#House for Rent in Inlet Beach Florida | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bearslikedilfs · 4 years ago

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So...since I’m guessing you live in Florida I need to know. (Tiny backstory I’m uhhh...humanising the states if that makes since. Think of hetalia but the state instead of countries. I know cringe right?) Anyway I need you full opinion of said state if you don’t mind of course. I would like to know the good and the bad (if you have any good things to say about it. btw I’m sorry this is pretty long...)

Pros of florida: nothing

cons: everything

Jk ill do my best to find a couple positives but you should really find someone who actually likes living in florida. i am very clearly biased.

Also thats not cringe! sounds like fun. I made an ohio oc before, they’re fun to make.

florida opinions below the cut

So the one thing i can say is undoubtably a plus is there are these extremely cute little lizards that run around everywhere and they’re especially prevalent in thee summer and you see them just basking on the sidewalk. they’re like the length of your pointer finger with an extra 3 inches of tail and i love taking pictures of them bc they have cool colors and stripes or spots.

things that most people would consider pros but i dont:

extremely hot. I live in the upper half so it does, occasionally, get below freezing in the winter, but if you lived down more south it probably wouldn’t ever freeze. this is probably why old people live here they get colder easier. some people just don’t like cold. i do, i love it. anyway. you can grow things for a lot longer, and even at night it’ll be like 70 degrees. it’ll be down to 50 degrees at night in winter usually. there isn’t really seasons, its just 2 months of reasonable (to me) weather that feels like, something like spring in northern states. then the next 10 months are just hell. so hot. but other people would call it great.

Sunny almost all the time. sunlight is nice occasionally but down here it beats down on you like you owe it money. you will be easily sunburned if you spend 2 hours in direct sunlight. i like me some nice thunderstorms here it just rains.

beaches. yeah sure there are beaches. i will admit the white sand is very pretty and doesnt actually burn your feet bc it reflects light better, the water is also the very pretty light blue or green you see in pictures. but beaches have people and sand and it gets old after a while.

cons:

humid af. like. its at least above 75 % at all times. humidity is disgusting and nasty and in summer you sweat within 30 seconds of going outside. even if the temp is a rare reasonable 70 or something its usually overshadowed by the 90% humidity that makes you sweat anyway. if you paint something its entirely likely it’ll never completely dry bc its just so fking humid here. you can barely do anything outside bc within like 30 min your main thought is how to get tf out out of the heat and you definitely cannot concentrate.

no sense of community and too many people. people move here for vacation and the place where i live, for example is a spring break/vacation town and so the traffic gets horrible every spring and summer. the roads are fucked too bc its so hot the tar in the asphalt is more liquidy and moves and potholes and such appear more often. no sense of community means that there’s no YMCA, the public libraries are very small and not great and its so hard to talk to people and make friends bc many people are here to party it seems like. there are plenty of pubs and places to fish and boat and those arcade places where everythings expensive but those get old and expensive quick and none of those are really my thing.

expensive af. theres little inlets and swamps and bays everywhere which means bridges, which means maintinence, which means toll roads, which means fucked up intersections bc of space restritctions and shit planning. seriously these are the worst fucking intersections i’ve ever seen. also houses and rent are high because again, space is limited, and everyone wants something within reach of the beach or the bay or the inlet.

its just straight up nasty. and dangerous. there’s a fair amount of car crashes here, i think i’ve seen more in my 4 years here than i have in my 20+ years in ohio. as for nasty there are fucking roaches everywhere, they will get in your house even if its clean. people here just accept it too “yeah they do that” BITCH WHAT. AND YOU JUST PUT UP WITH THAT. there are also plenty of other bugs that are nice and big and prevalent bc there’s no winter or cold to stop them from growing. mosquitos are everywhere. i havent seen any gators really but i know theres plenty. there’s also bears.

in conclusion i might like this place better if i liked partying, fishing, boating, going to the beach often, going to pubs a lot, but i dont and even if there were things i liked doing here the heat and humidity would still make me hate it.

#shithole-state #asks #fuck florida

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luxurytravelcurator · 4 years ago

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Amazing #PrivateVillas in #Miami for rent. This 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms ( from USD 11.000 per night ) , located on #SunsetIsland. Spectacular Moorish-style 2 story #villa with waterside views of the #MiamiBeach inlet. The fabulous outdoor amenities include a spacious step-in swimming pool, surrounded by the water view deck where guests can bath in the sun or lounge in the shade of mature palm trees. The opulent layout of the villa will provide guests with a regal Floridian experience, from the arched doorways and windows, castle-like turret, or the outdoor covered dining area that is fully equipped with a top of the line BBQ, perfect for an evening of entertaining. Some of the finer features of this property include the office and in-house cinema, indoor bar, and illuminating large windows that allow for stunning sunset views. This villa is the perfect vacation destination for friends; with indoor and outdoor entertaining and dining, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi tubs, all located within minutes of nearby golf, tennis and beaches, there is no better place for a Miami vacation experience. My mission is to transform Tourists into Travelers by experiencing unique travel experiences, moments and destinations worldwide. Luxury Travel Curator, Concierge, Blogger & Lifestyle Consultant. Over 28 years curating the world of Luxury Travel & Lifestyle, one destination at the time. Member of the exclusive #AmericanExpress Membership Rewards, Fine Hotels & Resorts and Pay with Points Programs. Affiliated with Brickell Travel Management and EMBARK Beyond member of VIRTUOSO. Luxury #TravelAdvisor. #Jetsetter #Globetrotter #BonVivant. Founder of @LGTNetwork Luxury #GayTravel Curator. #Travel #Hotel #Restaurant & #Airline reviews. Follow, read and share my travel experiences worldwide. #GPSCarlosMeliaMIAMI #Miami #MIA #Florida #TravelAgent, #TravelBlogger, #WeddingPlanner #TravelBlog #LuxuryTravel #Luxury #Lifestyle #LuxuryTravelCurator #Concierge #Blogger Mobile & WhatsApp +1 (917) 754-5515 / Email [email protected] / www.carlosmelia.com (at Miami, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO08vLNtiXv/?igshid=ka28l4mf7i7y

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naturecoaster · 5 years ago

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Daytona, Daytona Beach & West Volusia Outdoor & History Tour

As a Nature Coaster, I love the outdoors and history, so a visit to the amazing beaches of Daytona, coupled with the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, an airboat ride on the St. John's River, the DeLeon Springs State Park and a fun experience cooking our own pancakes at the Sugarmill Restaurant is how I roll in this well-known area. This long weekend started with meeting my friend, Sally White, a fellow award-winning member of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association and publisher of FloridaforFamilies.com and AdventuresofMom.com at her home in Dunellon and driving across Florida to our beachfront resort. The first stop was Blue Springs State Park to kayak up the river to the springhead and tube a bit. I highly recommend stopping at a Florida State Park when driving distances - to get wet and to enjoy the wildlife. This is part of what makes travel fun and educational. Blue Springs did not disappoint. Blue Spring is the largest spring on the St. Johns River, and a designated Manatee Refuge. We were greeted by a red-shouldered hawk posing on the swing set in the Park’s small playground. As we took pictures without scaring it away, the time was getting away from us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PknEY12M-jE&feature=youtu.be Red Shouldered hawk flight in Blue Spring Park. Video by Diane Bedard We walked over to the onsite kayak outfitter and scored an hour-long rental because the run to the springhead would be off-limits to kayakers in 45 minutes. Paddling upriver afforded a view of a lovely manatee and her calf lazing in the river being guarded by a volunteer in a kayak. The volunteer protects the manatees from being harassed by humans… and was entertaining the calf, who kept poking its nose above water and swimming near the volunteer, rolling and returning to its momma.

