats
Chapel Hats is a recent arrival along the new walking area between Portabello's and Paradiso 37. Image by Bonnie Fink

Chapel Hats
One of the first shops to open along the walkway from Portabello's and Paradiso 37 is called Chapel Hats. You guessed it, they sell hats. Image by Donald Fink

More Hats
Chapel Hats seems to have a good selection of fun and interesting head gear. And, as a pleasant surprise, their prices are not exceptionally high. Image by Donald Fink

Aviation Themed Restaurant
Work continues on a new fast food restaurant along the water near Paradiso 37. The boat to the right appears to be a sitting area for the restaurant. Image by Donald Fink

New Parking Structure
The new parking structure at Disney's West Side is five stories tall. Not completely finished, the structure is already in use. Most days you can park on levels one through 3 while cast members park on level 4. Image by Doanld Fink

Parking Spaces
As you enter the parking structure on Disney's West Side, a sign depicts the number of parking spaces available on each level. Image by Donald Fink

Pedestrian Overpass?
A view from the new parking structure reveals what appears to be a new pedestrian structure being constructed over Lake Buena Vista Drive. Image by Donald Fink

Available Space
Signs overhead on levels two through five of the new West Side parking structure show how many spaces are available in each row. Image by Donald Fink

Parking Structure Pedestrian Entrance
An entrance to the West Side parking structure is nearing completion. This entrance will enter the structure on level two via elevators and escalators. Image by donald Fink

Second Starbucks
A second Starbucks at Downtown Disney opened late this summer. It's located near Ghirardellis in the Marketplace. Image by Donald Fink

Another Spring?
This "over the fence" view is near Paradiso 37 looking back toward Parking Lot 2. It appears at this point to be mainly a water featrure. Image by Donald Fink

Logo Serpent
The giant sea serpent at Lego's in Disney's Marketplace is the same, but the background has made a dramatic change in the last few months. Image by Doanld Fink

New Venue
A new area across from Ghirardelli's in the Marketplace has recently been carved out of the water and built on piers. Concrete floors are currently being poured. There appears to be a small area in the center where lots of plumbing and electrical conduit have been installed. Hopefully there'll be some additional seating. Image by Donald Fink

Lot 2 Construction
This is a view from the parking structure overlooking lot 2 and lot 1. You can see that quite a bit of construction is underway in the areas nearing the location of the old lot 1.

Jun

2017

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm

In between our many adventures into the Disney Parks and other theme parks around central Florida, we like to spend time looking for wildlife to photograph. As a result, we often go to zoos or other places where we’re likely to see animals up close. Recently, we paid a visit to the Saint Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Continue reading →

Nov

2013

Homosassa State Park

The Real Florida. That’s what they call the Florida State Park system. Whether you agree is up to you, but when you venture out and away from the theme parks of Orlando, you certainly see a different side of Florida. Yesterday we traveled over to the west coast of Florida near the town of Silver River to a great little state park called Homosassa Springs State Park. Our purpose was to visit the wildlife exhibit. This park has a great exhibit of animals indigenous to Florida, including the Florida Panther, bobcats, deer, and many dozens of species of birds, including the endangered Whooping Crane. There are also several alligators and manatees here. Continue reading →

Florida

Manatees of Blue Springs State Park

St. Augustine’s Old Town

Disney’s Magic Kingdom – A Photo Gallery

Downtown Disney, or is it Disney Springs?

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm

Homosassa State Park

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