Blue Sky in the Sunshine State, Florida! Quiz

Answer: Dry Tortugas National Park

You will see the bluest waters around this small island with Fort Jefferson on it. The island was discovered in 1513 along with other small islands around it. The fort was built in 1846 but was never finished. You can walk around inside the fort and on the second level also. There are some cannons and beautiful view points from inside the fort. You can walk along the brick path outside of the fort or hike up your pant legs and walk to the next island during low tide. Dry Tortugas started off as a national monument and was made into a national park in 1992.

I spent the day walking around the island and laying out on the beach area. You can snorkel, kayak or just explore for the day. If you're interested, you can camp on the island as well.

Answer: Biscayne National Park

Biscayne is one of my favorite national parks. The park is there to help protect the mangroves and reefs in the area. The park was designated a national park in 1980. There are so many things to do in the area. You can kayak, snorkel, dive to see shipwrecks or even take a boat ride out to the Boca Chita lighthouse. I personally have attempted to see this lighthouse on three occasions, but the weather never agreed with my trip and I still need to get out there and explore more. All you need is one day and some great weather and you'll see everything there is to see at this park.

Answer: Manatee

I have been lucky enough to see these massive animals many times in Florida. They move slowly and carefully through the water and are sometimes curious about local boats in the water. They have been known to swim right up to kayaks and small boats. If you don't know about them you would think that you were seeing a very dangerous animal but manatees are far from dangerous. They eat plants, not people.

If you go to Tampa area, please check out the Manatee Viewing Center. There's a power plant there that keeps the water warm and the manatees love it and will stay for hours and sometimes days. It's a free admission and lots of fun watching the manatees from the top platform.

Answer: Everglades National Park

Just west of Miami you'll find 1.5 million acres of swamp land. The home to the Everglades National Park and hundreds of alligators. One of my favorite places to visit is the Shark Valley Visitor Center. You can rent a bike or take your own and ride around a 15 mile loop. Now if you see a big black thing across the path ahead, STOP! It's an alligator! I also visited the southern visitor center, Flamingo Visitor Center, where I took a boat ride through the marsh areas. Plenty of wildlife along with alligators bathing in the sunshine.

Answer: Florida National Scenic Trail

There are two stones that mark the north and south side of this trail. The southern terminus is in Big Cypress and has a large viewing area with a lot of alligators. Now when I questioned hiking through this area where you can see all the alligators, the rangers said not to worry.

They said worry more about the Florida panthers. Each of the panthers are tagged and the rangers know which area they are in, but you don't have that knowledge when you're camping and backpacking the trail. This is one trail I have zero interest in completing.

The northern terminus is just south of Pensacola in the panhandle of Florida. You walk along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. I have stood on both the north and south side, but nothing in the middle of the 1300 plus miles.

Answer: Blue Angels

I have seen the Naval Blue Angels fly on numerous occasions over the years. The group was founded in 1946 and have been performing for years at air shows. Their home station is in Pensacola, where you can visit the National Naval Aviation Museum. They also have a lighthouse that you can visit and climb to the top. Don't go unless you have the proper identification. I was quite impressed with the museum and highly recommend it.

Answer: Disney World

Walt Disney knew what he was doing when he bought acres and acres of land in Florida in 1964. He had enough land to build an empire and he knew it. He was a dreamer and dreamed of EPCOT and creating a place where families could go and have fun. The Magic Kingdom opened up on October 1, 1971. I went there my first time in April of 1972. We drove and drove down an orange grove road with nothing in sight! Now you drive down that same road and you'll see hotels, Disney Springs shopping area, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and MGM Studios lined up along the roadway. It's an empire all from one man's dream that started with a mouse.

It seems that every year is another anniversary of a park opening or a Disney character or Walt himself. Each park is special in its own way. With rides, shows and lots of food to eat. My favorite is EPCOT. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. You can take an elevator up to Space 220 and see astronauts in space as you eat your lunch. You can take a test ride in a prototype car in Test Track. You can fly over wonders of the world in Soarin' Around the World. Disney never ever disappoints me, no matter how many times I go.

Answer: St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 by a Spaniard named Don, with a lot of names after that. St. Augustine is on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and also is home to the San Marcos National Monument. The monument is a fort that you can walk around inside and out. You'll be able to see musket and cannon demonstrations on site. If you are traveling with children, make sure that you have them earn their Junior Ranger badge while there. When you think of the first thanksgiving, you think of Plymouth Rock and the pilgrims, but the first thanksgiving actually started here about 55 years before then.

Probably the most popular thing to do in St. Augustine is to hit the beaches. Enjoying the Florida sunshine and the sandy beach!

Answer: Atlanta Falcons

Football is popular in Florida and has hosted at least 17 Super Bowls over the years. It's a perfect place with the warm weather and the sunshine!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Raymond James stadium and have played there since 1998, but the Buccs have been around since 1976.

Miami Dolphins play at the Hard Rock Stadium and opened in 1987. The Dolphins have been in the NFL since 1966.

The Jacksonville Jaguars is the newest Florida team, they played their first season in the NFL in 1995. They play at the TIAA Bank Field.

Just an FYI, Atlanta Falcons play in Atlanta, Georgia, just north of Florida.

Answer: Key West

You will drive over 150 miles from Miami to Key West, traveling past key after key after key. The difference between a key and an island is a key is an island on a coral reef. There are over 800 keys, but you won't see all of them, they are scattered all over the area. You can spot a deer on Deer Key. You can feed the tarpons on Matecumbe Key, but be very careful that the seagulls don't get you first!

Once you drive all the way south you'll hit Key West, home of Ernest Hemingway's home. You'll be able to see so many six toed cats. You can also visit Harry Truman's little White House. At the end of highway 1 is a highway 1 sign covered with stickers, but my favorite stop is the big buoy that says "Southernmost Point". Stand in the long line to get your picture taken! Now go have a piece of Key Lime pie and relax.