ALLANTE’ TRIP  TO  WAKULLA SPRINGS, FLA.

June 17-19

   Six of our group met for breakfast at Truett’s Café in Morrow and caravanned to Wakulla Springs just south of Tallahassee. It is a wonderfully charming place with lots of interesting history.   The Lodge was built in 1937 with meticulous attention to every detail. It was built by Edward Ball, brother-in-law and business manager for Alfred DuPont.   There is lavish use of marble throughout the Lodge and it boasts of having the world’s longest known marble bar at 70’3”.  It has the original elevator and the only known surviving period art deco elevator still in use. 

   Wakulla Springs is the world’s largest and deepest natural springs.  We took the riverboat tour and we saw many birds including wood hens, blue herons, anhingas sunning their feathers, and a huge eagle’s nest.  We also saw large turtles sunning on logs, baby and adult alligators, and we were delighted by a Manatee who decided to swim right up to the boat.  

   After the boat tour, we explored several neighboring towns but the highlight was Sopchoppy whose claim to fame is their annual Worm Gruntin Festival.  We missed the festival which is held in April but a couple of us couldn’t resist purchasing a T-shirt.

  We considered it money well spent as we will have a million dollars worth of fun when we wear them. If you’re interested you can google ‘worm gruntin’ and you will learn all about the how and why.  

  After returning to the Lodge a couple of us went down to the Springs.  The water was way to cold to venture in further than knee deep.  

   We dined at the Ball Room restaurant in the Lodge both evenings.  The food was quite delicious.  After the dinner on Friday evening we had a rousing game of “no rules” checkers in the Lodge lobby.  It was very refreshing to see so many young people and families enjoying good wholesome fun.  There are no televisions in the rooms and we did hear of any deaths from lack of internet or T.V. exposure. 

   Sunday morning, we took a walk on the Sally Ward trail for a couple of miles to the bridge.  We were not adventurous enough to do the full 12 miles round trip.  We headed home after a trip of very unique experiences.  See everyone for breakfast in July!

Stay Cool!