Beautiful Bok Tower

With all the rain lately, we decided to get out of the house and enjoy something a bit different.  Bok Tower really hit the spot.  Located in a rather remote area of Lake Wales in Central Polk County, it was a picturesque place to relax and unwind.  The cost is $14 per person, although children a a bit cheaper.  We were able to use our AAA discount to knock off about $2 per person.

The welcome center is located right next to the park lot, and has a gift shop and cafe.  We did not eat at the cafe, but we brought our own picnic lunch instead.  They have plenty of tables set up outside around the cafe, and there is no eating in the actual gardens.  The welcome center has a neat little movie to watch and has several exhibits about the natural wildlife that lives in the area and the tower.

We went on a Sunday, so there was no concert, but they do play recordings of the concerts from the tower everyday and we were able to witness that.  It was extremely neat.  The kids thought the tower was pretty cool, but I think they were rather bored, because you can not enter the tower, all you can really do is walk around and admire the gardens.  They do have a really cool "Window" that allows visitors to sit inside an enclosed shed and look out at the wildlife that inhabits a pond, and the boys did enjoy that.

All in all, my husband and I really liked it, but it is definitely not for the older kids.  Babies might find it relaxing to walk around and nap, but the lack of action might be a bit too dull for most children.  This would make a great "date spot" though, if you can get away from the kids!
http://boktowergardens.reachlocal.net/

Tampa Bay MOSI

This one does not fall under the under $50 for four people.  We went and saw the limited engagement of the Sea Monster Exhibit.  It cost us close to $88 for parking and admission to the museum and  sea monster exhibit. The museum is really cool.

The Sea Monster exhibit is a must if a member of your family loves sea creatures.  The animals are done much like the controversial Bodies exhibit that came through about 7 years ago.  The bodies of several of the animals are positioned and dissected so that you can the different layers of the body.  My kids thought it was pretty cool, but it may be a little scary for the younger set (4 and under).

The rest of the museum is pretty neat!  it opens up with two large sauropods guarding the stairway.  Up the stairs , and you enter in the permanent exhibits of the museum; Disasterville, Your Body, and the Bay News 9 Experience.  Disasterville has visitors experience natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires. The bodies exhibit is relatively safe for kids.  It has exhibits on everything from the beginning of life (stages of the fetus), to the stages of death.  They had and interesting exhibit on aging and cancer.  It was aimed for the older crowd, so my kids really didn't get it.

The last place we hit was "Kids in Charge" or the children's museum.  My boys loved it.  They had something for everyone.  My oldest loved the journey to the moon exhibit that simulated a space flight to a moon colony.  The youngest got a kick out of the Publix exhibit where kids picked "oranges" took them to the processing barn and then moved them to the super market.

It was a fun trip.  I'm definitely going to be keeping my eyes and ears peeled for a discount day!

Circle Bar B Reserve

Ready for a hike?  Then head on over to the Circle Bar B Reserve in Lakeland.  This county run reserve is located on Winter Lake Rd. near the intersection of US 98 and the Polk Parkway.  The park has several different trails, and each are marked with their difficulty and their length.  We opted for the Shady Oak, Alligator Alley, and Heron Hideout. 

Shady Oak Trail

The trails were very well taken care of and we were able to view plenty of wildlife on them. 

A crane that we saw on the Alligator Alley trail.

I would not suggest the Alligator Alley and Heron Hideout trail for those with a stroller or unsteady walkers.  The trail was rather bumpy with exposed tree roots.  I would also suggest bringing sunscreen and bug spray.  We used deep woods Off and did not have any issues, but I did notice several others on the trail smacking bugs.   The trails we picked were rather shady, but there were spots where the trail was not covered and lets face it, the Florida sun is brutal. 

Alligator in the lake that we spotted on the Alligator Alley trail

There were plenty of place in the parking lot to picnic, with several covered areas with tables and a grill.  There is also a discovery center onsite that teaches kids and adults about the local wildlife and environment.  The kids really enjoyed the tree house and fox den that they could crawl in.  There was also a video running that discussed ways to help conserve our natural resources.  

