Florida

Dec 24, 2014-Jan 1, 2015
AC1894 YYZ-TPA, AC1225 FLL-YYZ

For Christmas, we try to alternate locations where my family celebrates the holidays.  This year, my parents were hosting, and they also headed to Florida a little early.  My sister wasn't interested in winter travel, so it was just Tom and me in Clearwater for Christmas.  We had a good visit with my parents and their friends, and got out and explored some hiking in the area.  After our family gathering, we made our way to Southern Florida, and finally made it to Key West after a long drive south and west.  We ended with a fairly low-key New Year's Eve before heading back to Toronto on our way to Malta.

Dec 24-27
Afternoon flight to Tampa and four days with my parents in Clearwater

Feeding the squirrels in John Chesnut Sr. Park

A long-billed dowitcher in the underbrush of the park

Dueling cameras on the trail

Lily pads along one of the many trails in the park

Christmas lights in Pinewood Cultural Park

Osprey from our hike on Honeymoon Island

Taking a break after our hike

Dec 28
Travel through the Everglades to Coral Gables

Cormorant in the swamps of Big Cypress National Preserve

Crocodile safely on the opposite bank

Dec 29
Full day of driving to Key West, slowly, slowly

Ceremonial conch shell ready for the December 31st drop

More colorful pump also ready for the alternative, drag-queen New Year drop

Enjoying the sunset at the end of a long day

Dec 30
Key West back east to Key Largo

Turtles sunning at our Key West resort

Iguana on the road back to the mainland

Contrast of old and new Highway 1 to the Keys

One of the endangered Key deer in the National Wildlife Refuge in Big Pine Key

Sunset from the beach in Key Largo

A mostly-underwater manatee visits us for the sunset

Dec 31-Jan 1
Key Largo to Fort Lauderdale for New Year’s Eve and then on to Malta