....and what plants would your bring home.
Ric and I will be heading south for a 6-week trip. First stop is Duck, N.C. on the Outer Bans for two weeks. Then comes the discovery part of the trip. We will be leaving Duck and heading south to New Port Ritchie, Fl. (near Tampa). Where we will be spending time with my FIL. We have 2 weeks to bum around before we meet friends in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
We can take one route down and a slightly different one up. We have time to spend exploring the gulf area and could even head over to the Fl. east coast and come back up. Since FIL was just here, visiting isn't the big issue. Of course I'm interested in Atlanta, I'm dying to see the Aquarium, Ric wants to see Charleston. We're thinking about the Marco Island area in Fl. We've got the boat, bikes and kayak and plan to stay at camp grounds if possible while traveling for those two weeks.
So if you were taking my trip where would you go, what would you see, were would you stay? And the big question what plants would you bring home?
We have a broad range of interests so suggestions on gardens, nurseries, nature areas, historical areas and all else. Is really welcome
If you were headed South where would you go....
Place to visit - Cape San Blas near Apalachicola, Fl.....
Plants - Plants Delight Nursery south of Raleigh, NC....
If you wind up near Vero Beach (east coast), don't miss the McKee Botanical Garden.
http://mckeegarden.org/index.php
Thomas Edison's house in Ft. Meyers is a great place, too.
Thanks, Guys, I knew this was a good idea. I have a Catalog from Plants Delight. A friend and I were going to combine an order last year and then it fell thru they had a plant I really wanted. I just dug out the catalog and added it to my take along pile.
Claypa, There is a possibility that we may zip........ on over to the east coast, I hear St Augustine calling my name Hollllyyy. Our trip there got redirected a couple of years ago due to the hurricanes.
Holly - I found the link to that nursery I was thinking about...never been there but their catalog has me drooling every time!!!
http://www.nurcar.com/index.htm Here they are in watchdog http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/3285/
This message was edited Aug 27, 2007 3:06 PM
6 weeks - WOW!!! I envy you, we made a trip to Florida three years in a row and last year I really missed it. I'll have to go back through my links and notes, lots of things to see while you're there. We basically took our time once in Florida but destination was Naples, lovely area. I'll report back after I check out my notes. Lucky, lucky you, and Ric!
I always enjoy going to Tarpon Springs...just South of New Port Ritchie....an old Greek fishing village that they still bring in sea sponges....and some mighty good food there too!! Jo
Tarpon Springs is on the list. It was one of the places we always went and then for one reason or another haven't been for a long time. I was looking at some old pics recently and comparing them to a few new shots of the area that were posted on one of the threads. So I'm looking forward to seeing how different , or not it is. I have a very good memory of those Greek Pastries dipped in honey. YumYum
Holly, going to try to give you a few links and suggestions and then find some pictures.
A great site with lots of info http://gorp.away.com/gorp/location/fl/fl.htm
Ocala National Forest http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/recreation/index_oca.shtml, right on your way to New Port Ritchie!, was one of our favorite places. We stayed at Juniper Springs Campground although they are plenty to choose from. Our plan was to take the canoe trip down Juniper Creek but the weather took a turn for the worse and we had to cancel. Highly recommend this area - crystal clear water and a ton of stuff to keep you busy in this area.
Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, northeast of Naples, was another favorite - incredible boardwalk - we spent an entire morning here - good to get there early while it's still cool. http://www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/corkscrew/
If you're really adventurous and want to see something really unique, check this out Coral Castle http://www.coralcastle.com/home.asp. We saw this on the Travel Channel years ago and it's still on our list of places to see - we just never made it south of Miami.
If you do make it to Miami, two places to recommend. First and foremost, it's free! except for whatever plants you can't resist :) Palm Hammock Orchid Estate http://members.tripod.com/~PalmHammockOrchidEst/phoe.html Kind of a funky website, but an incredible nursery - we went crazy over the unbelievable selection of Begonias, although obviously there are lots of orchids.
oops, forgot to include a link to Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden http://www.fairchildgarden.org/. We spent so much time at Palm Hammock we never made it to Fairchild, but it's on my "list" for our next trip! If you do make the trip to Miami, don't let the long trip across 'Alligator Alley' from Naples to Miami scare you - we almost chose to take the highway because we figured it would be faster. Opted for Alligator Alley instead and we're so glad we did - it was much nicer, very interesting and we made lots of stops along the way to check out all the birds we saw and one visitor center with alligators in the pond out front!
