The Florida Keys: Blue Seas, Mangrove Trees, A Few Gators, And A National Park or Three

Our National Park Quest Continues!

This time it led us to the Florida Keys. But before we go any further ... it's time for a little trivia.

These "keys" ... while they look like islands and are completely surrounded by water, why are these 800+ small land formations called "keys" instead of "islands"?

(Get this right and you could be the champion of your next trivia competition!)

And the answer is ...

Islands are formed by volcanic activity or are a part of a continental plate, whereas a Key (or Cay) is a specific type of island, small in size and formed from coral or limestone.

As we continued traveling south to the Florida Keys, we found a special kind of natural beauty in this popular vacation spot. Under the abundant sunshine and along these small, low-lying coral and limestone islands ...

blue seas, mangrove trees, a few gators, and a national park or three

are there waiting to be enjoyed by all.

The Everglades National Park

We visited the Everglades a few years ago, but couldn't help but repeat our favorite activity in this national park ... a bike ride through a popular alligator hangout called Shark Valley. The fifteen mile bike ride brought us fairly close to these slightly intimidating creatures, but they didn't seem to mind us interrupting their nap time in order to take a photo.

Biscayne National Park

National park number 54!

Since 95% of it is underwater, the best way to experience Biscayne National Park is to take one of their chartered boat tours or rent a kayak and explore on your own.  Once on the water, there are 33 uninhabited small islands or keys, miles of mangrove stands, and thousands of acres of underwater treasures to discover. Since the water was a "chilly" at 72 degrees, Doug chose the "dry option" ... a boat tour.  Thus, we were able to learn a little about the history and ecology of the park and explore one of its keys during the three hour Heritage of Biscayne Boat Cruise.

The mangroves have an important role in this "water park" in that they help keep the water clear and provide important habitat for some of the over 600 fish that call Biscayne Bay "home".

A few of these palm tree covered keys, within eyesight of Miami, were once year-round playgrounds for the rich and the famous. Mark Honeywell, founder of the Minnesota-based Honeywell Company, made his vacation home on Boca Chita Key in the 1930s.

 Here he built a resort complex that included a picnic pavilion, chapel, and lighthouse ... but because he built the lighthouse on the wrong side of the island, it was merely "ornamental".

Others, like the Jones family, were more interested in preserving the natural beauty and resources of the Keys. Instead of selling his small piece of paradise to developers, Sir Lancelot Jones, a black farmer and skillful fisherman, sold it to the federal government for quite a bit less money. His selfless actions encouraged others to work together in order to establish Biscayne National Park in 1980.

Dry Tortugas National Park

National park number 55!

Some national parks, we're finding out, are a tad bit more tricky to visit. Located 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is one of those more "elusive" parks. But with a little advanced planning, a small wad of cash, and some anti-seasickness meds, we were on our way. After a two and a half hour boat ride, we arrived at the official end of Florida's coral reef, the Dry Tortugas. The cost for the daylong excursion, that included breakfast, lunch, and admission, was about $200 each.

Discovered in 1516, these keys were home to an important food source at the time ... sea turtles. Thus, they became known by their Spanish name, Los Tortugas.  The name changed to "Dry Tortugas" in the early 1700s to clarify the fact that while there was a safe harbor and tasty food sources, there was no fresh water available on these small islands.

Here lies the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere and the "star" of Dry Tortugas National Park ...

Fort Jefferson.

Known as both the Gateway and the Guardian of the Gulf, Fort Jefferson was built to protect the United States coast and its important supply routes. Construction started in 1846, but a lack of readily available supplies, food, and fresh water, as well as the American Civil War, delayed construction. The fort was never completely finished and was abandoned by the US military in 1874.

Shortly after we arrived, one of the park service employees led us on an extensive tour of the fort. His spirited stories kept us thoroughly entertained and at the same time, helped us appreciate this historic landmark. While no battles ever took place here, Fort Jefferson did serve as a prison for Union deserters during and after the Civil War. One of its most well-known prisoners was Dr Samuel Mudd, the doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth's broken leg after he assassinated President Lincoln in 1865. He was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison. While there, Dr Mudd helped treat patients during a yellow fever epidemic after the prison's physician died, and for that, he was pardoned by President Johnson in 1869.

