This past October, Lakeland and the surrounding central Florida community was gifted with the new addition of a sprawling park. While this park is free to enter and open to the public, it is unique in that it is a privately developed public park that depends solely on public support. Located on 168 acres of what was once the heart of Lakeland’s developing infrastructure, the … Continue reading Bonnet Springs Park – Lakeland, FL
Photos and Text by Kelsey Walters The holidays are over, winter break has come to an end, and life is returning to normal after the excitement (and chaos) of the season. If you find yourself in a wintertime rut after all the hustle and bustle searching for something to do, I have just the thing. Unlike the rest of the country huddling inside away from … Continue reading Natural Wonder Meets Old Florida at Tallahassee Museum
It’s no secret that our family is composed of some hardcore animal lovers. We have a small wolf pack of dogs in our home, and Avery (and maybe me, too) wants to bring home just about any animal she meets. We spend our summers raising tadpoles, hatching butterfly cocoons and catching frogs and every bug under the Florida sun. We visit animal sanctuaries and experiences … Continue reading Rooting for Fall @ Rooterville Animal Sanctuary
Spooky Season is a big deal in the Walters family. We are dead serious about Halloween and all the creepy fun that comes with it. Florida may not get a traditional fall like they do up north, but we’re no strangers to the fun activities that come with Autumn. While its name may be deceiving, Santa’s Christmas Tree Forest is the place to be this … Continue reading Oh, my Gourd – It’s Fall!
Photos and Text by Kelsey Walters On Monday night, August 8, 2022, The Old Spanish Sugar Mill at De Leon Springs State Park made the following announcement on their Facebook page: After 61 years, the Old Spanish Sugar Mill will be closing its screen doors. While it is unfortunate, the state has decided not to renew our contract and move forward with another concession in … Continue reading De Leon Springs Sugar Mill Announces Big Changes
We are currently the proud parents of an extremely inquisitive 4-year-old whose mind runs a mile-a-minute and the questions fly even faster. Like most parents, we do our best to foster Avery’s interests with as many activities and experiences as possible. Her current fixation is outer space, and luckily we have a front row seat here in Florida to the country’s space program. With her … Continue reading Out of this World : Kennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexÂ
Photos by Kelsey Walters Growing up, I may have had a slight obsession with mermaids. Ariel was my spirit animal and I wanted nothing more than to live under the sea. It’s no secret that my love for the merfolk lives on today, and I am absolutely thrilled that my infatuation has been passed down to my daughter, Avery. Newly 4 years old, mermaids aren’t … Continue reading Make a Splash @ Weeki Wachee Springs State ParkÂ
A couple years ago, I wrote an article about how to choose a theme park annual pass that best fit your family. At the time, we had a Sea World annual pass and visited Disney World parks four times that year. Then… the world changed. When COVID-19 hit and everything shut down, we were forced to essentially forfeit the last few months of our annual … Continue reading Masks and Mouse Ears: A Guide to Doing Disney in a PandemicÂ
Text by Kelsey Walters // Photos by Kelsey and Scott Walters With cooler temps and sunny days combining to create the perfect weather, Floridians are flocking to the outdoors this time of year. We aren’t the only ones enjoying the break from the heat. Wildlife everywhere are rejoicing in the milder weather and getting more and more active. All this means that it’s zoo season! … Continue reading Where the Wild Things Are: Brevard Zoo
All photos by Kelsey Walters Orlando and the surrounding areas have no shortage of things for tourists and locals to explore. In fact, it can be pretty overwhelming when deciding what park to visit, where to dine and what to do in between to maximize your vacation, or staycation. Given its close proximity, Orlando loves to flock to our beaches, and in turn, Volusians spend … Continue reading Come Sail Away: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour
