Florida 2013 Day 6

I am a day behind in posting again and I have reached the point in vacation where I no longer know what day of the week it is. Vacation is winding down, almost time to head home to winter after a week of above average temperatures in southwest Florida.

Day 6  was the day for the Ringling Art Museum in Sarasota. I took my time getting on the road so I didn't get there until 1 o'clock. I could have used all day ~ at the complex there are 2 art museums, 2 circus museums, the Ringling's mansion, and gardens. I didn't get to the art museums - one has the Ringling's art collection and one has visiting shows, also didn't tour their mansion, just walked around the exterior. I split the pix into 3 different albums so it wouldn't be as overwhelming to click through all of them.

The circus museums are in 2 adjoining buildings. The first has an amazing model showing what a circus was like 'back in the day' when they traveled from town to town by train carrying everything they needed and setting up the big top. They also have displays of all things circus -with great informational signs. Here are the pix of things circus CLICK

The second museum showcases the trains, trucks, and wagons that were such a part of the circus experience.

There are 2 gardens - Mable Ringling's Roses and her Secret Garden. Both provided plenty of photo ops. CLICK to see the roses.

Ca' d'Zan was the Ringling's palatial home with a waterfront setting. I didn't take the tour of the interior. Here are pix of the grounds, the mansion, and the secret garden. CLICK

Pedometer showed 7373 steps at the end of the day, I was surprised it wasn't more than that!

Florida 2013 Day 5

It's reached the point of vacation where I no longer know what day of the week it is ~ and that's not a bad thing.  Today was day 5 of getting out and about with my camera and 2nd day with Blair. Having a photography companion can be fun. Blair and I work well together because of similar interests, he also keeps my pace slow so I see things that I might otherwise miss. Blair has limitations on his walking so I will sometimes leave him to rest in the shade and explore a little on my own. It's also nice heading out with a local driving - Blair finds his way around the area without having to listen to a gps and he also knows of local spots that I probably wouldn't have discovered on my own.

Our first stop was the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium in Ft Myers. I really enjoyed it and wrote a Trip Advisor review for them. They had a nice collection of animals on display - from frogs to snakes to birds to a feral hog. There were about 10 raptors that were is a rehab aviary - sad to think of these powerful birds unable to fly free. Their butterfly aviary didn't have any butterflies - staff member told us they were having trouble with lizards. There were 2 short loop trails about 1/2 mile in length - Blair and I walked the swamp trail, it was a boardwalk so easy going. When we got back to the Nature Center Blair was ready to sit in the shade - I headed out on their longer trail - about 1.3 miles. Came across a tall tall pine tree with sap dripping into stalactites - great photo op. There were only a few other people at the Nature Center and no one else on the long trail.We didn't go to the planetarium show. We spent about 3 hours at Calusa Nature Center exploring and photographing. CLICK for pix.

Next we headed back to Cape Coral. Blair remembered there were places where we might be able to view burrowing owls. Once we were over there we saw signs telling us that the Cape Coral Burrowing Owl Festival is on Saturday! Decided we were happy to be looking for them the day before the festival. We located a nesting site along a residential street and next to a sports complex ball field. On of the sites had a pair of little owls that we quite cooperative as photo subjects. I love them. CLICK for burrowing owl pix. I could have deleted some of these because they are similar.

We went back to Miceli's on Matlacha for a late lunch by the canal. It was nice to sit in the shade and eat lunch outdoors in February. The weather has been perfect this week - I have been tempted to complain about being hot! I haven't needed any of the warm clothes that I packed because temps have been in the 80's every day.

Last stop of the day was the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve also on Cape Coral. We didn't get there until 5 and the park closes at sunset. There is a long boardwalk trail through a mangrove forest. We walked all 1.25 miles of it - a very very long walk for Blair! He stopped at every bench to rest his aching feet. It was after sunset by the time we got back to the parking lot and the park ranger was waiting so he could lock the gate. Again there were few other people around but it's near a main road so the sound a traffic was always audible. There are several monuments to veterans as park of the park - seemed like a strange place for them. CLICK for pix.

One more full day in Florida before heading home. Looks like the storm forecast for Sunday has been downgraded a bit so I should be able to get home as planned.

Florida 2013 Day 4

Spent today in Naples, FL. The weather has turned hot, but after the cold at home I am trying not to complain about it. But boy 82º is toasty - I appreciated the breeze.

Finally finished going through the last batch of photos from yesterday - sunset at Bunche Beach. CLICK

First stop on Day 4 was the Naples Botanical Garden. They have a variety of different gardens - Florida , Idea , Succulent, Asian, and more. There is a Butterfly Enclosure in the Children's Garden - best butterfly exhibit I've seen on this visit (4th one). There were lots of docents around the Gardens who were happy to share information or answer questions. They have a ZimSculpt exhibition going on so there were sculptures throughout the gardens. CLICK

Next stop was the Naples Zoo. Nothing remarkable about this zoo - I wasn't impressed, but I wasn't disappointed either. Their primate exhibit is a lake full of islands with different species on each island. No fences. because the animals don't swim. They have a boat tour that goes around the island - it was interesting. The zoo seems to have a focus on educating the public which was nice. Not too many pix - CLICK.

After the zoo I met my friend Nancy for dinner. We used to volunteer together at GBH Auction. Now she and her husband Bud live in Naples so it's nice to get together and catch up when I am in the area.

More photography plans with Blair for tomorrow. I am watching the weather forecast for Boston for the weekend - more snow is on the way and I am wondering if I will get home as planned or get to spend an extra day in the sunshine!

