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Fakahatchee ferns

Archives for April 2009

Fat Bellys

Breakfast time at Fat Bellys

April 26, 2009    Sandra Friend

Every hiker raves about Fat Belly’s, the go-to barbecue in White Springs

Gator growl at La Chua

Whitewater, with alligators

April 25, 2009    Sandra Friend

In the heart of Gator Country, a deep sinkhole swallows the waters of Paynes Prairie at its northeastern rim in Gainesville: La Chua Sink. A brand new boardwalk now provides a closer look.

Get Outdoors, Florida!

April 16, 2009    Sandra Friend

In late March, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched Get Outdoors, Florida!, an important statewide initiative to encourage Floridians – and all members of their families – to get outside and enjoy our outdoors. I encourage you to take a look at their website and see what they have to offer as to …

Naval Live Oaks to add wheelchair-accessible trail

Santa Rosa Sound from Naval Live Oaks

April 23, 2009    Sandra Friend

Gulf Islands National Seashore in Pensacola is the fortunate recipient of federal stimulus funds for National Parks, according to a story in the Pensacola News-Journal. Part of the funds will be used to replace an existing natural surface trail with a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. My guess is that it will provide access from the visitor center …

New addition to the National Scenic Trail system

April 13, 2009    Sandra Friend

The 220-mile New England National Scenic Trail is the first new National Scenic Trail to be established since the Florida Trail was designated as one in 1983.

PEAR Environmental Park and Hontoon Island

April 1, 2009    Sandra Friend

Two new Central Florida hikes are now available at Florida Hikes! Both offer virtual tours, so be sure to click on the Tour tab for an armchair walk through each hike. Hontoon Island State Park is the only Florida State Park reached by a free ferryboat; the island is in the middle of the St. …

Pitcher plants at Tarkiln Bayou

Pitcher plants at Tarkiln Bayou State Park

April 7, 2009    Sandra Friend

At Tarkiln Bayou State Park, the showy blooms of pitcher plants are on parade each spring. The boggy Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie is ground zero for these beauties.

Stuckeys

April 13, 2009    Sandra Friend

On my way home from Pensacola, I had to stop in Bagdad to visit Florida’s last real Stuckeys.  When I was a kid and my family did road trips to Florida down the East Coast every year, we’d always stop at Stuckeys.  The distinctive yellow-roofed shops were filled with treats, had clean restrooms, and often …

Support your Independent Outdoor Retailers

April 14, 2009    Sandra Friend

In these tough economic times, the squeeze is on for outdoor retailers, especially the small independent folks who’ve been your reliable local source for gear when you need it fast.  Over the years, I’ve visited many Florida retailers, and it’s my experience that small local shops beat the big chains every time when it comes …

The Wyvern Punta Gorda

View of the Peace River from the top of the Wyvern Hotel

Punta Gorda      (  )      

The Wyvern Hotel in downtown Punta Gorda scores big points as one of the most luxurious yet intimate hotels I’ve reviewed in Florida.

Towering over Big Lagoon

Big Lagoon tower

April 7, 2009    Sandra Friend

The tower at Big Lagoon State Park offers a sweeping view of the park, the lagoon, the Gulf of Mexico, parts of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key, and the surrounding shorelines.

Umatilla gets a nature trail

April 21, 2009    Sandra Friend

On March 21, Lake County opened a brand-new county park in Umatilla called North Lake Community Park.  Among its many facilities, which include a big playground, picnic pavilions, volleyball and tennis courts, and a walking trail (1.4 miles) around the perimeter, the park has a 3/4-mile nature trail as well. I recently stopped in Umatilla …

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