Rockets, Alligators and Roseated Spoonbills on NASA Land in Florida

As the saying goes...the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry (h/t Robert Burns). Such was the case during a short trip to Florida's "Space Coast" in mid March. Our plans were rather simple: to visit the Kennedy Space Center and view wildlife via kayak. More on that later. Suffice it to say that the kayak trip was scuttled, but we did enjoy viewing a few shuttles.

A Saturn V Rocket at the Kennedy Space Center

Having a Blast at the Kennedy Space Center

Located approximately 60 miles east of Orlando in Cape Canaveral is the Kennedy Space Center. Built in 1967, The Kennedy Space Center attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors per year. Tickets are currently priced at $57 for adults and $47 for children aged 3-11 and parking is free. Guests might experience a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the main complex, so comfy shoes are suggested.

The first site visitors encounter is the "Rocket Garden,"which sets the stage for what's to come.

The "Rocket Garden" is the first attraction guests see while visiting the Kennedy Space Center.

Exhibits are located both indoors and outdoors and are grouped according to "Mission Zones" and organized by era.  Those who want to make a day of it can purchase food from the casual onsite cafes, or kiosks. Our time constraints forced us to prioritize, so we missed the guided tours, as well as the current IMAX movies, which play hourly and include"Journey to Space," a 2015 3-D film sharing NASA's plans for the future and "Hubble," a story of seven astronauts who travel aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis to repair the famous telescope.

Those who are interested in viewing launch sites, NASA restricted areas, and current working facilities, can take the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, which is included in the price of admission. During the 40-minute excursion, a knowledgeable guide explains stops along the way, from the Vehicle Assembly Building, also known as the largest building in the United States by volume, to  launch facilities and other interesting, behind-the-scenes goings on at NASA.

Door to the Vehicle Assembly Building is open to reveal a rocket under construction.

The Vehicle Assembly Building measures 525-feet tall, 716-feet long and 518-feet wide.

At the conclusion of the 40-minute tour, guests are dropped off at the Appollo/Saturn V Center to view the Saturn V, also known as the largest rocket ever flown.

Visitors walk beneath the Saturn V rocket, known as one of the largest rockets ever launched into space.

Another view of the Saturn V.

An enlarged article on the first moon walk can be seen at the Saturn V Center.

After touring the Saturn V Center, we caught the bus back to the main complex to take in a few more exhibits before leaving.

Model of a Mars manned space capsule.

The new Mars Rover.

We spent a half day at the center and still, there was so much more to see. A few things I would have done if I had more time: view the IMAX movies, join the guided tours and experience a simulated shuttle launch in a pilot's seat where a line of children awaited. Watching a real shuttle launch would be certainly be fascinating and with enough pre-planning, it's doable. Launches can be viewed at the Space Center, at the Canaveral National Seashore, or at the Cocoa Beach Pier, to name just a few alternate places to watch. A launch schedule can be seen here.

The Cocoa Beach Pier.

From a Rocket Park to a Wildlife Lark

My husband and I fully intended to view wildlife, and perhaps encounter a manatee, from the bow of a kayak. We arrived at Cocoa Kayaks in Cocoa Beach to prepare ourselves for a 2.5 hour expedition.  We suited up--life vests fastened, wet bags sealed, bug spray applied and soon we were off, with the help of our friendly guide, who pushed us off into the murky waters. Within five minutes, however, I realized that our kayak was different than the ones I experienced paddling down the Swatara Creek in Pennsylvania, or gliding along on this delightful trip to a WWI ship graveyard in Mallows Bay, Maryland.

It seemed like every time either one of us made the slightest move, the boat would jerk back and forth, as if it would tip over at any given second. Heck, I couldn't even raise my voice without feeling as if I was going to capsize and if you know me, I can't be quiet for long. I don't recall the depth of the water, but I did know that I'd rather be observing the fish, than swimming with them. I lasted a full five minutes before bailing, much to the surprise of our flabbergasted guide.

I suppose I learned a valuable lesson, which is to question every outfitter before I decide to take to the water. I need to sit in a vessel, rather than perch atop one. When the outfitter called us, I explained this and she assured me that it would take a lot to tip one over--which is kind of surprising, but I wasn't ready to chance it. No more "sit-on-top" kayaks for me.

A Change in Plans

Determined to view wildlife in a less harrowing manner, we began searching on the internet and learned that the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was just a short drive away, so off we went to see what we could see.