Florida 2013 Day 3 extras

Taking my time this morning before heading south to Naples ~ decided it would be good to catch up with yesterday's photos before adding more! Still have one more batch to do... but I want to get going soon ~

Here's the Rotary Park, Cape Coral batch. CLICK  I went for a nice walk while Blair rested his feet. It was hot, especially when I lost the breeze. After New England this winter I am not used to 80 degrees. Plenty of sunscreen has kept me sunburn free so far.

And then one of my favorite photo ops so far ~ an eagle's nest! This is a tree in an empty lot on a residential street. Blair told me there are several nesting pairs of eagles in Cape Coral - this one has the best view for photographers. When I started watching the nest all I could see was twigs. Then I thought I saw a little movement. Swoop - in came mama (or maybe it was dad) and the little guy had known she was coming. I just kept clicking :-) Mama moved off a little ways and I could still hear the little guy calling out. All of a sudden I noticed more movement in the nest and up popped baby #2 - that's where the sound was coming from - he wanted lunch too but was seemed to be hesitant to hop up and eat. CLICK to see the sequence.

Okay - time to get moving. Batteries are charged - ready for another day of photography, Clearly I have missed the good light of morning. It was worth it to sleep a little later and catch up with editing.

Florida 2013 Day 3

Another evening without enough time to write about the day's adventures because of so many stops along the way leading to lots of photos to edit!

Let's start with finishing up yesterday's photos. These are pix I created at Gatorland after my Trainer for a Day experience. CLICK

Today was another early start (what's wrong with me? this is vacation) with Blair picking me up shortly after 8. We made a quick stop at Bunche Beach - a place we have explored with our cameras before. It's down the street from my motel so it was sort of on our way. Stop #2 was a place in Ft Myers called Butterfly Estates. It's web site description sounded better than the actual experience. It was expensive for the amount of time you needed to see everything. Got a few pix that I like, but not as good a stop as I had hoped for. CLICK for pix. Best part was finding a necklace in their gift shop that I hope to wear as mother-of-the-groom next October! And I got a great discount.

After that we headed to another place with butterflies - Rotary Park. I went for a nice walk while Blair rested his feet. It was hot, especially when I lost the breeze. Haven't edited those pix yet.

Also haven't edited the pix of the eagles! I was so excited to see an eagle and 2 chicks! I used Blair's spotting scope and got some wonderful pix, but they will have to wait until tomorrow - except for this one which makes me giggle ~

Next we made a quick stop at the kayak shop where Blair has ordered a new kayak and he has been patiently waiting for all the parts to arrive. It's going to be quite a vessel once it's ready for the water - paddle by hand or by foot, a sail, and a motor! The guy at the kayak store recommended a nice place down the road for lunch - I think it was around 3 o'clock by then.


After we ate we stopped at a park in Matlacha (pronounced "MAT-la-shay") and I made friends with a yellow crowned night heron and a little blue heron.  CLICK

Final stop (hope I haven't forgotten anything) was a return to Bunche Beach to wait for sunset. I haven't edited those photos yet - but here's one to end this post! The rest should make it here tomorrow - depending on how many pix I take in Naples and what time I get back...

Florida 2013 Day 2

So many photos and not enough time to write about my day... so this is a quick post with links, details will have to wait!

In brief ~ I did the Trainer for a Day program at Gatorland in Orlando this morning. I had to be there at 8 and then got to spend 2 hours with a trainer before the park opened at 10. Tim was my trainer ~ and he was from Boston! We had a great time and he worked hard to get me as my photo ops as possible with a wide variety of critters. I stayed at Gatorland until after 1 o'clock ~

So here are pix of the critters CLICK

And here are pix taken in the Rookery CLICK

I have more pictures of Gatorland taken after the trainer experience, but they will have to be added another time.

After Gatorland it was time to head southwest to Ft Myers. Stopped at the Manatee Viewing Area in Tampa along the way. CLICK to see the manatees.

Florida 2013 Day 1

Well it was 14º when I got up this morning - perfect day to head to Florida for a week of fun with my camera! Jon was kind enough to get up early to get me to the airport. Check in & security were quick and easy despite longs lines. Saw Stephanie Cohen (K teacher) in line - she was headed to Colorado with her family. Smooth flight and we arrived early. Baggage claim was a long way from the gate so by the time I got there the suitcases were starting to arrive and I didn't have a wait. I have rapid check in for rental car so that was easy too. Love it when traveling goes smoothly - hope this continues!

First photo stop was Lukas Nursery and Butterfly Encounter in Oviedo just outside Orlando. There weren't too many butterflies because it's February, plenty of flowers - a relaxing time - it was warm, there were water features so there was the sound of running water, and they had tranquil music playing. They had a special space called the rejuvenation station that had painted lady butterflies that you are allowed to hold. You dip a finger in a cup of nectar then pick up a butterfly the same way you would get a parakeet to get on your finger. It was great for photography. Click here for all the photos.

Stopped at Target to get some provisions - cheaper to buy Coke there than from the hotel vending machine! Saw 2 ladies wearing winter boots because it's 'cold' down here - made me giggle because it was in the upper 60's!

After checking in to hotel and resting for a bit I headed to Downtown Disney. Just wandered up and down the walkway, did some people watching, and took some pix. There were herons and egrets flying in to roost for the night. Again people were wearing all sorts of clothing because of the weather, some people looked like they wished they had brought a few more layers! Click here for Downtown Disney pix.
Had to skip my tradition of going to see Cirque Du Soleil's La Nouba because they don't have shows on Mondays. I did treat myself to a new bag in their store ~ and it was on sale. Kept the tradition of chocolate covered strawberries - and got 2 for the price of one because they were stuck together.

Fun day planned for tomorrow ~ camera will be busy. I have to be up and out bright and early!