Fun in Key West

Hurray!!! I've been to the edge and back!!!

The edge of the lower 48 states, that is.  Key West, FL is the furthest south you can go in the contiguous 48 states.

Notice we didn't get our picture taken next to this buoy.  It's cute and all, but it's not the southernmost point. Fun fact... this is actually not a buoy... it came out of a sewer somewhere in Key West and the city had it painted to look like a buoy so they could replace the sign that used to be there... the sign that kept getting stolen. LOL

This is actually the southernmost point that a civilian can access (below). Doesn't look like much, does it?

The Holy Land Experience

Sigh...not my best look. I look like I have crazy pink hair.

Always wanted to visit Israel?  Me, not so much.  I love the history and Biblical significance of it, but traveling there in person? Not so much... not too keen on the idea of bomb shelters, etc.

Next best thing?  The Holy Land Experience in Orlando.

Granted, it's a bit commercial, but we spent 5-6 hours walking around, learning and enjoying ourselves.  The park is landscaped with middle eastern plant life and they have some pretty neat exhibits.

EcoSafari

Check out this fashionable look...

On our way down to Miami, we stopped off in St. Cloud at Forever Florida (a nature preserve) for an EcoSafari.  They offer lots of different activities, from horseback riding, to zip lines, to the Cypress Canopy Cycle.  M's not an equestrian type and I'm not a 'throw caution to the wind and jump off a platform 4 stories up in order to hurtle down a piece of wire held only by a caribiner clip and flimsy harness' type.  So we met in the middle and chose the Cypress Canopy Cycle.

Wicked awesome.

Alligator Watching in the Everglades

Little airboat... our was about 3x this size.

Checking one more thing off my list... Airboat tour of the Everglades. We spent a 1/2 day at Sawgrass Recreation Park and really enjoyed ourselves.  The airboat tour was really cool (that boat MOVES!) and our guide/pilot was very knowledgeable about the Everglades and the wildlife.

We saw 5 alligators, some turtles and a few bird species. I tried to get pictures of all of them without falling overboard or sticking my limbs over the side of the boat.  Apparently, the alligators can see the motion from below the water and think it looks like lunch.  Mission accomplished:  I came home with all arms, legs, fingers and toes firmly attached.