The Blue Spring Manatee Watch volunteer was pushed in her kayak by the momma manatee when we visited the park. Image by Diane Bedard, Later we witnessed the volunteer being pushed in her kayak by the manatee mom. It is heartwarming to witness the playfulness of these wonderful marine mammals. The spring head has a public dock, with two stair entries for swimmers and tubers. The tubes can be rented onsite for only $5 an hour so we donned our swim clothes and ventured into the 72-degree water with many others. Blue Spring gets crowded, so it is a good idea to get there early. We rented our tubes from an onsite outfitter who had the cutest store and sundries shop.

The Thurby House was built in 1876 for Louis Thurby, who purchased Blue Spring in 1856. Image by Diane Bedard A short visit to the historic Thursby House, built in 1872 for Louis Thurby, who purchased Blue Spring in 1856 and ran the large home as Thursby’s Blue Spring Landing, shipping goods and tourists to Jacksonville and beyond by steamboat. Mrs. Thursby was Orange City’s first Postmistress. Great Cuban Food in Daytona? We found it at Chica's Cuban Cafe

We ate too much but it was so worth it to enjoy the Flan cheesecake at the end. We got to Daytona Beach, and before checking into El Caribe Resort, we needed sustenance, so we found a real gem in Chica’s Cuban Café. Café con Leche, a half Cuban sandwich and some amazing black beans with white rice filled us up, but we had to test the Flan Cheesecake – and it was worth the expansion of stomach – well worth it. Wilbur by the Sea

Wilbur by the Sea features this beautiful historic boathouse, where we enjoyed a buffet, calypso music and the magnificence of the sunset over the Halifax river on which it sits. Image by Diane Bedard We visited the Wilbur by the Sea Boathouse, a beautiful structure on the banks of the Halifax river that was part of an historic community started in 1912 by Jacob Wilbur, a Massachusetts real estate dealer. Wilbur by the Sea is adjacent to a national bird sanctuary, offering lovely sunsets with flocks of egrets and herons gliding by. You can read the story of Wilbur by the Sea’s community here. Airboat Adventure with Captain Joshua

Captain Joshua took us on a fantastic airboat ride on the St. John's river from De Leon Springs State Park. He knows his Florida wildlife and offers gator tours and bow fishing. Image by Diane Bedard Arising early the next morning, we journeyed to DeLeon Springs State Park for an exciting airboat ride up the Saint John’s River with Captain Joshua of Airboat & Gator Charters. Eagles soared overhead, the weather started cloudy and cleared up during our tour, affording us a sighting of a pale rainbow over miles of Florida’s aquatic wilderness. The boat was much quieter than other airboats I have toured on and Captain Joshua was a real sportsman who hunts gator and bowfishes!

De Leon Springs State Park Back to the DeLeon State Park, whose sign reads, “Make a Date with History: Ponce de Leon Springs: Nature’s Cameraland.” The headspring is cemented in like a public swimming pool with ladders to get in and out easily, but the water is 72-degrees year-round and crystal clear like other Florida first-magnitude springs. Got to try the Pancakes - Just sayin' The Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House is our next experience – and one of my favorites from the trip! This historic sugar mill building, with ruins out back from plantation and slavery days when sugar cane was grown and processed using mills to squeeze the juice from the cane plants. Each table inside has a griddle or two in the center and we order all-you-can-eat pancakes for each of us. Pitchers of homemade pancake batters (both a stone-ground mixture of five different flours and an unbleached white flour) are brought to us and we pour them on and flip them over right at our table.

Sally White adds the toppings to our freshly poured pancake creations! Image by Diane Bedard. Then we order separate toppings – everything from pecans to berries to chocolate chips – and we begin cooking our own breakfast. What fun! The restaurant has a history to it also, being owned by the Schwarze family since 1961. Every one of us ate too much and had a blast doing it! The restaurant has a warm, homey feel about it and some nice souvenirs, books, handcrafted artwork, and jewelry available for purchase. Ponce Inlet Lighthouse: 175-feet of Brick Awesome The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse was next on the agenda. This National Historic Landmark came alive through the guide, Dave, who I understood to be the head of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association. What a knowledge powerhouse! I highly recommend scheduling the time for a guided tour, based on this one. The impressive ingenuity of the rolling bench on the porch where we assimilated for our tour caught my eye. We learned that over 1,600,000 bricks were brought to the Ponce Inlet by boat in the 1880s to construct the lighthouse, the two lighthouse keeper homes and assorted buildings for housing supplies. They were brought by boat because 1887 was before railroad service was locally available to this remote location. “The lighthouse is one of the brick giants of the era, and the tallest lighthouse in Florida at 175 feet above sea level. The first 25 feet of the tower were built of brick from New York because southern brick holds too much moisture,” Dave explained.

It's quite a climb to the top of the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, but we just stopped as needed on the way up the tallest lighthouse in Florida. Image by Diane Bedard “Ships delivering the bricks often ran aground on the sandbars common to the inlet. This caused the first contractor to go broke, with thousands of bricks strewn throughout the inlet. Construction was taken over by a Maryland firm, so the bricks above 25 feet are Maryland brick,” he continued.

One of the magnificent view from atop the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Image by Diane Bedard The stories are many and I found them fascinating. Climbing to the top of this engineering marvel allowed us to enjoy some gorgeous views. Next was the Lighthouse Museum which houses Fresnel Lenses of many sizes. These simple glass lenses magnify and direct light beams, so they are seen for long distances. I find Fresnel lenses to be beautiful and was impressed to learn that the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association assists other lighthouses in restoring their Fresnel lenses. There is quite a collection here.

Fresnel lenses of many sizes and configurations are housed in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Museum. Image by Diane Bedard For more information on the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, click here.

Nothing like a Daytona Beach sunrise. Image by Diane Bedard. We returned to our beachfront hotel, which had lovely views of the sunrise and majestic waves rolling in. It wasn’t the fanciest hotel in the area, but the staff was really nice and accommodating and the rates were far better than some. The whole area of Ponce Inlet begs to be explored more, with a Marine Science Center I have yet to explore. Read the full article

#daytonabeach #featured

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walterfrodriguez · 5 years ago

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Heat Map: Here are Miami Heat players’ South Florida real estate

From left: James Johnson, Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James and Chris Bosh (Credit: Getty Images)

After retiring from professional basketball, Miami Heat legend Dwayne Wade put his waterfront Miami Beach home on the market for $33 million last week.

