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Hiking at Trout Lake, One of Florida’s Hidden Gems
Spend the day hiking and exploring one of Central Florida’s hidden gems, Trout Lake Nature Center located in Eustis. This is an exceptional center to discover the “real” Florida as you hike its trails and boardwalks. We have been to Trout Lake many times with our kids for school trips, scouting events and day trips. This is a hands on Nature Center with many kid friendly activities. Hiking Trout Lake Take one of the several trails offered at Trout Lake to begin your hike through the nature preserve. Most of the trails are less than a mile in length and tend to run into each other. This is a great…
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Sweet Potatoes Made in a Campfire
I tried my hand at making Campfire Sweet Potatoes on our last camping trip at Myakka River State Park campground. My husband loves sweet potatoes smothered in butter and brown sugar, but also loves the way his Mom makes her Thanksgiving sweet potatoes with red hots. So I combined the two, with delicious results. I also learned a few things along the way. How to Make Campfire Sweet Potatoes The first step in making Campfire Sweet Potatoes is get a roaring fire started. You want to have hot coals to place the potatoes in. The next step in to wash your sweet potatoes well and gather your toppings. I brought…
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Make Your Own Camping Cocoa
I was given this cocoa mix by my Mother -in-Law several years ago. I found it a few weeks before our camping trip to Myakka River State Park. Although it was warm during the day the nights were chilly enough for a nice warm cup of camping cocoa. Ingredients for Camping Cocoa 1 Container of Instant Milk (9.6 oz ) 1 Powdered Sugar 1 Container of Coffee Mate (15 oz) 1 Container of Instant Chocolate Mix (14.1 oz) This makes a lot of cocoa mix. Make sure to have a large airtight container on hand to store it in. Directions The directions are simple. Pour out all the ingredients in…
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A Fun Filled Weekend at Myakka River State Park
We had a fun filled weekend at Florida’s Myakka River State Park, located just south of Tampa. It was a great way to spend quality family time before the busy Christmas season starts. About Myakka River State Park Myakka River State Park officially opened to the public in 1941. It was one of the first state parks in Florida to be created as part of the New Deal program, the Civilian Conservation Corp. You will see several of their projects while exploring the park. The Myakka River area is abundant with wildlife. Several species of birds make it their home, making this a bird watchers paradise. But for us it…
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Easy No Sew Camping Blanket
We learned to make easy no sew blankets as part of my son’s Eagle Scout project. He oversaw the making of 75 blankets that were donated to the police. Officers will give the blankets to kids in crisis situations. The blankets are a way for the police to comfort kids and help ease the stressful situation they may be in. So many blankets! But well worth it. This method is perfect for making the coziest camping blanket on those chilly nights around the campfire. Just follow a few simple steps. Supplies for a No Sew Camping Blanket Below is a brief list of supplies needed to make a fleece no…
