Life on Paws and Wheels

Simba and I visited and hiked the Hammock Hiking Nature Trail at Hontoon Island State Park near DeLand, Florida — a beautiful forest trail leading through some of Central Florida's most atmospheric natural habitats to an ancient Native American shell mound. Hontoon Island is already unusual before the hike even begins. Surrounded by the St. Johns River and Hontoon Dead River, the state park is accessible only by boat or the park's ferry. Once across the water, the Hammock Hiking Nature Trail leaves the riverfront behind and ventures deep into a shaded interior filled with towering palms, sprawling live oaks, pines, ferns, Spanish moss, and dense subtropical vegetation. At approximately three miles round trip, the hike combines natural beauty, solitude, wildlife habitat, and thousands of years of human history into one fascinating Central Florida adventure. ⛴️ An Island State Park Accessible Only by Water Part of what makes Hontoon Island State Park so special is its isolation. ...

Simba and I visited the Grave of Jeremiah M. Brewer near Paisley, Florida — a mysterious 19th-century burial site standing alone deep within Ocala National Forest. Hidden beneath towering longleaf pines and surrounded by miles of quiet wilderness, this solitary grave is one of Florida's most intriguing historic mysteries. Far from any cemetery, churchyard, or town, the weathered headstone marks the final resting place of a Union Civil War veteran whose life ended in the Florida wilderness under circumstances that remain unknown. Standing beside the grave, it's impossible not to wonder how a man born hundreds of miles away in Ohio came to be buried alone in one of Florida's largest national forests. 🇺🇸 A Union Soldier from Ohio Jeremiah Milton Brewer was born on January 12, 1844, in Clinton County, Ohio. During the final year of the Civil War, Brewer served in Company D of the 188th Ohio Infantry . Like thousands of other Union soldiers, he answered the call to serve durin...

Simba and I visited the Old Brick Road near Bunnell, Florida — one of the longest surviving sections of the original Dixie Highway and an incredible piece of early Florida transportation history. Hidden among the pine forests, wetlands, and rural countryside of Flagler County is a narrow roadway that looks almost frozen in time. Instead of asphalt, miles of the road remain covered with century-old vitrified bricks laid during the earliest days of automobile travel. Once part of an important route connecting communities across Northeast Florida, the Old Brick Road offers a rare opportunity to experience what driving through the state was like more than 100 years ago. 🚘 Florida Enters the Automobile Age During the early 1900s, automobiles were rapidly transforming transportation across the United States. Florida, however, still had relatively few dependable hard-surface roads. Many routes were little more than dirt or sand tracks that could become extremely difficult to travel after hea...

Simba and I visited the Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park near Flagler Beach, Florida — the haunting remains of one of East Florida's largest and most prosperous sugar plantations of the early 1800s. Hidden beneath a dense canopy of trees are towering coquina walls, crumbling arches, old chimneys, and archaeological traces of a plantation once known as BulowVille. Nearly two centuries after the plantation was destroyed, the forest has reclaimed much of the landscape, leaving behind ruins that tell a complicated story of enormous wealth, enslaved labor, war, destruction, and dramatic change in early Florida. Walking through the property today offers a fascinating—and sobering—look into a chapter of Florida history that shaped the region long before the coastal communities we know today. 🌾 The Beginning of BulowVille The story of BulowVille began in 1821 when wealthy Charleston merchant Major Charles Wilhelm Bulow acquired more than 4,600 acres along a tidal creek that woul...

Simba and I visited the Riviera Hotel Arch Ruins in Ormond Beach, Florida — the fading remains of an extravagant Mediterranean-inspired resort development planned during Florida's booming 1920s land era. Hidden within a quiet neighborhood along Calle Grande, these weathered arches transport visitors back to a time when Florida was filled with ambitious dreams, lavish resort plans, and grand architectural visions. What now appears to be the remains of an ancient European ruin was actually built to look centuries old from the very beginning. Nearly 100 years later, time has transformed the illusion into reality. For history lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and fans of forgotten places, the Riviera Hotel Arch Ruins offer one of the most fascinating hidden landmarks on Florida's east coast. 🌴 More Than Just the Riviera Hotel Despite their popular name, the arches were never actually part of the Riviera Hotel itself. Instead, they formed the grand entrance to Rio Vista on the Hal...

Simba and I visited the Holly Hill Gnome Tree in Holly Hill, Florida — a whimsical roadside attraction where hundreds of colorful gnomes have gathered beneath a huge oak tree overlooking the Halifax River. Hidden along Riverside Drive, this playful landmark transforms an ordinary oak tree into an ever-growing miniature village filled with tiny residents, imaginative scenes, and countless surprises. Every visit reveals something new, as visitors continue adding gnomes of every shape, size, and personality to this beloved community tradition. Whether you're searching for quirky roadside attractions, unique photo opportunities, or simply something guaranteed to make you smile, the Holly Hill Gnome Tree is one of Central Florida's most charming hidden gems. 🧙 A Tiny Village with Humble Beginnings The story of the Holly Hill Gnome Tree began in 2003. Local resident Virginia "Ms. Ginny" Morris placed just three small gnomes beneath the sprawling oak tree overlooking the Ha...