Summer should get a speeding ticket.  I’m trying to get the most out of Summer Break without doing too much and defeating the purpose.  I flew to Florida for a week to cool off from the 108° heat indexes in Louisville.  My Mom and Dad took me to Treasure Island Beach to watch the fireworks.

It was nice to experience a beach setting for the Fourth of July.  The fireworks were not as extravagant as we had expected.  Later, we found out that the company hired to put on the show had some issues.  To their defense, there were some storms in the area.

Another show on my agenda almost got cancelled due to Chris Brown’s arrest in West Palm Beach.  Thankfully, C-Breezy settled his legal matters so my Mom and I could enjoy the Heartbreak on a Full Moon concert.

We were seated in the second row behind the orchestra level.  I added valet parking to the ticket order for a treat to my Mom.  I was impressed with the stage set up being that his Heartbreak on a Full Moon tour is in amphitheaters instead of stadiums.

The next day, I recuperated poolside with ensalada de frutas con chile.  Later that night, it was Giordano’s in Orlando for deep dish pizza and a shopping spree.

Because Florida is my second home and future retirement destination, I am always looking to explore places off the beaten path.  Florida is home to the largest concentration of freshwater springs on the planet.  We picked Blue Spring State Park this time around.

We reserved a two-hour ecological cruise on the Saint Johns River to learn about the native plants and wildlife.  St. Johns River is unique because it flows north.  We spotted alligators, alligator nests, owls, egrets, eagles, and herons.

After the cruise, we walked on a boardwalk towards the Blue Spring swimming area.  My master swimmer Mother said she was not getting in that water!

There were park rangers monitoring an alligator that was swimming nearby.  The swim area is very clear and we could see gar, catfish and a manatee sharing the same space.  I always thought manatees were slow mammals, but they actually swim 5 mph.  Michael Phelps tops 6 mph, which puts that manatee lifestyle into perspective.

The spring water temperature is 72° year-round.  It felt so refreshing.  I wish I could have stayed longer and taken photos underwater.

I figured we would stop by Bethune-Cookman University as I had mentioned in my Memorial Day post about Daytona Beach.  I wanted to take a tour of the Mary McLeod Bethune Home, but it was closed due to a high-profile interview taking place.

I was a little disappointed, but June 10th is Ms. Bethune’s birthday and there was a huge block party to celebrate.  The atmosphere was like a family reunion with a free food buffet, music and activities for children.

We did the typical eat and run.  Ten minutes later, we were driving on Daytona Beach.

It was very sad to leave Florida, but the beach ain’t going nowhere.  Sea you soon!

Kelsie Lou