Category: Nature

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Archbold Biological Station

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. There’s a large tract of land directly to the north of my neighborhood that’s unspoiled raw Florida scrub. I have a great view of it out my second-floor side and front windows. I bet it looks exactly the same now as it did 25 – even 50 years ago – probably even more than that. It’s what my neighborhood probably looked like before 1985 – when the land was cleared, and construction began. I love living on the other side of our perimeter fence from that scrub. I often stare at it for minutes – watching the nature and the wildlife that prospers there. It’s like living right next door to a nature preserve. I hope it stays like that for the rest of my life.

A couple of Wednesdays ago on New Year’s Day Morning I had the opportunity to finally visit the Archbold Biological Station 30 miles away down in the southern end of my home county – Highlands. It’s about a mile-and-a-half west of U.S. 27, so I’ve driven by it dozens of times. It was my first time there. For several years I thought that it was closed to the general public, but then I realized that they actually have a small Learning Center there along with public nature trails nearby.

They hosted a “First Day Hike” along some of the private (unmarked) nature trails (for research use only). I figured I’d be 1 of 5 visitors to participate early on the first morning of 2025, but surprisingly there were at least 25 of us (several families with children) along for the hike through the protected Florida scrub. Our tour guide pointed out various insects, birds, animal tracks, and vegetation along the sandy trails. We walked through prescribed burn areas, as well as non-burn areas.

Our part of South-Central Florida is the oldest land south of the Florida Panhandle. A long time ago – back when sea levels were as much as 150 feet higher than they are now – only this area – the narrow high spine of Florida – was above water – as a series of islands – resembling today’s Florida Keys. Everything to the south, east, and west was the sea. The sand that dominates our landscape – visible from space – is ancient sand leftover from that era. Some of our vegetation can be found nowhere else in Florida. I guess I don’t need to explain how Highlands County got its name.

It was a fun “First Day Hike” through the scrub. We walked about a mile-and-a-half total during the informative 2-hour tour. It was a great way to start the new year in an educational and physical way.

Next #TravelThursday – It’s a change-of-pace. I’ll do a little bit of reminiscing. I’ll write about me and my family getting ready to make a move 50 years ago. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2025 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging Driving History Nature Travel

Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Earlier this month a small group of us took a bus trip down south by a little over 100 miles to southeastern Hendry County. We visited the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and their annual American Indigenous Arts Celebration on their exterior grounds across the street from the Museum. They are located on the Big Cypress Reservation about 18 miles north of the Alligator Alley portion of I-75 (exit 49). They are owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe Of Florida. It was my first-ever visit to the Museum and local area.

This is one of those hidden gems in South Florida that I really didn’t know anything about until our Sebring Historical Society announced it as an upcoming bus trip that I promoted during the month of October on our Facebook page (which I’m the Administrator of).

There were a lot of singing and dancing performances – and food and merchandise vendors at the Celebration. The Museum (inside) was modern and fascinating. As I slowly walked through it – I was getting educated on the history of the local area and the Seminole Tribe Of Florida. I was also dreaming of how our own Museum (present and potential future location) could incorporate a lot of what I was seeing presented there. I also walked the mile-long elevated boardwalk behind the Museum. It loops around a 60-acre natural cypress dome.

We spent 4½ hours at Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki. With the 2-hour bus trip each way – it was a fun 8½-hour day with my museum friends and fellow history fans. Our next fun bus trip is a little over 2 weeks away – to historic downtown Bartow Florida in Polk County (our neighbor to the north).

Next #TravelThursday – I’m in Texas. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I usually post there on Mondays and Thursdays.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging Driving Geography History Nature Travel

Pioneer Daze 2024

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Pioneer Daze was an overwhelming success for us last Saturday at the Alan Jay Arena at the Highlands County Fairgrounds in downtown Sebring Florida. We planned for it slowly but steadily since nearly the start of the year, and everything just came together for us last Saturday. It was great to see the estimated 500 to 750 volunteers, vendors, participants, and performers bring life to that arena and the exterior grounds. It was often a bit tough to get through the crowds of people down the vendor aisles, but that’s a good problem to have. We at the Sebring Historical Society (#SHS) greatly appreciate it all. We hope to do it again next October !