The first stop was the Visitors' Center where we sat for a short film describing the wildlife that calls the island home. What we learned, much to our surprise, was that NASA, needing ample space for their rocket program, decided to preserve the land surrounding it by designating it as a wildlife refuge. What the film focused intently on was the Florida Scrub Jay, which is classified as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. We lacked time to walk the Scrub-Jay trail, but we did learn that the friendly birds appoint a "sentry" to perch on tall structures to scout for hawks and warn the others of impending danger. Later, in another part of Cocoa Beach, we spotted one doing his duty and standing guard atop a tall tree.

People come from miles around to visit the center, see the exhibits and browse the wildlife books in "The Bookery" before moving on to view the wildlife in its natural habitat. One of the more interesting experiences we had while there was listening to a tough-looking group of bikers speaking French while examining the various exhibits.

A helpful hint if you decide to add the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to your Florida itinerary: Don't miss the boardwalk trail. The  quarter-mile loop features alligators and turtles in freshwater ponds, a native butterfly garden, interpretive signs, feeders that attract songbirds like painted buntings, screech owl boxes which allow viewing of the Eastern Screech owl and large Osprey nests, which can be viewed through a scope during nesting season.

The Black Point Wildlife Drive
For $10 a vehicle, explorers can purchase a day pass to spend as much time as they want on a seven-mile dirt road surrounded by marsh impoundments and pine flatwoods. We joined about seven other cars on the day we took the drive, being careful to hug the side of the road when we stopped for pictures so that other cars could pass.

A blue heron crouches in the marsh.

What we saw was an interesting array of wildlife, from waterfowl, to wading birds, to alligators, roseated spoonbills and more.

Wading birds are common on the seven-mile drive.

Roseated spoonbills were seen at a distance drinking.

An alligator lolls about, unfazed by nearby gawkers.

If you take the scenic excursion, be sure to allocate at least an hour since you'll want to stop and take pictures. The place was popular with photographers toting expensive cameras and waiting patiently for just the right shot. If you have a comparatively inexpensive digital camera as I do, you may need a decent zoom to capture clear pictures of the wildlife that can be seen in the distance.

Recommended Accommodations

We really enjoyed our stay in Cocoa Beach at Lost Inn Paradise, a small, gated enclave with a swimming pool, marina and comfortable accommodations located about a half-hour's drive from the Kennedy Space Center.

Our front "porch."

The view of the marina.

Sunset at Lost Inn Paradise.

This home away from home was located on the Banana river on the narrowest strip of Cocoa Beach, with plenty of shops and restaurants just minutes away. The best part is that we could walk across the street to the beach. .

Mike has the beach to himself at 10 a.m.

Exploring the Cocoa Beach area was fun in mid-March, but if you put a priority on spending your days in the sun and surf, I'd recommend waiting another week, or two; it was just a bit too chilly to take advantage of the water that surrounded us while we were there, not that it mattered. There were plenty of interesting things to do and see in the area and our trip was over before we knew it.

Enjoying a Taste of Sunshine City in St. Petersburg, Florida

This is one of many murals that can be seen around "St. Pete."

This exhibit at the St. Petersburg Museum of History tells the story of an editor who gave away free newspapers every day the sun refused to make an appearance.

When you mention the "winter doldrums," almost everyone gets it. The "summer doldrums" are practically unheard of, that is, unless you're a Pennsylvanian. We toughed out a long winter thinking that dry, sunny days would make an entrance around June.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen this year. In fact, we survived the wettest summer on record and almost every plan was scuttled by pesky precipitation. As I made plans for a winter getaway, I learned that St. Petersburg, Florida enjoys an average year-round temperature of 81 degrees a year and an incredible 361 days of sunshine. That, I determined, was where I wanted to be! While researching this phenomenon, I learned the story of Lew Brown, editor and owner of The Evening Independent, who declared the area, "Sunshine City," and offered to give away free newspapers every time the sun failed to shine. He started the practice in 1910 and ended it in 1986. During the 76-year-period, he gave away free papers only 296 times.  If you happen to be close to the Harrisburg International Airport you can fly there directly via Allegiant Air and be basking in the sun's rays in no time.

This alone was enough to woo me to the area, but I learned quickly that there's so much  to do and see. 

Miles of Beaches Await

What I looked forward to the most was kicking off my boots, slipping into a pair of sandals and sinking my toes into some nice warm sand and the St. Petersburg area provides plenty of it, with 35 miles of white-sand beaches. In fact, two rate highly on TripAdvisor's 2017 list of best beaches. St. Pete Beach, known for its Old Florida hotels and inns, its pristine white sand and opportunities for shell collecting ranks #1 beach in the United States. Clearwater Beach ranks #2 and is popular for its gulf-front promenade and nightly sunset celebrations at Pier 60 where visitors can shop among vendors while enjoying live music and a variety of entertainers.

