Saying goodbye to my trusty 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which hit a quarter-million miles this spring after countless trails and travels together throughout the state of Florida.
Archives for June 2015
Back to the Hammock
Hiking the Hammock Trails in Merritt Island NWR this weekend brought back memories of hiking and camping in these woods as a young Boy Scout in the 1960s and 70s
Fox Lake Sanctuary
Protecting more than 2,500 acres along the western edge of Titusville, Fox Lake Sanctuary offers an immense landscape for exploration, with more than 7 miles of marked, interconnecting trails for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and equestrian use.
George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park
Once a piece of A1A from Amelia Island to Big Talbot Island, the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier is one of several former highway segments now under the care of Florida State Parks. Open 24 hours, it’s popular for sport fishing as well as bringing home a catch for dinner.
Going Barefoot
One of Florida’s most beautiful beaches, Barefoot Beach in North Naples is a sandy ribbon two miles long with a 2-mile hiking loop to access Wiggins Pass.
Manatee Observation Deck
Where Haulover Canal connects the Indian River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island NWR, a manatee observation deck makes it easy to watch for manatees drifting by
Naples Botanical Garden
At Naples Botanical Garden, buildings, landscaping, and nature live in harmony, with a delicate balance of natural spaces and lush gardens accented with art achieved.
Summer at Corkscrew
Under blue skies, it’s easier to ignore the intense heat and the heavy blanket of humidity. For a while. Arriving at the visitor center at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, we were surprised to find it almost empty. Rich Kuntz, the Audubon volunteer who photographs their ghost orchids for the lovely images sold in the gift shop, […]
Ten Thousand Islands (and more)
Where the waters of Big Cypress and the Everglades meet the Gulf Coast, the Ten Thousand Islands are a maze of mangrove forest: the second largest mangrove forest in the world, bested only by Bangladesh
Thinking small at Collier-Seminole
One of Florida’s most beautiful nature trails, Collier-Seminole State Park’s Royal Palm Hammock Trail can be a challenge, but worth it for both vistas and details