Local Places, Local Faces

Local Places and Faces on the Nature Coast of Florida

Homosassa Wildlife Park

by

We are regular visitors to the wildlife park, typically trailing behind grandkids that are running amuck. This time we took an adult leisurely morning walk around the park with the hopes of seeing some of the wild manatees from the viewing platform.  It was cold last week which usually brings them into the warmer waters of the spring.  Plenty of manatees and many other creatures were out enjoying the start of the day.

Manatees at the Park, Homosassa Wildlife ParkManatees at the Park, Homosassa Wildlife ParkPelicans, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkMullet, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkOwls, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkOtter, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkFlamingos, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkAlligator, Homosassa Springs Wildlife ParkBlue Heron, Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

 

The Great Chicken Wing Quest Continues….

by

Last May I challenged Terry and myself to ride the entire Withlacoochee State Trail before the annual Rails to Trails bike ride in October.  Didn’t quite make it–didn’t finish the segment from Ridge Manor to Trilby.  Failure.

So now I have a new challenge. To eat at every restaurant in Citrus County that has chicken wings!  And maybe a few places in Marion, Sumter and Hernando counties.  That should be easier.  No time frame involved. We can work on this goal for the rest of our lives!

Terry and I, along with a few friends, already started this quest earlier this year and even reported on our visits to The Cove, Coaches, Lollygaggers, and Island Bar and Grill.  But we got sidetracked with all that bicycle riding.  We want wings!  This month we went to Skeets Smokehouse and Grill in Beverly Hills, Shamrocks in Floral City, and Beef o Bradys in Crystal River.

We stopped by Skeets Smokehouse and Grill on a Friday afternoon, right about lunch time.  There was only one other table of customers!  What!  When I had a job where I actually got a paycheck, Friday was the day I went out for a long lunch.  Has that tradition gone away along with all the jobs?  Where was everyone?  Perhaps it’s more of an evening place since I noticed numerous beer choices on draft.  Which made me happy!  Along with my mug of beer I had some really delicious tomato basil soup.  Yum.  And, of course, Terry and I both ordered wings.

Tomato Basil Soup at Skeets
So good I forgot to take a photo before I gobbled it down!

 

Dry Cajun rub
Dry Cajun Rub for Terry
My wings, plain old medium buffalo wings. Tasted like wings.
My wings, plain old medium buffalo wings. Tasted like wings.

My next visit was to Shamrocks.  Poor Terry, the real wing lover had to stay home because  this was a girl’s afternoon out!  But he did get to watch the Bucs on TV and they actually won their game.

Trail is behind sign
The Withlacoochee State Trail is right behind this sign.

And our independent panel of judges were…

Tastetesters
Yvonne, Sherry, and Vera
Shamrocks judges
Me, Donna T and Donna

I LOVED Shamrocks.  Since it’s right by the Withlacoochee State Trail, there were about a dozen bicyclists having lunch.  Also bikers at the bar.  A couple gave up their table so the six of us could sit together!  A very friendly pub!

Garlic Parmesan
Garlic Parmesan
Medium buffalo wings
Medium buffalo wings
Blackened Chicken Wings
Blackened Chicken Wings
Fun and Friendly Atmosphere
Fun and Friendly Atmosphere

Next stop was Beef o Brady’s in Crystal River the following day. This is a family friendly chain and we’ve been to several of them over the years.  A lot of bars in the area aren’t open on Monday but Beef o Brady’s is.  Terry needed wings. And I needed another restaurant to check out.

Fries and 2 types of wings.
Fries and two types of wings.
My salad--I can't possibly do wings two days in a row!
My salad–I can’t possibly do wings two days in a row!

Terry ordered two flavors of wings, garlic parmesan and honey bbq and said that the garlic parmesan was the better choice.  The fries were good and crispy.  I had a cup of baked potato soup which was delicious.

And now, let’s wrap this up, the service was good at all three places, wings were good, and we would go back to all three restaurants.  But I’m going with the atmosphere and giving the win for this month to Shamrocks.

And the quest continues….