Friday, February 6, 2009

Postcard Friendship Friday!

Hello from Honeymoon Island!



Honeymoon Island State Park is a barrier Island on the Gulf of Mexico and lies across St. Joseph's Sound from Dunedin, Ozona, Crystal Beach and Palm Harbor Florida. This beautiful island of white sandy beaches and native Florida vegetation was visited before recorded history by the Tocabaga tribe. Spanish explorers stopped by in 1530. Tourism began in the 1900's until the Island was commissioned by the Federal Government and used as a quiet romantic spot for R&R in palm thatched bungalows by exhausted workers and honeymooning servicemen. The island has had several names including Sand Island, Hog Island (it was a hog farm for a time) and then Honeymoon Island.

The southernmost part of the island was separated in 1921 during a hurricane that formed Hurricane Pass. The "new" island is called Caladesi and regularly makes the top 10 list of the most beautiful beaches in North America. The only way to Caladesi is by boat or ferry and most of the island is a designated bird sanctuary.


You can see Caladesi Island across the water from the main beach on Honeymoon Island




Roads on Honeymoon allow travel by car to about half of the Island. Visitors have to hike to the northernmost beaches. In the early 1960's a causeway was built to connect the island to the mainland.


Important coastal plants and plant communities found on and around the island include virgin slash pines, cabbage palms, Sea Grapes, Sea Oats, mangrove swamps, sea grass beds, salt marshes, tidal flats, and sand dunes. Honeymoon Island has more than 208 species of plants and a variety of shore birds, including several threatened and endangered species. It is a beautiful place for swimming, shelling and sunsets. There are no Zombies on Honeymoon Island.




A red sponge that washed ashore.


This is a Postcard Friendship Friday post hosted by Marie of Voila! Vintage Postcards. Stop by Marie's to see who else is participating. If you would like to say hello to Bloggyland by "sending" a postcard on Friday's just sign up at Marie's blog

22 comments:

Bella@That damn expat said...

That's beautiful.

Marie Reed said...

I am damn glad that it is a eombieless island! Some marketing whiz changed the name of that island just in time! Hog Island? LOL!

Catherine said...

That's paradise ! Perfect for the Valentine's theme ! What a dream beach.
Happy Postcard Friendship Friday

Pat said...

Informative post! Drop by for a taste of Yugoslavia...the once-upon-a-time country.

Debby said...

I think I need a honeymoon. How beautiful it looks.

soulbrush said...

that red sponge is gr8.

Sparky said...

Is it warm there ... ????!!! We're in danger of freezing important lower extremites off up here in Gawga. ROFLOL ♥ ∞

Betsy Brock said...

Beautiful! I want to go there right now! I love the white sand and how clear the water is in the picture. Bet it's warmer there than in Ohio today, too! LOL

Call Me Cate said...

It was so cold here this morning. I'd really rather be there.

Renee said...

Thanks for the mini holiday in the middle of a snowfilled day.

I love the red sponge. xoxo

Renee

Martha@A Sense of Humor is Essential said...

That is so beautiful! I sure do miss the balmy beaches and breezes of Florida. Thank you for taking me back.

Stanley said...

Hei there, how are you doing? The beach looks exotic!

MuseSwings said...

Thank you everyone! It's my favorite place for shelling and exploring. Despite about 700K people coming on the island each year it retains it's natural beauty and except for the main beach which we avoid it doesn't feel crowded. NO it's not warm here today! We've had a cold snap and we're freezing our tu-tu's off I tell ya!

Stanley! Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Kat Mortensen said...

Thanks for the trip to sunnier climes, Cynthia!
That red sponge reminds me of a pair of old rubber gloves (or a few pairs intertwined).

Kat

Nihal said...

Ohh terrific post! I, too, am in beach mode from mid of january here. I need firstly a "honey" for a honeymoon, lol:) Gotta run;)

PS Btw, how I loved your new headline, very very very much. Definitely, tons of errors if no music!

ChaChaneen said...

Ahhh I want to be there! When does the plane leave? ha ha Happy Friday!

Jane In The Jungle said...

Whew, thank goodness no zombies, somewhere to be safe!!
That is absolutely beautiful and thanks for the history also!!

Linda said...

Oh man..NOW I AM REALLY LONGING FOR THE BEACH!!! Thanks..you sure made me smile. Blessings

Anonymous said...

Honeymoon Island! How wonderful! It looks like paradise. I'd love to get a postcard from there. Thanks for visiting mine earlier.

Devoted said...

Truly beautiful! It brings a little warmth when looking out at the dreay cold weather. It was a bit warmer here but no sunshine... My husband brought home a treat though...Florida strawberries! YUM!

Blicky Kitty said...

Oh those pictures warmed up my cccold afternoon up here. :) Looks heavenly.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting me take a little mini vacation by looking at your pictures ~ Now I can make through the rest of my day here ~ Blessings! Katie