Weekend Trip into Florida History
One thing Florida always encourages in locals and visitors alike is to explore all that lies within its peninsula and this past weekend, I did just that.
Instead of hanging around Lake County, I went with family to two favorite spots in Volusia County where Florida history is alive and well along with popular as ever.
The first stop was to Blue Springs in Orange City, a favorite “meeting spot” for a certain gentle giant of Florida’s lakes and rivers – the manatee. When the weather cools down (or freezes as it happened a couple of weeks ago), the water reaches the cold temperature that encourages manatees to come and visit.
The board at the window of the Blue Springs Ranger Station as you pull into the state park listed 178 manatees roaming the waters of the springs that day but I think we saw at least 50 manatees through the three hours of being there.
What is so incredible about watching these beautiful creatures lumbering through the water is knowing they have been around for centuries. They have survived so much over the years but lately they have had to contend with boaters and their unforgiving propellers. The scars on their backs and their missing limbs (even on baby manatees) make you almost cry as you think those marks could have been prevented if boaters were more careful.
However, the amount of Floridians and visitors to Blue Springs that day showed people are still enthralled with manatees and are interested in doing what they can to protect them for future generations to enjoy.
Preserving history was almost evident in the next spot I visited the following day – St. Augustine. Almost every Floridian can recall their first visit to St. Augustine, whether they were young, middle-aged or old.
I remember first going to the historic city when I was 10 years old as part of our Florida History lesson we were learning during my 4th grade year. I think we were more excited to get rock candy and have a day out of school than actually realizing we were standing on what we had learned all year about in class.
Yet what is still amazing is the fact that many of the popular attractions in St. Augustine, from the Castillo de San Marcos fort to the Colonial Spanish Quarter and Oldest Schoolhouse, have all been here since the late 1600s. They have weathered hurricanes, war, sunshine, and daily wear and tear from humans (and some squirrels).
Active preservation efforts have been ongoing for years by the city to keep the historic elements in town safe enough so people can enjoy them and learn more about their hometown’s story. I’m amazed every time I go how well-kept everything is but most to see how much interest there still is in these historic “attractions.”
New generations of people are first learning about the story beneath the Castillo de San Marcos’ walls while older generations are appreciating the active enjoyment younger people are displaying while in the city.
If you haven’t visited either of these memorable stops, take a weekend and do it. It will leave you a better person than when you first arrived there.
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