The park allows for horseback riding, bikes, and of course hiking.  There is no playground, but the indoors discovery center makes up for it.  They offer several different events through out the year, so be sure to check it out if you are ever in the area.  I know we will be back soon to try some of the other trails.  

For more information, check out their website: Circle Bar B Reserve

A turtle sunning itself on Alligator Alley trail.

Upcoming Events in Volusia County for Nature Lovers!

There will be a Forestry and Eco-Buggy Tour Tomorrow around Lake George between 9am-11am.  If you are interested, please contact Ms. Bonnie at Bcary@volusia.org.

If you live in Volusia County, and you love nature, Bonnie is the one to talk to!  She sends out emails every month on upcoming nature events that are offered through the county.  Most of these are free events, or they are extremely low cost.  They offer everything from kayaking, biking, horse riding, and hiking tours, classes on various aspects of nature (star gazing, bird watching, etc.), nature crafts, and even a toddler hike for the little ones.  I participated in several events while we resided in Volusia and I would highly recommend joining the newsletter.

Common Grounds Park Set To Reopen!

Common Grounds Park is set to reopen today!  The park has been undergoing a makeover for the past few weeks.  We can not wait to see all the improvements made to this wonderful park.

For more information on the park, please check out the City of Lakeland's website; http://www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec/CommonGroundInclusivePlayground.aspx

Curtis Peterson Park, Lakeland

Curtis Peterson Park is a wonderful little neighborhood park in Lakeland, FL.  This little gem is a great place to watch Little League baseball or enjoy nature.  There is a wooden path that walks around the lake and takes you up in the trees.  For dad, there is a boat ramp and plenty of great fishing spots (A Florida Fresh Water Permit is required).  This park is located on the Lake to Lake bike trail, so the second trail is perfect for biking or walking. Both trails are built to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers.

 There is a good size playground with a play area for little kids and a larger play area for the older children. My two boys enjoyed the playground after our walk while I relaxed in the shade. The playground itself is not shaded, but there are plenty of shady spots just outside the mulched area.

Close to to downtown Lakeland, so there are lots of nearby restaurants, or bring some food and enjoy the use of the onsite grills for a picnic.  There are lots of pavilions, including one large one that is completely screened in.  Because this park is on a lake, I would suggest bringing the bug spray.  There is no swimming and there are alligators in the lake.

The park is hidden behind the Lakeland YMCA on Cleveland Blvd.  For more information on the park, check out the park's website; http://www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec/PetersonPark.aspx.

Mayfaire Art Festival

Mayfaire Art Festival is one of my favorite events.  Set for Mother's Day weekend each year, this festival includes different events for everyone.  There is the Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday, a run on Saturday, block party on Saturday night (with fireworks), and food truck event.  Set around beautiful Lake Morton, the fair is a staple for the community.  Put on by the Polk Museum of Art and various local businesses, and the majority of the events are free to enjoy, so it is worth the crowds.

I personally enjoy the art.  There is something for everyone here. Artists from all over the country are displaying their pieces.  From paintings and drawings, to ceramics, and even metal work, can be found while enjoying a leisurely stroll around the lake.  Lake Morton is also known as the "Swan Lake" as there are many different breeds of swans and ducks in the Lake enjoying the spring weather.


My husband enjoys the food.  There are tons of food trucks located through out art festival and the Saturday night block party.  The food is rather expensive if you buy it at the truck, but there are plenty of wonderful restaurants within walking distance.  Or, to save some cash, there are plenty of places to drop a blanket and enjoy a picnic.

The kids get extremely excited about the kids tent located in the Lakeland Library's parking lot.  The tent offers kids the opportunity to make their own art for free.  There are plenty of volunteers to help parents and kids turn household objects in to something fun.  This year they made paper plate swans and coffee filter sun hats.  There is a bounce house area set up directly behind the kids tent, but it is rather pricey, so we skipped it.

