Crystal River, Part 2

Here are more pictures and highlights from our time in Crystal River, Florida.  We did some exploring, fished, and enjoyed a slower pace of life here...

 Our Campsite in Crystal River

 Always Looking for Fish

 Fun Day Field Trip

 Climbing Ancient Mound Lookout

Another Angle!

 Interesting!

 We have found this awesome program - DIY.org.  It stretches the boys imaginations and gives them challenges and activities to complete that they may not think up on their own.  They can earn patches after they have completed so many of these challenges.  Braden wanted to earn his FISHING badge first (surprise, surprise!)  We have discovered that Aaron has a natural talent for Engineering and Science in general!  Here is a pencil catapult he built with common household items!  He is working on a few badges at once!

 Look at that SMILE!  This boy is happiest when learning in the sunshine!

 

 Braden convinced Aaron to fish with him!

Family Walk Through the Muddy Florida Trails!

 Sunday Selfie

 Sheepshead Teeth

Care Packages from Home are AWESOME!!!

 Visits From Nonna & PopPop are AWESOME, too!

 Aaron (AKA Mr. Science) testing his wind power theory!

 Packing Up!  

 Moving Day!

Crystal River, Florida

We arrived at Crystal River a few days early (due to the fact that there wasn't any cell service at Salt Springs and we really, really need that :-).

One of the major highlights of  Crystal River was the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park...probably one of my favorite state parks of all time (so far!).  Got in with our FL State Park pass (woohoo!) and had an awesome day!

Beautiful Wyland mural on the building

Do you see all those manatee?!!?!!!?  Absolutely amazing!

Hello, big fella!  These creatures were fascinating to watch...beautiful, gentle giants

Interesting!

We also "met" Lu the Hippo!  He was getting ready to celebrate his 55th birthday!

They had an amazing Underwater Observatory aka "Giant Fishbowl" (like a stationary submarine with lots of windows) where we saw massive schools of fish!

Look at all those underwater windows!

Mesmerizing...

Here fishy, fishy, fishy!

Schools in session ;-)

Who's that handsome creature?

We had a blast!  We learned about the manatees and saw tons of fish...and saw many native Florida animals...(the hippo was not a Florida native, but he is an honorary citizen!)

God Bless America