The six-bedroom, 13,800-square-foot mansion at 5980 North Bay Road includes a wine room – likely with some bottles from his winery, D Wade Cellars — a game room, outdoor basketball court and a home theater.

Wade isn’t the only basketball player with an impressive pad in South Florida. Wade’s current and former teammates have also made a splash in real estate, buying luxury homes in Pinecrest, Coconut Grove and Miami Beach.

Below is a list of where current and former Miami Heat players bought or sold homes in South Florida.

LeBron James

Lebron James and 3590-Crystal View Court (Credit: Redfin, Getty Images)

After LeBron James depleted Miami Heat fans’ hopes of winning a championship and took his talents to Cleveland, he sold his mansion at 3590 Crystal View Court in Coconut Grove for $13.4 million in 2015.

The home has a 4,500-square-foot guest section with a lounge and game room, an infinity-edge pool, an outdoor kitchen and a concrete dock with space for two 60-foot yachts. The house also has a private theater, office and a wine cellar fit for a sommelier.

When he put the 12,178-square-foot home on the market in October 2014, James originally wanted $17 million, which was $8 million more than what he paid in 2010.

Chris Bosh

Chris-Bosh and 6396 North Bay Road (Credit: Getty Images, Realtor)

Former Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh and Big 3 member still owns a home just down the street from Wade’s Miami Beach pad.

The ex-Heat star and his wife, Adrienne Williams Bosh, own a 12,400-square-foot estate at 6396 North Bay Road that they put on the market at the end of 2017 for $18 million.

Bosh paid $12.3 million for the seven-bedroom North Bay Road estate in 2010, a year after it was completed. The property includes an infinity-edge pool, boat dock, outdoor kitchen, gym and guesthouse.

James Johnson

James Johnson and 8955 Southwest 63rd Court (Credit: Getty Images, Realtor)

The player who bears the nickname “Bloodsport” for his black belt in karate, bought an estate in Pinecrest for $5.2 million last year.

James Johnson bought the seven-bedroom, 7,700-square-foot home at 8955 Southwest 63rd Court in May 2018. The property initially hit the market in 2016 for $5.35 million, and again in November 2016 for nearly $5.3 million, according to Realtor.com. Johnson was previously renting the house.

The house features a home theater, pool and spa, and an outdoor kitchen.

Erik Spoelstra

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra flipped his Coconut Grove house, selling it at a slight loss in 2017.

In May 2016, Spoelstra paid $2.6 million for the five-bedroom home at 3720 Poinciana Avenue. He listed it in January 2017 for $2.7 million, hoping to make a profit, but sold it for $2.5 million in February 2017.

Built in 1937, the Coconut Grove home sits on a 32,706-square-foot lot with tropical landscaping and a canopy of oak trees. It was recently renovated and features high-end appliances, vaulted wood ceilings, a gourmet kitchen, pool, and a cottage suite with its own kitchen.

Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway

“Lil’ Penny,” who played briefly with the Miami Heat before retiring in 2007, sold his Pinecrest mansion for $2.6 million.

Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway initially listed the 8,639-square-foot home at 5940 Southwest 108th Street for $3.8 million in 2017. The home has six bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms and features a basketball court, home theater, gym, swimming pool and six-car garage.

Hardaway is now the head basketball coach at the University of Memphis.

Hassan Whiteside

Right after signing a four-year, $98 million contract, Heat center Hassan Whiteside bought a new Miami Beach home for $7.3 million in 2016 . Whiteside’s house at 528 Lakeview Court spans 5,406 square feet on 17,676-square-foot property.

Built in 2014, the home features an open floor plan with a gourmet kitchen, pool, bar, summer kitchen, cabana, a guest house with a private entrance, staff quarters, and a large dock.

This summer, Whiteside was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.

Dion Waiters

Despite holding the nickname “Waiters Island,” Dion Waiters chose to buy a non-waterfront mansion in Pinecrest in 2017.

Waiters paid $7.4 million for the mansion at 5745 Southwest 94th Street, property records show. It marked the priciest sale in Pinecrest in 2017.

The custom-built 17,700-square-foot house has nine bedrooms and 10-and-a-half bathrooms. It features a Balinese architectural style and a 20-foot-high ceilings, three terraces and a six-car, two-sided garage.

Mike Miller

Mike Miller was always known for his outside shooting, which could explain why he bought a house away from Miami.

Miller sold his Pompano Beach mansion at 2308 Bay Drive for $5.24 million in 2016. The 9,717-square-foot, three-story home is located in the posh Hillsboro Shores neighborhood of Pompano Beach. Through its large floor-to-ceiling windows, the home overlooks a wide inlet that connects the ocean to Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway.

Ray Allen

Right after Ray Allen’s Heat career ended, he laid down roots in Miami and bought a 10-bedroom Coral Gables home for $11 million. Billionaire medical entrepreneur Miguel Fernandez sold the mansion at 5 Tahiti Beach Island Road to a trust tied to Allen in 2014.

The more than 37,000-square-foot property includes a private beach. Other features include a library, elevator, gym, sauna and spa bath. Property records show the trust tied to Allen still owns the property. Allen retired from the NBA in November 2016 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Pat Riley

Miami Heat President Pat Riley and his wife, Christine, paid $8.1 million for unit 507 in the south tower of the luxury condo-hotel Four Seasons Residences at the Surf Club in Surfside earlier this year, records show.

The unit has four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms.

Fort Partners completed the project in 2017. It includes 150 condo units, a 72-room hotel, a Le Sirenuse restaurant and a Thomas Keller restaurant.

from The Real Deal Miami & Miami Florida Real Estate & Housing News | & Curbed Miami - All https://therealdeal.com/miami/2019/09/23/589071/ via IFTTT

#The Real Deal Miami & Miami Florida Real Estate & Housing News | & Curbed Miami - All

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bluebrightly · 7 years ago

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With sunlight wan and thin here in the Northern hemisphere, this may be a good time for images from warmer places.

For two years running – in 2010 and 2011 – I left ice-cold New York behind and flew south to Fort Myers, midway up Florida’s Gulf coast. It was delightful! Between forays to well-known places like Everglades National Park and Sanibel Island, I roamed the region in a rented car with an eye out for ordinary local scenes. The best part of traveling to my mind is the serendipity of unexpected discoveries, and the discoveries that excite me the most are found in everyday, quotidian spaces, where locals engage in activities unique to the place, buildings display an unpretentious native style, and objects seem to speak a local dialect.

Florida gave up many such surprises – the restaurant with seven vultures hunched on the roof and a vintage pink Mercedes parked in front, the local man fishing atop a precarious mangrove root sticking out of the water, a humble block of pastel vernacular housing just outside the Everglades, a small cemetery hidden away in the dense foliage…

All ordinary in their place, but new and wondrous to my eyes.

The flora and fauna did not disappoint either. I feasted on tall palms and wide beaches, pink flamingos and snowy egrets…but I gave a wide berth to the alligator crossing a sandy, one lane road I was driving. No need to tempt fate. Use the zoom.