Today, the Dry Tortugas National Park serves as an important wildlife refuge for bird and marine life. Nearby keys are important winter breeding areas for many birds including the Magnificent Frigatebirds, who could be seen soaring above the fort's walls. Their wings span over seven feet, and they are able to spend several days to several weeks in flight. They are known as "pirate birds" because while in flight, they force other birds to drop their food, and then nab the tasty treat in midair as it tumbles towards the water below.

 

  

After lunch, we were able to explore on our own. If the water temperature had been a little closer to the 90 degree mark that Doug prefers, we could have done some snorkeling. But nonetheless, the opportunity to surround ourselves with ...

intriguing history,

unique architecture,

and beautiful natural surroundings

made our visit to Dry Tortugas National Park a special place to hang out for the day.

and a great place to grab a nap under a shady tree as these early morning risings are tough on some of us!

The Journey is as beautiful as the destinations

As I mentioned earlier, it is a tad bit tricky and pricey to visit these Florida national park destinations. Since the Dry Tortuga ferry leaves Key West at 7 am and gets back at 5:30  pm, one should plan on spending at least three days in this pricey piece of paradise. It's nearly impossible to get a site at Bahia Honda, the closest reasonably priced state park campground. Boondocking is largely prohibited in any part of the Keys. That left private campgrounds as our best option. At about $100/day, Boyd's RV Resort, located five miles from Key West, was a bit more expensive than our average campsite, but ...

What A View!

From there we were able to do the day trip to the Dry Tortugas as well as enjoy some of the "quirkiness" of Key West that makes it a special place to visit. Some other highlights of our Keys "vacation" included

... quaint seafood cafes

that served up a delicious "fresh off the boats" hogfish and chips dinner,

... a visit to the "southernmost" craft brewery in the continental US, 

... the chance to "count the toes" of one of the 59 polydactyl cats who still have free rein of Ernest Hemingway's house and garden,

... tropical drinks and island music at Ernest's favorite hangout,

... a walk past colorful flowers and beautiful creatures that seem to enjoy the warm sunshine as much as we do,

... and a breathtaking end to the day.

The Florida Keys ... surrounded by blue seas, mangrove trees, a few gators, and a national park or three,

... Is nature at its best!

Colorful Talents Overflowing: Dade City, Florida Habitat for Humanity Build

The Colors of the Rainbow,

Each Vibrant by Itself,

But in Unison ... Endless Beauty!

Our desire to help out Doug's family, visit a couple of national parks, and attend another Hymer meetup brought us back to Florida in mid January. While figuring out our plans, we were happy to see that we would have time to volunteer once again with one of our favorite Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Dade City, Florida.

This Habitat affiliate, like many around the country, recruits volunteers to assist in building affordable housing in their community. Through their Care-a-Vanner program, we are given a place to camp 

... and a chance to work with a fun group of individuals who

... skillfully and joyfully,

... come together

...and work in unison as their

... colorful talents overflow!!!

When we volunteer for Habitat builds, we need to be flexible. We may be asked to assist with framing new construction ... Doug's favorite.  Or we may pick up a paintbrush to help with the finishing touches of a new house ... Chris' favorite. Or anything in between. But this year, it was a little different.

When the sun finally came out after a few days of cold and rain, we found out that we would be helping with some rehab work. A house had recently been foreclosed on and given back to the Habitat affiliate. It would need a lot of TLC (and a fair amount of elbow grease) in order to bring it back to a move-in ready condition. But as the sunrise brings the promise of a new day, so too, can the colorful talents of our Care-a-Vanner team bring hope for this home and the surrounding community.

We began our mornings at the campground's screened porch community area or, more often, around the campfire because the 40 degree temps were a bit too cold for us Floridians ... yup, we're wimps! After a morning devotion and announcements, our knowledgeable and ever-so-patient construction supervisor, Jose would advise us on the plan for the day.

And then the colorful talents got flowing!

Doug somehow got chosen to become a "Jose, Jr" so he kept thorough notes about what jobs needed to be done. Ben became a powerful force with the caulk gun. 

