All Travel Destinations

The parks are a national treasure that so many of us never get a chance to appreciate.  In fact, I didn’t visit my first national park site until I was 28 years old when I visited Fort Matanzas with my son on a spring break trip to St. Augustine, Florida at the recommendation of a friend.   Since then, it’s been an adventure goal for me to visit all of the National Parks in Florida. We have all heard of the famous Big 63 National Parks like Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yosemite, etc.   But how many of the other 400+ sites within the National Park System can you name in the state you live in?  How many of those have you visited in your own state of residence?   Probably not many, and I’m sure it’s not really that you don’t want to. Perhaps you just didn’t know where they were located or all of the activities that were offered. Moon USA National Parks Guide is a great resource to help you learn about the National Parks near you, how to get there, and other nearby attractions. I partnered with Moon Travel Guides on the launch of their updated USA The post Comprehensive Guide to All the National Parks in Florida first appeared on Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva.

Swimming with manatees is by far one of the best wild animal encounters you can ever have, and the nature coast of Florida is the only place you can do so legally. Some people equate the winter season with fun in the snow, skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and all of the other activities people who live in colder climates look forward to in the winter months. However, as a Floridian, this means I get to do some of my favorite outdoor adventures in the winter without the disrespectful heat and humidity. More importantly, colder temperatures mean an abundance of the unofficial Florida mascot, the manatee!!! The manatees retreat into the Florida freshwater springs by the thousands as they escape the colder temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico waters and rivers. They need water warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit for survival. The constant 72 – 74 degree temperature of the springs makes it the perfect environment for a manatee party. A very popular location where the manatees converge year after year is the Crystal River and Homosassa Springs area. Visitors come from all over the world to watch the famed sea cows in the clear waters of the numerous springs in The post Everything You Need to Know About Swimming With Manatees in Florida first appeared on Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva.

While Florida is known for its beautiful beaches on both the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts, the natural springs in Florida are some of the most beautiful and pristine waters in the world.  Florida is home to hundreds of natural springs. The Florida springs are an amazing sight to see. The springs are formed when the water bubbles up from the Florida aquifer through vents in the surface.  You can see the beginnings of new springs being formed in spring boils that are often found near existing spring heads. Natural springs in Florida are located in various counties throughout the state in central and northern Florida into the panhandle so they are accessible no matter what part of the state you live in.  Things To Do in the Natural Springs in Florida The natural springs in Florida are the perfect place for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding on SUPs, snorkeling, tubing, diving, and seeing wildlife.  These are some of the best swimming holes in Florida because the waters are crystal clear and a constant 68 to 74 degrees making swimming possible year-round. During winter months the natural springs in Florida are a favorite hot spot for observing manatees.  You can even swim with The post 23 Most Beautiful Natural Springs in Florida to Add to Your Bucket List first appeared on Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva.

I love solo travel because of the freedom to do what I want on my schedule. I admit I tend to be a spontaneous traveler who does minimal planning, but there are some tried and true resources I use for planning a solo trip. Research Resources for Planning a Solo Trip 1. My favorite printed resource is Moon Travel Guides. These guidebooks are so helpful because they provide very detailed first-person experience travel tips. Moon Guides has all types of books, from USA National Park guides, US Road trips, and even a Civil Rights Trail book. I used the Moon Guides European Road Trips guide to help me when I took a solo trip to Nafplio, Greece. Although UnTours arranged for most of the logistics and some help with my itinerary, I used the Moon Guides book to find some additional places of interest. Some of the guides from Moon even have a pull-out map which can be helpful to plot out your routes for the day. 2. I also create a Pinterest board for the trip and add interesting pins to the board. I reference the Pinterest board when I’m ready to plan out an itinerary. 3. I use The post The Best Resources for Planning A Solo Trip first appeared on Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva.

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico’s Baja California Sur, you won’t want to miss the charming town of Todos Santos. Nestled between the Sierra de la Laguna mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this picturesque town offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the best things to do in Todos Santos. Getting There To get to Todos Santos, flying into San Jose Del Cabo International Airport is likely the most accessible airport for most travelers, however, there is also an airport located in La Paz.  From the Cabo airport, you can either rent a car to make the hour and half drive or book a bus ride to Todos Santos via 12go. Explore Downtown Exploring the historic downtown area is a must-do when visiting Todos Santos. Take a stroll down the cobblestone streets of the downtown area and marvel at the colonial-era architecture, much of which dates back to the early 1700s. I also loved shopping in the picturesque shops and admiring the crafts and local handmade goods.   Todos Santos is known for its thriving art scene, so meandering through one of the many art galleries is also a wonderful way to spend an The post Best Things to Do in Todos Santos first appeared on Misadventures of an Outdoorsy Diva.

Family travel guide to Chickasaw Country