They also enjoy the free block party.  There is live music, dancing on the lawn at nearby Lake Mirror, and fireworks.  Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and set up a spot for your family.  There is a park here, so the little ones can expel some energy before the main event.  If you would like a cold drink, either bring your own, or headed over to the Garden Bistro (you will save yourself $3 per drink).  *There is alcohol sold and consumed at the Block Party.

The 5K takes place before the Block Party kicks off, and awards are handed out before the fireworks to runners.  There is a fee for participating in the 5K, and if you are interested, please visit their website at; http://lakelandrunnersclub.org/races/mayfaire/ 

This year's Mayfaire was amazing and we already can not wait for next year!  For more information on Mayfaire check out this website; http://polkmuseumofart.org/events/mayfaire-by-the-lake/  It is regularly updated, and includes information on past and future Mayfaires.  We hope to see you there in 2014!

Paddle boarding on the Halifax!

Something a little bit different... A co-worker and I decided that we wanted to go Paddle boarding.  It is normally a bit more than I would spend, but we ended up getting a good deal on it via groupon, so it was a go!  Our tour was run by New Smyrna Stand Up (you can check out their facebook page here; https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Smyrna-Stand-Up/103902219642858).  It began on the Halifax River, which is rather calm.  We were able to see some really neat wildlife, such as a dolphin and a crab.  I did topple over once, but I survived without a scratch.  Tips, wear sunscreen and water shoes.  This trip would be good for families with older kids.  You do have to be in relatively good shape as this type of activity can leave you a bit sore in the morning.  It gave me a good workout in my arms, shoulders, and core.   I will be doing this again!

Tallahassee Bound!

I'm researching Law Schools.... so the Husband and I decided to take a trip to FSU's School of Law and the State Capitol of Florida.  The town itself is unlike our home in Central Florida.  They actually have hills.  Being that Mike and I are use to walking on flat surface, trudging up a giant hill was brutal, but we survived.  We got lost several times in this town, and ended up going round and round in circles for what seemed like hours.  We did however get to visit some really neat places (for free), and try The Mellow Mushroom Pizza.

Our first stop was the historic Capitol.  Very cool, it had lots of neat exhibits about the history of Florida's government.  We toured the historic state senate and the original Florida Supreme Court (Which sent my legal heart a flutter).  We laughed at the exhibit on the 2000 election debacle which held special meaning to the two of us because it was the first election that we had both ever participated in.

Approaching the Historic Capitol

The Florida State Constitution

Historic Florida Supreme Court

My husband debating me in the Historic Florida Senate Chambers

After that, we set out to view the Museum of Florida History.  It was very cool and contains a mammoth skeleton, steamer ship, and a complete exhibit regarding war veterans.  We found the exhibit on the St. John's River very sweet, because it is the life blood of Central Florida.

Before we headed out of town, we drove by Gov. Rick Scott's mansion.  The way that is is situated and with all the guards, we decided to stay in the car and take pictures.  

I will say that Tallahassee is a very unique city, I don't think it is the town for us.  The panhandle is totally different from Central Florida!

St. Augustine

This is the second time we have come to this wonderful city.  This time it was a trip without the kids.  So, we did some different tours and visited some different places then we would have if we had the kids with us.

The town itself is rather touristy, as is much of Florida.  There is a large centrally located parking garage, it charges, but it is the cheapest deal in town unless you are lucky enough to stay at one of the many bed and breakfasts.  The husband and I enjoyed just walking around and people watching.  You will see some rather unusual things in this old city.  We really had a laugh on our way to dinner when we spotted a horse and carriage at the bank drive up atm.

We went on one of the many nightly ghost tours that are offered.  We went on "A ghostly encounter" http://staugustineghosttours.net/ and got to tour the Spanish Hospital, two graveyards, and a cottage.  The tour was pretty good, the story teller was insightful and was actually one featured on the Ghost Adventure's episode about the area.  It was relatively tame, so I would say it would be OK for a grade school kid, unless you have an easily scared kid (if they can watch Nightmare Before Christmas they will be fine).

