Category: travel

Wild time at Circle C Bar Preserve in Florida

One of the natives lurking at Circle C Bar Preserve along the shore of Lake Hancock near Lakeland, Florida. - photo by Joe Alexander
One of the natives lurking at Circle C Bar Preserve along the shore of Lake Hancock near Lakeland, Florida. – photo by Joe Alexander
It was a mostly cloudy day when we visited Circle C Bar Preserve along the shore of Lake Hancock near Lakeland, Florida.

I was just as happy that it wasn’t warm and sunny considering the photos I had seen in the Internet of alligators lounging on the walking trail.

We saw a few gators, but all out in the water and none of them too close.

The place was full of lots of birds and a few playfull racoons.

Circle C Bar official website

Late lunch overlooking Tampa Bay, Florida

Lunch in St. Petersburg, Florida, overlooking Tampa Bay. - photo by Joe Alexander
Lunch in St. Petersburg, Florida, overlooking Tampa Bay. – photo by Joe Alexander
Even with the holidays, Tampa International Airport was quieter than I remember – a sign of the times. From there is was a short drive to a local restaurant with a view of Tampa Bay.

Late afternoon lunch in St. Petersburg, Florida, overlooking Tampa Bay. - photo by Joe Alexander
We hung around late in the afternoon as the sun started to sink over Tampa Bay.

Munching in Old Town Scottsdale

This is how you know when you're in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. - photo by Joe Alexander
This is how you know when you’re in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. – photo by Joe Alexander
It would take weeks to try all the restaurants in Old Town Scottsdale in Arizona.

Daytime in Scottsdale entertainment district

Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in the entertainment district in Old Scottsdale. - photo by Joe Alexander
Whiskey Row in the entertainment district in Scottsdale. – photo by Joe Alexander
The entertainment district in Scottsdale, Arizona rocks at night.

The area on the fringe of Old Town Scottsdale is actually pretty quiet during the day.

Here is a look at some of the local hotspots and their signs while the sun shines.

Lake Tahoe in late autumn

A view of Lake Tahoe from the southeast shore on the California side. - photo by Joe Alexander
A view of Lake Tahoe from the southeast shore on the California side. – photo by Joe Alexander
On the way home from Yosemite National Park, I drove north so I could fly out of the Reno airport. I made a brief stop on the south side of Lake Tahoe.

The two-lane winding road called Nevada Highway 207 over the mountain to the east shore of the lake at Stateline, Nevada was a drive to remember.