Geological Road Trip Through Florida!

In July, we did a fantastic road trip through Florida! It was like a geological road trip because we stopped at springs, swimming holes, sinkholes, and even a cave with stalactites and stalagmites! It gave us an appreciation for what a varied and beautiful state this is! First stop was Gainesville, which is a beautiful city with some amazing streets of tall, jungly trees. We went to the best butterfly conservatory at Florida Museum of Natural History where the butterflies were really hanging around us rather than just zooming by. We walked down into a gloriously beautiful sinkhole called Devil’s Millhopper, and then swam at blue-green Ichetucknee Springs, which was bliss!
Further north we visited the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center where we saw the loveliest dioramas of his classic American songs such as O! Susanna. They were lit with romantic lighting and had moving parts that were so lifelike! We walked by the Suwanee River (not that pretty) and listened to a performance in the bell-tower. Then we explored the ruins of White Sulphur Spring just outside the park- an interesting spot- glad we didn’t fall in because the wood was sounding pretty worn!
We drove along country roads and Highway 10 to Tallahassee where we visited the old and new capitol buildings. What a contrast- the old being gorgeous and the new an eyesore! We weren’t that impressed with Tallahassee but we did enjoy a delicious dinner at a Thai restaurant with a really friendly owner. It was called Reangthai and I recommend it!
The next day, we headed for the Florida Caverns State Park, where we did a tour of the cavern. Wow! You walk to more and more rooms, each more beautiful than the last, with stalactities, stalagmites, rimpools, soda straws, columns, and draperies! We even saw little bats. You have to see this place if you can! We fell in love with the blue pool here- what a mystical place!
Continuing on the road, we headed for Pensacola, where we did a kid-friendly activity, the Pensacola Mess Hall. School-aged kids adore this place, where they can go from one hands-on activity to the next! At sunset we built sandcastles in the squeaky white sand at Pensacola Beach– what a wonderful day!
The entire next morning was spent at the impressive National Naval Aviation Museum where there are some amazing fighter planes, exhibits about World War II and Vietnam, and IMAX films! The rest of the afternoon was a bit of a dud, with a horrible visit to Pensacola Lighthouse, and hours spent in traffic and a change of plans on the coastline along the Panhandle. There are too many beachgoers from Alabama on the coast here in summer!
Heading back home, we had a bit of a mosquitoey, hot walk at Leon Sinks Geological Area- didn’t make it to any of the deep blue sinkholes. We visited Edward Ball Wakulla Springs which is absolutely gorgeous and magical, but closed as we arrived because of lightning.
St. Marks Lighthouse made for a lovely stop in a wild, wide open area- what joy this place gave us as we watched dolphins leap to catch fish! We stopped for a swim at the blue hole at Ichetucknee Springs and then in Gainesville for a DELICIOUS meal in the colorful and clean Reggae Shack Cafe- much yummier than it sounds!
Before heading to home sweet home the next day, we had a glass bottom boat ride over crystal clear Silver Springs and then walked in the wonderful gardens (the only other spot with mosquitoes on the whole trip). What a pretty place with a great history! The alligators in the springs made me disconcerted since I’d always believed alligators don’t go in springs because of the cold water. This made me rethink my swim the day before in the black waters of blue hole at Ichetucknee with a shudder!
Wonderful trip and so grateful to have done it! The driving wasn’t so bad at all, as we had movies and apps for our daughter and an audiobook (Orange is the New Black) for ourselves! To more road trips in the future!

Geological Road Trip Through Florida!

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