Here’s a selection of images from those trips.

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The Photos:

Nine-armed Sea Star (Luidia senegalensis) at Sanibel Island beach. This video shows one slowly crawling back to the water in Naples, an hour north of where I was.

Parking lot palm fronds, near the Fort Meyers airport.

U Pick Citrus sign, Lee County. Once you get away from the coast you find the agriculture. Cattle, goats, chickens, bees, oranges, vegetables – there are hundreds of farms in Lee county; there were 844 farms listed in 2012.

a, b c & d: Scenes from Smallwood’s Store, an historic general store built over the water on an island at the edge of the Everglades. The store is now an informal museum devoted to early life in the area, displaying items like a child’s schoolwork and a bedroom arranged as it may have looked in the 1930’s. Hurricane Irma did some damage this year, but the store is standing and repairs are planned.

A produce market in Immokalee – cheap and local, what could be better? Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc here. The authorities were apparently more interested in policing the wealthier coastal areas than protecting residents in Immokalee, many of whom are undocumented farm laborers and their families, from Haiti and Latin America.

a, b: Evidence of a previous fire disappears quickly in the dense vegetation; a market stand after a rain shower at Immokalee.

All dressed up and nowhere to go? The four inch Lubber grasshopper (Romalea microptera) moves slowly for a grasshopper. Unlike most we’re familiar with, it walks and climbs more often than it jumps. These charmers can spit a spray of toxic chemicals when threatened. They damage crops and are controlled by picking them off, setting traps, and using insecticide. Here are some creative ways locals have dealt these critters a blow or two.

An unidentified mix of Florida plants.

An alligator that I braked for.

A Great blue heron and a fisherman share space amicably on Sanibel Island.

a & b: Sanibel scenes – Willets (Tringa semipalmata) probe for insects and other goodies along the waves’ edge. Sanibel is known world wide for its abundant shells.

A handsome group of White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) next to a shopping mall in Fort Myers. Look closely and you can see a gray youngster in the background.

A Brown pelican perched on a piling in Everglades City. These big birds can have a 6.5 foot (200cm) wingspan. They make dramatic plunge dives for fish, unlike the even larger American white pelican, which catches fish by dipping its pouch-shaped beak in the water while swimming.

a, b, c & d: Local scenes, including a man fishing at dusk from a precarious perch on a mangrove thicket at Rookery Bay, a roadside check cashing establishment, and a heron/egret roost at dusk.

A family barbecue at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve/ Ten Thousand Islands. There used to be hermits living in the Ten Thousand Islands/Everglades area. I don’t know if there are any left, but a local high school class wrote about them back in 1980.

A congregation of alligators, Everglades National Park. (Yes, a congregation is what you call a group of gators!). The American alligator is at the southern edge of its range in the Everglades; the American crocodile reaches its northern limits there.

Seen at the airport. Fill in the tag line, please! 🙂

Homes in Everglades City, population 402 in 2013. The link is to an interesting NY Times article about this historic, out of the way little town.

The Depot Restaurant in Everglades City, with an old pink Mercedes in the lot and a venue of vultures (really, that’s what a group of vultures is called!) on the roof. There were more vultures by the garbage cans out back. This restaurant is now closed.

An old cemetery outside Fort Myers. Poring over a map, I noticed a “Cemetery Road” on the outskirts of a small town. I figured it must lead to a cemetery, probably an old one. It looked out of the way and intriguing, so I drove there. It was a great find and I enjoyed reading the old headstones, observing the mementos placed on graves, and photographing. This man died in 1981. Thirty years later, someone had left a handful of flowers on his grave.

A spontaneous collage. I placed a plant fragment (Tillandsia fasciculata) I picked up on the map I was using, and photographed it. Most of the places I explored are visible on this piece of the map.

A roadside scene in Everglades City.

Looking up into a Royal palm (?) (Roystonea regia) near Edison Park in Fort Myers.

Another mix of tropical flora.

a & b: A Great blue heron and a Snowy egret. Both are common in Florida.

Birders scope a flock of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) at Bunche Beach Preserve. The Black skimmer is one of my (many!) favorite birds. It’s lower mandible is longer than the upper mandible so it just drops its jaw, as it were, and skims food from the surface of the water (link to photo). Of course, this requires the ability to fly steadily just at the surface, making them really fun to watch.

Beautiful Bunche Beach Preserve hearkens back to the old Florida, before rampant building obliterated so much land. Volunteers tore out all the invasive species here. A tidal wetland with beaches, inlets, and mangrove forests, the preserve is known for great birding. Fresh raccoon tracks marked the edge of this inlet.

Spectacular little Sanibel Island is very scenic, but the town can be crowded. As I write, it’s 73 degrees there. It’s 36 degrees here. ) – :

A roadside sunset outside Immokalee. Immokalee is an agricultural center, and is home to many immigrants who work fields of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and citrus. The name means “My Home” in the Mikasuki language of the Miccosukee people. After being pushed out of their original territory, a small group of Miccosukee managed to resist resettlement in Oklahoma by escaping to the Everglades, where they adapted to the unique environment. A road built in 1928 signaled the beginning of assimilation; since gaining US government recognition as an Indian tribe, they have built a golf club and gaming resort, and an “Indian Village.” On this day it had just rained and then the sun came out, setting the road on fire. A fitting end to a stay in Florida.

Warm Places With sunlight wan and thin here in the Northern hemisphere, this may be a good time for images from warmer places.

#Everglades City #FLorida #pelican

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northwestfloridabeachrentals · 2 years ago

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Inlet Beach Vacation Cottage Rentals west Panama City beach vacation rentals, inlet beach vacation home rentals, inlet beach vacation cottage rentals, vacation rentals in west panama city beach.

#House for Rent in Inlet Beach Florida #Inlet Beach Rentals by Owner #beachfront houses inlet beach

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justinwilson0857 · 2 years ago

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Inlet Beach Rentals by Owner 5-bedroom cottage in inlet beach, inlet beach rentals by owner, beachfront houses inlet beach, house for rent in inlet beach Florida.

#House for Rent in Inlet Beach Florida #Inlet Beach Rentals by Owner #beachfront houses inlet beach

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onlinebusinessmagazine · 7 years ago

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Buying a Beach House Presents Many Options

If you are considering buying a beach house for sale in Wrightsville Beach, you have one of several plans in mind. You simply want a great place to live full time or to go for vacations, you are interested in generating some extra income through rentals, you are thinking of a combination of the two or are planning ahead for a beautiful place to retire.

No matter what your reasoning may be for buying a beach house, there are some economic factors to consider.

· As they say in real estate, “location, location, location”! What that means is that being right on the ocean or an inlet will automatically raise the price of a property. The exact same house on the same size piece of land will cost significantly less if you go further inland.

· A mortgage loan may be more difficult to have approved and if you are fortunate, the interest on an investment or vacation property loan will tend to be higher than on a conventional loan.

