Florida Wrap-up

Before our trip to Cuba, we are spending 10 days in Florida, both to visit family and tour the state. From San Jose CA we fly Southwest to Jacksonville FL. It pays to carefully research plane fares to Florida. Depending on your final destination in Florida, air fares can differ by hundreds of dollars. For example, it costs much more to fly in and out of Miami or Orlando versus Jacksonville or Fort Lauderdale.

As always rental cars are well worth shopping around for. Since we were picking a rental car up in Jacksonville and dropping it off in Miami, we found Enterprise to offer us the best one-way deals, especially using my membership and USAA discounts. For a few dollars more, we upgrade to a Ford Fusion hybrid, which saved us more in fuel than the cost of the upgrade. Overall we were pleasantly surprised by how well we liked the Ford Fusion.

Below is an interactive map showing the places we visited and the route taken:

 

Favorites - our top three

On the Silver River with Captain Tom	Silver Springs State Park and River    Although we initially didn't plan on visiting this area we're really glad we did. A neighbor who grew up in Florida spoke glowingly of her trips here as a child. She was right, it's an incredibly magical place. We especially enjoyed our morning with Captain Tom on his tour of the Silver River.
Inside the entrance of the Kennedy Space Center	Kennedy Space Center Cape Canaveral   After watching many space launches at Cape Canaveral on TV over the years, we both wanted to visit this important center.  We went as a family group and all enjoyed ourselves. By the end of the day, we all agreed one day is simply not enough time to explore this center.
'Gator at Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress	The Everglades   Several years ago I was invited on a women's kayaking trip through the Everglades. As tempting as this offer was, I wasn't able to go due to family and work obligations.  Since we were in the area, driving Hwy 41 through the heart of the Everglades gave us a taste of what it's like. Yes - I'm still thinking about a more extensive trip. Although having to camp on special elevated platforms to keep safe from the gators, does give me pause.

Best Resources/Reading

Road map of Florida	Florida Road Map   We forgot to bring a AAA road map of Florida with us, so we had to buy one. We were surprised to find out it was harder to find one than we expected. If you're just going to stick to the main freeways between cities, you probably won't need one, but if you want to see more than asphalt, concrete and steel, a good road map is recommended.
	Carl Hiaasen books   Pictured here is just one of Carl Hiaasen's many funny and insightful books about Florida's politics, environmental issues, and the colorful characters that inhabit this state.
	Treasure - The search for the Atocha   Who hasn't dreamed of sunken treasure? I certainly did as a child reading Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. So when Robert Daley's new Kindle book was offered via BookBub at an introductory low price, I jumped on it.  Although a little uneven at first, he tells the decades long tale of Mel Fisher's obsessive and eventually successful search for the Atocha, the richest of the sunken Spanish galleons to be found yet. It's a real page turner. My only regret is it doesn't have any photos of the recovered treasure. Looks like we'll have to come back to see Mel Fisher's Treasure Museum.

Warning

If you plan a road trip through Florida, you'll probably want to take some of the toll roads. They are worth taking as you'll save time on these nice wide highways, without heavy traffic. Other than carrying a bag of quarters to pay tolls, it's faster and easier to sign up for a Florida Sun Pass. We certainly intend to purchase one before our next trip to Florida.

Wrapping up the Wrap-up

We both have to admit that we enjoyed Florida much more than expected. It's a fun state with lots to do. Admittedly, heavily populated Florida is short on wide open spaces, but traces of "Old Florida" can be found and the beaches are excellent (oh yeah, the dive bars are fun too). We'll be back.

Relative Madness in Florida

We start our Florida trip in Jacksonville, where Peter and his sibs meet at Mark & Jill's condo.

Jacksonville condo complex

Mark & Jill in their condo kitchen

While visiting, we get to know Enzo, their weimaraner dog. He's quite a character with an expressive face. It's easy to see why photographers love them.

Such a handsome hound

Feed me! PLEASE fed me now.

The evenings are spent relaxing together.

Peter shows his brother Philip some iPad tricks

Holly and Peter review family legal docs

Since Jill has done an excellent job of managing family affairs, Peter and Holly give Jill a piece of art glass she'd been coveting.

Holly & Peter celebrate scoring a hit gift

gift vase

Yes - it looks like Jill loves it

The next stop on the family reunion tour is at Aunt Gertrude's in Clearwater FL.

Aunt Gertrude's neighborhood

Still feisty after all these years

and loves keeping in touch.

Ummm - seems to be a strong family resemblance.
Aunt Ann's and her son Mac's homes host another family gathering in Oveida FL.

Peter & me in front of Aunt Ann's

Aunt Ann

and her cat "black man."

Jetty Park is the next venue for more family fun and camping. We ask Jill & Mark about a sign they have posted in their Navion.  Apparently on their first outing driving the Navion, they meet a fellow camper named Gary. He's a full timer who enjoys taking each day and living it to the fullest. They were so impressed with Gary's approach to life, it became their camping motto.

Mark, Enzo, and Jill

Camping philosophy

Enzo agrees

The Kennedy Space Center provides us with another family adventure.

Holly wearing her BM shades

The usual suspects

Bespectacled for a 3D showing

Back at Jetty Park, we line up for family photos.

The Biologically Hazard Camp (sign by Holly) Holly gives a belated gag birthday present to Philip. It's a battery operated older gentleman on a toilet.

Holly presents Philip his gag gift

who accepts it in good humor

Enzo's fascinated by it especially when in action

Many of the Hazardous clan have moved down from the chilly Boston area for their retirements. Indeed retirees form a large part of Florida's population and many businesses cater to their needs. Most conspicuously are the many 24 hour drive through pharmacies. CVS seems to be outpacing their nearest competitor, Wallgreens, about 3 stores to 1.
Road billboards are often targeted to retirees. 

Hummm.... maybe I should call this guy.

Other than the warm weather, retirees are attracted by Florida's legendary Fountain of Youth. Florida and the Caribbean have long been combed by European explorers searching for this mystical fountain. Even though, the true Fountain of Youth has never been found, it certainly hasn't stopped businesses, such as local spas, to capitalize on this popular Floridian myth.

Florida does have a rejuvenating effect on this family