The Devils Millhopper
The Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park boasts a sinkhole measuring 117 feet deep and 500 feet in diameter. Rich with geological history, the Devil’s Millhoper show the layers of Florida’s natural history, with shells and animal fossils found in the sinkhole. The sinkhole gets its name from its funnel like shape, and the fossils found at the bottom leading to the idea that this was the millhopper that fed bodies to the devil, and so it became known as the Devil’s Millhopper.
The Flight of the Bats
The University of Florida campus has two bat houses located across from Lake Alice. With an estimated 300,000 bats living in the bat houses, their emergence at dusk can be quite a sight. The bats begin to wake up just after dusk, and the evening flight is a fantastic show. A steady stream of bats emerges from the houses for nearly half an hour. The bats then spread out, many going over Lake Alice to hunt for tasty bugs.
Alligator Spotting
The University of Florida has many natural reserves. One of the largest of these is the Lake Alice Conservation Area. In an attempt to see my first alligator, I have been biking along Lake Alice in the evenings. It took almost five weeks, but I finally saw one! At first he was just barely sticking his eyes out of the water. I moved in closer to get a picture, and this seemed to annoy him and he moved away. I watched him as he swam along the shore. I was amazed when he got upon the shore, as if just to show off for me. He came up onto the grass and stayed there for a moment before turning around, getting back in the water and swimming away. The experience was awe-inspiring for this Mainer.
The Harn Museum of Art
The Harn Museum of Art features art from many cultures and time periods. With artifacts from Africa and several Asian countries, it is one of the most diverse art collections I have seen. A photography section highlights historical and modern photographs, providing snapshots of recent American history. The modern art section hosts both 2D and 3D works, and features paintings done by Any Warhol. The museum is hosting Museum Nights of the second Thursday of every month. The theme for June was Chinese culture. There was food, dancers, musical performances and do it yourself activities. A local dance group was at the event performing interpretive dances throughout the museum. It was a great night full of art, food and culture!