· Insurance rates will also be higher because of all the potential damage from storms and hurricanes along the beach. While not as steep as the $10,000 cost of flood insurance in Florida, you will still have to pay a good amount to guarantee the repairs on or replacement of a beach house along the North Carolina coast.

· Monthly bills will be more than you pay for an inland primary residence, even if the beach house will be your full-time home. Taxes will be higher simply because the property is worth more. If this purchase is intended to be for an investment, you will have to pay for advertising, rent collection, someone to show the property and possible legal fees arising from tenant issues.

· Property management is an extension of the previous section but represents its own large chunk of what you may expect as income. A property management company takes your place in making sure the property and everything in it is in proper working condition. Unless you are in a position to handle regular maintenance and arrange for repairs when needed, a property management firm is the only way to ensure the safety and quality of your property over time.

It's not all bad

Although that may seem like a great deterrent to buying a beach house for sale in Wrightsville Beach, the bottom line is that you need to go into the purchase with your eyes wide open. There is nothing better than stepping out your back door and being able to stroll along the Atlantic Ocean. There are numerous water sports opportunities and a hiking trail that leads past a protected area for migrating birds. The area is well known for its friendly people and great places to dine and shop. All in all, it is a wonderful place to live or spend your vacation.

For the best service when you are ready to look at any beach house for sale in Wrightsville Beach, contact David Benford Real Estate. The company is local and has been in business for many years by making countless home owners happy.

#beach house for sale wrightsville beach #wrightsville beach nc beach house for sale

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years ago

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A Getaway to Tybee Island — Savannah’s Beach

So many destinations could be summed up with, “If only it had a beach, it would be perfect.”

It’s a designation that Barcelona and Miami hold with pride; it’s something that New Orleans and Tokyo wish they had. Having beach access elevates your city several rungs on the best-place-ever index.

Savannah, Georgia, is one of my favorite cities in the world. And it just so happens to have a beach: Tybee Island. I’ve known about it for a long time — even suggesting a visit in my three-day Savannah itinerary — but I’ve never actually been.

This month, Visit Tybee Island invited me to Tybee to experience it as a standalone destination. A little visit to Savannah would be worked in, of course, but the main goal would be to experience Tybee on its own, not as a side trip.

I went and discovered a throwback island, a quirky island, an island filled with beautiful nature and colorful houses and very friendly people and the best sunrises I’ve seen in years. This is Tybee.

Enjoying Beach Time…in October!

When I stepped off the plane, I was met by a wave of heat. For all my days in Tybee, the temperature was in the mid-eighties with high humidity — a big change from New York, where a recent cold spell had my friends doing emergency harvests to save their tomatoes.

It felt incredible to step back into summer. When out at night, I didn’t even need a cardigan. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the beach — look at all that space!

Also, I was delighted to see what I thought was a baby seagull for the first time in my life, only to be informed by my readers that it is, in fact, a sandpiper.

Enormous Crab Claws Dipped in Butter

As much as I love seafood, I’ve never been a big fan of crab. Perhaps it’s my New England roots. But as soon as I arrived on Tybee, my friends from Visit Tybee and Visit Savannah announced they were taking me to lunch at the Crab Shack!

The Crab Shack is one of the big, casual (and yes, very touristy) restaurants of Tybee, most of it set in a deck overlooking the marsh. We decided to order the sampler plate for three: giant crab legs for each of us, plus shrimp, corn, mussels, sausage and crawfish that you twist in half before peeling apart and eating.

And it was SO good, and no, we didn’t even come close to finishing everything, but the showstopper was the crab claws. I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THIS CRAB. However I’ve been eating crab my whole life, it’s been wrong. There’s nothing better than cracking those open and dipping them into melted butter.

Biking Around and Exploring

The first thing I noticed about Tybee was that it was almost chain-free. There’s a single Subway…and that’s it. No McDonald’s. No Starbucks. And it sounds like such a small thing, but that is an increasingly rare find in the States (not to mention something people are willing to pay money to enjoy).

But who needs chains when you’ve got places like Huc-a-Poos, a kitsch-stuffed dive bar and pizza restaurant featuring all kinds of crazy slices, each of them roughly the size of your head, as satisfying as a meal, and costing only $4?

Or Tybean Art and Coffee Bar, where you can get everything you’d find at Starbucks plus Southern praline lattes, with the addition of art by local artists on the walls…

Or Seaside Sisters, a fun store that goes above and beyond the standard gift shop with lots of cool, artsy items. I may have bought a tea towel with Jesus holding up two cups of coffee that reads, “CAFFEINE SAVES.”

The chain-free atmosphere makes Tybee feel like it’s from a bygone era — a time when people knew the local business owners more intimately.

Tybee has an unpretentious feel to it. This is a down-home Southern destination with quirks in all the right places.

Tybee has a relaxed and unpretentious feel to it. The homes are beautiful, yes, and people take good care of them, but it’s also not out of place to put a surfing Ken doll on your mailbox.

As I explored the island, places kept reminding me of different parts of the United States.

This? Southern California.

These little named houses reminded me of the cottages of Seaside, Florida.

A restaurant like this could be equally home in Maine or New Hampshire.

Any beach town in America, right here.

Tybee is home to a lighthouse and museum, and if you want to get a view of the island, head to the top of it!

I love how this picture feels like a miniature.

When you buy a ticket to the lighthouse, you also get admission to the museum, which is a monument to how the lighthouse keepers once lived. Worth a visit to check out the banisters shaped like lighthouses and the old-timey radio!

“AJ’s is the spot for sunset,” everyone told me when I started planning my trip. Tybee’s beach is along the eastern shore of the island, so the west is a mix of much smaller beaches, marshland, and grassy hills that grow right into the sea. There are lots of homes on the west side but few commercial businesses. AJ’s is one of them — a casual restaurant perched above the shoreline, giving you gorgeous views.

I sat down with a bowl of crab stew and a plate of fried flounder, watching the sky change before me.

Not a bad first day on the island.

Kayaking Through the Islands

Sea kayaking is a popular activity off the shores of Tybee Island. I signed up for a half-day excursion with Sea Kayak Georgia, one of the local providers. They also do SUP and canoe trips, and more intense kayaking trips for experienced sea kayakers.

I’ve never done actual sea kayaking before, but this was a very easy way to start — for the most part, the water was very still, and it was only once we paddled out into the ocean that we had to deal with slight waves. Eventually we let the current take us back to shore — fear not the inadvertent roll!

Little Tybee Island is an uninhabited island just southwest of Tybee, only reachable by boat. That didn’t stop us from running into a local gentleman and his very friendly dog! He had come out on his little boat and sat fishing, soaking up the sun, his long white hair flowing in the breeze.

“Hello!” we called out as we slipped by. “Welcome to another beautiful day in paradise,” he replied.

We would kayak into little inlets, carefully maneuvering around oyster beds and getting lost among the grasses. “If I got left behind, nobody would ever find me,” I remember thinking to myself.

And, predictably, this is where I got messed up — I ended up kayaking straight through grasses taller than my height and got stuck! It took a lot of digging with the oars to release myself from the clench of the grasses.

