Panhandle Puttering
Just back from a trip to Destin for a Visit Florida board meeting, between which I availed myself of a couple of quick hikes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Eden State Gardens.
Paradise, Palms, & Mosquitoes
My first exploration on the hiking trails of Marathon lead to thatch palm hammocks: the Curry Hammock Nature Trail at Curry Hammock State Park, and the trails of Crane Point Hammock, including the beautiful Palm Hammock Trail.
Early Birds on the Greenway
The Land Bridge section of the Florida Trail has a special place in my heart since I helped create it under the tutelage of Kenneth Smith, 'Mr. Greenway,' who retired last year from being a section leader.
Panther Prowls & Gator Growls
Will you see a panther when hiking at Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge? I was fortunate to hike with a panther biologist and go on a tracking expedition, but we still came up empty-handed when it came to finding a big cat.
Nature’s Way
Revisiting Everglades National Park after Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma did their dirty work, with storm surges of 6 and 9 feet crashing over the seawalls at Flamingo.
That Sinking Feeling
Sinkholes are a serious problem in Central Florida, and the finger can be pointed at overdevelopment. Here's why: it's all about the water.
Picture of Beauty
I spent a weekend seeking out Florida’s most uncommon and unusual flora - pitcher plants - in their stronghold of the Western Panhandle. Here's what I found.
In Their Footsteps
A historic moment for the Florida Trail: the reunion of three of the original trailblazers, 40 years after they painted the first blazes of the Florida Trail heading north from Clearwater Lake in the Ocala National Forest.
The Big Scrub
Hiking the Western Connector of the Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest means an immersion in miles of miles of the Big Scrub, the primary habitat protected by the forest.
Hiking the Ocean to Lake Trail
Celebrating the annual Ocean to Lake Hike, which got its start when a group of backpackers - Sandra included - scouted the full route from Hobe Sound to Lake Okeechobee to help decide where the trail would go.
A Walk at Wekiwa
A walk in the park at Wekiwa Springs State Park doesn't have to be a long one. Here's a way to sample the park's highlights and habitats along its trails.
Revisiting Little Big Econ
If you're never hiked along the bluffs of the Econlockhatchee River in Oviedo on the Florida Trail, you're missing out. Here's an easy and enjoyable route to follow from the Barr Street trailhead.