Probably the coolest thing we've done in Florida was take one of the guided swamp tours at Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve http://www.friendsoffakahatchee.org/. It appears that they won't be scheduling any tours until the fall but you might be lucky enough to catch one before you leave Florida. It's probably not something I'd do again, a little scary walking in swamp water up to your thighs, but glad I can say I did it at least once! This is the area where they filmed the movie based on the book 'The Orchid Thief'. Our guide told us that the woman who wrote the book basically never went into the swamp, stayed where it was "safe" :) Can't say that I blame her, we saw very recent 'evidence' of jaguars on the path we took out of the swamp!
Here's another link to Clyde Butcher's Big Cypress Gallery in the Everglades - they also used to do swamp tours but looks like they've only scheduled one for Labor Day weekend - photos give you an idea of what a "swamp tour" was like :) http://clydebutcher.com/journal.cfm?holdtype=143
Moving on to the Gainesville area, the Butterfly Rainforest is a great stop http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/butterflies/. Expensive and unfortunately crowded, but it was worth it - beautiful plantings as well as butterflies.
Probably one of my favorite gardens we visited - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville http://www.kanapaha.org/index.htm. Lots of trails and gorgeous plantings. Highly recommend it!
We also visited Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando http://www.leugardens.org/ Nice, although not one of my favorites and probably wouldn't go back - a little too 'formal' for me! But look at the size of this Brugmansia!!!
Something else in the Gainesville area we wanted to visit - Devils Millhopper Geological State Park http://www.floridastateparks.org/devilsmillhopper/default.cfm. Unfortunately we were in the area on a Tuesday and it was closed. We thought about going first thing on Wednesday morning but opted for Harry Leu Gardens instead - looking back I wish we had chosen Devils Millhopper instead.
geez, internet problems and this site is failing to load for me, but lots of information here http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/ On the bottom of the page there's a link for Pine Island with information about cruises that are available - I was just there but for some reason I can't get back! Anyhoo, there are some great cruises that tour around the islands off the coast and some that offer lunch at Cabbage Key Inn, a great little restaurant that Jimmy Buffet wrote about. We actually booked a nature cruise with Tropic Star Cruises http://www.tropicstarcruises.com/cruises.cfm, not once but twice! and still haven't gone - the first time the weather turned frigid (in the 40's) and we backed out. Second time we arrived for our cruise and they decided the hurricane damage two weeks before prevented them from taking the boat out! Maybe third time's a charm?
The only other thing I can think of to recommend and should be at the TOP of your list is Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota http://www.selby.org/ Absolutely beautiful! If you like orchids this is one place you won't want to miss - although if you're interested in buying any, save your money for Palm Hammock, much more reasonable.
While you're in the OBX, be sure to visit The Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo http://elizabethangardens.org/visitorinfo_directions.aspx There's a great little sandwich shop right in the center of town with a unique gift shop next door with great garden 'decorations' !
If you're up for a trip to Raleigh for the day - be sure to visit JC Raulston Arboretum if you've never been there http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/index.php. Looks like they're having a great event on Saturday, September 15th - JC Arborfest http://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/calendar/event_details.php?ID=157
Hope these links are helpful to you. Just remember to take LOTS of pictures and take some time to relax on the beach with Florida's great sunsets! Searching for these sites and pictures brings back lots of wonderful memories - I already told you, but I AM SO ENVIOUS - Have a great trip!
WOW, What a treasure trove of adventures. I'll be up late checking these out. You have hit several buttons for me. Just glancing thru the list. We took 'Alligator Alley' on our way to the Keys one very dark night saw the signs that said Jaguar crossing. I'd love an Everglades tour. I've been thinking about trying Orchids. We always go thru or past Ocala on our way, but have never stopped. Thanks for all the suggestions I will be checking each one of them out, they all look good.
Chantell, Thans for the link I can see why your drooling
Holly, this might help.
http://www.carolinagardener.com/magazine/onthego.php list of events from Carolina Gardening magazine.
http://www.floridagardening.com/index1.html there's also a Florida Gardening magazine but I couldn't find an events list on thir website
Should you find yourself taking US route 19 South on the West Coast of Florida....be sure to stop at the Homosassa Wildlife Park....home of the Manatees....and the best tourist dollar spent in FL!! JMHO since I used to live in Homosassa. Jo
http://www.homosassasprings.org/Homosassa.cfm
Thanj you Roadrunner, Very interested in the Manatees. For sure we will be in that area.
