Florida, The Everglades

 

 

 

Living in South Florida, I have easy access to one of the most fascinating ecosystem in the United States.

 

A short drive from my home and about an hour drive from Miami International (MIA) or Ft. Lauderdale Airport (FLL), Everglades Holiday Park offers a quick affordable way to explore a bit of natural Florida.

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving at Everglades Holiday Park you may be greeted by one of the proud residents who will have no problem ignoring you.

I have a sense they think they own the place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Park seems to be a “mom and pop” run operation and is often not very busy. This usually gives you an opportunity to stroll the grounds, relax or have some real alligator tidbits before you board your tour.

 

Your approximately one hour tour begins when you board an aluminum framed airboat powered by two Cadillac V-8 engines.

A bit noisy, so bring ear plugs if you are noise sensitive or request a front seat. However, I think this is a part of the fun on an airboat ride.

 

 

 

 

This afternoon the weather is typical for a Florida summer afternoon, hot and humid with thunderstorm clouds in the distance.

A few minutes from the dock and we are in the natural part of the Everglades.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everglades Sawgrass

 

The waters are calm and at some spots seem impassable blocked by tall sawgrass. With a vibrating thunder the V8’s comes to life and our impassable path gently disappears beneath us.

Hold onto to your hats, you are gliding and sliding across the Everglades at 40-50 miles per hour!

 

 

Did you know you can tell the depth of the water here by what grows on top of it?

With a stem growth limit of 6 to 8 feet, it is reasonable to assume this is the depth of the Everglades in areas where it is covered by lily pads.

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving the natural area of the Everglades we enter one of the many drenched canals created by the Army Corp of Engineers in a foolish attempt to drain what was at one time believed to be a lake.

Water depths in the canals can reach up to 80 feet.

 

 

 

 

“Son that’s no rooster, you here me, boy. Pay attention, that’s one of them there Everglades Chicken.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mention the Everglades and for most alligators are the first animal that comes to mind. However, the Everglades is also scattered with other wildlife including a wide diversity of birds.

A place few would not be dying to visit is what is known as “Buzzard Island”. From an alive and safe distance we observe the local residents in action.

 

 

Officer Barney Buzzard, somewhat camouflaged stands guard in a tree watching for “Gators”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the water’s edge Billy Buzzard feeling confident in Barney Fife’s assessment of the situation, takes an afternoon drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far no alligators are spotted although the Everglades reportedly have over one million of them. Our tour guide has a good feeling we will see one before the tour is over but this is not Disneyland.

 

 

At first difficult to spot, we are not disappointed as we quietly approach a 6 foot alligator hidden in marsh along the shoreline.

“I see you, but you can’t see me.”

 

 

 

 

Peek A Boo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everglades 6 Foot Alligator

 

 

 

We are told this is a “momma gator” and she spends most of her time here.

I pity the fool that comes by at dinner time unaware of her presence.

 

 

 

 

Everglades Holiday Park is located at the intersection of Griffin Road and US27 both of which have convenient exits from Interstate 75 (Griffin Rd I-75S/US-27) and the Florida Turnpike (US27) .

The park charges about $24 per adult with a 10% AAA or online coupon discount. Motorcycle riders get a 2 for 1 discount.

 

 

A free brief “Alligator Show” is offered after your airboat tour where you can even pet one of them for a $5 donation.

Want to spend more than a few hours in the Everglades?

Everglades Holiday Park also offers tent and RV overnight camping and fishing boat rentals are available.

 

 http://evergladesholidaypark.proxy.voicestar.com/

 

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Maryland, The National Aquarium

 

 

Located on the Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore, The National Aquarium is worth a visit and is a good place to spend a few hours on a lazy afternoon.

Today, I am fortunate because of a special admission price the aquarium is offering.

 

 

 

 

 

I Want You!

 

 

 

Celebrating it's 30^th Anniversary, The National Aquarium is offering a $5 admission after 5pm every Friday in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quoting a local resident, “I am telling you, with normal admission prices of $25-30, this is a steal and that’s no fish story!”

 

 

 

 

 

Interestingly, the aquarium is located in what seems like a normal downtown office building. With a controlled entrance program, visitors tour the aquarium in a flowing stream of crowd management.

 

 

 

Nice Dental Work

 

 

 

One of the first exhibits gives a nice view of giant stingrays then close ups of the ocean's most feared family members.

 

 

 

 

 

Escalators then moves the crowd between floor to exhibits that expands from fresh water marine life to species from various parts of the vast ocean habitats.

 

 

The exhibits are well done and easily transport you to the beach fronts or depths of the Atlantic Shelf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Cow Fish

 

 

 

Although, you might want to spend a good deal of time at a particular exhibit a following crowd naturally forces you to move on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, it is nice to sit back and watch the kids enthusiasm as they look for “Little Nemo”or “Dory”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I become interested in the California Sheephead and wonder if I can learn a thing or two from it. The Sheephead spends the first 7-8 years of it's life as a female and then becomes a male.

 

 

Who better to understand the opposite sex.

This turns Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus upside down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The California Sheephead is so lucky, I am just yellow!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another series of exhibit displays and I am experiencing life above and below a river in the Amazon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Under The Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you find the Emerald Tree Boa?

