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Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

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Tents on edge of forest

How To for Florida’s Outdoors

New to Florida? New to the outdoors? Learn what is unique about outdoor recreation in Florida and what you should know as you plan your outdoor adventures: tutorials, tips, and checklists to assist you in hiking, backpacking, biking, camping, and paddling in Florida.

START HERE

River Levels in North Florida

Florida Trail flooding

How-To in Florida      ( Feature Articles )      

Cold weather and high water causes hypothermia, so play it safe. Before hiking in winter in North Florida and the Florida Panhandle, check these flood gauges.

How to Prevent Blisters

How-To in Florida      ( Feature Articles )      

How do you cope with the bad blisters that crop up during a swamp walk or a rough day on the Florida Trail? Bryce Layman of Lightweight Backpacking shares his secrets.

Backpacking: The Weight Of Things

Backpacker on stile

How-To in Florida      ( Feature Articles )      

Planning a backpacking trip? One thing to consider – very carefully – is what things weight vs. their importance to you, especially on a trip of more than a week.

Hike Safe When Hiking Alone

Cross Seminole Trail urban bike path

How-To in Florida      ( Feature Articles )      

Hiking solo? Here are suggestions how to watch after your own personal safety when you walk in the woods or on urban trails alone

Hiking inn-to-inn on the Florida Trail

Big Shoals

October 25, 2012    Sandra Friend

As part of a question sent to me by Rick, a reader in New England, he asked “we would be interested to find an area where we hike from inn to inn over a few days” as part of a vacation day hiking in Florida. As I’m in the midst of working on a new …

Where to find multi-day backpacking loops

Citrus Hiking Trail

October 16, 2012    Sandra Friend

Where are Florida’s best backpacking loop hikes for 3 or more days on the trail? Here are the top suggestions and their pros and cons.

How to hike in October in Florida

Follow the Trail!

October 1, 2012    Sandra Friend

October 1 marks the traditional start of Florida’s hiking season, so it’s time to start planning your outdoor adventures! October is also normally designated Florida Greenways & Trails Month, but I haven’t heard a peep about it from my usual sources. Let’s get out and celebrate anyway. Last week, the morning temperatures were in the …

Couples and Backpacking

Backpacking gear Florida

February 15, 2012    Sandra Friend

There are many pluses to backpacking as a couple. Having a compatible partner smooths out a lot of logistical worries and reduces the weight you need to carry.

Texting tips to FWC

Bear at Kelly Park

December 27, 2011    Sandra Friend

A new way to let the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission know about things you see – positive or negative – on Florida’s trails is to send them a text.  Discover a dead alligator, hog, or bear?  Hear shotguns in the woods when it isn’t hunting season? Spot a rare or endangered species in …

Matching Florida books to outdoor adventures

Otter Cave Hammock Trail

November 29, 2011    Sandra Friend

Have you ever matched a book to an outdoor adventure? Well, now’s the time to try it out. A special focus on the outdoors is part of this year’s summer reading program “Just Read, Families!” from the Florida Department of Education. Some of the books on their list with themes that fit both Florida and …

Florida Wildlife

alligator sunning

From toothsome alligators to scampering lizards, you will see wildlife while enjoying Florida’s outdoors. Here are photos and descriptions of some of the creatures you may encounter along our trails.

Permits and Passes

FT Eglin (Bob Coveney)

November 28, 2011    Sandra Friend

Details on how to obtain passes and permits for Florida’s public lands, including Florida State Parks, State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, National Federal Lands, and Eglin Air Force Base.

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