When you think of the East Coast you usually think of
big cities, but there are many natural areas that have been set aside as
well. Our adventure begins in Virginia Beach as we follow the coast south
through the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is where the Wright
Brothers made their first flight and where we try our hand at
hang-gliding, take a 4-wheel adventure along the beach to find Wild
Mustangs, and explore the many lighthouses the dangerous coastlines famous
for. A scenic ferry ride takes us and our RV back to the mainland where we
head to South Carolina and Myrtle Beach. Just outside of Charleston we
take a kayak trip to an island with a pelican rookery. At Hilton Head we
find wild dolphins, painted buntings, and take a trip on a shrimp boat to
learn how one of our favorite foods is harvested.
One-third of all
the saltwater marshes along the East Coast are located in Georgia. An
eco-tour explains how important the marsh is to the creatures that inhabit
it, like oysters, crabs, wading birds, and manatees. On Sapalo Island we
learn its history of plantations and slaves. A hike around Cumberland
Island reveals its miles of beautiful beaches. We follow famous highway
A1A south along the Florida coast stopping at historic St. Augustine to
see the Fountain of Youth. The Kennedy Space Center is world famous but
did you know that the surrounding Merritt Wildlife Refuge is a natural hot
spot bursting with wildlife? Nearby we observe the age old ritual of the
giant loggerhead turtle coming back to the beach to lay its eggs.
The Everglades is the place to visit for natural wonders. The
national park is one of the most unusual in the country. Alligators and
crocodiles are king here along with hundreds of other species of wildlife.
The drive over the bridges of the Florida Keys is a spectacular display of
colorful water and sand. Along the way we scuba dive with sharks, catch
giant tarpon, film the endangered Key Deer, kayak through mangroves, and
take an ultra-light flight. Our journey ends in quirky Key West with a
trip to the beautiful Dry Tortugas. The East Coast contains many natural
wonders that most people are not aware of, come along for the ride!
