After arriving at Daytona Beach on Thursday, we stayed an extra night and spent Friday the entire day there.
We first went to
Tomoka State Park, with lots of water, palm trees, and Oaks all 'decorated' with hanging Spanish moss.
It was very quiet, clean and well kept and we left the park recharged and relaxed.
This warning gave me a thrill and my heart started to beat faster when we saw lots of bubbles somewhere in the water, but we did not see a gator, yet.
A heron is disquised as a branch :)
We did not see many animals, maybe the wrong time of day but still the flora was beautiful enough.
Tomoka State Park is named after a Native American, who was, like many more, killed.
The Spanish moss seems like decorations and gives a beautiful atmosphere.
After the park, we drove through town to get to the Marine Science Center.
Some houses are overly decorated for the Season like this yard was so full it made me wonder where they store so many decorations the other 11 months of the year :)
All these beautiful houses are right at the shore.
My first sighting of a real proper lighthouse :)
And right next to it the
Marine Science Center with a hospital for sea turtles, wild birds and some sea animals like these baby mantas.
The mantas actually let you pet them, a strange sensation.
The guy feeding and explaining about them and other creatures was amazing with the animals and patiently answered all questions and explained everything with great enthusiasm.
There were a few aquariums as well.
This ugly one was in shock of its own reflection :)
There were several big sea turtles in the hospital. Usually, they get released in a few months after they are completely recovered. Lots of damage is caused by boat propellers, fishing lines and plastic.
Since opening in 2002, the Marine Science Center has cared for nearly 900 juvenile and adult sea turtles; more than 15,000 hatchlings and washbacks; and nearly 1,000 gopher tortoises, freshwater turtles and snakes.
There were also some birds, most were not open to the public as they will be released once healed and should not become too familiar with the human. But a few like this hawk will stay there as they can not live in the wild anymore. This hawk's right eye was missing, which makes it impossible for her to live in the wild. The Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Facility at the Marine Science Center has received more than 9,500 birds since opening in 2004.
At the end of this lovely day, I went back to the beach to take some more photos.
It was already getting dark, but the misty pink air gave something dreamy.
From here we went to St. Augustine and then to Jacksonville, where we are now, I will blog about this in a day or two :)
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