Tag: hiking

Happy Earth Day: 5 Places to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida

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Happy Earth Day, fellow earthlings! With cooler temperatures gracing our area since the weekend, it feels like a crime to spend Earth Day working indoors. Here in Central Florida, we are blessed to live in such a diverse environment, with a variety of wildlife and terrain in every direction. The longer I live here, the more beautiful places I discover and fall in love with, and I consider myself lucky to call this weird and wonderful place my home.

In honor of Earth Day, I’m sharing five unique places to experience nature and wildlife right in your own backyard. Please feel free to share your own local favorites in the comments section below!

Happy Earth Day: 5 Ways to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida | WellnessAndWanderlust.net1. Audubon Center for Birds of Prey (Maitland, FL)
Nestled just off the main roads in Maitland, the Audubon Center for Birds and Prey is a rehabilitation facility for raptors. The organization brings in hundreds (if not thousands) of hawks, owls, eagles, vultures, and other birds of prey who are sick or injured each year. For $8 per adult and $5 per child, guests can visit about 50 of the center’s permanent residents and learn about each individual bird. Don’t forget to visit the tiny raptors on the back porch, including my favorite: Tony, the eastern screech owl! You can also watch a video inside to learn more about rehabilitation and release efforts, and how the center does its part to protect these amazing species. The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey also hosts various events throughout the year.

Happy Earth Day: 5 Places to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida | WellnessAndWanderlust.net

2. Spring-to-Spring Trail from Lake Monroe Park to Gemini Springs Park (DeBary, FL)
Whether you prefer to hike or bike, the Spring-to-Spring Trail is a must-visit on a beautiful day. The trail will eventually span 26 miles out to DeLeon Springs, but in the meantime, you can enjoy a more leisurely stroll from Lake Monroe to Gemini Springs. The route is paved and goes 3.15 miles one way.

Happy Earth Day: 5 Places to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida | WellnessAndWanderlust.net

3. Green Springs Park (Enterprise, FL)
True to its name, Green Springs Park is home to one of Florida’s few sulphur springs. The color has to be seen in person to be believed — and yes, it really is that ethereal. You can access Green Springs Park via the Spring-to-Spring Trail from Lake Monroe Park if you’re looking for a longer hike, or simply drive up to the outside of the park and take a walk around to explore the 31 acres of paved and natural trails that comprise Green Springs.

Happy Earth Day: 5 Places to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida | WellnessAndWanderlust.net

4. The CARE Foundation (Apopka, FL)
I fell in love with The CARE Foundation a few years back, when the Apopka-based wildlife sanctuary took in Lucious, a sweet young lion who suffered from hypovitamiosis. Although Lucious ultimately passed away from this condition, his story went viral and introduced many to The CARE Foundation, which rescues both exotic and domestic animals. Home to lemurs, foxes, big cats, a bear, blonde raccoons, reptiles, and many other critters, The CARE Foundation offers private tours, as well as open houses throughout the year to welcome the public. I have visited The CARE Foundation for their open houses, but a private tour with a small group is on my list for the future!

Happy Earth Day: 5 Places to Celebrate Nature & Wildlife in Central Florida | WellnessAndWanderlust.net

5. Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour (Winter Park, FL)
Just off Park Avenue, hop on a boat to explore the chain of lakes and canals that make up Winter Park. For just $14 per adult and $7 per child, Scenic Boat Tours take place every hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are the perfect way to cool down as the weather heats up. Throughout your tour, you’ll visit three lakes and two canals, and the guide will share the history of Winter Park while introducing you to the local flora and fauna.

What are your favorite ways to enjoy nature in Central Florida? Sound off in the comments section below!

Link Love September: Salvador Dalí, Trader Joe’s, and Environmental Consciousness

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Happy October! To me, there’s always something poetic about the first of the month taking place on a Monday. It feels more than ever like the time to begin anew, and I’m excited to see where the month takes us. September was a great month — I spent time with family, celebrated my birthday, checked a few items off my 28 at 28 bucket list, took a mini vacation, made an on-field appearance at a UCF football game, practiced yoga with baby goats, and much more — so here’s hoping the adventures continue in October.

What have you been reading lately? Check out some of my favorite links from September and share your own favorites in the comments section.

What links are you loving this month? Sound off in the comments below!

Adventures in the Emerald City: Things to Do in Seattle

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For those of you who follow my social media accounts, you may have noticed an influx of photos from the Pacific Northwest over the last week! Yes, it’s possible I went a little Instagram-crazy during my time in Washington, but for good reason: the trip was a blast. As a fun way to celebrate graduation from my MBA program, I decided to visit one of my best friends who now lives in Seattle. For four days, we covered a lot of ground (topping 30,000 steps more than once during the trip), and I absolutely loved my time in the Emerald City.

While Seattle is known for its rainy days, we experienced perfect weather (70s and 80s during the day) and barely a cloud in the sky. Visiting Seattle in July was the perfect break from our 90-plus degree Florida summers, and I highly recommend this time of year for your next trip out there.

