Adventure – Page 2 – A Wildflower Heart

My 50th Birthday in Montego Bay, Jamaica!

Published on July 16, 2023July 17, 2023 by SylviaLeave a comment

First thing to do was to get our passports. We also enjoy cruising and after reading about the horror stories of what happens if you get stranded in a foreign country – without a passport, well….

I’m a planner and it’s something that I truly enjoy doing when it comes to planning trips. I usually plan “big trips” at least a year in advance. While searching for all inclusives in Jamaica, I came across the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay and since we try to stay at Holiday Inn’s, I decided to give this one a try. I’m glad that we did.

It’s insane to see how expensive things are now. The price is more than double at the hotel compared to when we visited 3 years ago. I will leave a breakdown of what we spent for this vacation at the conclusion end of this blog.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.

Grab your favorite drink and come along (with us) on this trip. I hope that you enjoy!

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Manatee and Fanning Springs State Parks

Published on July 9, 2023July 16, 2023 by SylviaLeave a comment

One of my favorite things to do is camping. Hubs and I visited a new campground and it did not disappoint. Make sure to check out my vlog on Youtube to watch a more detailed tour.

We stayed for 2 nights. Entrance fee was $6. I don’t remember if you get in free if you’re camping there or not. Make sure to double check. We paid $20 per night + $6.70 per night (which is a non-refundable reservation fee) for a site with water and electricity.

I believe we paid $55 to rent a kayak for 2 hours. Totally worth it since we were able to see the manatees when we kayaked out to the Suwannee River.

Information taken from the website. “Manatee Springs State Park proves boardwalks aren’t only for the beach. The park’s 800-foot boardwalk runs through a majestic cypress forest overlooking one of Florida’s breathtaking first-magnitude springs. People have enjoyed the cool waters of Manatee Springs for more than 10,000 years, from early Paleo Indians to modern park visitors. The first-magnitude spring releases an astounding 100 million gallons of water daily. This makes it a popular cooling-off spot and a great place to stroll on the park boardwalk and gaze into watery depths. True to its namesake, manatees can be seen in the cooler months, and birds, mammals and fish are spotted year-round. The park also offers 8.5 miles of nature trails and a safe connection to the 32-mile Nature Coast State Trail, so don’t forget to bring your bicycles”.

All of the information needed is provided in the link I’m including. Manatee Springs

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Oak Mountain State Park; Review

Published on November 29, 2021January 30, 2022 by SylviaLeave a comment

This was a spur of the moment trip for me a few weeks ago. Oak Mountain is about 3 hrs and 45 minutes away from me; one way. It’s located in Pelham, Alabama. By the time I arrived home, it was around 10 p.m and I’d hit the road around 6 that morning.

Upon my arrival, I would come to see how huge it is. Since I was short on time, I didnt see nearly half of the park. Taken from the website: “From its humble beginning as a 940-acre park atop Double Oak Mountain established by the Alabama State Lands Act of 1927, Oak Mountain State Park has grown to 9,940 acres making it Alabama’s largest state park.”

Cost to get in was $5.00 and cash only.

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Bellingrath Gardens and Home

Published on November 27, 2021November 29, 2021 by SylviaLeave a comment

Bellingrath Gardens and Home is about an hr and twenty minute drive from me and also one of my favorite places to visit. There arent as many flowers in bloom during the fall/winter months compared to spring and summer. It’s still worth visiting to see what is in bloom as you can see from the pictures I took at the end of my post.

You can read about the history of the gardens by clicking the link. Bellingrath Gardens and Home

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Tuskegee Airmen National Park

Published on November 25, 2021November 25, 2021 by SylviaLeave a comment

As I was headed home from my visit to Chewacla State Park, I realized that I had enough time to visit the Tuskegee Airmen National Park located in Tuskegee, Alabama. Visit the website for more information: Tuskegee Airmen National Park

I knew quite a bit about the Tuskegee Airmen before visiting but to learn even more, brought on so many emotions; sadness, happiness, and anger. I was short on time but will definitely be going back. If you have never visited, I highly recommend that you do.

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Chewacla State Park

Published on November 24, 2021November 29, 2021 by Sylvia1 Comment

With most of the state parks that I want to visit over a 3 hour drive, I get up between 4 – 4:30 a.m. to be on the road no later than 6 a.m. One of the perks of going to bed early, so that when I hit the road, I’m not tired.

Chewacla State Park is about a 3 and 1/2 hour drive from me; one way. Keep reading for my review.

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Fun Time At The Farm

Published on November 17, 2021 by SylviaLeave a comment

Sweet Season Farms, which is located in Milton, Fl., is by far my favorite place to visit during the fall. The corn maze is amazing + the attractions + the food. I’ve always had a great time out there.

There’s a bit of everything for the kids and the adults. We always do the whole cob admission which is $14 + tax. I purchase our tickets online because it saves you $2.00. It includes: unlimited access to: Corn Maze, Hayride, Children’s Playground (12 and under), Corn Popper, Sunflower Speedway, Hop-A-Long Rodeo, Country Carousel, Double Cow Train, The Beeline, Farm Games, Sunflower Paths, Picnic Area, Hay Bale Maze, Animal Barn, Barnyard Ball, Mini Barnyard Ball, Tetherball, Duck Races and more!One (1) Turn at Corn Cannon also included, but not unlimited.
*pumpkins and pony rides NOT INCLUDED with admission.

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Fort Pickens – Part 1(Picture Overload)

Published on July 29, 2021July 29, 2021 by SylviaLeave a comment

I’ve visited here plenty of times. And each time, I’m always in complete awe of the history, and the architecture. You can read about the history here: Fort Pickens.

The price for admission:
Per person (pedestrian, cyclist, etc. 1-7 days) – $15
Motorcycle (1-7 days) – $20
Vehicle (1-7 days) – .$25
Park Annual Pass – $45

You can camp at Fort Pickens; RV or tent with electric and non electric sites. There’s access to the beaches, which to me are a lot less crowded and you can fish. If you plan to camp or just hang out for the day, I suggest doing research before heading over, as in keeping track of the weather and possible closures. From the website “Warning: Fort Pickens Campground / Road is subject to flooding, evacuations, closures due to severe weather; Please make alternate plans for last minute cancellations.”

Finding shade may be an issue at some of the sites – hurricanes tend to destroy our trees. Considering how hot and humid it can get here during the summer months, keep that in mind if you plan to tent camp. If you’d like to go have dinner somewhere or visit the main beach (Pensacola Beach), take into account how far you’ll have to drive. It’ll take about 22 minutes, one way.

Is it worth it? Absolutely!

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