Florida to the Keys

On May 29, we began our journey to the southernmost spot in the 48 contiguous United States . Our trek was overflowing with adventures along the way.

The first placed we stopped en route was Wakulla Springs. Florida .  Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park spans 2,860 acres of nature preserve and wildlife sanctuary includes one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs. An average of 250 million gallons of pristine water flows from Wakulla Spring each day.

Wakulla Springs offered a Ranger guided boat tour of the natural spring area where wildlife is abundant and boat traffic is limited to only the park tour boats. The tour boat made for great photographic opportunities as a Park Ranger shares the mysteries and history of this unique natural area. Park Ranger navigated the boat for the 3-mile round trip down the Wakulla River introducing us to the “Real Florida”. We loved it!

If observing alligators and other wildlife in their natural habitat is what you are looking for then Wakulla Springs is the place to visit. The unforgettable expressions of the uncommon Limpkin, guttural call of the moorhen or the bellowing of the alligator are sounds that can be heard from the river boat. Large alligators, abundant birds, whitetail deer, wild turkey, bobcats and alligator snapping turtles all call this place home. Ending with a trip by passing over Wakulla Spring, a large and deep freshwater spring, our guide included a great narration of the trip from the movies made here “black lagoon” to recounting the discovery of prehistoric Mastodon bones on the bottom of the spring basin. 

After the boat tour we looked around the park ending in a visit to the Edward Ball lodge where we met Old Joe. This Legendary Reptile established homestead at Wakulla Springs prior to any construction in the area. His estimated age around 200 years. His weight 650 pounds, length 11 feet, 2 inches. This gator lived at springs on sand bar across from swimming area. According to the plaque, Old Joe, “Was murdered by assailants unknown on Sunday night August 1, 1966 . Had never molested man, woman, child, or pet.”

Next on our agenda was cruising Florida 's Turnpike. The turnpike is the main toll road connecting Homestead , Greater Miami, Fort Lauderdale , Palm Beach , Orlando , and Ocala through a continuous limited access corridor. This was a long stretch with islands of shops called service plazas spaced about 40 miles apart. It cost a few bucks to take this route, but by taking the turnpike we made good time to our evenings lodgings in Homestead .