Hello America!: Gulf Coast

Everglades and Little Manatee State Park

After a nice week at John Pennekamp SP, it was time to move over to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Garmi, our GPS, suggested a direct route to our next stop using major roads. We opted for a route thru the center of Everglades National Park on US 27. Amazing area. Wading birds by the hundreds, a few alligators (all this at 50 mph), airboats and native villages greeted us mile after mile. Interesting thing, the windshield wasn’t coated by bugs!

hundreds, possibly thousands of Egrets, Herons, Wood Storks,

a most enjoyable drive through the Everglades

Just West of the Everglades, we swung due North towards Sarasota and our next home for a few days, Little Manatee River SP . This is a neat, no frills, 30 site State Park located 6 miles South of Sun City. LMRSP. Offers nice habitat, walking trails and great sites at a modest price. While there we ventured to the Sun City Post Office to mail Christmas cards and were we totally surprised by the number of golf carts!!. This is the heart of retirement central. Polyester slacks and golf carts (some enclosed) dominated the scene. Looks like a neat way to go.

interesting to see what is different

Hiking trail at LMRSP

land of on street golf carts and ????

We then headed a little bit farther on to the Manatee Viewing Center viewing area at the power plant. Several pods of Manatees are there along with a nice nature boardwalk and gift shop. While walking across the parking lot I noticed green stripes designating special parking. This turns out to be for electric vehicles, complete with charging station.

very nice

Green spaces?? charge away!

While at the campground, we met John and Dorothy, who are in their first month of full timing it! Sold their house and hit the road. We keep meeting people doing the same thing (there are over 1 million full time RVers in the USA.

Our time at LMRSP was short, 2 nights, and we headed on to our next Gulf Coast site, Manatee Springs State Park. MSSP is located where the Florida Panhandle begins west of Ocala. The are actually Manatees in the springs , lots of deer and numerous species of raptors. This would be a very nice family destination as there are numerous activities to enjoy and the setting is great! Our drive there included many miles in I75 then US Alt 27 to Chiefland. Interesting country to be seen there. Lots of cattle and horse farms, hardwood trees make you think your in the mid west (until you see the palm trees! )

right at the bend of the Gulf Coast there are many miles of this scenery

hiking and biking trails, manatees, kayaking and snorkeling are available at MSSP

While out on the end of the boardwalk looking at Manatees, several people mentioned another spot , about 1 hour away where the Manatees come into the Springs in colder weather (which we were experiencing - 60's, brrrr......) Crystal River 3 Sisters Preserve. We headed there the following morning. Way cool. Over 100 manatees were in the Springs, which the docent mentioned have up to 500 at times. You can even snorkel with the manatees (you snorkel, they don't ;) )

3 Sisters Springs - home to hundreds of manatees

nursing mother at lower right

We had one more stop in Florida - Grayton Beach State Park. Located on the Panhandle 60 miles east of Pensacola, GBSP is right on the water and most beautiful. White powder sand beaches, emerald green water and nice camp sites. Garmi, the GPS, suggested I10, we opted for US98 and the Big Bend Scenic Byway. Fabulous drive, 50 mph and right along the Gulf of Mexico.