The next day, we set out for something a little different.  We headed to Ripley's Believe it or Not!  This place is not cheap, so check the website for ticket prices and deals.  http://www.ripleys.com/staugustine/  They offer lots of add ons to the admission price, but we opted against them.  It took us roughly 45 minutes to an hour to tour the entire museum.  We did see a lot of neat stuff, but I think a one time tour is enough for me.

After all is said and done, St. Augustine is one of my favorite towns to visit.  So if you ever get a chance, be sure to stop in and admire this ancient city, oh and don't forget to grab a yummy cinnamon bun.

A Trip to North Florida!- Fort Matanzas

 The husband and I got a weekend alone, so we decided to take a road trip to St. Augustine to indulge our love of history.  If you have never been to St. Augustine, go.  It is well worth it.  It is the first still standing city in the US.  Originally founded by the Spanish, it exchanged hands several times over the course of history and there are many wonderful tales of love, battle, disease, and a good ghost story or two.

The first stop we made was to Fort Matanzas National Monument located in Flagler County. We took to trip via A1A and got to see the beautiful natural beaches that make Flagler County a wonderful place to visit.  The fort is located off the beaten path,  so bring a lunch, otherwise it is quite a ride into the next town.  The fort itself is located on an inhabited island.  The only access to the fort is via boat.  If you have your own, great, if not, there is a free ferry over to the island.

When we arrived, we made our way to the gift shop to get our free tickets on the ferry.  We had to wait a bit, so we enjoyed ourselves on the nature trail that takes you through the woods and eventually leads you to the beach.  If you have a strong fear of spiders, I would avoid this trail.  There were A LOT of spiders and their webs.  The final view of the dunes was wonderful though!

 Soon, it was our turn for the ferry.  The park ranger and ferry captain were extremely friendly and knowledgeable.  They talked about the fort and the battle that prompted the construction of the fort oh so long ago.  The fort was important to the Spanish, since it guarded a major trade route into St. Augustine.

 The fort itself is rather small.  It is only meant to hold a rather small company of men for short periods of time.  The monument contains lots of props that would have been found in the fort during it's occupation and even includes several of the original cannons.

 We were informed by the park ranger that they do set off the cannon during events and holidays.  We unfortunately were not there during one of the firings.  Although, during a previous trip to St. Augustine's Castillo San Marco, we were able to witness a firing of the cannon.  I assure you, it is an experience that everyone should have once.

I decided to climb up to the top of the fort to take some pictures and admire the view.  The hole is very small, so be careful!  One tourist that was rather bulky in the arms and shoulders due to weightlifting did have trouble going through the hole.

But, as scary as the climb was, the view was totally worth it!!

We loved Fort Matanzas!  It is a wonderful National Treasure.  It is off the beaten path, and not visited much by other tourists.  There is not much for the younger set of children to do here, but school age children with an interest in history would enjoy it.  Because of the age of the structure, it is not handicap accessible.  The ferry and the trail are, but not the fort itself.  You can learn more about the fort and events at this website; http://www.nps.gov/foma/index.htm.

Hontoon Island State Park-Great Park for a Picnic & a Hike!

Hontoon Island State Park is located just outside of Deland, Florida at 2309 River Ridge Road, Deland, Florida 32720.  Located in a residential area, it can be rather difficult to find, but is well worth it.
Entrance to the park is free, as well as the ferry back and forth to the island. There is a small playground located on the island that the little ones will love, along with a small one room exhibit on the history of the park.  There as several picnic tables around the dock and the playground for picnics and a small store that sells limited food items at a reasonable price.  The park is clean, and there are two restrooms, although they are located in the front of the island. 

The campground is further inland, and the park does provide transportation for gear (if requested) via van, truck or golf cart.  The campground includes primitive camping and several cabins for rent (please see their website to book a space or cabin).

