Michael66
31-01-11, 20:11
Nog helemaal niets over dit State Park op het Florida Forum. Terwijl ik net lees dat Honeymoon Island State Park het meest bezochte State Park van Florida is. Vreemd. Misschien komt het omdat het niet in de buurt van Orlando of Miami ligt.
Op de website van tampabay.com staat een leuk artikel. Daaruit maak ik op dat het toch een hele leuke 'plek is om een dagje of een aantal uurtjes door te brengen. Beste bezigheid: schelpen verzamelen. De stroming van de Golf van Mexico schijnt hier heel veel schitterende schelpen heen te stuwen, aan de bezoekers alleen nog maar de schone taak om te bukken en ze op te pakken.
Ik ga er komende zomer eens een kijkje nemen. 't Is maar twee uurtjes vanuit Kissimmee rijden richting Tampa. Route: http://goo.gl/maps/DGyj
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2273/pinhoneymoon01271116012.jpg
Website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm
Artikel: http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/honeymoon-islands-irresistible-appeal-keeps-it-floridas-most-visited-park/1147845
Honeymoon Island's irresistible appeal keeps it Florida's most visited park
DUNEDIN
With waves crashing into the rocks on the shore of Honeymoon Island, spilling the gulf's spray at her feet, and with wind kicking sand into the air, Rita Fowler stood stone-still. Facing a storm on the horizon, her hands remained folded.
She explained her serenity amid Tuesday afternoon's looming thunderstorm: "It looks beautiful," she said, watching the waves. "It's gorgeous." The Pennsylvania native was one of many snowbirds out on the island, which has once again been ranked as the most visited state park in Florida.
The park received about 1 million visitors in 2010, according to numbers released this week by Audubon of Florida. Sebastian Inlet was the second most-visited state park, with attendance totaling about 750,000.
Honeymoon Island has a reputation for its relatively untouched environment. A state park since 1982, it receives many visitors for its shelling opportunities and wildlife, including a trail that features 26 osprey nests and a 185-year-old pine tree.
Park manager Peter Krulder says its natural beauty provides an escape from densely populated Pinellas County. As much as he points toward the natural sights of the park, he isn't lost on the romance in the island's name. "It's a great place to walk down the beach with your guy or girl," he said.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the park has garnered the state's top attendance, Krulder said.
Bruce Turnbull, 91, of Michigan has been visiting the Tampa Bay area for 30 years and counts Honeymoon Island among his favorite spots. "I like it here better than downtown because it's so crowded there," he said, sitting on a beachside bench swing.
Minnesota native Pam Hamilton, 53, prefers the gulf's winter waters to her home's negative temperatures. "I'd go in," she said, looking out at the beach.
Audubon of Florida compiled attendance figures provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Eric Draper, the group's executive director, said the numbers show that the state would be wise to invest in its natural attractions.
"Our state parks are really part of the economic interest of the state of Florida," he said, noting the prevalence of winter vacationers. For snowbirds like Fowler, a blustery day on the beach means a welcome dose of solitude that beats the alternative.
"I'm overwhelmed," she said. "I love the wind."Florida's 10 most popular state parks in 2010.
Honeymoon Island - 1,043,336 visitors
Sebastian Inlet - 749,407
Lovers Key - 731,242
Gasparilla Island - 716,625
Bill Baggs Cape Florida - 710,282
St. Andrews - 683,201
John Pennekamp Coral Reef - 678,952
Anastasia - 610,057
Blue Spring - 559,369
Bahia Honda - 495,653
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8162/honeymoonislandsp.png (http://goo.gl/maps/DGyj)
Op de website van tampabay.com staat een leuk artikel. Daaruit maak ik op dat het toch een hele leuke 'plek is om een dagje of een aantal uurtjes door te brengen. Beste bezigheid: schelpen verzamelen. De stroming van de Golf van Mexico schijnt hier heel veel schitterende schelpen heen te stuwen, aan de bezoekers alleen nog maar de schone taak om te bukken en ze op te pakken.
Ik ga er komende zomer eens een kijkje nemen. 't Is maar twee uurtjes vanuit Kissimmee rijden richting Tampa. Route: http://goo.gl/maps/DGyj
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2273/pinhoneymoon01271116012.jpg
Website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm
Artikel: http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/honeymoon-islands-irresistible-appeal-keeps-it-floridas-most-visited-park/1147845
Honeymoon Island's irresistible appeal keeps it Florida's most visited park
DUNEDIN
With waves crashing into the rocks on the shore of Honeymoon Island, spilling the gulf's spray at her feet, and with wind kicking sand into the air, Rita Fowler stood stone-still. Facing a storm on the horizon, her hands remained folded.
She explained her serenity amid Tuesday afternoon's looming thunderstorm: "It looks beautiful," she said, watching the waves. "It's gorgeous." The Pennsylvania native was one of many snowbirds out on the island, which has once again been ranked as the most visited state park in Florida.
The park received about 1 million visitors in 2010, according to numbers released this week by Audubon of Florida. Sebastian Inlet was the second most-visited state park, with attendance totaling about 750,000.
Honeymoon Island has a reputation for its relatively untouched environment. A state park since 1982, it receives many visitors for its shelling opportunities and wildlife, including a trail that features 26 osprey nests and a 185-year-old pine tree.
Park manager Peter Krulder says its natural beauty provides an escape from densely populated Pinellas County. As much as he points toward the natural sights of the park, he isn't lost on the romance in the island's name. "It's a great place to walk down the beach with your guy or girl," he said.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the park has garnered the state's top attendance, Krulder said.
Bruce Turnbull, 91, of Michigan has been visiting the Tampa Bay area for 30 years and counts Honeymoon Island among his favorite spots. "I like it here better than downtown because it's so crowded there," he said, sitting on a beachside bench swing.
Minnesota native Pam Hamilton, 53, prefers the gulf's winter waters to her home's negative temperatures. "I'd go in," she said, looking out at the beach.
Audubon of Florida compiled attendance figures provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Eric Draper, the group's executive director, said the numbers show that the state would be wise to invest in its natural attractions.
"Our state parks are really part of the economic interest of the state of Florida," he said, noting the prevalence of winter vacationers. For snowbirds like Fowler, a blustery day on the beach means a welcome dose of solitude that beats the alternative.
"I'm overwhelmed," she said. "I love the wind."Florida's 10 most popular state parks in 2010.
Honeymoon Island - 1,043,336 visitors
Sebastian Inlet - 749,407
Lovers Key - 731,242
Gasparilla Island - 716,625
Bill Baggs Cape Florida - 710,282
St. Andrews - 683,201
John Pennekamp Coral Reef - 678,952
Anastasia - 610,057
Blue Spring - 559,369
Bahia Honda - 495,653
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/8162/honeymoonislandsp.png (http://goo.gl/maps/DGyj)