See The World
Seek Adventure Travel Happy
About six weeks ago my boyfriend, Kyle, and I met down in Ft. Lauderdale, FL for a nice 5-day vacation. Weather was great, beach was amazing, and the World Cup was just starting. Perfect week. Walking down the beach we noticed dozens of blocked off areas with posts and caution signs. It was sea turtle nesting season. There were dozens of nests just on the beach in front of our hotel and hundreds more stretching down the coastline. I have never seen a sea turtle outside of a zoo, and to think that there were hundreds, more like thousands, of little sea turtle eggs all around us was such an exciting thought! Being a nature and wildlife enthusiast, Kyle was ecstatic, and kept on talking about how much he would love to see the hatchlings or get to see one of the females nest. A Little Bit on the Sea Turtles
- Most common sea turtle - Average of 275 lbs. 3ft. in length Green: Named for their green body fat. - Average of 350 lbs. and just over 3ft. in length Leatherback: Named for their firm, leathery skin instead of a shell made of scales or shields. - Can weigh between 500 - 1,500 lbs. and average 6ft. in length. - Only 30-60 of these nest in Florida each year. I couldn't stop thinking about how crazy it was that hundreds of these nests are in the middle of such a busy beach with a bustling nightlife right across the street. Or should I say... ... how crazy it is that there are so many people in the middle of such a sensitive and important area for one of the most endangered sea animals. We were wondering who sets up these nests, who watches over them, who's there when the hatchlings emerge? On our last night we went out for a long walk down the beach. We were determined to see a turtle or see one of the nests hatch. It didn't take long until we came to one of the nests and found a couple of people standing by it and flashing a red LED light over it. Assuming they must be the people involved in setting up the nests, Kyle didn't hesitate to go and find out more from them.
Check STOP's facebook page here and their website here. There's a lot of ignorant people out there. Not only does STOP help the hatchlings, but they also make sure the females aren't disturbed when they come to the beach to nest. They told us stories of people surrounding the turtles when they're nesting, taking pictures with flash, drunk tourists yelling at the turtles, and even a mother who once put her child on top of a turtle to ride it so she could take a picture. Really?! It's only natural people will be in awe of these animals, but we have to learn to respect them.
The volunteers told us of a leatherback nest that had just hatched the previous night and that there might still be a few hatchlings left to emerge. Kyle exchanged contact info with them and we made our way to the other nest. We were sad we missed out on the hatching of this magnificent dinosaur by one day, but were excited to learn a bit more about this fragile ecosystem when we met up with another volunteer at the nest. In the Thunderstorm We decided to make one last walk down the beach to try and see a turtle before making our way back to the hotel and calling it a night. It's only a few minutes into our walk when Kyle says, "Is that a turtle? No it's a boulder. Nope, definitely a turtle!" We were so excited. We had come across a loggerhead turtle nesting just 20 feet from us. Kyle called the volunteers right away and they said they were on their way over. We sat with them in silence, just in awe of what an amazing moment we were experiencing. I wish we had pictures, but we didn't want to use flash and disturb the turtle. It seemed as if it was in a trance-like state. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience. What made it even more unforgettable was the storm that rolled in. It was a downpour, and we still sat there, getting absolutely drenched on a beach, at night, watching a loggerhead sea turtle lay eggs. After about 10 minutes when the storm only got stronger and Kyle noticed I was shivering, he hesitantly agreed to head back to the hotel. Ecotourism
When traveling, let's respect the land, respect the wildlife, respect the ecosystems. Be in awe of all the wonderful and beautiful things you experience, but don't overstep the boundaries. Let it be. Do what you can to help; whether it's supporting these conservation organizations or going on eco tours to learn more about the land. In Ft. Lauderdale they offer midnight tours on the beach with sea turtle experts to check out the nesting sights and possibly witness a hatching or nesting yourself! Research eco tours on your next trip! Happy travels! ~Liz
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It's that time again, FRIDAY! It means the weekend is here, which is when I'm always most likely to daydream about taking a trip somewhere. I hope you're having a fantastic summer, and are getting out and having fun. Here are some travel deals to get those daydreams brewing! 1. Portugal! You can fly from Boston to Ponta Delgada on November 4th and return on November 14th with Sata International airlines for only $390 round trip! Portugal often gets overlooked as a vacation destination, which is a shame, because it has an expansive coast line of beautiful beaches, delicious food, and a rich culture. A visit to Portugal will be far less crowded with tourists and let you sink into the beautiful coastal life. This is such a good deal, I might need to schedule some time off! If you're looking for this deal, I found it using Skyscanner. 2. Las Vegas! I know, it feels like a million degrees right now for most of you, and it's even hotter in Vegas. But, if it just can't get hot enough for you, then check out this deal. You can fly from Kansas City to Las Vegas on August 8th and return on the 16th for $104 with Spirit Airlines. There's really no end to the things you can do in Vegas, and there's quite a few family friendly activities as well. Word of warning though, it is super duper hot (I know that's an obvious statement) but make sure to prepare before a summer trip to Vegas. This was also found using Skyscanner.