Kayaking was one of my favorite activities on Tybee. I loved getting to see the natural beauty of the island up close, and it was a perfect complimentary workout to all the biking I was doing. If you get the chance, you should make kayaking on Tybee a priority!

Just the Right Level of Pirate-y

Tybee has a pirate festival every October and I had just barely missed it. Much of the island was still decked out in pirate flags and skeletons. At some point it makes you wonder, “Is this for Pirate Fest, Halloween, or just because people on Tybee are really into pirates?”

The next festival is October 4-7, 2018. Arrrrrrr you ready?

Seeing Dolphins in the Wild

The waters off the north Georgia coast are filled with dolphins. You can see their fins dipping in and out from shore, but you’ll have a much better view if you get out on the water.

There are a few cruise providers in town and I went with Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure for a 60-90 minute cruise.

There’s nothing like seeing your first dolphin in the wild. For me, it was in South Africa, and I nearly burst into tears. And it’s kind of hard to replicate that feeling after you’ve already had it.

But seeing dolphins is ALWAYS a great time. And while I’ve since seen dolphins in places like Belize and Australia, I haven’t seen as many dolphins concentrated in one place as I did in Tybee. They are everywhere. Surfing in and out, enjoying the wake of the boats before them, playing with their friends, grabbing air and diving down below. (And trust me — the real thing is much better than my photographs!)

They love to play. If you luck out, they might sidle up to the boat and do jumps out of the water. If you really luck out, you might see a baby with its mother!

Sandra Bullock has a home on Tybee.

That’s her home above, actually. You can tell because it’s the only one with a locked door on the pathway to the beach.

Best of All: Absolutely Gorgeous Sunrises

It’s pretty rare for me to see a sunrise. Gone are the days when I’m riding a camel across the desert or partying with Vikings until 8:00 AM; these days, I’m likeliest to see a sunrise in the back of a Lyft on the way to JFK, yearning to take a picture of the skyline but knowing it will come out terrible. But time was on my side in Tybee — after several days of early wakeups, I was rising earlier than usual and awoke to brilliant sunrises each morning. It helped that the beaches were on the east side of the island.

I think for this one, the pictures need to do the talking.

In mid-October, the sunrise was it’s most colorful around 7:15-7:30 AM. Not too shabby.

Luxuriating in a Beachfront House

Some destinations are better for hotels — others, you’re better off getting a rental. For Tybee, I definitely recommend a rental in the form of a beach house. There aren’t many hotels, but beach houses dominate the landscape. And staying in a house just fits the whole atmosphere of Tybee much better.

I had a giant three-bedroom house called The Sea Breeze from Tybee Vacation Rentals. No, I definitely did not need three bedrooms and three bathrooms as a solo traveler, but it was nice to see what was out there. This would be an amazing place to rent with a few friends.

This house was filled with everything you could possibly need. One small touch I loved — each light switch was labeled. If you’ve ever rented a house or apartment, you know how long it can take to figure out which light switch goes to each light or fan. I wish more rentals did that.

While technically not right on the sand, there is only one house between it and the beach, plus a private path from the street to the beach.. Beach views from the balcony outside the master bedroom are beautiful.

And THIS was the view of the sunrise from the master bedroom. I literally took this photo through the glass door without leaving my bed.

Surprisingly Posh Dining

As much of a low-key Southern town that Tybee is, I didn’t expect the eats to be on the posh side.

The single best place I ate was called Sundae Cafe. Even in the shoulder season, it’s tough to get in — I had to eat at the bar — but it was so worth it. Pictured above is their seafood cheesecake, made with shrimp, crab, and gouda. I also had a gorgonzola-encrusted filet that blew my mind.

Another hit was Tybee Island Social Club. I imagine this place is hopping during the summer with its party atmosphere, but it was very quiet during my October visit. I feasted on a skillet of manchego cheese with white wine and roasted garlic. Incredible. As was their carne asada taco and pineapple margarita.

But if you want some down-home eats, there are plenty of good spots. I got these shrimp and grits at Sunrise Restaurant, and don’t forget the giant pizza slices at Huc-a-Poos or the diner fare with sunset views at AJ’s. One place that several people recommended me was The Breakfast Club, but unfortunately their AC broke on the day I planned to visit and they closed.

And Just Down the Street…Savannah

Tybee is just a 20-minute drive from Savannah. It’s so close, you must spend a day in Savannah during your time in Tybee!

I’ve written a lot about Savannah — see my list of 16 Reasons to Fall in Love with Savannah — but just know that this city is magical. And unique. And whenever I meet someone abroad who says they want to do a big trip around the States, I try to talk them into adding Savannah to their itinerary.

On this trip, I only had a day — so I hit up my favorite spots as well as a few new places. Unfortunately, it rained most of the day, making it near-impossible to get good photos, so I stuck to indoor photography.

Lunch at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room, of course — one of my favorite restaurants on the planet. Platefuls of Southern dishes that will stick to your ribs, served family-style! Literally everything is outstanding, but I especially love the fried chicken, the cheesy potato gratin, the candied yams, the pickled cucumbers, and the banana pudding they bring around for dessert. Get there early and wait in line. Lunch Monday to Friday only.

The Paris Market, my favorite store in Savannah, filled with all kinds of treasures for your home. I bought a decorative apothecary bottle full of matches that reads Ignite! on the side.

Perhaps my favorite specialty coffee in the world is the lavender spiced mocha at The Collins Quarter. SO good.

I did check out somewhere new — the Owens-Thomas House, one of the houses I hadn’t yet visited in Savannah. I remembered that the guide on my architecture tour last year said that if you visit any one house in Savannah, let this be the one. What a glorious place, and what a technological marvel for the time (indoor plumbing!!).

And a connection for Hamilton fans — Lafayette stayed here when he returned to the United States as an old man. He gave two addresses to Savannah while visiting; some historians believe he gave them from the Owens-Thomas House balcony.

I had to sneak in one more coffee place — The Coffee Fox, which I had often heard recommended but had never visited, despite it being in the heart of town on Broughton St. I loved my horchata latte.

It was a lovely wisp of a day in Savannah. If you’ve only got a few hours to spend there, that’s not a bad way to spend it.

The Takeaway

I’m so glad I finally made it to Tybee — and especially happy that I gave it more than the perfunctory day trip that I thought it deserved.

What I most enjoyed about Tybee were the nature activities — the kayaking and the dolphin-spotting — and that’s what I think makes Tybee special. If I went back, I’d do more tours along those lines — like a lowland tour of the islands, including local Gullah communities, or a Tybee ecology trip.

Also worth noting? Tybee is a bargain. I kept expecting prices to be higher than they were and was pleasantly surprised again and again. It’s not dirt cheap, but you get a lot more for your money than you would in more popular resort towns in Florida or New England.

This was a really nice trip that got me an unexpected tan in the middle of October! I hope you enjoy it, too.

