Heading further south

From Bradenton Florida we moved on to the Highlands area near Avon Park and Sebring. The weather was warm and Mike did a lot of fishing, we swam in the pool, and had a relaxing couple of weeks. 

There's a sea service museum where we enjoyed the tour.

We went by the Sebring Raceway and caught a lap or two. 

Next we headed to Homestead Florida. It's been mixed days of hot sun and cool rain. I visited the history museum in hopes of learning anything about my Great Grandfather who was a settler of the area. I didn't find him specifically, and left info with the guide there who is going to pass along to the curator when she returns from vacation and hopefully get some information on him to me if there's anything. 

Mike and I visited the Coral Castle. It's a fascinating home of a local legend who built this interesting home and gardens from coral rock.

We went to Everglades National Park and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, on  boardwalks around swamp and over wetlands. Truly a beautiful place. 

We spent a day driving to the Florida Keys. It was a lovely drive and we went to the southernmost tip of the United States in Key West.

 We visited the aquarium there as well and had a delicious lunch. Stopped at a local bakery too and brought a delicious Key Lime Pie back with us.

We traveled after that to Patrick Space Force Base and camped right on the Banana River and watching the dolphins and other fish jumping. Mike caught and released a pufferfish 

There's lots of pelicans and dolphins to watch as well.

 

This was the sunset our first evening here. 

On our way north toward Jacksonville, Florida/