If you’ve got a kayak, and you’re within driving distance to the St. Petersburg area, I highly recommend a trip to Weedon Island Preserve. There are paddling trails which will take you cruising past mangroves, you’ll be able to see wild dolphins, birds, and tortoises. Maybe even sharks and manatees!

You landlubbers can enjoy The Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center and it’s exhibits. There are also workshops with ecologists, marine biologists, and archaeologists.

We spent our Memorial Day at the beach. After going to a less than stellar local beach last year for 4th of July, we decided to go all out for Memorial Day, which prompted a trip to St. Petersburg, Fl to visit Fort Desoto. After all, if you’re going to go to the beach, wouldn’t you want to go to one of North America’s BEST beaches? (Yup, Dr. Beach, aka Dr. Steven Leatherman, named Fort Desoto one of the best in 2005.)

It had been YEARS since I had been to Fort Desoto, so I was excited to take my kids for their first trip. The first thing you need to know is that it’s not just a beach, it’s part of the Pinellas County Parks System, and it is the largest park in the system. It’s over 1100 acres and 5 interconnected barried islands, and the park has been open since the 1960’s. The fort had it’s heyday long ago though, when it was actually used as a fort.

Prior to the Civil War, Robert E. Lee recommended that the area that would become Fort Desoto (it’s technically a “key”, not an island) be fortified. Union troops were stationed at the fort during the war, and later on, the fort became a quarantine station. Later on, Pinellas County purchased the key and built a toll road to allow visitors to get there via car. The batteries of the fort are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Not only is it a historic site, and a beach, but you can picnic, fish, canoe, hike, and camp, or launch your boat from the 800 foot long boat launch with its 11 floating docks. There’s even a pet playground! All of this with 7 miles of beach, shelling, and beautiful surf and sand. You can enjoy the Gulf of Mexico and views outward from the North Beach, or enjoy the St. Petersburg skyline from the East Beach. It’s worth the trip!

I came across an amazing website this morning talking about Florida’s Springs. When most of us think of the water in Florida, we think of either the gulf, or the ocean. We forget about the crystal clear springs located all over the state in between those 2 big bodies of water. The water rises up from the aquifer, and it’s always cold, clear, and refreshing. If you ever get the chance to snorkel or swim in a spring, you’ll be able to see down all the way to the bottom - even if the bottom is 50 feet down! Some of the parks along the springs, like Silver Springs, offer you the chance to tour the springs in a glass bottomed boat, and it’s an amazing view into the depths.

If you’re looking for a day trip close to Tampa that will take you back to nature, look no further than Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. The park is located in Citrus County, approximately 1 hour north of Tampa, and is easily accessible from U.S. 19 or the Suncoast/Veteran’s Expressway. You’ll enter the park through the welcome center located off the highway, and after paying your admission fee, you can catch the tram or a boat to the main entrance. For first time visitors, I recommend the boat - it takes a few minutes longer, but a slow ride down Pepper Creek is just the right thing to get you in the mood for this old Florida adventure. You’ll be able to see alligators, birds, and even turtles on your ride, and before you know it, you’ll be stepping off and entering the park.

The park is designed to be one big circle, so no matter where you start, you’ll see it all. There is a boardwalk to follow that will take you past all of the animals and birds at the park, including bobcats, bears, deer, alligators, manatees, and even a hippo! You can attend educational programs (offered several times through out the day) to learn more about Florida wildlife, alligators, and the hippo.

One of the parks best features is the ability to see manatees in their natural habitat. On the day we visited, we were a few feet away from a manatee at the river’s edge. You can also go underwater by entering The Fish Bowl, to get a unique perspective on fish and manatees swimming in the crystal clear spring water. If creepy crawlies are more your thing, visit the reptile house to see native snakes. (It also provides a good chance to show your children what poisonous snakes look like in a safe setting!) The park also hosts special events including arts and craft shows and gardening workshops. It’s a unique place to take your kids unlike most other parks - there are no thrill rides, no stands hawking t-shirts, and no people dressed up in costumes posing for pictures. Another reason this park is family friend - the entire park is a no smoking zone! For more information, visit the website for Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park or call:

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd.
Homosassa, Florida 34446
Phone: 352-628-5343
Fax: 352-628-4243

This is one park, that while a bit off the beaten path, is definitely worth the trip!