Jayne, Deb, Susan, and Donna quickly breathed new life into the doors with a few coats of primer and paint, and we benefitted from Mike and Kevin's tall statures to spruce up the ceilings.

I was able to bring out the shine on the kitchen cabinets thanks to a few coats of varnish,

... while Earl, Don, and Leon meticulously leveled and re-set the kitchen cabinets and prepared the kitchen for many more years of home-cooked meals.

When the sun came out and temperatures started rising once again, the artistic flare of a few members of our group heated up also. Mike, Susan, Deb, Nanci, Donna, and Jayne designed and painted the sides of the storage bins that will be used on future construction sites. Besides storing tools and materials, the Conex containers will also serve as colorful reminders of positive changes that Habitat brings to the community.

Habitat's parade float, which serves an important role in public relations and advertising, also got a "face lift" with a stronger new base ... thanks to the talents of Vaughn, Norm, Brion, and Ben.

 

Sometimes the jobs that we are asked to do are not the most glamorous. The future homeowner may not think about the many hours that Doug spent scrapping dirty caulk off the window frames, 

... but we know that they will appreciate the colorful future that they will be able to provide for their family with this Habitat for Humanity home

 ... that has been beautifully transformed by the overflowing of

colorful talents

working in perfect unison!!!

Our Ninth RVenturous Year On The Road

Living in a small space is hard at times. While Doug has perfected the "I'll just sit back and let you have your space" method essential for peaceful vanlife coexistence, I still have a ways to go. But as we complete our ninth RVenturous year of travel, the "secret" is clear ... 

Wherever You Go, Take Your Best Friend Along.

A Quick Recap of our 2024 Travels

January

After spending the Christmas holidays with our friends in Tucson, we made a quick (for us) cross-country trip back to Florida. A stop at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, visiting friends along the way, a Habitat for Humanity build, and a meet-up with other Hymer van owners completed this month.

February

We left Baby Beest parked in Florida and flew once again to Medellin, Colombia. This was our fifth extended stay in this beautiful South American country. Between attending language exchanges and helping as volunteer English teachers, we found that friendships are formed despite how "mediocre" our Spanish may be.

March

We continued to enjoy "perpetual Spring" in Medellin surrounded by delicious coffee, dear friends, and some quite "unusual" looking butterflies.

April

It was time to return to the United States to view the solar eclipse in Little Rock, Arkansas. The wedding celebration of our son and daughter-in-law brought us up to Minnesota before the warm weather officially arrived, but the joy of spending time with family always warms the heart.

May

May in Minnesota! Trees are budding out, bluebells are blooming, and time with friends brings us to beautiful new heights.

June

We accomplished another "travel bucket list" item as we completed a Circle Tour around Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake (by area) in the world. Magnificent waterfalls were the "pot of gold" at the end of many of our hikes. 

July

After spending time with family and friends, we said our farewells and headed west. Baby Beest was ready to take us to new heights as we headed over the Beartooth Pass to visit Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks.

August

Across the border we go! The breath-taking beauty of the Canadian Rockies was about to steal our hearts. As we continued west, Vancouver Island's rainforests proved just as magical.

September

Back in the US, we had a couple of more national parks to visit before the weather turned colder. Let the sun shine on Crater Lake's deep clear blue waters!

October

Coastal cruising filled our October. We started down the Oregon Coast and continued into California ... past the giant Redwoods, the Golden Gate bridge, and along the rugged beauty of Big Sur stretch of Highway 1.

November

With the days getting shorter, we found that we wanted to slow down our pace of travel, so we "chilled" in the hot spring pools at an RV resort in Desert Hot Springs, California ... especially refreshing after hikes in the surrounding desert.

December

We, once again, embraced the joy of being surrounded by a community of friends during our holiday stay at Far Horizons, one of our favorite RV resorts in Tucson, Arizona. Pickleball, yoga, hiking, and biking filled our days while game nights, happy hours, and dinners out with friends nourished our bodies and souls.

