Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach People

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A recent excursion out to Honeymoon Island to walk on the beach has yielded many a wonderful shot of beach people and the goings on at the beach.

This is when you know you are finally at the beach, crossing the dunes on the boardwalk. Clumpety-clumping on down to the sand with all manner of gear and refreshment hanging on arms, shoulders, neck and hands. WHAT FUN!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Sunset #3

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It seems like it has been a while since I posted a sunset. So I reached back in time to post this one. Hopefully, I will find time to enjoy another sunset soon.

I never have figured out why I find sunsets so magical, or significant. In many ways, it is just the end of another day. Well, at least to the person watching the sunset. To someone else, around the globe, our sunset is actually their sunrise. Could it be that on some level we realize that a sunset is an incredible celestial event that represents moving objects so large and powerful that we can barely conceive of them? After all, compared to the sun, we are no more than little bits of dust floating in the heavens.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Hiking Trail Flashback

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I have been thinking about Honeymoon Island lately, and the wonderful hiking trails they have out there. This is a shot from one of those trails. I love hiking out there, even though I don't go nearly as often as I would like to. It's a wonderful place to get away from the 'madding crowd' for a while, and forget you live in the city.

If you get the chance, I heartily recommend you get out to Honeymoon Island and get your feet on the trails, and your head out of your work for a while. There are lots of wonderful reasons to live in this area. Honeymoon Island is one of the best!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: At Least They Said Please

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I'm trying to get my office, at work, classified as an Environmentally Sensitive Area, so I can post this Please Do Not Enter sign outside. My thinking is, if I don't let anyone in, they can't give me more work! Whattya think?

This sign protects some of the wild scrub and grass land out on Honeymoon Island State Park. It's a beautiful area, so I am glad to see it protected like this. It's easy to see how this natural area would support lots of diverse wildlife.

** HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Dusk

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Did I mention that it was getting dark when I was out at Honeymoon Island? Yep, dusk had settled hard among the pines and wild meadows. This little stretch of road was no exception. So naturally, I had to have a picture...

Now I understand why they set the speed limits in State Parks so low. It seems like agony to drive that slow, but it's to keep people safe. That is to say, they make you drive slowly because you never know when some ________ is going to be lying in the middle of the road to take a picture! :D
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Sea Oats Plantings

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I'll be honest with you, I am not entirely certain that these are Sea Oats, but that is what they remind me of. No matter what they are, they look neat if you ask me. I like that there is an effort being made to 'restore' the beach to a more natural state. It seems like we humans create lots of situations that require restoring, rebuilding or repairing.

This picture was taken when it was just about dark. I love my Nikon D80. With a little tweaking, it becomes a workable image, and a neat look.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: April Theme Day: WATER: Honeymoon Island Beach

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I find it amazing, really, what an attraction we have for water. I don't mean just the water we drink, or wash with, but ANY water. Even water we can use for neither. Take the beach, for example. Honeymoon Island Beach, it's a State Park, is very popular. People come from all around to enjoy the beach... the water. If you take away the water, it's just sand. You can get it anywhere. But when you add water, it becomes a beach, a magic place. Even people who have no intention to get in it, drink it, walk on it, bathe in it, etc., will come to the beach... just to sit near it!

There are almost 200 Daily Photo bloggers participating in Theme Day today. I encourage you to wander through the list below, and check out 'WATER' around the world.

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Honeymoon Cafe, Kayak

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From the beach, looking up toward Cafe Honeymoon... or is it Honeymoon Cafe? I cannot remember! But I think you get the idea. A place for a drink and some grub, while you sit at the railing and look out over the Gulf of Mexico, and Honeymoon Beach. Not bad if you ask me.

In fact, if you look directly below the flag, you will see a couple sitting there, just then, doing just that. I like it! If you are in the area, and thinking about someplace new and different to try, why not try this?
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Memorial Bench

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Stan and Rita have gone fishing. For good.

This bench, this memorial bench, can be found on Honeymoon Island Beach. Honeymoon Island is a State Park, and so far, every bench I have seen out there has a memorial on it.

I don't know Stan and Rita Maneski. Someone not only knew them, but loved them enough to take the time and energy and money to have this dedication carved into a bench and installed on the beach on Honeymoon Island. It makes me wonder, will anyone love me that much after I am gone? Or, does it matter?
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Patterns

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Sometimes the shortest route... is not available!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Remains Of The Day

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Where does the day go? Where does the time go? One minute, we are sitting in the sand playing with our sand castle mold and bucket and shovel (all plastic, of course), and the next minute we are paying mortgages, bucking for a raise, and worrying about the world economy. While I wish someone would have warned us while we were playing in the sand, I'm glad I didn't see all this coming.

