Sightseeing...off the beaten path

There are so many FREE things to do around here. What fun to go explore areas, and enjoy them immensely, and only make a dollar donation for the use of their facilities.
Tuesday we went with Gene and Kathy to the TECO plant off Apollo beach near Tampa. TECO is Tampa Electric Company and it has served the area since the late 1800's. They made boardwalks to walk through mangroves, and observation decks to view the manatees, and many fish that migrate towards the warm spill waters from the electrical plant. It's a place where nature and modern technology joined together and complemented each other. Manatees are slow moving gentle mammals that are endearing to watch. Loads of people were there, from every walk of life. Very interesting!
Today we met up with the Indiana RV'ers group from the entire state at Lettuce Lake; a Hillsborough county park, about 240 acres of beauty. Cypress swamps are throughout the park, making boardwalks, and elevated picnic shelters necessary. Paved paths for gliding or walking; the park is also the setting for an Audobon bird sanctuary, and home for wildlife, even gators. The squirrels were plentiful and not shy. The wide arms of the live oak drape down to the ground making a natural playground for kids and the squirrels. I just can't get over the beauty of the live oaks, covered in moss, that makes this canopied avenue in all the parks we've seen. It's such a southern look, that is so beautiful, and only seen below the Mason-Dixon line. I've really fallen in love with Florida this trip as we've explored so many smaller towns, and gotten away from the cities and beaches.
On our way back to Z-hills from Largo yesterday, where we visited family, we stopped at Phillipe Park in Safety Harbor. That park is totally draped with the live oak/moss combination that I'm so nuts about now, and is on Tampa Bay. The bird life is such a surprise, and the parks such a treat. People really use the parks here thanks to the weather. We're so thankful to be able to enjoy this time....and not be shoveling snow during the winter of 2008!