By The Numbers

Miles

Numbers of Miles Traveled in 2024 = 20,000

Baby Beest reached the 100,000 "mile"stone in April and ended the year at 114,000

Gas Prices

Lowest gas prices: $2.46 in Texas

Highest gas prices $5.49 in California

Our Nightly Hangouts

AirBnB: 59 nights (15%)

Boondocking: 51 nights (15%)

Campgrounds: 154 nights (42%)

Harvest Host/Boondockers Welcome program: 28 nights (8%)

Mooch-docking: 74 nights (20%)

 ❤ Special thanks to ❤

Angela and Matt
Kaleesha and Paul
Tim and Liz
Tami and Billy
Marybeth and Gary 
Dave and Tiffany
Adam and Shannon
Mary and Daryl
Katy and Scott 
Elaine and Dennis

... for making us feel right at "home"!

❤❤

State Capitals Visited

While I technically completed my visits to all 50 US state capitol buildings in 2023, the photo that was taken of me in front of the state capitol building in Bismarck, North Dakota in 2020 was somehow lost, so ...

I made it "official" when we passed through Bismarck this past July!

Provincial Capitals Visited 

Victoria, British Columbia

We now have visited seven out of the ten Canadian Provinces and Provincial capitals

National Parks

We visited six new-to-us national parks in the US for a grand total of 53 out of 63

Carlsbad Caverns NP, New Mexico
Voyageurs NP, Minnesota
Grand Teton NP, Wyoming
Crater Lake NP; Oregon
Lassen Volcanic NP; California
Petrified Forest NP; Arizona

US National Parks Worthy of a Repeat Visit:

Theodore Roosevelt NP; North Dakota

Yellowstone NP; Wyoming

Glacier NP; Montana

Redwoods NP; California

Joshua Tree NP, California

We visited seven new-to-us national parks in Canada for a grand total of 18 out of 44

Waterton NP; Alberta

Kootenay NP; British Columbia

Yoho NP; British Columbia

Glacier NP; British Columbia

Mount Revelstoke NP; British Columbia

Pacific Rim NP; British Columbia

Gulf Islands NP; British Columbia

Not National Parks, But Equally Impressive

Pompeys Pillar National Monument; Montana
Newberry Volcanic National Monument; Oregon
Lava Beds National Monument; California
Painted Rocks National Lakeshore

Numbers of Craft Breweries Visited

I almost forgot about a travel bucket list item of Doug's ...

Since he started keeping track over twelve years ago, Doug has visited ...

641 craft breweries

and has added 384 beer coasters to his collection.

Our Favorites:
And The Winner Is ...

Favorite Campground:

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park; Ontario, Canada

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is on a peninsula that juts into Lake Superior. The park has abundant wildlife and hiking trails. I loved that Doug snagged a site right on the water's edge ... with a perfect sunset view. 

Favorite Boondocking Spot:

Duluth Harbor Parking Lot; Duluth, Minnesota

While technically not "free", for only $12 a day we were able to park overnight in a city parking lot overlooking Duluth's famous Aerial Lift Bridge. From there, we could easily walk around the downtown area and get on the nearby bike path that took us to a couple of craft breweries further down the road. We started and ended our Lake Superior Circle Tour there and were lucky to have front row seats for the 4th of July city band concert and fireworks display.

Favorite Harvest Host Location:

Algona Highlands Wild Blueberry Farm; Wawa, Ontario

This family-run blueberry farm allowed us to camp on the edge of their fields. You can't see them in the picture, but a "sedge" of sandhill cranes serenaded us to sleep as they feasted on blueberries.

Favorite "Stop and Smell the Roses" Moment:

Butchart Gardens; Vancouver Island, British Columbia

I was able to meander around this famous Botanical garden while Doug "relaxed" in the van ... win-win for us!

Favorite "Random" Stop:

Dia de Los Muertos Community Celebration; Riverside, California

We stopped in this small town on our way to Desert Hot Springs and stumbled upon the local Hispanic community's way of honoring their beloved family members who have died. Ethnic food, music, dance, and colorful memorials lined the street and city park.

Favorite City:

San Francisco, California

Yes, San Francisco stole our hearts. It was easy to access the city using the ferry system, so we ended up spending five days climbing the hills, enjoying various ethnic foods, and seeing all the famous tourist attractions.

