Swimming with Flipper Grassy Key US 1 - MP 59

Swimming with Flipper
Grassy Key US 1 - MP 59
Florida Keys

Johnny and I also swam with Mitzi the bottle-nosed dolphin (from the television series Flipper) on Grassy Key, a subtropical island in the heart of the Florida Keys at the training facility on Highway 1.  It was called Santini's Porpoise School back then but is now known as the Dolphin Research Center.  It was run by Milton Santini, a pioneer in dolphin husbandry and training.  Mitzi, who was Santini's first pupil, was picked to star as Flipper in the original movie.


At mile marker 59, on the Gulf side, stands a 30-foot concrete statue of a mother and baby dolphin. This marks the entrance to the Dolphin Research Center, a serious-minded facility devoted to education and public awareness.  It is also the final resting place of the most famous dolphin ever - Mitzi, better known to the world by her stage name, Flipper.


 There were multiple “pens” that housed several dolphins and their trainers had them going through the paces of swimming backwards using their tail to propel the upper body out of the water as they moved away from you.  They did flips, jumped through rings and eventually we were allowed in the water with Mitzi to touch and swim with her. As we were in the water, she performed several tricks close to us.  The best one was hanging onto her dorsal fin and being pulled through the water and then listening to her do the sounds dolphins make after we were done.


 D swimming with Dolphins in Mexico 2014

It was a nice break along Life’s Highway for the couple of hours to be in the water with these incredible creatures.  My dream came true for us as we never thought of being able to do this.  I've been lucky to swim with the dolphins and manatees several times now and each time is a great experience.

US 1 and A1A highways hold a certain place in my heart as I have associated driving these roads with adventure, fun, and a free spirit.  It does not matter when I travel these roads the feeling is always there whether in the 60’s or fifty years later on my recent trips.  The area has grown a bit with more tourist and houses but the ambiance has stayed true to the islands and the Jim Hawkins spirit in each of us.


Ice

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