Yulee Sugar Mill - Brooksville, Fl

 

The day that Duane and I ventured out to the Chinsegut Preserve and Homosassa Springs we took a little detour to check out the Yulee Sugar Mill.  Where once an impressive sugar plantations stood today is just a few ruins, however the knowledge of the past is still present. If you are ever in this area of town this makes a nice stop off to walk around and check out.

To get directions or find out more information on the site - check out this link - https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Yulee-Sugar-Mill

Hontoon Island State Park - Deland, FL

 

For the past couple of years I have been exploring the different state parks around the state of Florida and one really popped out as something different - Hontoon Island State Park.  Why does is stand out? Well because it is the only state park in Florida that you have to take a boat or ferry to get to.

This past weekend Duane and I decided that it was time to explore this island and see what it has to offer.  It took us approximately an hour to get to the park from our house as we decided to take the more scenic route and stay away from the highway.

Upon taking our turn to get to the road for the park we noticed a nice little restaurant on the water and decided to eat before we started hiking. Shady Oaks is a small little restaurant that can be accessed by land or by water using their docks.  The food was very tasty and extremely reasonable.

After lunch we meandered the rest of the way up the back road and finally arrived at our destination.  This park has no entry fee and you will put up directly to the parking lot.  There is an area to stand and that attracts the attention of the ferry guide.  The ferry runs anytime anyone is standing on either bank.  It is an electric, solar driven ferry and the guide tells you a little history of the area.

Upon arriving at the island you are greeted by a concession area, information desk and museum that explains the flora, fauna and history of the island.  There are picnic tables that are setup along the perimeter of the area so that you can enjoy a meal under the shade close to the St. Johns River.  There are a few playground items for the kids to run and play on.

Hontoon State Park is very rich with evidence of the Native American culture that lived in the area.  A lot of the trails were very muddy as this has been an extremely rainy season, so we stayed in the more open, cleared areas.  We will be going back in March when it is more dry to explore the entire island.

You can stay on the island exploring anytime from 8am to one hour before sunset.

To find more about the state park - directions, hours, information - click here - http://www.floridastateparks.org/hontoonisland/

After coming back across the island we decided to see what else was around the area.  A little further down is the Hontoon Island Marina and Resort.  Here you can catch the Blue Heron River Tour - it is a 2 hour tour down the St. Johns River - They leave at 10am and 1pm each day - see website for more information or directions- http://blueheronrivertours.com/Tours.aspx

Want to get away a little and have a mini vacation in your own backyard - why not check out the Hontoon Land Resort - sits right on the St. Johns river next to the Marina - for more information click here - http://hontoon.com/resort.htm

Senator - Big Tree Park - Longwood, FL

This is now a tribute to the Senator who fell to a fire on January 16, 2012 after 3,500 years of existence.  You can still go see the Lady Liberty tree, but the Senator is no more.

Parking was free and we walked right up to the trail following the signage for the tree.  We walked for a while on a wooden trail and then rounded the corner.  I was aware that this was going to be a tall tree - but had no idea just how big it was. 

The Senator was the oldest pond cypress tree in the world, located in Big Tree Park, Longwood, FL. It once stand at an impressive 125 feet (38 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 17.5 feet (5.3 m).

The Seminole Indians and other Native American Indians who lived throughout Central Florida used this tree as a landmark. In the late 19th century, the tree attracted visitors even though much of the surrounding land was swamp ; reaching the tree was done by leaping from log to log. A walkway was later constructed by the Works Progress Administration . In 1925, a hurricane  destroyed the top of the tree, reducing its original height of 165 feet (50 m) to a height of 118 feet (36 m). The Senator was named for Florida State Senator Moses Overstreet,  who donated the tree and surrounding land to Seminole County for a park in 1927. In 1929, former president Calvin Coolidge visited The Senator and dedicated the site with a commemorative bronze plaque.

As of 1993, The Senator was estimated to be 3,400-3,500 years old, the 5th oldest tree in the world. The tree's volume had previously been estimated at 4,300 cubic feet (120 m³), but a 2006 survey by Will Blozan of the Native Tree Society has measured the volume at well over 5,100 cubic feet (140 m³), making The Senator not only the largest Pond Cypress in the United States, but also the largest tree of any species east of the Mississippi River.

This should give you a good reference on the size of the tree

see how small Duane is next to the tree - he is 6 ft tall

The other tree in the park to check out - the only one now - is the Lady Liberty -

In addition there is a rather large bike trail that goes from the Big Tree Park area over to the Preserve area.

If you are interested in going to see Lady Liberty or exploring the trails with your family and friends - check out this link for all the parks information - http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/guide/parks/park1.aspx