A note about yesterday's post: Live shelling... 'shelling', in general, refers to strolling along the beach picking up seashells (dead, no animal inside). Live shelling would involve strolling along the beach looking for, and picking up, living sea creatures in their shells. There are places along the Florida coast where you can wade into the water and pick up live scallops to take home for dinner, for example. That would be considered live shelling.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Live Shelling & Rip Tide Signs

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As if in counterpoint to the person on the jet ski, catching air off the tops of waves, we find the Rip Current warning sign. It can be quite dangerous to encounter a rip tide when you don't expect it, or know what it is. The natural instinct is to fight like crazy to get back to shore. Wrong.

As crazy as it seems, you are better off drifting out with the rip current, conserving your energy. Then, when it releases you, swim back to shore in a path that takes you around the current. 'For best results' read these signs when you see them, and ALWAYS observe life guard instructions or posted signs like these. It can save your life!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach SURF!

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You could also title this post: Crazy Jet Ski Dude Catches Major Air In Super Surf Off Honeymoon Island Beach! But that seems just a little bit too long, even for me! :D

As I told you yesterday, I was out on Honeymoon Island Beach to try to snap some cool wave shots. Since we actually had some 'surf' the other day, with the coastal surf advisory they had posted. Something to do with some weather system bringing in heavier than usual wave and surf activity. So I am wandering about snapping pictures, when I notice these two little black dots dancing across the wave tops. Huh?

So I pointed me handy-dandy 70-300 (attached to my Nikon D80) at the black dots. Lo and behold, there I see a couple of jet skis, complete with crazy dudes, riding the waves. I think he is actually wearing a helmet, but I cannot be sure. Not a bad idea if you think about it.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach WAVES!

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On a recent afternoon, when I checked the weather, we had a coastal surf warning, or some such thing. They were actually warning us about much stronger, bigger waves than usual. Well here with the Gulf Of Mexico, we just don't get all that much serious wave action. So I decided to head out to Honeymoon Island after work, and see what I could snap.

I soon realized that it can be difficult to capture the impressive increase in wave activity. This is due, in part, to the fact that the waves were still not big by most standards. But they were bigger, and stormy. We might usually see waves about one foot around here, and I would have to say these waves were more like three feet. I really tweaked this image to make it 'pop'. Check back to tomorrow to see what one guy did with these waves, and no, he was not surfing!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach: Ample Parking & HAPPY EASTER!

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Yes, it IS just a parking lot. Something about it must remind me of a happy childhood memory, because I like this picture. So I share it with you.

Notice, if you will, the largest building you can see in the distance. It's just to the right of the bathhouse down the sidewalk from where I was standing. At this angle, with the help of Google Earth, I am pretty sure we are looking at the Dunedin Mease Hosital. That's 4 miles away, by the way. Cool, eh?

You could hide a LOT of Easter Eggs out there to hunt for! HAPPY EASTER!!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Beach At Dusk

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When I look at this image, it brings memories of how it felt to stand there on the beach at dusk. There was a firm breeze, I could smell the woodlands of the island as well as the saltwater. It was peaceful. I could feel my 'batteries' recharging.

The amazing thing is that this place is just a short drive from Downtown Dunedin. It's only ten or fifteen minutes at the most. I think it must be the park admission that keeps it from being crowded all the time.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 10

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Ah yes, and here we are... back to the parking lot. Now for that... HEY! WAIT! What are you all doing running away to your cars now? What's that all about?? Helllooooo???? Where'd they go? I can't believe they all just ran to their cars and left! I don't understand...

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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 9

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Good luck, my friends, that clearing ahead means we are getting very close to the parking lot, where we started. We'll be back to man-made restrooms and water fountains soon! But I have a surprise for you... once we get back to the picnic area at the parking lot.

As it is getting on toward dusk, I know some of you are feeling just a little chilly. We'll take care of that right soon! Hey now, to hear all that grumbling back there, it's enough to make a Nature Trail Guide think you might be tired of hiking this trail with me!

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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 8: Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

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I seem to be hearing a lot of whining coming from that group in the back, so we'll take a break. While we are breaking, let's all have a wee swig of me Green Wonder Juice out of me little green flask, to celebrate the day! And keep in mind... hey, are you listening? You there, you pack of wheezing slaggards, are you hearing me? Good!

As I was saying, keep in mind it is St. Patrick's Day, so there is a very good chance that we might run into some Leprechauns out here on the Island, looking for some mischief. Don't you listen to nothing they be wanting to whisper in yer ears! I mean it! They'll turn you green and laugh while you sit crying!

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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Honeymoon Island Nature Trail 7

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Look down! The other thing I learned, from another smart person, is to look down! When walking on a nature trail like this, with so much to see, one really must look up, and look down, and look all around! Otherwise, we might have missed these raccoon tracks.

Ahhh, I remember when my dear Grandparents would take me on walks in the woods, teaching me all about nature and bird watching and being quiet so I could see the wild things. It was magical!

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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!