Just barely 2 hours away from Jacksonville's westside communities is one of the most beautiful and natural attractions Florida has to offer: Ginnie Springs!
Recently, my family and I took a day trip to the springs and had the time of our lives! After leaving from our Collins Builders' community of Bonita Cove on the westside, we made the trip in just under two hours.
Not only was the drive gorgeous (we took the back roads so we got to enjoy the beautiful scenery) but getting into the park was easy. Prices were reasonable and to our surprise, the park had it's own store so if you forgot anything - and we mean pretty much anything - the park store had it in stock. (Thank goodness because we forgot the mosquito's don't really go away until the cold season so we were able to stock up on bug spray!)
After we stocked-up on bug spray and goodies, we headed into the park to find a spot. There is so much to do when you get there. There are sandy volleyball courts, nature trails, campsites (for overnight camping) and little swimming areas. If you are looking to learn how to scuba - you can take classes to be certified as well! We decided to rent a kayak and float down the river. I can't even describe how gorgeous the river was. Crystal clear and untouched, it was refreshing and chilly but enjoyable at the same time. After an hour or so of kayaking, we decided to just hop in our tubes (that you can rent at the shop) and take a leisurely float down the river. Surrounded by laughing families and friends, we enjoyed a slow and refreshing lazy river ride.
We decided to hop out and one of the heads of the springs and grab our snorkels and explore. The crystalline water seemed to get bluer as the day went on while we watched little river fish dart in and out of caverns and holes that experienced scuba divers explored as well.
But like most good things, it must come to an end. The overall experience was great - only 2 hours from our home in Bonita Cove and the prices were reasonable. Ginnie Springs was a great way to wrap up our summer fun. We will definitely be making the trip again next summer and we totally recommend it for any family in the Jacksonville area!
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Bird Rescue in Your Own Backyard
Over the weekend, we had the fortune (or misfortune) of caring for a wounded bird that landed in our backyard.
About 7 o'clock Friday night, my husband asked me to step out back to smell the roses we have been growing. As I walked out, I noticed a small green feather pile on the ground. Shocked and confused as we got closer, we noticed it was a small Finch/Warblar-type bird. Even more shocking was that it didn't budge as we moved in closer. I quickly grabbed a shoebox and some water and we brought him inside - as the poor little guy was panting.
Luckily, we had a tiny eyedropper that we used to feed little droplets of water to the little bird. As the night went on, I was so upset that he wouldn't make it through the night.
We decided to run to the pet store and grab some food and a little cage for the bird, just in case he recovered and he wouldn't be stuck in a little shoebox.
After a couple of hours, we noticed the little guy stopped panting and looked alert. To our excitement, he began to flutter his wings and fly around the cage. Nervous that he wasn't a wild bird, we called B.E.A.K.S. (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary) on Jacksonville's northside to see what they thought. We received a call back the next day and we described the situation. The experts at B.E.A.K.S. told us he was probably a wild bird and told us we should let him go if he looked healthy enough. By the next morning, he was flying around the cage and looked healthy as ever. That morning, we took the cage outside and let him loose. It was a great feeling knowing that we helped another living creature - with the help of B.E.A.K.S.
If you'd like to learn more about B.E.A.K.S. and their work with injured birds, or to even visit the sanctuary for a tour - contact them at 904-251-2473
About 7 o'clock Friday night, my husband asked me to step out back to smell the roses we have been growing. As I walked out, I noticed a small green feather pile on the ground. Shocked and confused as we got closer, we noticed it was a small Finch/Warblar-type bird. Even more shocking was that it didn't budge as we moved in closer. I quickly grabbed a shoebox and some water and we brought him inside - as the poor little guy was panting.
Luckily, we had a tiny eyedropper that we used to feed little droplets of water to the little bird. As the night went on, I was so upset that he wouldn't make it through the night.
We decided to run to the pet store and grab some food and a little cage for the bird, just in case he recovered and he wouldn't be stuck in a little shoebox.