WOW! So many awesome places to visit on your vacation. Your trip will be incredible!
When you get to Myrtle Beach, SC be sure to visit Brookgreen Gardens. Not only are the gardens beautiful, but the sculpture is incredible. http://www.brookgreen.org/horticulture.html
Thank you Shirley, We are meeting friends at Myrtle Beach, and Jane just asked me if I had gotten any suggestions on a Garden to visit while we are there. We will definitely enjoy the sculpture as well as the gardens.
I'm getting such great ideas from everyone.
YES! Homosassa Wildlife Park! Almost forgot about this one - we were there in 2003, our first trip to Florida and enjoyed it. There is also a campground close by http://www.naturesresortfla.com/ that is right on the river and if I remember correctly they have boat tours to view the Manatees in the "wild".
Also just realized University of South Florida Botanical Garden is right in Tampa! http://davesgarden.com/products/go/view/152/ Not sure how long you'll be hanging out in Tampa, but their Fall Plant Festival is Oct 13, 14!
This message was edited Aug 30, 2007 4:42 AM
I was working my way thru your list last night. Some really great suggestions. Watched the video of a swap walk, man would I really love to do that. Sept 16th thru Sept 29 are the 2 weeks of traveling down to Fl and back up to Myrtle Beach.
Brugmansias and other tropicals... fig trees ... Just throw them in a cool spot inside your house/garage/cellar(?) to go dormant for winter.
LOL, the swamp walk was definitely cool - I had no idea what we were in for though! When we first entered the swamp, there was an alligator right there on the other side of the road and then the guide started advising us about watching out for cottonmouths and some of the spiders we might encounter - told us not to worry because they had a helicopter on alert just in case someone had to be flown to a hospital!! Quite an adventure :)
Well, Were headed out tomorrow morning. Thank you all for your input. I have checked out all the suggestions and there are quite a few really good ideas. Some we have already decided to visit and some possibly for another trip.
RCN48, I especially wanted to thank you for the many suggestions and the links. So very nice of you to take so much time and energy. When we get back I'll post our trip.
Bon voyage!
Have a wonderful Trip and come back to us safe :-)
Susan
Holly, I'm just glad you asked for help :) It took me awhile to find all my old links but was an enjoyable "trip" bringing back all those wonderful memories! Can't wait until you get back and post your trip.
Debbie
UGH, Holly...missed saying goodbye...have a wonderful time...praying highway safety for you!
Hi all, Well I'm down here in sunny Fl. I'll post pic and more trip doings when I get home. So far we did 2 weeks in Duck N.C. on the outer banks. Then we moved on and stayed overnight in a sweet little State Park in S. Carolina, then down to another State Park in Georgia where we stayed 2nights and spent some time in Savannah. Boy is Savannah pretty. Then it was on down to the FIL house where I have been hard at it for almost 2 days. But I am having a great time whipping his yard into shape. I'll do a trip review with pics when I get home. Thanks for the tips
Hi, Holly! Glad to hear that the trip is going well!
AHHHHH Home again. I wanted to thank everyone again for all the suggestions. We did get to a few places that were suggested and really had a good time and we will be going back down to Fl more often now that we are retired. Ric's Dad could use a lot more help down there and we will have more time to check out the places we didn't get too this trip. Since it was such a long trip I'm breaking my trip report into several Parts. Part 1 is posted, mostly it's about the first 2 weeks in the Outer Banks. Part 2 will be done soon and that is in the Savannah area. Here is a link to Part 1 hope you enjoy my travels. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/781472/
This shot was taken at BrookGreen Gardens near Myrtle Beach, S. Carolina
This message was edited Oct 17, 2007 3:09 PM
Welcome Home, HollyAnn!
Reminder, I'll be in Lancaster this weekend. I posted the details for the show in the Pets forum, but I think that you've already got the info. Wouldn't blame you if you're too pooped out to hit the road again though.
I've finished Part 5. It's a day at Bookgreen gardens. Wish I could go back and take a few more days going through it again. Shirley I wanted to thank you for sending us there. Debbie I wanted to thank you also for sending us to SFU Botanical Gardens, too
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/786000/