Favorite New Experience:

Waymo Ride

I wasn't 100% convinced at first, but Doug assured me that trying out the "driver-less" Waymo taxi would be a fun and safe way to see more of San Francisco ... and he was right!

Favorite Cute Little Town:

Sisters, Oregon

A quaint downtown area, spectacular forest and mountain scenery, beautiful hiking paths, and plenty of BLM land nearby to boondock on made Sisters, Oregon our favorite small town.

Favorite Restaurant:

Any Fish and Chips Food Truck Along the Coast of Lake Superior and Vancouver Island

Whether traveling along the shore of Lake Superior or on Vancouver Island, the local fish & chips food trucks were always a sure bet!

Favorite Home-cooked Meal:

Liz and Remy's International "Made With Love" Dinners

Our friends, Liz and Remy, are currently traveling in their van down to the tip of South America. We were happy to hear that their travels through Colombia in March coincided with our stay in Medellin. They hung out with us for a week and treated us to numerous delicious home-cooked meals using the local produce. Their Italian pasta, Indian curry, and Chinese stir-fry was a nice break from the typical bland Colombian diet.

Favorite Bakery:

Breka Bakery; Vancouver, British Columbia

How does one choose???

This Vancouver bakery was a definite "step up" from the local Tim Hortons.

Favorite Coffee House:

Valentine's Cafe; Medellin, Colombia

We haven't found any North American coffee shop that can top a Colombian cappuccino. Throw in the decadent chocolate tort, and we were in caffeine and sugar heaven.

Favorite Craft Brewery:

Russian River Brewing; Santa Rosa, California

Russian River Brewing Company is a mandatory "destination" for craft beer lovers like Doug. He snagged some good hazy IPAs, a coaster, and a free boondocking spot for two nights in their parking lot. Score!

Favorite Road trip:

California's Highway 1 Coastal Highway and Big Sur 

While sections of this narrow, winding road left me queasy at times, the scenery and hiking along the way made this one of those ultimate road trips. 

Favorite Natural Area:

The Varied and Beautiful Area Surrounding Lake Superior

During our Circle Tour around Lake Superior, we were able to enjoy so many beautiful waterfalls, vistas, and hiking trails ... as well as delicious Lake Superior whitefish.

Favorite History Lesson:

San Juan Island National Historic Park, Washington

The English gardens are still maintained on the north side of San Juan Island where the British and Americans co-occupied the island during the "Pig War" in the late 1800's. It was very interesting to learn about this relatively obscure historic event that resulted in San Juan Island becoming a part of the United States.

Favorite Bike Trail Companion:

Our New Brompton Electric Bikes

Is it a sign of getting older or just getting wiser??!! We upgraded our Bromptons to the electric version this past summer, and I couldn't be happier. They still fit nicely under our bed, and we are always ready to ride into the wind and up those hills.

Favorite Bike Ride:

Grand Teton NP

What an amazing way to test out our new E-bikes as we enjoyed the scenic Tetons! This national park bike path stretches for miles and allowed us to bike from the park to the nearby city of Jackson and thus avoid the infamous traffic jams that are common during the busy summer tourist season.

Favorite Hike:

Grand Glacier Trail; Glacier National Park, British Columbia

 This is a tough decision, as we enjoyed so many spectacular hikes through the thirteen national parks that we visited this year. But I'm going to give the honors to Canada's Glacier National Park's Grand Glacier Trail. During this 5 mile hike we ascended almost 1400 feet through moss-covered forest, across rivers, and up above the tree line. After scrambling to the rocky summit, I felt quite happy with our reward ... magnificent views of the nearby mountains, glaciers and waterfalls.

Favorite "Warm and Fuzzy" moment:

MI DOG Tour in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan 

MI Dog , located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, is the summer training facility of long-distance sled dog racer, Laura Neese. It's here that she raises and trains her pack of 18+ sled dogs as well as a number of newborn pups. For $15 each, we were drawn into ninety minutes of fascinating stories and information about all that is involved with training and participating in long distance artic races such as the Iditarod. Because she wants the new pups to get acclimated to humans, puppy cuddling was a "mandatory" part of the tour ... so much fun!