READ NEXT: How to Spend Three Days in Savannah

Essential Info: In Tybee I stayed at a giant three-bedroom house from Tybee Vacation Rentals. It’s called the Sea Breeze and you can see the listing here. Shoulder season rates from $494 per night plus taxes, $45 guest services fee, and $215 cleaning fee. I recommend getting a rental in Tybee if you can, but if you’d rather have a hotel, check out hotel deals in Tybee here.

I got around Tybee Island with a bike from Tim’s Bike and Beach Gear. It was a simple one-speed bike, but it got the job done. Make sure you get a light. Rentals from $12 per day.

You can survive most of Tybee with just a bike, but do know that many of the streets are unlit at night. Especially keep this in mind if you’re going to AJ’s for sunset, as it’s pretty far from the main road. I left immediately after sunset and it was navigable — I was glad I didn’t linger. I also wouldn’t recommend biking all the way to Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure, as it’s pretty far from town and involves highway riding. Uber and Lyft are only sporadically available on Tybee, so call a local cab if you need a ride.

Visiting the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum (the lighthouse) costs $9.

Sea Kayak Georgia offers a variety of kayaking trips, as well as SUP and canoe trips. I took the three-hour half day tour, which costs $55.

Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure offers dolphin cruises for $15 or $18 for sunset dolphin cruises, which I think it a steal.

Admission to the Owens-Thomas House, which includes a tour, is $20. You also receive admission to the Jepson Center and Telfair Academy.

Even in October, it was still quite hot on Tybee and the sun was strong. Be sure to hydrate, wear sunscreen, and treat Tybee like you would any other summer trip.

Even if you’re staying in the United States, don’t travel without travel insurance. Whether you get appendicitis and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen, or an injury means you need to cancel all or part of your trip, travel insurance will help you in your time of need. I use and recommend World Nomads as travel insurance for trips to Tybee Island and Savannah.

This post is brought to you by Visit Tybee Island, who covered my trip expenses in full including flights, accommodation, activities, and most meals, though I paid for a few cheap meals and incidentals out of pocket. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Have you ever been to Tybee Island? Does it look like your kind of destination?

The post A Getaway to Tybee Island — Savannah’s Beach appeared first on Adventurous Kate.

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chrisfinancialadvisor · 7 years ago

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4318 S Atlantic Ave, Wilbur By The Sea, FL 32127

4318 S Atlantic Ave, Wilbur By The Sea, FL 32127 This property is a wholesale investment opportunity and is currently under contract. We are looking for a cash buyer to assign the purchase contract over to. Price: $279,900 + $5,000 Buyer's fee ARV: $550,000+ Bed: 4 Bath: 2 Ext Const: Block Built: 1970 Pool: Ingorund Sqft: 2,208 Ppsf: 122.23 Tax/Yr: 5,251.00 HOA: None County: Volusia Avg Rent = 3500/mo Gross ROI: 15.56% CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICTURES AND COMPS Property Overview: BOTH OCEAN VIEW AND RIVER VIEW. It doesn't get any better than a gorgeous beach house flip. This amazing house sits directly across the beach front. Houses in this are rare to come by, let alone a property that has the ability to make this much in pure profit. Home prices in this area go for 250 a sqft and up. Buyers from all over the world are looking for these million dollar views. This is your chance to put your money to work as you remodel and build equity by the day. 32127 market trends indicate an increase of 45,300 (16%) in median home sales over the past year. Call now to set up an appointment. Property Features include; Sturdy concrete block constructed pool home. Large sunbathing deck on top of the home, perfect for catching both beach & river views. Approximately one hour to Orlando, St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral & other popular destinations. Ponce Inlet is a barrier island and home of the historic Ponce de Leon Lighthouse & Jetty Park. It's beautiful sugar sand beaches, walking, biking & nature trails, great charter fishing, surfing & all water sports offers Florida beachside living at it's finest Flip Rehab: 80-100K This property deserves a full overhaul. Stay light and simple or go with the high end finishes getting the high price point. Interior/Exterior paint, new HVAC, roof, kitchen and bath updates, Windows, drywall, Knockdown some wall structures, flooring, cosmetic upgrades. Read the full article

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nordpol-blog · 7 years ago

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Dream Vacations At Destin Florida Vacation Rentals

The very first day in your Destin vacation hire may affirm your final decision to create Destin your holiday spot. Together with your steaming glass of espresso, stage onto the balcony of your Destin condominium and feel the Gulf wind gently wasting in as the seaside under concerns life. Do not concern yourself with what the day will bring. You're at the seaside and you are on vacation. Burying your feet in the white-sand seaside will likely be your first priority. Spending each day or destin vacation rental per cent of a time on among the beaches of Florida's Emerald Shore will soon be like taking a serious air and exhaling the strain of one's working life. On a holiday in Destin you have the option of cleaning out like a sandcastle in the climbing hold or being as effective whilst the dunes crashing on the shore. There is you should not just sit on the seaside and look at the water, though. In Destin you can have a great time in the water and on the water. Book a raft or kayak for paddling the bays and inlets or show up the juice by renting a Jet Ski for some fast-paced water adventure. Once you rent a secondary home in Destin, it's easy to create your personal kayak, Jet Snow or vessel and store it securely when you are perhaps not on the water. You do not have to do all the task when discovering the seas of the Gulf of Mexico, however. Charter a fishing boat and let another person do the steering when you wait for a tug on the line, begin to see the dolphins at enjoy or appreciate meal on a sunset sail to cover the day. If you are feeling adventurous, register for browsing instructions and test your equilibrium on a surfboard. Other recreational activities you are able to pursue around Destin include tennis, golf and horseback riding. There are plenty of attractions about Destin to satisfy a range of tastes. The Monitor Family Sport Center might be ideal for people using its little tennis, go-karts, bumper cars and arcades. The Gulfarium features a dolphin display, ocean lion display and a show with equally animals swimming next to each other. Large Kahuna's Water Park is still another family destination. For those with an hearing for audio, the Sinfonia Gulf Coast puts a contemporary touch to conventional orchestral works. For the annals enthusiasts among you, the Previous Destin Article Company features items of Destin's pioneers. The Air Power Armament Museum (closer to Fort Walton Beach) reveals airplane and hands relationship back once again to Earth Conflict I. And, of course, Destin's scenery itself is to be enjoyed on various rise and bicycle trails that wind through the area. Your accommodations will play a role in the way you enjoy Destin. Several condos in Destin are on or really near the white-sand beaches of Florida's Emerald Coast, so called for the shining emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico. If the seaside or the Gulf seas will be the emphasis of your much-needed and well-deserved holiday, you will likely desire to book a Destin condo. Perhaps you are thinking that a condominium seems little, particularly when you're traveling with children. Many Destin residence rentals have several bedrooms with mixtures of bedrooms that enable mobility for individuals or friends traveling together. But there's also many houses for book in Destin and these also come in varying dimensions to allow for various sets of travelers.

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naturecoaster · 5 years ago

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Daytona, Daytona Beach & West Volusia Outdoor & History Tour

Fresnel lenses of many sizes and configurations are housed in the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Museum. Image by Diane Bedard For more information on the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, click here.