If summer is just flying by and you haven't had a chance to get out of town. Don't rule out a staycation. Check out some things in your hometown, go out for ice cream and be a tourist in your own neck of the woods. Then save up some money and start planning an awesome trip for next summer. Don't put it off until tomorrow. We only get so many summers! Have a great weekend, and travel happy! ~Skeeter Solo travel can be one of the scariest and most personally rewarding types of travel. I'm not going to sugar coat it, it can be hard. This is particularly true if you're in a relationship, or have found yourself newly single. When you're not used to being on your own, traveling alone can be especially daunting. But don't let that stop you. I've traveled alone a few times, and it's tough. You'll see something amazing, or funny, and you'll feel the desire to share that moment with someone else...but not be able to. And Facebook and Instagram are not sufficient emotional place holders. You'll look around and it will seem as if everyone else is coupled up, and having a great time, except you. Solo travel, can really intensify feelings of being alone. There are also lots of great things about traveling alone. You'll find in yourself a self reliance that you may not have know you've had. You won't have to compromise on what to do, when to do it, or the type of trip you want. You'll be more inclined to make friends because you'll be drawn to people you wouldn't have been if you were with someone else. You will learn more about yourself in a trip by yourself than you would have otherwise. So, if you've been wanting to travel, but haven't because you didn't have anyone to go with, here are a few tips to keep you safe and happy, and have an amazing trip. 1. Don't isolate yourself. One thing that I've learned, that has really helped is to be bold and to just invite myself to join groups of people. This works best in crowded, casual seating restaurants (because there's a legitimate reason why you're encroaching on their space). Twice, just recently, I've been out by myself for dinner at a fairly crowded restaurant. I've just approached a table with a seat empty and asked if I could share their table. They've always said yes. Before you know it, they've brought you into their conversation, and you've hopefully made a friendly connection with other people. This might seem scary at first, particularly if you're more introverted...but trust me, it won't be that terrible, and you may just make a lasting friendship. 2. Get out of your comfort zone. Go on a tour, or an excursion. These are activities where there will be lots of other people, and often you'll have to interact with them. This is a great way to do something fun with a group of people that have similar interests as you. It can even be a one on one trip. I just took a surf lesson by myself the other day...so much fun! 3. Stay safe. When traveling alone, you need to take extra precautions. Don't go off alone with a stranger, don't wonder at night in unfamiliar places, or drink to much. You may feel a surge of new found freedom and confidence in yourself, but don't let that go to your head. Always keep your safety as a number one priority. Its a good idea to stay in contact with someone at home, and to let them know your itinerary.
4. Make a schedule of awesome. This is something that I have to do for myself, otherwise I'll get depressed in my lonesomeness and mope. If this is you, then make sure to have a schedule where you'll get out there and have an awesome time. Nothing would be worse then spending the whole time alone in your hotel room because you can't manage to find something fun on your own to do. This can be as simple as taking a walk around a historic neighborhood, going to an outdoor concert, or even just drinking pina coladas by the pool. 5. Don't spend a lot of time on your phone. This could be really tempting if you're feeling alone and disconnected. But all you're going to accomplish by constantly updating your status, is missing out on opportunities to meet new people and really immerse yourself in your trip. 6. Consider a voluntourism trip. Voluntourism is a growing travel sector. It's also a great way to meet people who are also traveling alone, and who also have similar interests. I've volunteered at the Sundance Film Festival for 3 years, and I've meet a lot of great people. I'd say a vast majority of the volunteers are there alone, which makes it a great opportunity to make friends and have a great time. It's also a great way to travel on a budget, because volunteers usually get great perks. I really want to encourage those of you who have been putting off traveling because you don't have the right person to go with, to go out there anyways! Maybe start with a small trip, and build from there. There is so much of the world to see, and if we wait until conditions are just right, that time is going to slip on by. And who knows, maybe you'll meet the love of your life, or the best friend you never knew you were missing on your next trip. Happy travels! ~Skeeter |
Skeeter
Hi there! I'm Skeeter. I grew up moving a lot and that makes me a bit restless for travel and exploration. I started this blog with my husband Pat when we decided to backpack New Zealand for a year. We are always looking for the next adventure and are loving life. We're just your average couple with two sassy dogs and a love for travel. We're sharing our travels and the tips we pick up along the way. LIZHello! I'm Liz. Blogging is very new to me, but I'm so excited to finally write as much as I talk! Archives
December 2016
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