November 20, 2013

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

White Springs, FL

We had planned on doing the 7.5 miles Foster’s Hammock Bike Loop Trail but it was very overcast when we woke up.  We kept waiting for it to clear but by 2PM we had to accept the sun was not going to show itself today.  So we drove over to the other side of the park to the Ann Thomas Suwannee River Gazebo.

 

I thought the gazebo looked familiar.  It was driving me nuts.  Then finally I remembered that Monte and I had stopped here a few years earlier when we were returning to Florida from a road trip out of state and had been looking for a nice place to eat our picnic lunch. 

 

 

 

Water levels. 

Watch out for the alligators.

Our next stop was at the canoe launch.

 

 

We decided to check out Big Shoals Public Lands, a short drive from the campground. 

 

 

 

 

 

We encountered several deer at the entrance.

Steep ravines and high bluffs surround the Suwannee River, where elevations range from 65 feet to 135 feet above sea level.  When water levels are between 59 and 61 feet, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III White Water designation.  We would have had to walk one mile to view the shoals.  It was overcast and too late to walk as the park closes at sunset and it was already after 4PM.

So we didn't stay.

My car celebrated a milestone.

 

 

During the short time we were gone from the campground, volunteers had added more lights in preparation for the Festival of Lights where 5 million lights will be on display.

Our final stop was at the Stephen Foster Museum where we encountered several volunteers decorating the house for Christmas. 








After entering the house I could understand why it is a popular place for weddings.

 

 

 

 

 

The museum contains dioramas depicting scenes from some of Foster’s most popular songs, several antique pianos and other works of art. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monte pulled me aside and gave me a kiss-then pointed to the mistletoe hanging above us.