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randomconnections · 8 years ago

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Florida Sojourn

It’s bad when your biggest stumbling block to writing is coming up with a post title. I didn’t want yet another post entitled “Update” or something like that. Yet, that’s what this post is. A bunch of stuff happened since the last post, but not much of it blog-worthy. The biggest thing was a trip back down to Florida, where we did see some cool new things.

We are in the midst of home repairs. There was some rotted fascia that needed replacing and our upper deck was in shambles. With all of that going on I didn’t feel like I could leave the house for a photo exploration, and I probably won’t do another one until this is done.

That doesn’t mean we didn’t get away. Amy had a conference, so Laura headed down to Florida to house/dog sit for her and to do some work on her mom’s estate. She flew down on a Wednesday and I hung back to ride herd on the home repair. I would join her later.

The following Sunday was the christening for my newest great-niece, Ronan Stines. It was good to get together with family, especially for a joyous celebration. This was the first time I’d met my new niece. I also got to hear Cynthia preach for the first time. Stephen and Cynthia had us all over to their house for a gathering to celebrate Ronan and her parents, Lauren and Daniel.

After the gathering I continued southward toward Florida, leaving Glynda to handle the contractors at the house. I drove straight on through, arriving at Fort Pierce at about 9:00 pm.

This was the first long drive I’ve made in the new car. Rambulus did very well, but I’m still getting used to all of the automated safety features. I’ve decided that I really like back-up cameras. The lane-drift alarm could get annoying, and when I turned on the feature that automatically steers you back into your lane, I felt like I was being buffeted by high winds. My favorite feature, though, was the ability to pace the car in front of you when you’re on cruise control. I think this car will do nicely for our trip across country later this month.

Kayaking in Florida

When I got to Fort Pierce I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do any kayaking. Tropical Storm Emily had just developed in the Gulf, first hitting Tampa, then making its way across. We got heavy rains, but it seemed no different than any other summer storm we get down here. Even so, Laura and I spent Monday just driving around Vero Beach in the rain, exploring.

Tuesday was a bit better, so I did get out for a paddling trip. I did my now-typical route out around the spoil islands.

This has gotten to be such a common trip for me that I didn’t take many photos. The next day was beautiful and the river was flat. I headed out for a sunrise paddle.

The typical weather pattern was for it to be clear in the morning with storms developing in the afternoon/evening. I confined my paddling to morning trips. I took one last trip on Thursday morning out to the old inlet and mangroves. On this trip I found myself in a herd of manatees. They didn’t bump my boat this time, but a young manatee did swim right under the kayak. Of course I didn’t have a camera ready for that event.

Each of these trips was only about 4 miles, for a little over 12 miles total. I seem to have slowed somewhat on my mileage accumulation. I’ve only got 161 miles. Yet, I’m still ahead of last year’s pace. I only had 119 miles by this time last year. I’ve got a longer trip coming up this Saturday, but I think my pace will fall off again as we make the move westward.

Exploring New Areas

Laura and did take some time to explore new areas. On Wednesday we had to pick up Amy at the airport in Orlando. We left early enough to take a leisurely drive along US 1 through Sebastian, then explored Ikea when we got to Orlando. The return trip was also through back roads, taking us through the “lake district” of the state. I was reminded of my recent trip to the eastern part of South Carolina. There are so many cool places that people tend to bypass on their way to somewhere else.

The next day when Amy was back at work Laura and I did some more exploring. This time we visited the Fellsmere Stick Marsh area. There is a section of the Florida Birding Trail that runs through this area, and we wanted to see if any wildlife would be out on these hot days.

We headed north from Fellsmere on Highway 507, then turned west onto the Fellsmere Grade Road, a dirt road running straight for six miles between two canals. The Fellsmere Grade was once a major thoroughfare into Central Florida. According to a historical marker along the way…

Fellsmere, the northernmost town in St. Lucie County in 1919, had a population of over 800 people. The county built the first public road to cross the St. Johns River marsh in St. Lucie County (now Indian River County). Promote as the Fellsmere-Tampa cross state road, this road allowed travel between the interior and the coast. From 1919 until the 1940´s, this road served as an important transportation route from Fellsmere, across the river to Kenansville, the sawmill at Holopaw, and the cattle markets of Kissimmee, but it never reached Tampa. During these decades it became a state road (SSR 170) and provided a corridor to Central Florida and a recreational access to the St. Johns River marshes. The town of Fellsmere was dependent on the sportsmen attracted to these resources. In the late 1940´s the bridges burned across the river and the Fellsmere Grade ended in the marsh six miles from this site. Today this road serves the public as a recreational access.

The road ends at a recreation area and boat ramp that provides access to the Blue Cypress Swamp area. It was blazing hot when we arrived, so we didn’t get out of the car for long. This looks like a great place to launch a kayak for when it’s cooler.

Another road continues across the northern canal. This road is only open to the public on Mondays and Thursdays, which was lucky for us, since this was a Thursday. A narrow dirt road wends across several dikes with views across wetlands. We spotted several birds, including several roseated spoonbills.

Down one side road we found a bird observation tower. It was almost overgrown and looked neglected. Laura was skeptical, but I decided to climb it anyway, despite the heat of the day and tall grass. It provided much better views across the wetlands.

We reached a point where a sign stated “No motorized vehicles beyond this point.” I managed to get us turned around and we backtracked down the road. To the east a large storm was building and I didn’t want to get stuck on a dirt road in a downpour.

This was a nice addition to our list of places in Florida, and I want to come back when it’s cooler.

Family Business and Family Visits

Part of the reason for the trip was to do some work on Mrs. Wright’s estate. Amy and Laura managed to close a couple of her accounts and roll them over into the estate account. One of the Washington banks had a branch near West Palm, so Laura and I headed down that way. Turns out that we were just a few minutes from my niece, Katie, in Jupiter, so we ran over to visit her. Katie, Aaron, and their boys, Jackson and Carson, were available for the afternoon, so we had a great visit with them. From there we took the long way home along US 1.

Later in week I rented a U-Haul and we loaded a couple of pieces of Mrs. Wright’s furniture to take back to South Carolina. It would be a proof-of-concept as to whether or not we wanted to drag one of these things all the way across country.

However, we were not done with Florida. On Friday we left Amy’s and drove across the state to visit Chip and Anna in their new home in Tampa. It would be my first visit to the Gulf Coast.

We had a great visit with my nephew and his family. We played with the kids, Ethan and Olivia, and Chip and I stayed up far too late watching movies and just talking. On Saturday we drove over to Anna Maria Island and had a beach day. Sunday we headed to a street festival in a section of Tampa. I don’t think I took any photos, but just enjoyed our time there.

Monday we said our good-byes and made the long trek home. This time we drove up I-75 through Atlanta and saw even more new territory. The trailer did OK, but the aggravation of it made me rethink our travel strategies for later this month. We’ll see.

Back at home the new deck was coming along nicely and the cats were happy to see us.

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