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.
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.
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
There is a special magic surrounding a summer hike through Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where ghost orchids dance high above in the soft green canopy created by the ancient cypress protected here
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
Visitor Center Boardwalk
At Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, the Visitor Center Boardwalk introduces you to typical habitats on the refuge and provides an easy spot for viewing birds and wildlife
Wuestoff Park
To see what Titusville used to look like before Kennedy Space Center, take a stroll through Wuesthoff Park, a city of Titusville nature park with a variety of habitats from red maple swamp to subtropical hammock