If you’re planning a trip out to Seattle, check out my sightseeing tips and restaurant suggestions. Oh, and bring comfortable shoes. 🙂

Things to Do in Seattle | Wellness & Wanderlust

What We Did: The Highlights

  • Pike Place Market
    Pike Place Market was the perfect place to kick off my trip to Seattle! This market features a variety of local vendors, merchants, and farm tables, and is a great spot to begin exploring. After checking in at the hotel, I wandered around Pike Place (and yes, I did see a fish get tossed through the air!), picked up a grab-and-go fruit cup from Growing Washington, ate lunch overlooking Puget Sound, and bought a bouquet of dry flowers for my room. I also visited the Gum Wall, a wall covered in chewing gum in Post Alley. As gross as the concept is, I still had to contribute my own piece of gum to the wall. I’ll never look at Orbit Sweet Mint the same way again.
  • Space Needle
    No trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, this tower provides breathtaking views of the city (as well as Mount Rainier in the distance). The Space Needle is currently undergoing renovations on its observation deck, which will give visitors an even better view of the city. Tickets to the Space Needle can be bundled with other local attractions, so I highly suggest this option if you plan on sticking around.

Things to Do in Seattle | Wellness & Wanderlust

  • Chihuly Garden and Glass
    I wasn’t all that familiar with the work of Dale Chihuly before my trip to Seattle, but after visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass, I’m officially a fan. Located in Seattle Center next to the Space Needle, Chihuly features colorful glassworks, both inside the glass house and integrated outside in the gardens. The art is beautiful and can be enjoyed by all ages. I will definitely plan a visit to Chihuly’s exhibit in St. Petersburg sometime soon!
  • Museum of Flight
    The Museum of Flight is an aviation museum located at Boeing Field, south of Downtown Seattle, and is absolutely worth a visit. With more than 150 aircraft on display and a NASA-focused exhibit, the Museum of Flight also features flight simulators and a children’s area as well.
  • Volunteer Park
    My friend and I visited Volunteer Park early in the trip, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Climbing the water tower allowed us to take in the beautiful city views at sunset. The park is also home to the Black Sun sculpture, which supposedly inspired Soundgarden’s song Black Hole Sun.

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  • Fremont Troll
    The neighborhood of Fremont is home to some spectacular food and beverage spots, but it also houses the famous Fremont Troll under the bridge. Naturally, I had to snap a photo! The spot is worth a visit, and once you’ve finished your photo op, there are a lot of great places to grab dinner or drinks nearby.
  • Gas Works Park
    Gas Works Park, also located in Fremont, is a former gas plant that offers some of the best views of the Seattle skyline. A DJ played nearby while we enjoyed the beautiful weather and scenery. I highly recommend Gas Works Park to take in the views!
  • Snoqualmie Falls
    We ventured out to Snoqualmie Falls, about 30 minutes outside of Downtown Seattle, where we hiked a steep half mile down to see the waterfalls up close. The view was worth every step. You can park for free in the hotel parking lot and catch some great photos from the top as well.
  • Clipper Ferry to Victoria, BC
    Stay tuned for my recap on our Canadian adventure in an upcoming post!

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Where We Ate

  • Starbucks Reserve Roastery
    Seattle is — of course — known for Starbucks, but have you ever been to one of their Roastery locations? With a full bakery and craft coffee drinks, this is no ordinary Starbucks. For an energy boost, I ordered a coffee flight with chocolate truffle pairings. My favorite? The Peru Chontali with red apple, lemon, and cocoa.
  • Veggie Grill
    After the fact, I learned that Veggie Grill is actually a chain of restaurants, mainly on the West Coast. However, this healthy lunch spot was still a welcome discovery for me! They offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options for those who have food sensitivities, and I absolutely loved their Summer Celebration Salad. If you’ve never tried purple potatoes, this is the place for you!
  • Pike Brewing Company
    Located near Pike Place, Pike Brewing Company offers beer flights, chowder, salads, sandwiches and more pub fare. They were especially accommodating with food allergies and provided fantastic service. I loved my sandwich, but the Wooden Hills Brewery Pear Cider was my all-time favorite.
  • Le Panier
    I’m a sucker for French bakeries, so I couldn’t pass this one up! I tried a vanilla macaron at the Le Panier in Pike Place — absolutely worth a visit.
  • Steepologie
    Steepologie offers teas on tap, so of course I had to sample their iced Crimson Fruits tea, with cranberry, safflower, strawberry, and raspberry. Bring your cup back into the store and get 50% off for your refill! Steepologie also sells loose teas online.
  • The Red Door
    The Red Door, a restaurant in Fremont, offers craft beers and rooftop dining. Their Sesame Chicken Salad was delicious, but the restaurant also features seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and delicious tots.
  • Capitol Cider
    This cider bar in Capitol Hill is actually the largest independent bar of its kind in the country! As someone who prefers cider over beer, I loved their Bad Granny Cherry Cider. For all of you cider lovers, this cider bar has a wide selection you’ll have to try!
  • The Matador
    After Snoqualmie Falls, we headed over to Redmond, where several of our friends from college moved to work for Microsoft. We grabbed dinner at The Matador, a Mexican restaurant with other locations in Washington, Portland, and in the North and Southwest. If you’re near a Matador location, check it out for delicious Mexican food!

What are your suggestions for a trip to Seattle? Share in the comments below!

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