During our visit, we took a stroll along North Beach at Fort Desoto Park in Tierra Verde and had almost the entire place to ourselves. Fort Desoto Park is known for its hiking and biking trails, fishing piers and waterfront camping and is accessible via toll road. The park is also a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail. 

North Beach at Fort De Soto Park

On our drive home, I spotted these tame little guys and we pulled the car over and carefully crept into a cove to snap a few shots.

The Ibis uses his long beak to probe for insects.

Viewing the Second Largest Salvador Dali Collection

The largest Salvador Dali collection is housed in his hometown of Figueres, Spain, while St.  Petersburg lays claim to the second largest collection. The Salvador Dali Museum is listed as the top attraction in the area and a must-see for Dali fans. Works from every period of Dali's career are housed in the hurricane-proof building, which features a free-form geodesic glass bubble, known as "the enigma." Docents are onsite to offer tours. For guests who prefer to explore on their own, headsets provide narration about the works on display.

Self-portrait, age 17, prior to entering art school in Madrid. "I let my hair grow as long as a girls....as soon as possible I wanted to make myself look unusual. I brought a large black felt hat and a pipe which I did not smoke," said Dali.

"Portrait of My Sister," 1923. This painting hints at their sometimes contentious relationship. Tensions flared when Dali's future wife Gala entered the picture. Is Ana Maria depicted as being bit heavy handed?

"Enchanted Beach Featuring Three Fluid Graces," 1938

Among the many tidbits offered on the tour is that Dali was born into a middle-class Spanish family. His father worked as a notary and was an unabashed atheist. Dali's mother, on the other hand, was a devout Catholic. As the only male child in the family, Dali was known to be doted upon and often threw tantrums when he failed to get his own way.

This unusual bench is installed on the grounds of the Dali Museum.

Visiting the Museum of Fine Arts

Located within a 10-minute stroll of the Dali Museum is the Museum of Fine Arts. Created by Margaret Acheson Stuart, the destination, located along the St. Petersburg waterfront, first opened to the public in 1965.

The sprawling museum features a range of art spanning approximately 5,000 years. Artists include Monet, Rodin, O'Keeffe and many others, as well as ancient Greek, Roman, African, Asian, Art of the Americas and Native American art.

"Shiva as the Lord of Dance." Bronze. India. 19th Century

Albert Wein, American. Direct carving, cherry wood, 1937. "Horizons" 

Norman Rockwell, 1930. "Two Gentlemen Sharing a Pot of Coffee"

A room in the Museum of Fine Arts.

Bertel Thorwaldsen, Danish. Marble. Early 19th Century. "Mercury about to Slay Argus" 

Antoine Bourdelle, France. Bronze, 1924. "Le Poete"

Michael Glancy, American. Blown glass, 2007. "Stiletto Fusion"

Yasumasa Morimura, Japanese. Dye diffusion, thermal transfer print, 2001. "An Inner Dialogue with Frida Kahlo"

The nice thing about this particular museum is that it's open seven days a week and closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so no matter when you visit the area, it's likely to be open.

St. Pete's Crown Jewel--The Chihuly Collection

When you spot this sculpture, you'll know you've located the Chihuly Museum. 

You don't have to travel to Seattle to see jaw-dropping art glass sculptures created by Dale Chihuly. The glass artist maintains a permanent collection in St. Petersburg in a 10,000 square foot gallery located at 720 Central Avenue.

Niijima Floats, by Dale Chihuly

Be sure to bring your camera because you'll want to share the beauty of the sculptures contained within the collection. The way the lighting is set up, it's difficult to take a bad picture. Squiggly, dazzling, colorful, striking, one-of-a-kind works wait around every corner to captivate. The piece below was commissioned especially for the St. Petersburg site and is known as the "Ruby Red Icicle Chandelier."

The tour of the glass collection won't take more than a half hour or so, but be sure to set aside some extra time to view the film at the end to gain insight on how Dale Chihuly creates these magnificent pieces. Learning how the renowned artist works is certainly intriguing. Afterward, consider visiting the Glass Studio and Hot Shop at the Morean Arts Center located directly across the street. There you can witness a glass-blowing presentation, or opt for a one-on-one lesson with a professional glass artist.

The Chihuly Collection and the Morean Arts Center are open daily year round. Check websites for hours.

Shops Galore
If shopping is your favorite vacation pastime, you'll be happy to learn that St. Petersburg is known for its shopping opportunities, with 30 blocks of shops on Central Avenue alone.

The pieces above are created by artist Nano Lopez and are for sale at Ocean Blue Galleries. Lopez creates the pieces from clay and transforms them into bronze. Learn about the process by clicking here.

More items for sale at Ocean Blue Galleries.

Florida CraftArt on Central Avenue offers a wide variety of pieces created by local artists.