There is a good hiking trail, but it does have a tendency to flood or become muddy during the rainy season.  Mosquitoes can also be a problem during certain times of the year, so bring bug spray!  The trail is not stroller accessible, so this park is for age 5+. 

My family and I thoroughly enjoy this park, and will continue to come back.

A little Critter that we met on the hiking trail.

National Park Day 2010-St. Augustine, FL

Today was National Park Day!  One of my favorites, it is a free day at any National Park.  We look through the list and decided to go to St. Augustine since the husband had never been.  The Castillo San Marco is not expensive on a regular day, but we figured that today would be a good day to visit.  They had cannon firings planned, along with reenactments that we thought would be fun for the kids.

The Castillo is rather large and many parts (such as the gun deck) are not handicap and stroller accessible.  There are lots of little rooms to explore and peek into.  There is a map room which tells the story of the different flags that have flown over the Castillo through out history.  The fort was never taken by force, but it has withstood many battles.  There are several cannon ball impressions left in the rock wall from battles past.    This the oldest fort standing in the US, so it is rather unique in construction and layout.

The Fort is located on a bit of grassy hill.  It is a perfect spot to throw down a blanket for a nice picnic and watch the boats in the bay.  In the past there has been a historic ship in the harbor, although I was unable to see one on this trip.

We spent about an hour or two wandering through the fort, watching the reenactments and got to watch and hear a real cannon fire. We later took a leisurely stroll through the historic downtown and treated ourselves to some ice cream.

The four of us absolutely loved it and hope we can come back again for another wonderful trip.  For more information please visit their website at; http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm.

Lake Mary Heathrow Festival of the Arts

I was not impressed at all. This was an extremely small festival and not very well put together. I was disappointed with the parking situation and the fact that you had to pay $5 to park, then walk across the street dodging cars. Yes, they did have officers directing traffic, but the cars did not pay any attention to them, and I saw a Seminole Deputy almost get ran over twice.


The art was arranged in a maze, and vendors were thrown in next to art. When I come to an Art Show, I don't want to be harressed to purchase a subscribition to the NY Times or the evaulate my cable needs.

The kids things were thrown into the back like an afterthought, and it was very difficult to find, and it turned out to be a few bouncy houses and nothing else.

The car show was crap. I have seen much larger shows in a Taco Bell parking lot on a Friday night.

On the plus side, I did see several good new local artists, and several that I have seen and enjoy seeing at other festivals each year.

Next year, I will be headed to Halifax to see what Volusia County has to offer. Also, for any art lovers, the Deland Festival is coming again next week.

Volusia County Fair

I got a chance to check out the Volusia County Fair.  We had a lot of fun, as fairs go.  Thursday night was free admission and $1 rides, so the place was packed.  Check out the website for more information and the various prices through out the week.  Little tip... The funnel cake is cheaper at the gates then it is at the midway, you will save $1.  Have a great week and great adventures!

Halloween Weekend

Unfortunately, we were unable to go out this weekend due to a sick child, but I heard there were several great haunted houses and activities! 

This weekend, the Volusia County Fair is back and the Lake Mary Heathrow Festival of the Arts.  We will be attending the Art Festival this weekend since it is only available for one weekend.  I hope to see you out and about.

Deltona Spooktacular

Spooktacular this year was OK.  There was a lot of games for the kids and tons of candy to be won.  My son enjoyed the bouncy house and the giant slide.  The haunted trail was good, they always have one that is adult only and then one for the kids, and they are always enjoyable.  There were lots of cute costumes to see on the kids, but I wish the costume contests would not have been so late.

All I have to say is, I'm sick of Hip-Hop and Hip-Hop only.  Deltona really needs to learn how to diversify it's events.  This year the main stage was dominated by a Hip Hop group named Super Sonic.  They were good, but I would have liked to see more.  They pushed the costume contests back so they could have even more time on stage.  It got to the point that my son was so sick of them that he begged to leave.  I would have been happier to see a country or a rock group share the stage. 

We will probably not attend next years event in favor of something more versatile.

