My journey started at about midnight I drove from Orlando Florida to Hobe Sound Florida onto Jupiter Island about a two and a half hour drive. Chillin to tunes by Q-Burns Abstract Message.

Sunrise at Blowing Rocks Preserve by Marcus Adkins Photography copyright

Blowing Rocks Preserve does not open till 9am so I was headed to Corral Cove Park, about a mile south of Blowing Rocks Preserve. I was planning on parking outside Corral Cove Park and walking up the beach to look for Sea Turtles hatching and making their way to the Atlantic Ocean, and some good sunrise Photographs at Blowing Rocks Preserve. When I arrived at Corral Cove Park the gates were open and a police officer was sitting in his cruiser in the parking lot so I had no choice but to seek permission to walk out on the beach at 3:00 in the morning (not very likely) so I approached the officer and stated my business his reply was “Parks closed.” I had only one card to play at that moment so I explained to him, I work for an online magazine about Florida and was hoping to get some Photographs of Sea Turtles hatching, he  asked if I had any I.D. so I handed him my license and my card, he looked them over, handed them back to me and said “go ahead”. I couldn’t believe it!

Sunrise Blowing Rocks Preserve II by Marcus Adkins Photography copyright

Still in disbelief I parked my truck and got my gear ready for the hike. Let me tell you something walking down to the beach is one thing but hiking a mile up the beach with a camera bag , tripod, and a towel is no picnic, the sand there is soft and the beach is at quite an angle only adding to the experience. (Enough complaining) Being on the beach by yourself in the middle of the night is a unique experience, it’s a little eerie, with the black ocean pushing itself up onto the beach and the stars in the sky offering little light you are very alert and aware of your surroundings all you can hear is the waves crashing on shore which seem to be louder than usual.

Sunrise Blowing Rocks Preserve IIII by Marcus Adkins Photography copyright

I put on my LED headlamp with the red light so I could still see a little beyond the light. I started scanning the beach for any sign of a baby Sea Turtle sliding its way down to the Atlantic Ocean . It was very exciting thinking I could actually walk up on such a wonder of nature. The image kept me going  all the way up the beach to Blowing Rocks Preserve, a good hour hike, and I hiked another 45min up the coast past Blowing Rocks Preserve only to find a lot of Sea Turtle egg shells but no baby Sea Turtles heading to the Atlantic Ocean. I walked back to Blowing Rocks Preserve exhausted from lugging my equipment for the last two and half hours. I found a somewhat flat and actually comfortable rock to relax on I spread my towel out and used my camera bag as a pillow. It was very relaxing watching the stars and listening to the Atlantic Ocean crash into the rocks, a little too relaxing, I fell asleep and was woke up by a large wave that crashed past the rocks and all over me and my equipment. Great, now I’m soaking wet! Luckily I shielded the water from half of my towel and my camera bag was under the towel.

Sunrise Blowing Rocks Preserve III by Marcus Adkins Photography copyright

After transferring as much water from my clothes to my towel as I could, I realized the sky was starting to light up a little. I walked over to the steps from Blowing Rocks Preserve. The waves were getting more intense and crashing off the rocks higher into the air and through a “blow hole” in front of me. The sight actually made me giggle out loud, it was quite an experience. I got my camera out and ready for the sunrise. What a beautiful sight! There was a storm to the south that was keeping the Atlantic Ocean dark and just enough light coming through to light the waves as they splashed off the rocks and through the blow holes. The Atlantic Ocean conducted this show up an down the rocky coast through several blow holes.

Although I didn’t get to see any baby Sea Turtles making their way to the Atlantic Ocean I did get to witness and Photograph a beautiful sunrise over the amazing scene the Atlantic Ocean had orchestrated against the Anastasia Limestone outcroppings at Blowing Rocks Preserve.

Florida offers Biking and Hiking trails featuring very scenic views of untouched natural Florida, you can bike through Downtown Winter Garden or along Miami’s South Beach. Hiking trails offer many levels of experience from small trails through Wekiwa Springs State Park or the Florida Trail that stretches 1400 miles, and everything in between.Canoeing and Kayaking is probably one of the best ways to see Florida’s hidden beauty from small spring fed day trips to paddling through 10,000 Islands in theEverglades to paddling across Florida Bay and all through the Florida Keys. If you are into camping whether it’s in a tent or your own comfortable RV you can camp in secluded Ocala National Forest or camp right on the beach in the Florida Keys, there is hundreds of wonderful sites in Florida for camping.

I seem to be drawn to the water (like many people) Lakes, Rivers, and of course the Ocean and Gulf with their beautiful Beaches, that  is one of the things that make Florida such a beautiful place there is so much water around and through this beautiful state. Through my travels I have discovered some great places, restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds that I would like to share with you.

Getaways by Design is my way of sharing this with you and help you find your own wonderful Florida adventures. Whether you are from Florida looking for a weekend getaway, or you are planing to visit Florida and design your own unforgettable Florida vacation.

Check back often I will be adding new content regularly. I will also be Inviting other Florida Photographers to become contributors so we can create an extensive and beautiful Library of Great Florida Getaways for you to enjoy and find a new adventure every weekend.

Marcus Adkins