2nd Leg: The "Real" Florida...Wakulla Springs and Destin
After our overnight in Georgia, Seth and I moved on to the beach week in Destin. On the way west, we stopped in Wakulla Springs to meet up for lunch with my dad and his old friend from his childhood days, Ermine. Wakulla Springs is the largest and deepest freshwater spring in the world...and it is gorgeous! This meetup was especially exciting because I have been "facebook friends" with Ermine for some time, so meeting her in person was really fun. As I imagined, Ermine was full of fascinating stories of my dad's hometown of Quincy, tobacco farming history and hmmmm....the Coca Cola "millionaires in Florida stories! We met at the Wakulla Springs Lodge (quite the lunch spot!), which is part of the historic lodge and hotel built in 1937 by Edward Ball. Short on time and a bit rained out, Seth and I didn't do the jungle cruise, but were able to see the crystal clear waters, divers...and gators!! Every time I see these crystal clear springs across the Panhandle of Florida (dad took me the year before to Ponce de Leon Springs...wowza!), I really get the slogan you see everywhere "the REAL Florida", which refers to the 175 state parks remaining and retaining the vanishing beauty of the state....no, the "real" Florida is not the Confederate flag swimsuits if that's what you thought that slogan referred to. After the lunch, we finished the drive in Destin, the first night Seth and I had the place to ourselves, my dad, Jeralyn and Mitch not set to arrive until Sunday. Seth and I were treated to an AMAZING lightning show that night which we watched in our Holiday Beach Resort screen in porch over dinner, then from down by the beach where we walked after. Beach lightening shows are always spectacular, but this was unlike I've ever seen...sideways strikes, purple skies, just non-stop electricity for over and hour. Dad and I have spent hours in other years trying to "get the perfect photo" of this stuff...this year, I gave up on that, just enjoyed it (okay, I got one good one can see see in the photo set). | The week in Destin was fun with Jeralyn and Mitch. Jeralyn had come with me two years prior, so this year her and her husband rented my dad's second, smaller unit. Better than the bunk room, eh? The Destin years all blend into one, so not much to blog here...sun, drinks, southern friends from many parts. Rest assured, good dinners this year, the annual hot dogs poolside, excellent wine from the Raleigh Wine Shop, a whole fish dinner (thanks, Seth!) and of course, some Bushwacker treats, in the form of shots and pies (thanks, dad)! Destin sands were as usual, as white as can be, the waters clear and blue green...our little place in the sun, with friends from up to 38 years and counting and those we bring along always make the best memories! Hope you enjoy our photos of the week in Florida, which you can see here! Black and white photo above is not mine, but from an old archive of the Wakulla Lodge I timed traveled to get. |