Florida - Ravine Gardens State Park - Palatka

Have to work at 3:00 but have been wanting to do Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka and we hear the Azaleas are in bloom so we head out early in the morning.  We decide to take Cracker Swamp road with cuts from CR13 over to 207 and looks interesting.

There are more cabbage patches here.  Hastings is the 

cabbage capital of the world.

It also has sod farms

and maybe Potatoes

We get to Palatka and drive by this beautiful B&B on our way to the Park.

Good thing with have map guidance in the truck - this is the 1st sign we've seen for the State Park

 

A nice mural on the way in

The Garden Club Center

The Gardens were developed during the Great Depression by work programs in an effort to spur economic growth in Palatka.  It is one of nine New Deal era State Parks in Florida.

The Court of States displays 48 State Flags on the weekends.  Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states when it was built.  The 60' obelisk at the end is dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt.

And we are off - as soon as Tucson finishes sniffing the bushes.

The park has been damaged by Hurricanes, the scenic loop road around the park is closed to vehicles but you can walk or bike it.

We opt for the 2.5 mile Alazea Trail

It starts out with a suspension bridge

It overlooks the creek

and my favorite - stairs!

The Azaleas are about 40% in bloom.  

The Azalea Festival is the 1st weekend in March

The trail is rated strenuous - I would say maybe moderate - there are lots of roots, stumps and sometimes mud patches to deal with.

and more suspension bridges

at least these go down

the Boys take a break

While I take a short trail up to the Loop Road to check it out

There is a nice viewing platform up there

and what goes down goes up again

 

Retention ponds from the old waterworks

No swimming for Tucson here.

We take a short cut along the creek trail

and back over the suspension bridge

to the Gardens

Camellias are in bloom

The stone walls are quite lovely.  Back to the beginning.  We had planned to bike the road around the ravine but it has gotten quite warm and it was supposed to be cloudy but the sun is shining so we decide to save that for another time.

Small garden with Bamboo by the Parking lot

On our way home we go past the St. Johns River

and over the Bridge

and back to Cracker Swamp Road

A really nice morning!