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Updated for 2019: Biking the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail; finding safe & scenic sections
We brought our bikes to the Keys to update our guide for 2019. Some of our favorites sections are still closed due to damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017. Still, there are sections that give you a fun day’s ride and a great sampling of all the Keys has to offer. We recommend these four segments for recreational bicyclists who aren’t looking to ride from Key Largo to Key West.
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Florida boat tours: Nine classic ways to enjoy the scenery
One of the classic experiences of an Old Florida vacation was a scenic boat tour. Here are nine iconic boat tours. How many of these have you taken?
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Surf fishing picks up in late summer, fall
Surf fishing is a terrific family outing — or a quiet escape to get away alone. Be prepared with our popular checklist and how-to guide. (Photo by Jerry Lower, The Coastal Star)
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Florida Caverns State Park, Chipola River paddle trail reopen
Florida Caverns is the last of 31 state parks to reopen in the wake of 2018’s Hurricane Michael. While the park’s day-use area, and nearby Chipola River are open, the park’s campground remains closed.
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Florida circumnavigational trail guide updated
Florida’s longest non-motorized trail begins at Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola to Key West and then up the east coast to the Georgia state line. Changes made to to the 322-page guide include overnight accommodations, including Mexico Beach where one motel is set to reopen in 2020 while another will not be rebuilt in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
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The regular Florida lobster season is here
Recreational lobstering doesn’t end with the two-day mini-season in July. For many, it just begins in earnest with the start of the regular season, from August 6 until March 31.
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Best Camping near Tampa Bay: 9 choice campgrounds
We’ve selected nine public campgrounds near Tampa Bay for their scenic beauty, low prices and prime opportunities for hiking, biking, kayaking and canoeing. We think you’ll like these choices.
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Naples: Rare ghost orchid blooms at Corkscrew for 2019 season
Florida’s celebrity in the orchid world — the ghost orchid — is blooming at the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, attracting orchid fans who want to spot this rare variety. The ghost orchid was made famous by the 2002 film “Adaptation” starring Meryl Streep and the best-selling “Orchid Thief,” by Susan Orlean.
Alabama Jack’s: Classic way to start a trip to Florida Keys
Stopping at Alabama Jacks, a fish shack and dive bar on a remote road between Homestead and Key Largo, has been the classic way to start a Keys trip for decades. We revisited the open-air waterfront spot recently, and we’re happy to say: It’s as shabby and atmospheric as ever.