 

Knowing it's there, thankfully behind inches of plexiglass, I can easily see how birds, lizards and rodents might not be so fortunate in the wild. For them I think it often turns out to be a crushing experience getting to know the Emerald Tree Boa, I bet the California Sheephead has better relationships.

 

 

Going through the Rain Forest exhibit, guess who's having a lazy afternoon just hanging around.

This guy gives molasses going up hill a run (well, not quite) for its money.

 

 

 

 

 

Two-Toed Sloth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Rain Forest provides colorful species of birds many of whom I am sure are yet to be discovered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terrible Poison Dart Frog

 

 

I think it would be a safe to assume that Kermit The Frog and Ms Piggy don't invite this member of Kermit's family over for Thanksgiving Dinner. Not only is he terrible to hang out with, he also has a poisonous personality that can be difficult to deal with.

 

 

Lion Fish

 

 

 

Leaving the main exhibit area, nature provides a gentle reminder that things that are beautiful can sometimes also be venomous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you want to see a bit of “The Outback” without going to Australia? As you leave the main exhibit area take a detour to the right and visit a part of the aquarium sponsored by the Australian Trade Commission.

 

 

I am not sure I am impressed by one of it's welcoming spokesman but he does seem to take a liking to my Canon Rebel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Headed Python

 

 

 

Although I never tasted it while visiting Australia a few years ago, I get a close up of the fish some Aussie's rave about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I might have a tough time getting this Barramundi on my plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting life as a male he might just get along well with the California Sheephead although for some reason the aquarium keeps them quite separated. Maybe even changing sexes over a lifetime still does not make it any easier to understand the opposite sex.

 

 

Fresh Water Alligator

 

 

 

Eastern Carpet Python

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier seeing the California Sheephead, I had some hope of a ground breaking relationship discovery. Leaving The National Aquarium, my disappointment is comforted by the fact that I only paid $5 for an enjoyable marine life education.

 

Technorati Tags: Maryland,Baltimore,Inner Harbor,National Aquarium,California Sheephead,Fresh Water Alligator,Little Nemo,Dory,Barramundi,Emerald Tree Boa,Eastern Carpet Python,Blackheaded Python,Lion Fish,Two Toed Sloth,Cow Fish,Atlantic Shelf,Gaint Stingrays,Men Are From Mars,Women Are From Venus,Kermit The Frog,Ms Piggy,Thanksgiving Dinner,Terrible Poison Dart Frog,The Outback,Autralia,Australian Trade Commission

New Hampshire, Fall Foliage

 

 

 

First in the nation for many things including holding the first United States Presidential primary in the 1800’s and the invention of the first alarm clock, New Hampshire should also be first on your list as a place to visit to experience a true fall foliage.

From Boston Logan International Airport, I am in an Alamo Rental car headed to the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire about a 150 miles away. Leaving the rental car lot it is a quick and easy access to I-93 North but have your wallet open.

 

It is a $3.50 toll to experience one of the biggest and most expensive public project.

“The Big Dig” is considered by some as “America's Greatest Highway Robbery”.

At a cost of about $22 billion, I wonder why. How fortunate I am to be a part of it.

 

 

 

Soon the $3.50 toll becomes worth it as crossing the New Hampshire state line I relive the stories told and the history of America's fight for independence.

 

 

  “Live Free Or Die”

 

At the state's “Welcome Center” I load up on maps and a wealth of information for my journey northbound. Hints of what lies ahead line I-93 North and makes me feel like I am on a treasure hunt.

 

 

I am told that Exit 34C about 100 miles away marks the spot but I can sense that there are many “X's” along this route including a Dunkin' Donuts.

Here, I am forced to have a sweet taste of fall with a hole in the middle. Pumpkin Spice, how nice!

 

 

 

 

 

Another toll booth and I begin to enter the canvass of a great artist. Rolling hills and distant mountains covered with various shades of yellows, reds and orange. I know Picasso or Rembrandt must be close by.

 

 

A sheared mountain side rises on my left, it's feet decorated with sprinkles of yellows and orange.

This is no work of a human artist it is nature reminding me of it's awesome beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Bridge View

 

 

 

 

Exit 34C approaches and I am at Franconia Notch, my pupils are dancing to the rich colors of the fall foliage that only they can capture beyond imagination.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This afternoon it is a bit cool under partly cloudy skies but the weather condition does little to dampen the brilliant colors here.

On a sunny afternoon it would be one of nature's perfect postcards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From below the bridge a rushing stream adds a beautiful tranquil soundtrack to the delightfully encompassing scenery above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can witness the evolution of fall foliage as various trees are in the process of getting ready for winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vibrant Reds

 

 

 

Purples and Bronzes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yellow Birch, Mountain Maple and Ash trees that fill the mountain and valley landscape have a colorful way of saying good-bye to warm days and cool nights.

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that brighter red leaves on maple trees means that the leaves have a higher sugar content?

However, with a warm and rainy autumn, leaves may have less red coloration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also leaves on the same tree but with less sun exposure tend to be yellow

 

 

 

As the sun occasionally hides behind a cloud or a mountain peak it cast a shadow on the landscape and the temperature drops a few degrees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the sun sinking west, I leave Franconia Notch hoping to spot a moose or two along the Kancamagus Highway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful New Hampshire Fall Foliage

 

 

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