Just two hours away from your Inverness hideaway is our countries oldest city, St. Augustine. Over the years Saint A, as it is lovingly referred to, has been preserved in every possible way to give you a glimpse of how people lived, survived and thrived since the year of it's birth in 1565 as the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United States
Beyond it's historical importance, St. A can boast one of the most spectacular beach communities in the state with many affordable hotels and restaurants along it's shores to provide opportunities to enjoy beautiful sunrises and long, lazy, sunny Florida days. St. A has a lively night life with many charming restaurants to please your palate and a city that is easy to navigate by car or by foot.
If you have never been to St. A, you will surely want to take the time to visit while you are in the area. there are many web sites to familiarize you with things to do and places of interest I've put a few of my favorites here for you to begin to plan a wonderful side trip while visiting Central Florida.
http://www.trustedtours.com/store/St-augustine_C5.aspx
http://www.oldcity.com
http://www.augustine.com
Fort Cooper State Park
Fort Cooper is a beautiful State park located at 3100 S. Old Floral City Road, Inverness where you can have a lakeside picnic on the banks of Lake Holathlikaha or hike the nearly five miles of self guided trails that offer some of the best bird and wildlife viewing in Citrus County. Fort Cooper is also a very active park that offers many events throughout the year.
Fort Cooper State Park Re-enactment Ceremonies
The Fort was built in 1836 as a stockade to welcome sick and wounded soldiers during the second Seminole War. Several skirmishes ensued with the Seminole Indians and a reenactment of those skirmishes takes place every March at the park. The second Seminole War between 1835 and 1842 used roughly 30,000 volunteer troops to support the US operations in the Florida Territory. Living history demonstrations are held throughout the day with period arts & crafts, exhibits, demonstrations, entertainment and great food and refreshments.
The re-enactment ceremonies are scheduled for March. The community and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, however bleachers are set up for the viewing and there are many period displays set up with knowledgable volunteers to acquaint you with the history of Fort Cooper and the major role it played during these early settlement years.
Fort Cooper Bluegrass & Oldetyme Music Festival - April
The first Annual Blue Grass Festival took place April14 this year with many crafts, antique autos, great food and music. It was nice to see the community come out in support of this event which promises to be well received in years to come.
Be sure to watch for this next year and bring your lawn chairs and sit a spell and enjoy an afternoon of good music and great sausage sandwiches.
The 12 annual Native Amercan Inter-tribal Pow-wow will take place at Fort Cooper on April 20-22. Expect lots of drumming and floutists and other live entertainment. Also may vendors and story tellers and dancing with food offerings including Indian tacos, walkng tacos, BBQ sandwiches and much more. There is a student education day and elders' evening. An Inter-tribal Cultural Learning Center offers an opportunity to learn something new about very old things with Native American topics, History and native crafters booths. This is a family experience that is sponsored every year by Red Eagle Lodge of WCF, The Citrus County Chronicle and Ft Cooper State Park.
The park offers many plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species. When lake levels are high enough, fishing and swimming is available. Private boats are not allowed on the lake but paddleboat and canoe rentals are available.
No matter what time of the year you are in this area, Ft. Cooper is always open and worth adding to your list of places to visit.
Here are some sites for you to check to learn more about Fort Cooper and scheduled events of interest
http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortcooper/
http://on.wtsp.com/INO9xU
"Taste of Inverness" April
An Annual April event in Citrus County is the "Taste of Inverness". The theme this year was "Main course on Main Street" and it's a night of food and wine sampling, artwork and music.
This festival started in 2006 with the opening of the Inverness Government Center, the Taste of Inverness has returned as a stand alone event, with local restaurants serving up everything from Cubans and pasta to ice cream and pizza. There is always live entertainment, silent auctions with music and artists under the white tents and twinkle lights.
More than 1000 people attend this fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Citrus County, enjoying food, bidding on silent auction items and listening to the performers on stage.
I counted 17 restaurants on board this year who offered a sampling of their signature dishes and were judged for presentation and taste, as well as popular vote.
There are exhibits of local artists and musical talent in the genre of jazz, rhythm & blues and country performing throughout the night.
Tickets are $25 and may be purchased at various businesses throughout the county. For more information and ticket locations check the Citrus County website at www.citrusbgc.com or call 352-621-9225
More pictures of the Taste of Inverness in my gallery http://photos.vacationguesthouse.com
Chinsegut Preserve
Chinsegut Preserve, known sandhills, or high pines offers the public a glimpse of the remarkable landscape and wildlife. You may see white-tailed deer or wild turkeys among the oaks and pines. Bobcats, Sand hill cranes, and countless other birds and amphibians like gopher frogs, barking tree frogs, dwarf sirens and tiger salamanders call Chinsegut Preserve, home.
You can hike or bicycle through the Big Pine Tract and see signs of other animals. Goper tortoises, a protected species, makes it's home in the comfortable habitat.
The Big Pine Tract is one of the largest tracts of old-growth longleaf pine in Florida and over 30 plant and animal species make up the sandhill community. You may encounter Northern bobwhite, quail, towhee, American kestrels and owls. Be on the lookout for a southern black racer or even a lumbering gopher toroise in your path. The Department of Fish and Wildlife occasionally conduct controlled fires to ensure that Big Pine's sandhill habitat endures.
To learn more about Chinsegut Preserve please go their website at http://bit.ly/z7kfvO
See my photo gallery at http://photos.vacationguesthouse.com
Captain Mike's Lazy River Cruise
Leaving out of Stumpknockers restaurant on Hwy 200 is one of the nicest day trips I can suggest to those who are visiting our area. Since this is a very popular nature oriented tour, reservations are needed. Although 1 hr. tours are available, I recommend the 2 hr. cruise. Believe me the $18 ticket is well worth it for a leisurely ride down one of the prettiest sections of the 141 mile Withlacoochee River. The Withlacoochee River (or Croooked River) is one of the two rivers in Florida that flow south to north, originating in the Green Swamp, east of Lakeland and emptying into the Gulf of
Mexico near Yankeetown.
Captain Mikes covered pontoon boat has plenty of room and is a comfortable way to view the scenery and wildlife along the river with a knowledgeable guide who can answer most questions and provide a treasure trove of information about life and times on the Withlacoochee.
You can expect to see an abundance of wild life including several types of turtles, birds, alligators, snakes, deer, wild hogs, turkeys, raccoons and many species of fish . . .
Along the way, Captain Mike will identify the many points of interest and you will appreciate the relaxed atmosphere as you view the natural side of Florida. Since the boat cruises at a speed of six miles per hour, and is very quiet, the wildlife are not frightened away and you are able to view them in their natural habitat without disturbing them. The scenic views of the river, as it meanders through the lush green Florida wilderness offers many opportunities for photographers.
You will remember this tour and want to return again and again. Please check Capt. Mike's website when you are ready to make your reservation to spend a day on the Withlacoochee River. http://www.lazyrivercruises.com/
See my Lazy River Cruise Album at http://photos.vacationguesthouse.com