Spirit of Pennekamp
Cruising on the Spirit of Pennekamp is how landlubbers - and snorklers uncomfortable with ocean swells - get to experience the living coral reefs of the Florida Keys
Cuban chugs in Key West
Sometimes we take history for granted. A walk through the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden led to a collection of Cuban chugs, which we didn't know what they were until we learned their story.
Stranding Steves at Fakahatchee
Exploring Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park for a chapter of a new book we're writing, a pair of park rangers named Steve guide us to the park's beauty spots
The Ghost Orchid
On a guided swamp walk into the Fakahatchee Strand, I discover how difficult it is to spot a ghost orchid on your own, let alone keep your bearings in this tangled tropical wilderness
Tilley Hats
When we met, both of us owned Tilley hats and wore them for most of our outdoor activities. Sandy's had the same one for years; I've gone through several. Here's why.
The Florida Trail End to End
Find inspiration to take your children on a grand hiking adventure with Mike Umbarger's account of completing the entire Florida Trail with his sons
Outdoor Products 20L Amphibian Weather Defense™ Backpack
Keeping water out also means a pack can keep water in. That's the delightful dual purpose we discovered while testing the Outdoor Products 20L Amphibian Weather Defense™ Backpack in the Florida Keys
Outdoor Products Canyon Weather Defense™ Backpack
Testing an Outdoor Products Canyon Weather Defense™ Backpack in foul weather conditions while hiking, we find it stands up to the test of keeping your gear dry.
Waves at White Street
At the Atlantic end of White Street in Key West, a convergence of history, culture, and recreation happens on one of the quieter corners of this bustling island
Key West Au Naturel
On a recent visit to Key West, we sought its natural side - what it looked like before it became a city. And since it's been a city for more than 150 years, it takes a bit of sleuthing to find natural habitats.
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
Ten Thousand Islands
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