Walks, Parks, and Birds ...
of St John's River Valley, North Florida
March 24-28, 2008
With
your longtime former resident-guide, now come savor the hidden
nature "gems" of northeast Florida's St Johns River
Valley. This region makes for a memorable springtime outing with
its surprisingly wild, diverse, and bird-filled parklands near
St Augustine, closeby the Atlantic, and near Palatka, on the great
river, which enthralls today's walkers as much as it impressed
John Muir and William Bartram - tramping a then-unspoilt peninsula.
Unlike
them, happily, we will sleep well, based the four nights in
comfortable, roomy, private-bath lodging.
We've
timed this trip to take in both the prodigious songbird activity
on the trails of the vast Guana River Park, as well as the coastal
area's birds, and all creatures great and small, at path-abundant
parks like Washington Oaks and Anastasia.
The trip date also falls during the flowering season - including
magnificent azalea - and before the biting insect season starts
in earnest.
The
terrain and walking is easy, while the landscapes are as varied
as they are wondrous:: coastal dune and dwarf-oak forest, hammock-type
woods, beaches (including one with rare coquina "rock"),
and riverside cypress swamp (via boardwalk).
.
Trip takes in 4 nights, starting March 24th at 10am at a Palatka-area
park (our van from airport hotels at 8am); ending 10am on March
28 (our van to airport by noon). All-inclusive price, excluding
airfare and optional gratuity, is $1300/person; or $2500/two
sharing room. $200 single supplement (or $1500 total for private
single). Last day to sign up/send 50% check deposit is 3/10/08.
Airport: JAX.
Lodging
at Ocean Blue II Motel |
|