Have a seat near a crocodile at Red Cloud Indian Arts.

The Sundial Mall, located at the corner of Second Street and Second Avenue near the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, is quite popular with locals and visitors alike. There you'll find shops like White House/Black Market, Chico's and more. After giving your credit card a workout, you can go for broke with a nice meal at Ruth Chris' steakhouse, or simply grab something to go at the Locale Market.

Zazoo'd, also located on the Central Avenue, features an array of unique home decor.

The Locale Market at the Sundial sells a wide range of artisan gourmet products.

More Dining Opportunities
The St. Petersburg area is well represented in the restaurant realm. We enjoyed a number of them during our visit, including the Moon under Water located at 332 Beach Drive and accessible by the free Downtown Looper. The British restaurant takes its unique name from the recruiting activities of the British army. Once a man accepted the "Queen's shilling," he was deemed to be a recruit. Often a sergeant would sidle up next to a drinker and drop the shilling into the man's pewter tankard. When the unsuspecting patron lifted the tankard and the ale touched his lips, that was the end of life as a free man and he was carted off for service. To counter the shady practice, the glass-bottom tankard was introduced so that if a customer was suspicious, he could hold it up and peek underneath before taking a drink.

The Moon Under Water located at 332 Beach Drive.

Next to the Moon Under Water is the Birchwood, which features a lovely rooftop bar called "The Canopy" where locals and visitors can take time to socialize and enjoy a drink beneath the stars.

The Canopy at The Birchwood

A short drive to the vacation area of St. Pete Beach will take you to Spinners Rooftop Revolving Bistro and Lounge located at the Grand Plaza Hotel & Beachfront Resort. Stumbling upon the unique restaurant during our explorations was a happy accident, however, lacking reservations we were relegated to lunch at the bar. Those lucky enough to nab a reserved seat near the windows were treated to an ever-changing view of the downtown and beach area.

If you want to enjoy a view at this revolving restaurant, I suggest making reservations in advance.

One last restaurant of note is located in Clearwater. The Columbia Spanish restaurant was recommended to us by a local and has been in operation for more than a century, starting in Tampa's Ybor City with a small cafe known for its Cuban sandwiches and coffee. Today they tout seven locations around Florida.

A server prepares "1905," the Columbia signature salad.

Pork chop with bourbon apricot fig sauce, rice and plantains served at the Columbia Spanish Restaurant.

Dolphin Spotting
No trip to Florida is complete without a dolphin sighting, so to ensure that we wouldn't miss out on that experience, we booked a tour with The Tropics Boat Tours in Clearwater. During the 75-minute excursion, we spotted quite a few, but try as I might, they were too fast for me and disappeared beneath the water as soon as I brought them into focus. I did manage, however, to take a video of the shoreline that we saw aboard the double-decker boat.

The guide also shared the inside scoop on the various celebrities who reside in the area, including Tom Cruise, who occupies the top three floors of the grey building you see in the distance in this picture.

Clearwater is home to the headquarters of Scientology and Tom Cruise

Afterward, as we walked back to our car, we spotted even more wildlife, just hanging out, enjoying the beautiful weather.

Pelicans perch near boats docked at a marina in Clearwater.

Accommodations
During our visit, we stayed in the heart of the action in a relatively new Hyatt Hotel located at 25 Second Street N. The Hyatt is located within walking distance of restaurants, shops, taverns and museums.

The lobby of the Hyatt, which is located within walking distance of restaurants, taverns, shops and museums.

If you're in search of historic (and pricier) accommodations, The Vinoy is located at 501 5th Avenue NE and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The award-winning hotel touts a championship golf course, an onsite spa, a private marina, a 5,000-square foot fitness center and offers onsite dining.

The exterior of The Vinoy. 

View from across the street.

The elaborate porch at the front entrance.

The Vinoy lobby.

The Mediterranean Revival-style hotel was built in 1925 by Aymer Vinoy Laughner and attracted notables like Babe Ruth, Jimmy Stewart, Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover. During World War II, it was taken over by the United States Army and used as a training school. After the war, the hotel was sold for $700,000 and continued to thrive until the 1960s. In 1974, the hotel closed and contents were sold at auction. The hotel remained dormant until the 1990s when a partnership between the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts and the Vinoy Corporation brought it back to life with a $93 million renovation. In 2005, the Vinoy earned AAA Four-Diamond Status.

Spending five days in the St. Petersburg area enabled us to get a good feel of what was going on not just in "St. Pete," but in neighboring areas as well. I can say without reservation that I certainly recommend it, especially during November when the temperatures hover in the high 70s and crowds are practically nonexistent. It certainly ranks high on my list as one of the most fun places I've ever visited.