Favorite Outdoor Adventure:

Kayaking along Picture Rocks National Lakeshore; Michigan

It was a "picture-perfect" day when we got into our double kayak for a paddling tour that got us up close to the colorful beauty of the rock formations that line the southern shore of Lake Superior.

Favorite and Most Memorable "Fellow Traveler":

 Conversation with Judy, who is walking across Canada

Judy was a memorable person whom I met while at a British Columbia national park picnic area. As I shared some of our lunch with her, she shared stories of her journey and her philosophy of life with me before continuing east on the Trans Canada Highway pushing all her worldly belongings in a bike trailer. Her destination ... Newfoundland.

Godspeed, Judy!

Favorite Tourist Attraction:

A Stroll Along the Old Faithful Boardwalk

Seeing Old Faithful blow its top never gets "old" ... but let's not stop there! A stroll down the boardwalk that leads past other active thermal features made this a favorite tourist attraction for us when we passed through Yellowstone National Park once again this past summer.

Favorite "Over-rated" Tourist Attraction:

Alcatraz Island National Recreation Area, California

OK, while "visiting Alcatraz" is on almost every list of tourist attractions that you HAVE to visit, it is really just a very run down former prison that unfortunately seems to "glamorize" the lives of violent criminals.

Favorite Tree/Plant:

The "Creatures" of Vancouver Island's Western Rain Forest

The moss-covered tree limbs transformed into magical creatures during our hike on the Rainforest Trail in Canada's Pacific Rim National Park.

Favorite Wildlife Viewing

A Moose Comes A-Calling

Who needs to go to a national park to see a moose? This curious creature seemed a little miffed that we didn't invite him in for dinner when we were camping near a small town in central Montana.

Favorite "Once In A Lifetime" Opportunity:

Total Eclipse of the Sun on April 8 in Little Rock, Arkansas

Donned with eclipse glasses, we joined thousands of other sky-gazers for the total eclipse of the sun while listening to a Pink Floyd tribute band blast out their famous song of the same title

Favorite Way to End Our Day:

Soaking in the Spring-Fed Hot Tubs in Desert Hot Springs, California

November's early sunsets and cool nighttime temperatures made soaking in the spring-fed pool and hot tubs at Caliente Springs RV Resort a favorite way to end our day.

Favorite Random Work of Art:

Train Wreck Site; Whistler, British Columbia

After a train wreck in 1956, authorities deemed it too complicated to remove the mangled boxcars. Today, these cars, which have been colorfully decorated by local graffiti artists, lie among the trees at their final resting place on the banks of the Cheakamus River. A short stroll over a suspension bridge leads you to these unique works of art.

Favorite Home Improvement:

New seat covers for Baby Beest

Baby Beest's driver and passenger seats were beginning to show their age, so they got a sweet make-over when Doug found these sleek new seat covers. She's good for another five years and 100,00 miles!

Favorite Photo Of The Year

"Let's Play"

We can't help but say "yes" when Peter the Pug asked us to throw his favorite toy ... for the 100th time. It was so much fun to "grand-puppy sit" while our son and daughter-in-law were on their honeymoon! 

We are grateful for another RVenturous Year of ... 

Coffee Sips,

Road Trips,

Friendships,

and Companionship.

What Will 2025 Have In Store For Us??

Our conundrum continue ... 

While we enjoyed our extended stays in two active RV communities during this past November and December, we also still love the freedom of travel and simplicity of living that we get with vanlife. The thought of doing more international travel is also intriguing. If we settled down, where? Would we buy, rent, or ???

Lots of questions, and at this point, we don't feel like we have to figure out the one best answer for us. 

During the next year, we'll continue to pursue a couple of our travel bucket list items: 

-- to visit as many national parks as possible

-- to continue to learn Spanish

... which are leading us back to Florida and on to the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico for the winter. From there we'll head back to Minnesota by way of the East Coast. And after that ... time will tell.

For now, we'll continue to ...

Travel far, travel wide,

 and always travel with this friend by my side.

Thanks for continuing to follow us wherever RVentures take us 

 ... and for always waiting by the door, ready to welcome us "home".

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025!