What better place to start taking it easy and slowing down than the Florida Keys. We will have to learn how to sit still and relax as these are not our strong points.
Our first campground was the southern most state park you can stay at, Bahia Honda State Park. We stayed 6 nights allowing us to unwind, explore the park and drive down to Key West to check out the southern most state park, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and stroll around Key West. We visited the cemetery, lunched at Louies Backyard, did a little rum tasting at the Key West Legal Rum Distillery and took in the sunset acts at Mallory Square. Watching the weather is key when camping and planning outdoor activities. Even during the Florida winter the weather was beautiful. The wind was calm enough to kayak 5 miles on the ocean side of the island and check out the boat that ran aground on a near shore reef and we watched pelican flying and diving for hours. Eating out at No Name Pub is a given when we are in the area as their fish dip and pizza are awesome. There is also a greater chance of seeing the endangered Key Deer as they roam the streets and yards around the restaruant.
Interesting fact: July 1865, Dr Samuel Mudd was held prisioner at Fort Zachary Taylor before being transferred to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. Dr Mudd was involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
We were also able to book John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for a few days. This park is know for the Christ Statue and the snorkeling, which I was hoping to see but the weather did not co-operate. It was windy and going out 5 miles to the reef to snorkel was not in my best interest as the waves would be pounding the boat as it was anchored. We did however get to visit thier awesome nature center, and kayak 7 miles through the mangroves. Having purchased the state park annual pass we explored Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park. This park has numerous trails which educate you on the various trees of the keys and the history of mining the coral for Flaglers railroad that was built in the early 1900’s. One of the railroad bridges is still standing at Bahia Honda State Park. See the sunset pictures above.
While the weather was not completly ideal, the cold fronts did not bring snow like it did in northern Florida nor was it hot and muggy. The weather only stopped us from snorkling as the wind kicked up the waves and reduced visibility to less than 10 feet.
Wildlife sightings: Brown pelicans, Magnificent Frigate bird, Ruddy Turnstone, Ring-billed Gull, Royal Terns, American kestrel, corn snake, Yellow-crown night heron, stingray, Manatee, Tarpon, Green turtle, tree snails, roosters and chickens, Great Egret, Reddish Egret, Cassius Blue, Mangrove Skipper, Twin-spot Skipper, Green Orchid bee, Silver Argiope Spider, Iguana
Nature Moments
Brown pelicans feeding in the calm turquoise waters of Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pie Key FL
Note: All photos and videos unless otherwise stated are property of Wayne and Margaret Shoemake. If you would like to use any of them please email us at [email protected].