Deltona Library and Lyonia Preserve

Wow! The new Deltona Library is huge! The Adult or main area of the library has more than doubled in size. There is a store in the back that sells used books at a reduced rate. They have also added enclosed study rooms for more comfort and WiFi through out. I found great interest in the expanded DVD library that included many newly released movies.


There are plenty of new things for the kids to do in the children's area. There are educational board games, puzzles, and exercises all neatly packed in little backpacks each labeled with the course and age group that they are geared for. A large "Tree" stands in the middle of the area with plenty of little chairs to curl up on and read. There are is lots of open spaces and a special room devoted to story time. There is also a Teen Zone, geared towards the older children with computers, older books, a homework help area and two Wii's.


The Lyonia Preserve is attached to the library and includes a café that serves bagels and coffee, a gift shop that specializes in eco-friendly goods, and a large auditorium for events. The exhibit area is geared towards education children of all ages about Volusia County's eco systems from the ocean, the scrub and the springs.

I look forward to seeing concerts in the new outside amphitheater and taking leisurely hikes on the three trails in the Scrub. Indoor and out, this project seems well worth the 11 million spent by local tax payers. I highly suggest taking the kids and checking it out for yourself. It doesn't cost a thing and the kids will learn while having fun in the process.

The Grand Opening was a hit with my family. There were lots of fun crafts and a guided tour of the preserve. Unfortunately, October 17th was the only day for the festivities. Deltona's next event is Spooktaular, which is scheduled for the weekend of October 24 and 25th. Last years was a lot of fun with games for the kids and two "haunted trails" (one is for kids and one is adults only). The event is free and my family will be attending.

Discover Lyonia Preserve, Deltona

This Saturday is Discover Lyonia, http://lyoniapreserve.com/.  Lyonia Preserve is Volusia

County’s newest Wildlife Preserve and Conservation Effort. The Saturday event is free and open to the public.  After the open house on Saturday, there will be a charge to explore the Lyonia Preserve (they have not released the proposed admission price, but I will let you know as soon as it becomes available).  Check out the website, and I look forward to meeting new explorers this weekend.

DeLeon Springs State Park

This was a completely wonderful surprise!  Located just off US17, six miles north of Deland, this is a jewel of a park, and the webpage does not do it Justice, http://www.floridastateparks.org/deleonsprings/ .  Admission is only $6.00 per car load, up to six people and then an additional $2.00 for each person after 6.   The grounds were amazingly well kept and there is plenty of parking. 

There are five covered pavilions, four of which that can be rented out for private parties.  There were plenty of picnic tables scatted around the swimming hole and plenty of areas to just throw down a blanket and sunbath.  There is also a welcome center that is rather small, but showcases various periods of history of the Springs, from Native American fishing ground to 1950's amusement park.

There is a restaurant on site that serves all you can eat pancakes for $4.50 along with burgers and various sandwiches and salads, all at a reasonable price.  There was quite a long line (45 minute wait) for the Pancake House, so we passed it on this trip.

There are several nice nature trails showcasing natural Florida.  We took the short ¼ mile paved trail.  It was a breeze with the stroller, and we saw lots of butterflies and various flora.  I would suggest bringing bug spray, as there were lots of mosquitoes on the trail.  My oldest enjoyed walking the trail and pointing out various sights, while my youngest napped.

After our walk, it was time to cool off in the spring.  The water is a crisp 72 degrees year round, so the best advice is jump in!  There is a roped off area that is quite large where the water is only 3 feet deep, which was chest high on my four year old.  My youngest could not touch the bottom, so he stayed on the steps splashing his brother.  There is a diving platform, where the water is up to 30ft deep, and my husband enjoyed doing cannon balls for the children's amusement.

The restrooms were clean and stocked.  There was a changing table and a bench in the women's room to help change in and out of swim suits.  The stalls were quite large and doubled as changing rooms.

There is a small play area that consists of only 5 slides, very small but my oldest enjoyed it.  There is also a volleyball court.

I give this park a true THUMBS UP!  My family and I will be back for more.