While the US and Canada are the
main Topics, we have made extended visits to the Bahamas Out Islands, Country of Panama, Mazatlan, Mexico during retirement. Images, video clips and comments provide reviews prior to travel.
Everything in it`s place. Much effort and time is spent to ensure that the beach and surrounding area is maintained to provide tourists with a great clean place to sun and relax. The beach is terrific and the wind is constant yet not overbearing. One can spend the afternoon here easily and then cross the street for a great evening dinner or lunch. Click Picture for Video Clip
The Story behind the picture Year round, world class family resort destination that has helped draw in the tourists for decades.
Now this is a drive that provides you, as a visitor, an excellent recap of what is available in the Clearwater Beach area. It passes by many of Clearwater Beach landmark locations; accommodation sites, restaurants, and attractions like Clearwater Beach itself plus boating facilities that use the Intercoastal Waterway or the Gulf of Mexico. Click Picture for Video Clip The Story behind the pictures This drive, to me, is a very good example of why so many tourists or snowbirds visit the area. For those that do not go to the beach on a regular schedule, their plans change when they have visitors as this is always high on the list for others. Myself, I always feel comfortable here.
The descent while driving Hwy 19 near Montreal River is one great scene. Rarely while driving does the scenery continue to be awesome for over two minutes Click Picture for Video Clip
Spend 3 minutes here and you will have the opportunity to view the favorite small town of Dunedin, Florida where visitors travel from near & far to partake in many of the festivities: Spring Training Baseball, Fabulous Restaurants, Shopping, Festivities (at least 10 different venues each year). One active small town that is made to entertain people.
The Story behind the picture, At the end of the drive you reach the Dunedin pier and once while taking a short video clip, a pelican flew in and startled a group of tourists. Once in a lifetime shot. On links below.
John`s Comments
Actually this drive is not that long, but there is so much to see along the way. Most difficult task is trying to get
a spot to park.
John`s Recollections
Did not take that long to realize that I really did like this place. A place where you could call it home. During the many
years spent in the area, this was somewhere that you felt comfortable.
Harmony Beach is a relatively small Hamlet located on Lake Superior some 25 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. A camping Resort with bar & restaurant is the only business location.
Click the pictures for enlargement
The Story behind the pictures A very central location to view and travel to the many scenic loations in the area. Most are accessed via short auto rides and/or walking. Hiking is available in many areas which includes the Robertson Cliffs.
Harmony Beach is a relatively small Hamlet located on Lake Superior some 25 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. A camping Resort with bar & restaurant is the only business location. Click Pictures to enlarge
The Story behind the pictures Although the beach waters of Lake Superior may seem cool to many the waters reach 70-80F during many occasions during the summer months and it is quite well attended each weekend by the local population from Sault St. Marie.
John`s Comments
Beach is not really long in length, however it made for quick 20 minute jaunt, or a leisurely 40 walk with
a stop or two along the way to view various activities like watercraft, geese, & swimmers that braved the
cooler waters. Having road access for one leg of the trip where traffic was almost non-existant did help.
John`s Recollections
What I remember most is I actually do miss it. It provided on warm days a place to sit and view Superior`s
waters that always were different, it provided a remarkable spot to view the nightly sunsets and best of
all it met my own personal requirement "life is a beach, with
white sand and gentle waves". The bay`s smaller opening into the much larger
Superior helped to create warmer waters and mitigated the strength of wave action.
Harmony Beach is a relatively small Hamlet located on Lake Superior some 25 miles north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. A camping Resort with bar & restaurant is the only business location. Click Picture to enlarge
The Story behind the pictures One of the highlights is the excellent summer sunsets with Lake Superior as it's background. Each night portrays a different view with many color highlights.
Another is waking up early to view the sun rising over the hills.
The Robertson Cliffs have excellent trails, yet for a unique experience, visit the Falls on the opposite side of the trail head. Unmarked trail on the north side of parking lot but you should be able to hear the falls. Near Harmony Beach. Click Picture to enlarge
The Story behind the picture A very difficult hike across from the trail head where one has to decend a 250 foot drop to the Robertson river. It is not just the drop as it is quite a steep incline. Once there the beauty of the falls and surrounding sights make up for that descent, however, one must get back up the gorge.
Lake Superior Provincial Park is 1600 sq. km. (618 sq. mi.) of northern Ontario wilderness along the shore of Lake Superior - the largest lake in the world. The park is a diverse landscape of forested hills, clear lakes, streams and rivers, and a Lake Superior shoreline with features ranging from the 200m (650 ft) cliffs of Old Woman Bay to the 3 km (2 mile) long beach at Agawa Bay. Click Picture to enlarge
The Story behind the picture One of the Park`s greatest qualities is it`s peacefulness as human habitation is kept at a minimum and nature rules the land. Many trails departing from highway 17 allow for further exploration to wilderness areas that bring hidden treasures of peace for your body and soul. Here you have to drive in for a couple of miles, then walk in for a mile, and then take your canoe or kayak that you carried with you, and then finally go fishing or enjoy the scenery. There are fish (trout), but you cannot use any type of motor to help you. It is rather quiet and you may find yourself on the lake with no others. Picture is of Lake Gamitagama.
Some fishing tips.
Lake Trout are found only in Lake Superior and in several of the park’s cold, deep lakes, including Mijinemungshing, Treeby, Old Woman, Belanger and Gamitagama.
Lake Trout usually inhabit cold waters 10-50 m (33-164 ft.) deep in the warm summer months and in cold waters 5-15 m (16-49 ft.) deep in the spring and fall. Since Lake Trout generally feed on small fish, the most successful angling techniques are deep water trolling with artificial lures, such as large, flashy spoons and wobblers or still fishing with dead minnows near the lake bottom. They will occasionally travel to warmer, shallow waters to feed, especially during the dusk to dawn period.
Katherine Cove is one of many Ontario Provincial Park sites along the Eastern shores of Lake Superior, just north of Sault Ste Marie. Being so scenic, many travellers stop to view and touch the cold waters of Lake Superior. Click Picture for Video Clip
