The Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is about 30 miles east of Naples, and is an incredibly accessible way to view the Everglades ecosystem. The 2.5 mile walk along elevated boardwalks takes you through “pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America”. There is an abundance of wildlife to observe, and plenty of spots along … Continue reading Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
The Naples Botanical Garden is a wonderful blend of both wild and trained. Walking through the 170 acres of both small gardens and sweeping views, it’s hard to believe that just ten years ago, this garden did not exist. After more than a decade of planning, construction began in 2008 as the lakes were dug and the land was sculpted into shapes that would give … Continue reading Naples Botanical Garden
A visit to the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) in Savannah, Georgia has been on my bucket list since I was eleven years old. That was the year my mother took her Girl Scout troop (including my two older sisters) all the way from Missouri to Florida to see the newly opened Disney World. Along the way, they stopped in Savannah, while I stayed … Continue reading Mothers, Daughters and Girl Scouts
Boone Hall Plantation was not at all what I expected to find. Thanks to my self-righteous gene, I tend to visit old historical plantations with the expectation that they are going to try and glorify the past while ignoring the human cost of enslaving an entire race of people (my self-righteous gene has no problem going back hundreds of years to judge). I went to … Continue reading Gullah Culture at Boone Hall Plantation
Magic Carpet Caravan 