Month: April 2019

Reptile World Serpentarium

reweidman50 Florida Attractions, Florida Snakes, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

reptileworld

Located in a nondescript cinder-block building off a lonely stretch of U.S. 192 in St. Cloud near Lake Lizzie Conservation Area, the Reptile World Serpentarium boasts more than 75 species of snakes (including mambas, cobras and rattlesnakes such as the legendary Eastern Diamondback), as well as alligators, crocodiles, iguanas and turtles. Opened by noted herpetologist George Van Horn in 1976, Reptile World is the real deal. There’s even a venom milking show! It’s a welcome relief to anyone who is tired of waiting in line for over an hour to watch an audio-animatronic dinosaur attempt to eat a jeep at some overpriced Orlando-area theme park.

Did You Know …

reweidman50 Film Recommendations, Harry Crews, Uncategorized , , , , , , ,

harrycrews
Harry Crews wrote the uncredited screenplay for The New Kids (1985), a little-known “horror-thriller film” that was directed by Sean Cunningham (Friday the 13th) and filmed in Homestead, Florida; starred Lori Loughlin, Shannon Presby and James Spader; and was billed as “A New Ticket to Terror from the Director of Friday the 13th!”

Tragedy in U.S. History Museum Revisited

reweidman50 Florida History, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,

tragedy

Here are the contents of a couple of classic signs used to promote the long-defunct Tragedy in U.S. History Museum in St. Augustine:

“SEE Jayne Mansfield’s DEATH CAR … and learn the truth!”

“Inside You Will See: President Kennedy’s Car * Lee Harvey Oswald’s Car * The Ambulance He Died In * His Dallas Furniture and More * The Famous Zapruder Film * Bonnie and Clyde Getaway Car * Jayne Mansfield’s Car * Whistle from ‘Wreck of Old 97’ * Old Spanish Jail Built in 1718 Human Skeletons Inside * Antique Torture Equipment * Bear Traps * Flagler Tragedy * Elvis Presley’s Last Will and Much – Much More”

“Inside Tragedy Museum You Will See!
* President Kennedy’s Car
This is His Washington Limousine
* Jayne Mansfield Death Car
Famous Movie Star & the Truth of How She Died
* Also You Will See the Car Lee Harvey Used to Transport the Weapon that Killed the President
* See His Furniture from His Dallas Apartment
* See the Ambulance that Carried Him to His Death”

Riverbend Park, Jupiter

reweidman50 Florida Hiking Trails, Florida Wildlife, Uncategorized , ,

riverbendpark

We set out from Pompano Beach for Riverbend Park in Jupiter early on Good Friday and it was a dismal, rainy morning. However, the rains subsided by the time we arrived and so we embarked on a three-hour hike through the myriad of limestone hiking, biking and equestrian trails that make up Riverbend Park. We viewed a lot of wildlife such as six deer (including a fawn!), marsh rabbit, raccoon and wood stork. The next morning, we set out for Riverbend Park again to explore the more rugged trails on the other side of the park. We enjoyed a great view of the wild and scenic Loxahatchee River from a kayak outpost and then reached the far end of the park, which was populated with cypress knees. We made our way back to the other side of the park for a quick loop and saw five more deer. All in all, a great time and next visit we are definitely going to do some kayaking here.

The Questionable Name of Progress

reweidman50 Florida Authors, Florida Literature, Uncategorized , , , , , ,

brightorange2
“Now, of course, having failed in every attempt to subdue the Glades by frontal attack, we are slowly killing it off by tapping the River of Grass. In the questionable name of progress, the state in its vast wisdom lets every two-bit developer divert the flow into drag-lined canals that give him ‘waterfront’ lots to sell. As far north as Corkscrew Swamp, virgin stands of ancient bald cypress are dying. All the area north of Copeland had been logged out, and will never come back. As the glades dry, the big fires come with increasing frequency. The ecology is changing with egret colonies dwindling, mullet getting scarce, mangrove dying of new diseases born of dryness.” ― John D. MacDonald, Bright Orange for the Shroud (1965)

The Thrill of Walking

reweidman50 Uncategorized , ,

blackbear

“The thrill of walking comes not so much from movement—except for the initial turning of a step out the door into a journey—but from its gifts of freedom and nonconformity. In a world built on speed, walking somewhere is an act of rebellion. You reject every type of contraption that your forebears have invented to get you there faster—including the bicycle—for your own two legs. You head out into the world while turning your back on its ways.” —Thomas Swick, The Joys of Travel (2018)

Black Hammock Wilderness Area

reweidman50 Florida Hiking Trails, Uncategorized , ,


I finally got the chance to explore 700-acre Black Hammock Wilderness Area in Seminole County (near Geneva) and I was not disappointed. The 4.5-mile hiking trail (part of which is a 1.4-mile loop at the end) features diverse terrain, including Mixed Hardwood Swamp, Pine Flatwoods and Sand Pine Scrub. The first section of the trail includes two scenic boardwalks. I had the place pretty much to myself, although I did chat with another hiker and a couple heading out as I was making my way back. Oh yeah, the parking lot is extremely small (enough for maybe five cars at the most) and so I recommend arriving no later than 8 AM or so on a weekend. Bottom line: It was simply one of the best hikes I’ve taken so far in Central Florida!

 

Black Bear Wilderness Area

reweidman50 Florida Black Bear, Florida Wildlife, Uncategorized , , , ,


With urban sprawl threatening preservation efforts everywhere throughout Central Florida, 1,600-acre Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford provides a welcome glimpse of wilderness amid a nightmarish sea of cul-de-sacs, strip malls and office parks. When I arrived around 10 AM last Sunday morning, the parking lot was already full, so I had to park along the street outside. The trail itself is an often rugged 7.1-mile loop (part of which runs near the St. Johns River) and features 14 numbered boardwalks, but I only had time to do a brief sampler. So I first ventured out counterclockwise for about a mile and then hiked about a mile the other way. The trail is simply amazing and I saw two alligators sunning. Florida Black Bear sighting are apparently common here, but I had no such luck. I will be back soon to hike the entire loop at Black Bear Wilderness Area!

 

 

Hike #52: Hontoon Island State Park

reweidman50 52 Hike Challenge, Florida State Parks, Uncategorized , ,

Hike #52: 52 Hike Challenge: Hontoon Island State Park, DeLand. Completed Hike #52 of 52 Hike Challenge at Hontoon Island State Park, followed by lunch at Bellini’s Deli (yes, I ordered roast beef and provolone!). The 52 Hike Challenge has been a great experience and I encourage anyone interested to just head out and get started! I always considered the completion of the 52 Hike Challenge as just the beginning – now I’m ready for more challenging hikes! See ya on the trails! Distance: 3 miles.