Manatees Galore in Big Cypress

One of the biggest manatees in this canal of the big swamp of South Florida.

Down and up. Down and up. A cyclical dance for air followed by casual splashes. There were many manatees in the waters behind the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center at the western entrance of Big Cypress National Preserve. A lonely alligator arrived floating like a submarine. It kept some distance. We spent some time enjoying the show. Manatees were called by old Spaniards "vaca marina" - sea cow. They were the mermaids of the early explorers. 

Where is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center? - Map my location.

The Fakahatchee Hilton

The cabin seen from the lake - Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, 2026.  

Two miles from the trailhead of the East Tram Trail is this cabin from 1957 pompously called The Fakahatchee Hilton. No pools in this place, just a lake behind that was full of alligators. One of the big males raised its body in a "water dance" bellowing with an impressive prehistoric display of wildness. The roaring sound told us to "stay away". And of course, we did. 

Where is the Fakahatchee Hilton? - Map my location.    

Exploring the Largest State Park of Florida

Sign at the entrance of the park on James Memorial Scenic Drive. 

This is the biggest state park in Florida and it's kept wild and simple. What does Fakahatchee mean? "Dark water" in the Muskogee language - a proper name for these swampy lands. We met some cyclists on the long and narrow dirt road, the only one through this wilderness. Six miles later, we left the truck at the trailhead of the East Tram Trail and got lost into the forest in search of the Fakahatchee Hilton. 

Where is Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park? - Map my location. 

Magic Sunset over Burns Lake

Dramatic view of the sunset filtered through the smoke of wildfires - Burns Lake in the winter of 2026. 

The view looks magical, but the strange colors come from the drama of a big wildfire running through Big Cypress National Preserve. The flames are getting closer and probably the rangers will close the campground. We'll see. So far, we are enjoying the sunset.

Where is Burns Lake? - Map my location. 

Camping at Burns Lake Campground

The peaceful waters of Burns Lake in the South Florida winter. Our camper is seen on the left.   

Beautiful days of winter camping on the shores of this lake of Big Cypress National Preserve. The coldness threw away the alligators. They moved into the more protected waters of the swamp. The symphony of birds in the morning; the shimmering whispers of the sunsets. Quiet times in the wilderness away from the city noise. 

Where is Burns Lake Campground? - Map my location. 

A Reminder to Myself: Overnight in Rest Areas

A rest area can save the day or the night - just check the rules. This is my old camper in a rest area of Texas in November 2024. 

The rules change from state to state and sometimes from rest area to rest area. This is the status nowadays - but check because changes in the rules are a constant. 

Overnight is possible in California, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Ohio and Pennsylvania (only in the Turnpike). 

Need to check the rules for each rest area in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Park and rest with time limits - 2 to 4 hours - in Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, South Dakota, and Tennessee.

Don't allow: Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

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Visit to Trinidad in Colorado

The Main Street of historic Trinidad early in the morning - Photo taken in the fall of 2025. 

Small town in the south of Colorado on the old Santa Fe Trail. This valley was settled by Felipe Baca and 12 other families from Guadalupita, New Mexico, in 1862. Brick buildings, antique stores, and the old houses at the museum. Stop at the visitor center and a stroll through Kit Carson Park - there is an equestrian statue of the famous frontier man there dedicated in 1913. A quiet morning without rain (finally!).  

Where is the city of Trinidad? - Map my location.

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