As the authors of Explorer’s Guide: North Florida & The Panhandle, we’ve spent a great deal of time exploring the outdoors here. This region has some of the more rugged trails in the Florida peninsula, with a surprising number of destinations where a scenic view is at the end of your walk.
Most of the world’s first magnitude springs bubble forth in this region, forming crystalline spring runs and short, broad rivers. The Suwannee River and St. Johns River have many miles of protected shorelines. With a wild coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and a highly developed coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, North Florida offers a full range of beach experiences, with vast estuaries and sweeping scenic views. In the central part of the region, two National Forests offer plenty of outdoor recreation – the Ocala National Forest and the Osceola National Forest.
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Blueberries Ever After
It’s blueberry season in Florida! April is the month when it’s time to visit a commercial grower and start picking. We did just that at our local berry farm, Ever After Farms.
Identifying Birds in Florida
Florida is a prime destination for migratory birds. Here is identification information for some of the bird species you’ll see in Florida almost any time of year.
Paddling the Bartram Trail in Welaka
Learning how botanists William and John Bartram traveled along the St. Johns River in the 1700s, I followed an experienced river guide for a look at part of the Bartram National Recreation Trail from the water on our Bartram Adventure Tour in Palatka.
How to prepare for a backpacking trip
What does a hiker need to spend a week, or a month, or three months on the trail? Here are trail-tested suggestions for backpacking in Florida for trips of a week or more
I Did A (Bit of) I Did-A-Hike
Despite pouring rain and thunderstorms, nearly 240 people showed up to tackle the Florida Trail along the Suwannee River for the annual I-Did-A-Hike, and it made for a memorable experience.
Bear season in Florida
As Florida black bears become active in late winter and spring, the chances of a bear encounter go up significantly if you leave food unsecured outdoors – whether in your campsite or at home.
Every Kid in a Park
Got kids? If any of them are in fourth grade, they can get a free pass to ALL Federal public lands good for the whole family through the end of August. Here’s how.
The Florida Trail: A History
How to order a copy of The Florida Trail: Florida’s National Scenic Trail, our limited edition full-color coffee table book that tells the comprehensive story of the first 50 years of routing, building, maintaining, and enjoying our statewide National Scenic Trail.
Paddling the Intracoastal Waterway for Alzheimer’s Awareness
Traverse the Intracoastal Waterway on a paddleboarding adventure for a cause: broken into a series of day paddles, Something I Will Never Forget, an organized paddleboard journey, spans from St. Augustine to Palm Beach.
Alligators Everywhere
In spring, alligators become more active as the days warm up. It’s also mating season, so alligators are on the move. Expect to see them anywhere and everywhere along Florida’s trails.
Do Not Feed the Bears
Bear bagging is the art of hanging your food properly out of reach of bears. If you’re a Florida backpacker and haven’t learned how, here’s a short course. Securing your food from bears is required in the Ocala, Osceola, and Apalachicola National Forests.
Botanically rich hikes along the Florida Trail
With more than 1,400 miles of hiking statewide, the Florida Trail provides a gateway to grand landscapes for botanical beauty. Here are our top suggestions for fascinating botanical destinations along the Florida Trail.