After a couple of hours, we noticed the little guy stopped panting and looked alert. To our excitement, he began to flutter his wings and fly around the cage. Nervous that he wasn't a wild bird, we called B.E.A.K.S. (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary) on Jacksonville's northside to see what they thought. We received a call back the next day and we described the situation. The experts at B.E.A.K.S. told us he was probably a wild bird and told us we should let him go if he looked healthy enough. By the next morning, he was flying around the cage and looked healthy as ever. That morning, we took the cage outside and let him loose. It was a great feeling knowing that we helped another living creature - with the help of B.E.A.K.S.
If you'd like to learn more about B.E.A.K.S. and their work with injured birds, or to even visit the sanctuary for a tour - contact them at 904-251-2473
Friday, September 17, 2010
Attention Jacksonville Northside Residents: Looking For a Place To Eat?
Hey Northside residents - are you looking for a new place to eat and have some quality family time? Thanks to FunJax.com, we now have a list of Northside restaurants!
Click on the link here to view them all: http://funjax.com/restaurants/jacksonville_northside_restaurants.htm
Below are some of our personal favorites...
CiCi's Pizza
El Potro
Fast Boys Wings
Fuji Sushi
Primo's Coffee and Ice Cream
Click on the link here to view them all: http://funjax.com/restaurants/jacksonville_northside_restaurants.htm
Below are some of our personal favorites...
CiCi's Pizza
El Potro
Fast Boys Wings
Fuji Sushi
Primo's Coffee and Ice Cream
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Jags Games are HOT!
Everyone is so excited for football season - especially for our hometown heros: The Jacksonville Jaguars. But let's face it, summer is not completely over and when it is, we'll still have those days when it's boiling hot!
This past Sunday was a perfect example of the dangers of the Florida sun. Hundreds of people were treated for heat exhaustion and exposure. Read the article here: http://www.news4jax.com/news/24992338/detail.html
So here are some tips on staying cool if you find yourself in a hot situation:
1. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
2. Wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from burning.
3. Take shelter in the shade or air conditioning every 45 minutes to an hour if possible.
4. Avoid alcoholic beverages - they do the opposite of hydrate.
5. If you begin to feel naseaus or sick, you should find help as soon as possible.
6. Avoid tight clothing
And don't forget to help the elderly, kids and pets - they can suffer from heat exhaustion and strokes too! Stay safe and healthy!
This past Sunday was a perfect example of the dangers of the Florida sun. Hundreds of people were treated for heat exhaustion and exposure. Read the article here: http://www.news4jax.com/news/24992338/detail.html
So here are some tips on staying cool if you find yourself in a hot situation:
1. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
2. Wear plenty of sunscreen to protect your skin from burning.
3. Take shelter in the shade or air conditioning every 45 minutes to an hour if possible.
4. Avoid alcoholic beverages - they do the opposite of hydrate.
5. If you begin to feel naseaus or sick, you should find help as soon as possible.
6. Avoid tight clothing
And don't forget to help the elderly, kids and pets - they can suffer from heat exhaustion and strokes too! Stay safe and healthy!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Back to School Blues?
The River City Marketplace, located on Jacksonville's Northside near the Jacksonville International Airport is the largest outdoor shopping center on the Northside and a great way to get over some of those back to school blues many people are experiencing right now.
Home to Hollywood Theatres and dozens of trendy retail shops and delicious restaurants it's a nice way to escape the daily grind to get in some much needed retail therapy after a long day in the office or classroom.
And with Fall right around the corner, it's a great place to stock up on winter gear or to take a nice leisurely stroll around the area for some fresh air!
Learn more about the River City Marketplace:
River City Marketplace Wikipedia Page
Learn more about the Northside's nearest Jacksonville home communities:
Northside New Homes
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Home to Hollywood Theatres and dozens of trendy retail shops and delicious restaurants it's a nice way to escape the daily grind to get in some much needed retail therapy after a long day in the office or classroom.
And with Fall right around the corner, it's a great place to stock up on winter gear or to take a nice leisurely stroll around the area for some fresh air!
Learn more about the River City Marketplace:
River City Marketplace Wikipedia Page
Learn more about the Northside's nearest Jacksonville home communities:
Northside New Homes
View Larger Map
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