Go on Vacation With Turtles

A vacation in South Florida — even at this guaranteed-bad-hair-day time of the year — usually brings to mind swimming, sunning and sipping cocktails in South Beach. But for animal lovers, this time of year marks the season when Loggerhead sea turtles, which are indigenous to the Miami area, crowd the beaches at night to lay their eggs on the sand.

Loggerheads were once endangered; the key to the species' survival has been protection of the turtles' nests on the sand. To raise awareness, Dania Beach — an easy drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale — has launched a sea turtle awareness walk twice a week through the end of July. The evening beach stroll is lead by a park ranger that points out the turtles' nests; it also includes a presentation on how to help the Loggerheads avoid future extinction. It's held on Wednesday and Friday nights and is free with the price of admission to Dania's John U. Lloyd Beach State Park — just $5 for up to eight people.

Admittedly, most of us don't think of including this type of activity in a moonlit beach stroll on vacation.  But the nests are beautiful, and preserving a protected species is undeniably important. Plus, if you're traveling with kids, it's a great evening outing that's actually educational ... and cheap, too!

But if you're going out for a late dinner after the awareness walk, just don't plan on ordering turtle soup.

Photo courtesy Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.