I’m the Social Media Director of the #SHS. For the locals in the area (as well as our winter residents): To stay in touch with all that we’ve got to offer – check-out our Facebook page. Search for Sebring Historical Society (or link here). Like us, and like and share our posts as you see fit. You can also check out our web site at sebringhistoricalsociety.info.

There are a couple of historical places here in Highlands County that I learned more about at Pioneer Daze. The Edna Pearce Lockett Estate is located on the county line with Okeechobee County on the banks of the Kissimmee River. They host an annual 2-day Heritage Festival. I missed this year’s event in April, as it occurred during my 18-day retirement road-trip to and from North Texas. And Archbold Biological Station is located between Lake Placid and Venus in the south-end of our County. It’s on the National Register Of Historic Places. I’ve driven by it so many times along U.S. 27. On a nice and cool day this winter I hope to stop by and visit the nature preserve to walk the trails and check-out the Learning Center.

A couple of days ago I reached a milestone for the 2ND year in a row. I’ll write about it – next – #TravelThursday. Let’s keep traveling together.

#CountUp & #TravelThursday is on Facebook. I usually post there on Mondays and Thursdays.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

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Blogging Commerce Driving Food Geography History Nature Shopping Travel

Frostproof Florida

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. 6 weeks ago I embarked on a short road-trip up into the neighboring county to my north – Polk County Florida. (I live about 8 miles from the Highlands / Polk County Line.)

I went to the Eagle Ridge Mall – 31 miles north in Lake Wales. While we have a “dead mall” here in my county (just a few miles south of my neighborhood) – I think that Eagle Ridge Mall is perhaps just a “half-dead mall”. While it’s far from its late-1990s peak – there’s actually life in this mall with lots of little family-owned stores and a surprisingly large and vibrant food court. There are also many different entertainment options open including a Regal Cinemas, a bowling alley, and an arcade. It sure looks like management knows what they are doing to keep the mall open for business – particularly small businesses – during these tumultuous times for shopping malls nationwide.

From the mall I took Chalet Suzanne Road over to Florida State Road 17. (Chalet Suzanne was a popular French restaurant in the area for over 80 years from 1931 to 2014. Famous movie stars dined there. The building is on the U.S. National Register Of Historic Places.)

Florida State Road 17 is also known as Florida Scenic Highway 17 (or The Ridge Scenic Byway) in this area. I enjoyed the ride and its view southward with 24 miles of scenery up and down the rolling hills and around the curves alongside the orange groves, natural lakes, and historic communities. Elevations exceed 300 feet above sea level at its highest point south of the small town of Hillcrest Heights.

The Byway runs parallel to U.S. 27 the entire way, and it was once known as Alternate U.S. 27. It serves as a local bypass to U.S. 27 in both Polk County as well as Highlands County (my home county).

I entered (from the north) – and drove through – Frostproof Florida – for the first time ever. It’s the southeasternmost municipality in Polk County. It was settled during the middle part of the 19TH Century, and it was incorporated in 1921. Previously known as Fort Clinch, Keystone City, and Lakemont – not quite 3,000 residents call Frostproof home. Its population has remained fairly steady since the 1950s.

Frostproof is sandwiched between two natural freshwater lakes – Lake Clinch (1,219 acres) on the west side – and Reedy Lake (3,504 acres) on the east side. It’s low land, and parts of the scenic highway drop to nearly 100 feet above sea level.

I enjoyed lunch at a popular restaurant on the north side of Frostproof called Frostbite. They serve your typical fast-food items as well as every ice cream dessert imaginable. It’s highly-rated by reviewers on Google. They are open every day from 11 AM to 9 PM. Just find a table, be seated, look over the menus (already on each table), and a member of the wait staff will come to you for your order. I had a wonderful cheeseburger (made to order) and a side of fries to go along with my sweet tea. #Yum

U.S. 27 is really a nice drive between Sebring / Avon Park and Lake Wales and points north and west. I fell in love with the Heartland of Florida because of U.S. 27 and its own unique scenery and history. But Florida Scenic Highway 17 is also a nice drive through a part of the region that seems to be stuck in time from an era long gone by. It’s unspoiled Florida at its most beautiful !

Next #TravelThursday – Will I ever reach my 25TH cruise ? Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp