At the crack of dawn the next day, the rains and winds had subsided and we were able to meet with the Sea Turtle Patrol. This section of Florida's beaches from St Augustine down the East Coast have the greatest density of sea turtle nests. As we walked up the beach, we were able to see turtle nests that had been fenced off, so that beachgoers would not disturb them. Sea turtle nesting season runs from March 1 to October 31 on the Atlantic side, and May 1 to October 31 on the Gulf side. The Patrol spoke with us about how they come out and check nests daily for possible hatchings. If it appears that a hatching had occurred overnight, the Turtle Patrol will dig down to check for survivors and any viable eggs. They replace these eggs in the excavated nest and re-cover them in hopes that they will hatch naturally. Loggerheads are the most abundant sea turtles nesting in Florida. There are also Green turtles and rarely, the Kemp's Ridley turtles. That morning we were fortunate to witness finding 2 baby Leatherbacks that had hatched and been trapped under the sand. These hatchlings were released to the surf and swam away on their own as hoped. It was a heartwarming sight for our group. Female turtles lay approximately 100 eggs per nest, laying more than 500 eggs over 5 egg clutches. They only nest every 2.7 years on average. It is against the law for anyone else to disturb, or touch hatchlings or nests. To report injured or dead sea turtles, call the FWC at 1-888-404-3922. It is well worth taking a tour with the Sea Turtle Patrol.

There is so much to see and do in the Palm Coast/Flagler County area. One of the steps to which the area has committed is to set aside large conservation lands, between A1A and I95, where development is discouraged. Because of that, there are dozens of trails, parks, creeks and rivers to enjoy, almost all within sight of the ocean. Just two miles south of Marineland, on A1A is Washington Oaks Gardens State Park. The park encompasses both sides of the road with the Gardens on the west side of A1A, and the beach and coquina rocks on the east side. The beach is about 3/4 mile of these fantastic rock formations that provide great photo ops. At low tide, tidal pools form with lots of creatures to be discovered. The formal gardens, pools, bike/hiking trails, fishing and picnicking are just a few of the things that can be experienced here on the ocean or the banks of the Matanzas River. For updated information, call (386) 446-6780.

Washington Oaks is one of seven designated Great Birding and Wildlife trails. Princess Place Preserve, Bulow Plantation Ruins Plantation Park, Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, Haw Creek Preserve, River to Sea Preserve, and St Joe Walkway/ Palm Coast Linear Park round out the list. Visitors can take guided kayak tours with Ripple Effects Eco Tours, located next to Whitney Labs,. They will guide you around the local creeks, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Matanzas River across to Pellicer Creek and Princess Place Preserve. Call Chris at 904-347-1565 for reservations. All guides are certified Master Naturalist so they are quite knowledgeable and provide great guided tours showing the area's flora and fauna.

We had brought our own canoe, and found that we could launch at Bings Landing boat ramp or across from Marineland. If the winds are unfavorable, it is worth driving around to Faver Dykes State Park (off US 1) and launch at Pellicer Creek boat ramp. The ramp can accommodate small boats. One can canoe the trail to the West and then head East toward the Intracoastal and Princess Place Preserve across the creek. Be aware of tides, so you will not have to fight the current on the canoe trail. Faver Dykes Park also has camping, fishing and hiking. Check out http://www.Faver-Dykes.org.

After canoeing, we drove around to Princess Place Preserve, the site of the Princess Estate, a lodge dating back to the 1800's. There are over 16 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails along Pellicer Creek under a canopy of trees. There also is camping, canoeing, fishing and bird watching.

Additionally in that area is the Florida Agricultural Museum. Although we did not have the time to visit, our friends that did said it was worth the visit and very interesting. They offer tours, horseback riding, and more. We plan to visit on a return trip.

As we headed back up north on A1A to go home, we crossed over the Matanzas River Bridge and turned into Fort Matanzas National Monument on the Matanzas River. Again, we could not believe we never checked this out in all the years we visited this area. It's a must see and an important part of early Spanish Colonial history of this area. When you arrive, first check out the times that the Park boat rides depart for the Fort across the river, get a ticket (it is free), and enjoy the park by the river until the next boat departs. It is a 10 min ride to the Fort, where you will learn about the history of the 1565 massacre of French soldiers here by Spanish soldiers. This helped establish a Spanish colony in Florida. Upon arrival at the Fort, you have about 45 minutes to explore. There are Park Rangers that will show you the features of the fort. The fort is made of coquina rock, the same rock we find on the beaches at Washington Oaks State Park. The barrier island is home to sea turtles, ghost crabs and Least Tern nests. On the island, gopher tortoise, eastern indigo snakes, and many types of birds reside. There is a nature trail and access to the beach on the island across from the Fort. For more information contact http://www.nps.gov/foma

Palm Coast is such a special, laid back place. You will be so glad you took the time to check out this area, there is so much to do. Please visit the Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches website for more information on hotels, motels, inns, campgrounds and rentals at http://www.visitflagler.com.

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