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

Dewey Litl Loj

Did you know the creator of the Dewey Decimal System also created Lake Placid, Florida? Here’s the story.

Keeping track of Everglades pythons

I’m pleased to report that Everglades National Park is now on Twitter, sharing what their staff (and wild places) are up to, including trapping Burmese pythons.

Where to encounter a Burmese python

Where might a hiker encounter a Burmese python? Thankfully, the range – despite recent scares of big snakes in Central Florida, which were pets that were let loose – of the “naturalized” pythons is, according to sources at Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, not too far north. “Wild pythons have been found up to …

Snakes alive! (Or maybe not)

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission sent out notice this past week that they’re expanding their Burmese python hunting to all hunters on state and federal lands in South Florida – including Big Cypress National Preserve. That’s good news to Florida hikers, since stumbling across one of these monster snakes in the wilds isn’t …

Paddling the Silver River

What to do on a hot summer’s day? Try the naturally air-conditioned Silver River for a paddling trip.

Take a stroll at Pine Land

One of the hikes that sticks in my memory from when I was under ten years old is the Pine Land Trail at Everglades National Park, with its oolite holes and tree snails.

45N68W passes Florida tests

Impressed with trials of 45N68W, a non-DEET, natural repellant that’s been well worth testing in Florida’s buggy conditions to keep flying insects, especially mosquitoes, at bay.

Prairie Pines Preserve opens near Fort Myers

On Monday, a new 2,709-acre environmentally protected land in northern Lee County opened to outdoor recreation enthusiasts: Prairie Pines Preserve, a vast wilderness protected under the Conservation 20/20 program. Equestrian and hiking trails enable access to the preserve, which has a trailhead at 18500 Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers. Learn more about this brand …

Trek a wild shore at St. Joseph Peninsula

St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is rather remote. To get there, you need to drive through Indian Pass, where the Indian Pass Raw Bar will tempt with its old Florida funk and fresh oysters. It isn’t anywhere near the beaten path – it’s about as far as you can get from I-10 in the Florida …

Lake Mills Park a quiet retreat

Lake Mills Park in Chuluota has a little bit of everything outdoorsy, from ancient trees to picnic tables by the lake to a nice campground in a scrub forest.