Archive for the ‘travel’ Category

Silver Springs – a place for fun for the entire family

Friday, February 1st, 2008

Silver Springs in Florida – one well known tourist destination

During the hot summer days the many Florida Springs are some of the most attractive places to go. Clear water with constant temperature year round and many recreational possibilities, including scuba diving,snorkeling, canoeing, fishing,swimming and others, are just perfect alternatives to the busy city life.

Silver Springs is a small town in Marion County, North Central Florida, several miles east of Ocala.
Silver Springs on Google maps

Silver Springs provide the headwaters of Silver River – nearly 550 million gallons crystal clear water are being delivered every day.This forms the largest natural artesian spring system in the world. The water purity is 99.8% and temperature is 72 degrees F year round. The water is so clear and transparent that the place became favorite for filming and TV shows’ underwater scenes.

Crystal and clear water

The high visibility makes things look nearby as the bottom might be dozens of feet away from the surface.

This park is open every day from 10am to 5 pm and combines the natural environment with family entertainment of different kinds (glass bottom cruises, concerts, animal shows and others). Admission is $34 for adult and includes all the features inside the park.

Glass bottom boat

From the glass bottom boats you can see all underwater habitants and feed them

Have fun and enjoy!

The Sunshine City

Friday, February 1st, 2008

The Sunshine City – Saint Petersburg, Florida – an attractive place to live in

We moved to Florida in the early spring of year 2002 and the first destination to check out was Tampa. Since we loved to have beaches nearby and the city of Tampa seemed to have pretty much ocean water around. The next morning after our arrival I bought a detailed map of the city and for my big surprise I did not find beaches almost anywhere on Tampa Bay. So, that was the end of our search for a new place to live in here.

This is how we went on south and stopped in Sarasota – nice and clean city with some of the finest beaches.

During the winter of 2002/2003 while watching the weather forecast on the TV one thing caught my attention. Anytime the temperature showed for Saint Petersburg, which is 40 miles north of Sarasota, was up to several degrees higher than in Sarasota.

Then we decided to take a day or two and visit Saint Petersburg.
…. and we ended up in one one of the most beautiful places in Florida to make it our new home.

Saint Petersburg is situated at the southern part of Pinellas Peninsula, on Florida West Coast.
St.Pete Google map

Surrounded by the waters of Tampa Bay and Gulf of Mexico the city has 244 miles shoreline and intracoastal waterways.

South St.Pete

This perfect location also determines the very specific climate conditions – constant breeze cooling down the land summertime and mild winter.

The name Sunshine City comes from one very impressive record in Guinness World Record Book – most consecutive days of sunshine – 768 days that began in 1967.

With its many parks and some of the nicest beaches Saint Petersburg is an ideal place for sport and outdoor recreation.

Some information can be found at the city’s web site St. Pete

Topic to be continued on this blog with facts, information and photos from our home city – Saint Petersburg.

God bless