A Tail-Wagging Day at Magnolia Park

A Tail-Wagging Day at Magnolia Park: Exploring with Niki!

Hey folks, Steve here from WheelsWithSteve.com! Today, before I left the campground I grabbed my trusty canine companion Niki (a ball of white fluff always up for an adventure!), and headed to the scenic Magnolia Park near Apopka, Florida.

Let me tell you, this park is a gem! Towering live oaks, some of the oldest I've ever seen, cast dappled sunlight on our path as we explored. Niki, with her nose glued to the ground, was busy sniffing out all the exciting new smells the park had to offer. It's amazing how much joy a simple walk in nature can bring to a pup!

As we wandered deeper into the park, the sound of laughter and chatter reached our ears. Curiosity piqued, we followed the joyful noise and stumbled upon the group campground area. Here's where things got interesting...

...As we approached the source of the laughter, a booming voice rang out, "Would you like a Gatorade Zero?"

Parched from our exploration and eager to chat with some fellow park-goers, I grinned and replied, "Absolutely, that sounds fantastic!"

A friendly face, John, emerged from a group gathered under a shaded pavilion. He introduced himself and explained they were a church group on a camping retreat. As John handed me a refreshingly cold Gatorade, Niki took a well-deserved rest at my feet, panting contentedly.

Under the pavilion, the group huddled around a brightly colored board game. Intrigued, I peeked over their shoulders. They were engrossed in a game I hadn't seen before – something about building a railway and traveling across the country. The objective, it seemed, was to outsmart your opponents and avoid getting blocked on your journey.

The group leader, noticing my curiosity, strolled over. After introducing ourselves, I mentioned my affiliation with a travel group that organizes monthly excursions to various places around Florida. This sparked a lively conversation about unusual places to visit in the Sunshine State.

He, it turned out, had recently visited Solomon’s Castle in Ona, Florida, Bearadise Ranch Preserve, in Myakka City and Castle Ottis near St. Augustine. He raved about the uniqueness of each one. His enthusiasm piqued my interest, and I made a mental note to add it to my list for future exploration.

By the time we wrapped up our chat, the afternoon sun was starting to dip low. We thanked John and his group for their hospitality and the refreshing drink.

With Niki leading the way, eager to continue our exploration, we set off for another loop around the park.  

Incidentally I learned the board game was called Ticket To Ride and it involved a surprising amount of strategy. This game is one of the most popular modern board games to my surprise. Players can do three things to fulfill their destination and score points. I made a note to myself to look for a copy online – it seemed like a perfect addition to our next game night with the travel group!