Getaways to the authentic Florida
The Ichetucknee is the most pristine spring run in the state. It has eight major springs, crystalline water, lush jungly vegetation plus plentiful birds and wildlife. It’s a shame that most visitors only experience it as a busy tubing river. It’s a fabulous winter kayaking destination in North Florida — worth a drive!
Florida is home to its own unique turkey subspecies — found nowhere else in the world.
Marineland was the original oceanarium and the first to discover you could train dolphins to perform. Now it has been saved from developers bidding on the oceanfront property in a bankruptcy auction. It’s the start of a new chapter in the property’s remarkable history.
The bike trail down the Florida Keys — the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail — is not complete, but here are four sections that offer scenic and safe rides.
Like a lot of visitors, for years I had overlooked Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park on my visits to Key West because it is tucked away out of sight. But the historic fort and great beach are worth discovering.
Anastasia State Park’s four-mile beach shimmers in the Florida sun. Surfing, swimming, bicycle on the beach, coastal forest camping and paddle the lagoon a stone’s throw to historic St. Augustine.
An open-air Thai brunch and market draws throngs every Sunday morning to this beautiful waterfront temple in Tampa. The food is very good and moderately priced. The exotic gold-trimmed temple is worth visiting just because it’s beautiful, set among shady live oak trees decorated with orchids.
Punta Gorda is a surprising small town on the Gulf Coast between Naples and Tampa. It has big waterfront views along Charlotte Harbor, a historic district and a charming downtown. It’s a good base for kayakers, with several options nearby.
These terrific county parks are popular with locals, rich in things to do, awaiting discovery by the Florida traveler.
The first festival of the season is in Tampa this weekend and despite two hurricanes, it is ON, including a free nature expo. Florida birding festivals bring together experts, pros and beginners at winter events.