Yesterday I needed some time to play in the woods, so off we went to Ravine Gardens State Park and Gold Head Branch State Park. To visit both in one day highlights how human intervention changes the natural landscape. Ravine Gardens was a WPA project in the 1930s to keep people employed, and became one …
Backpacking, children, and Central Florida
Earlier this week, I had an email from Chris, a Central Florida father who wants to take his son on his first backpacking trip. In part, his email said: My son and I are looking for our first hike and camp (one overnight trip). We live in Orlando, FL and I so far Lake Louisa …
Down the Dora Canal
Yesterday I had the opportunity to cruise the Dora Canal with Blue Heron Cruises out of the Lakeside Inn in Mt. Dora. It’s been nearly 5 years since my last trip down the canal, and I’d forgotten just how much of a wonderland of ancient cypresses is hiding in there. It’s truly one of Florida’s …
Torreya: No Wimps Need Apply
Spent last Sunday hiking a kick-butt section of the Torreya Hiking Trail about 1/3 of the way around the loop, going counterclockwise from the blue trail out past the Confederate gun emplacements near the Gregory House. A living history group had just decamped the night before. Joining me was Judd from our FTA Tallahassee office, …
