I admit that I have a secret love.
I have seen her twice a year for the last seven years and have been visiting her all my life.
This secret lady is Florida and what a wonderful lady she is.
The diverse ecosystem that inhabits her land is one nothing short of spectacular.
from her crystal beachs to her steaming forest.
I have been enthralled with her from day one.

My mom would pack everything but the kitchen sink.(Only because my dad used super glue on the bolts.)
We would leave my house as at 3:30 pm and pick my dad up at work at 4:00pm.
From there it was Florida or bust.

My dad would always drive(My mom's driving scared my dad but without permission from mom I am unable to say why.Lets just say it involves high speed and a busy freeway.) and my mom or I would ride shotgun.
I must say that the trip down is memory that shall stay me always.
Mom would start to get tired and climb into the back,so that meant that someone had to ride up front.
That someone was always me a=nd did I take pleasure in that.
Dad called me his litle co-pilot.
With my dad at the wheel, we would speed throught the night.

I could not really tell you what we would talk about.
But the one thing that stick's out in my memory,is when we could we would by pass the cities as not to get stuck in traffic.
So when we would come upon a city,I would ask if we are going to drive through it or go by it.
My dad's response would be "Well we will have to drive through it because we do not have enough money to buy it".
Do you get it-not enough money to buy it.
That joke still cracks me up.
The one billboard I will always remember is the one that was painted on the top and sides of barns.
It said "See Lookout Mountain" or "See Ruby Falls".
I do not know why but these so called billboards always amazed me.
I guess because it is a piece of Americana that like many things has slipped away into the darkness.
Also the one that said "See the Lost Sea"and had a picture of a viking ship on it.
My wife and have been to both of these and visit again soon.
They are both great.

My earliest memories are of a care free boy in Ormond Beach at my Aunt and Uncles house.
Here is where I remember my uncle getting ready for work and watching Good Morning America and next I would watch the Love Boat at 10:00 am.
From there the day would entail a romp through the woods and visiting neighbors.
My favorite night was taco night when my Aunt would make tacos for dinner and we kids would play till well after dark running around the house playing some sort of game like hide and seek.
At night my brother would fall asleep on the living room floor and I would stare at the 7-up clock my Uncle had hanging on the kitchen wall.
My grand parents lived in Ruskin and the best christmas I ever had was when my dad and mom bought me a tape recorder for x-mas.
I played with that thing all the time.

Now I see the changes that are happening and it scares me.
Miles of beach front property are torn down to make room for hotels and condominiums.
The woods around in Ormond Beach are no more.
Replaced with mega malls and shopping centers.

There are still places where you can go though to enjoy mother nature.
One lovely place isMerrit Island Wildlife Refugehere you can see gators and birds.
Also take a walk and get up close to them(Not to close though).

There are several parks that are within walk distance from my parents house.
These parks are along the intercoastal waterway in Volusia County.
When we visit my parents we often take a bicycle ride to one of the parks to play on the swings.
Or to look at the manatees and walk along the shore looking for crabs.
At night after everyone is in bed,I often go down to fish and listen for the dolphins coming up out of the water.

Manatees are a beautiful site and the best place to go is Blue Springs State Park.
Here you watch the manatees or large fish in the crystal clear water.
Venture down the boardwalk and look right into the spring while watching drivers swim into the darkness.
Rent a canoe and look for alligators(Watch where you paddle,we almost ran into one as they hide in murky weedy water.)
This is a really nice place.
Given Tyler's fasination with gators and thing s.
This is a place where we will venture often

A great way to see the coast line is to climb the lighthouse in Ponce Deleon Inlet.
The view is well worth the tiring walk up the circular wrought iron stairway.
There is a small nature walk and several buildings to tour also.
All this gives you an exceptional insight to important roles that lighthouses have in our past and future.

As I have stated before I love to fish and anyone who knows me will say this is an understatement.
We have discovered the best in fishing.It is a place in Port Orange that is called Sunglow Pier.
There is no where we have found that offers bait,bathrooms,food,a beautiful view of the ocean or coastline and most important coffee.
Even if you do not catch anything,the other people fishing are always pleasant and many are insightful to help on your next venture out.

Are you wondering if I have forgotten the most famous place.
Actual does Disney need a plug,I do not think so but yes we love Disney.
Though right now they are not high on our list.
On our last visit there,I was saddend that 20,000 Leagues under the Sea had been closed and that Old Mister Toads Ride was beening shut down.
Tyler loved Mister Toads ride and given his love for marine life,there is no doubt he would have enjoyed a fake submarine through the sea.
The price of admission is outlandish and to buy lunch you need to mortgage your house.
But I admit that when I step through those gates,I am again a child.
Having Tyler there just makes that much fun.

All the things that I have talked about in this page are special in my heart.
The many places we visit while in Florida were shown to me by parents and I in turn shall show them to Tyler.
The Florida I remember as a child is gone.
But there is still amazement in her waters and beauty on her land.
Florida is more than a mouse and beachs.
It is a complicated fragile ecosystem that holds that a natural beauty.
It is beauty to the eye and enlightment to heart.
Again showing the perfection of our Father.
But the best thing about Florida is when Grandpa Pete and Grandma Connie see their little grandson.
This in itself makes the 2 day trip worthwhile.