|
|
|
 |
|
My Trip Planner |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Doug Kelly's Blog Archive |
 |
| Back to Doug Kelly's Page |
|
| Look: Up in the Sky, It's a ... Tree! |
|
| May 05, 2008 |
|
| I used to think that trees were sort of boring – one looked pretty much like another, what with the same basics of roots, trunks, branches, leaves, etc.
All that changed when I started really looking at trees when walking about Florida parks and even on golf courses. I realized the amazing character these members of the plant family exhibit in varied sizes, shapes and color.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Tread Gently on the Beach |
|
| April 27, 2008 |
|
| I admit that going to a beach means I’m mainly focused on the waves, sand, shells and just kicking back. But another interesting aspect of most beaches centers on the bird life dwelling in the vicinity.
For example, sandy beaches also serve as nesting areas for terns, skimmers, gulls and oystercatchers.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Good News for Baldies |
|
| April 22, 2008 |
|
| Sometime around 1970, my dad and I paddled an aluminum johnboat up a shallow creek near Flamingo at the bottom of Florida’s mainland. Birds were scarce and getting more so, especially wading birds. As we moved into a wide lagoon, dad touched my shoulder and pointed about 45-degrees upward.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Come Hither, Come Slither |
|
| April 14, 2008 |
|
| As one who’s “in the field” a lot, I’m often asked about snakes. While I know most people would rather not encounter a snake while moving about in the outdoors, I actually hope I do. And that doesn’t make me a bad person.... more |
|
|
|
|
| From the Water to the Field |
|
| April 07, 2008 |
|
| My first kayak trip turned into a disaster. I spent more time with the hull facing the sky and my head nearly scraping bottom than in the traditional position. Practice refines anything, and, sure enough, my techniques improved, and so did my ability to remain dry.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Appreciating Apalachicola |
|
| March 31, 2008 |
|
| I don’t visit northwest Florida often enough. Even single venture makes me wonder why it’s been such a long time since my last trip through this fabulous chunk of Florida.
One of my very favorite places of all: more |
|
|
|
|
| Hitchin' A Buggy Ride |
|
 |
|
| March 25, 2008 |
| It was far off the beaten path, but my fiance Kelly Braden and I quickly came to realize what a wise decision we’d made. Turning north off Alligator Alley’s exit 49, we sped through nearly 20 miles deep into the heart of the Big Cypress National Preserve, our eyes peeled for deer, gators, rabbits, wading and flying birds, and any other visible creature.
Following the signs, we arrived at Billie Swamp Safari that’s roughly situated between more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Skidaddle With A Paddle |
|
| March 18, 2008 |
|
| So I'm paddling down the Econfina River north of Perry, Florida, and the kayak turns over. I sunk like a sack of silver dollars, resurfaced with a gasp and rejoined the kayak. My friend looked back at me with no expression of surprise, since this represented about the 433rd time I'd capsized since we launched an hour before.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Know Before You Go |
|
| March 10, 2008 |
|
| I recently visited the Ocala National Forest just for grins. I packed a lunch, some water bottles and snacks into my backpack and wandered off.
Not having a GPS handy, I took a compass reading and toddled down a path into the woods and foliage.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Take Me to a WMA |
|
| March 03, 2008 |
|
| The "outdoors" encompasses just about everything around Florida, but this time of year as spring approaches I like visiting various Wildlife Management Areas found throughout the state.
The general gun hunting season is long-since over, spring turkey hunting hasn't begun in most areas. It's a nice time of the year due to pleasant temperatures and animals seemingly less reluctant to move about during the day.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Famous Mermaids |
|
| February 22, 2008 |
|
| Weeki Wachee Springs, the famed mermaid attraction that opened in 1947, just hung the "Back in Bizness" sign on the door.
Located on U.S.... more |
|
|
|
|
| Bogs Aren't Just for Hogs |
|
| February 17, 2008 |
|
| Does something green and slimy appeal to you? Well, not to me either, but frogs seldom do harm to humans while representing an important food source for many aquatic, land and air creatures. The long-tongued amphibians also eat huge numbers of insects that helps keep a balance of nature's resources.
While frogs may not be on our minds much, the species could be more threatened than you or I realize.... more |
|
|
|
|
| High and Flighty |
|
 |
|
| February 11, 2008 |
| Why is a giraffe’s neck so long? Because its head is so far away from its body. Okay, I won’t quit my day job, but by any, um, stretch, giraffes look like nothing else on this earth. Big body, loooong legs, a huge neck, and the answer to chewing leaves out of the reach of most other creatures, giraffes always draw a large share of “clicks” when cameras are around.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Sailing is for Sissies (Well, Maybe Not) |
|
 |
|
| February 05, 2008 |
| Just before last weekend, long-time pal Ray Badini talked me into going sailing with him for a day. Protesting that the sunshine and cool weather better suited a photo safari in a shaded wooded area, I eventually gave in. I suppose as the VISIT FLORIDA Outdoors Expert it made sense to gain a greater appreciation for an activity so many people in Florida enjoy.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Looking for a Flash of Gold |
|
 |
|
| January 27, 2008 |
| Just returned from a truly enjoyable weekend and this time, I went by myself. While on most occasions it’s more fun to share good times with friends or family, it’s also nice once in a while to just go do something solo.
After checking in at the more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nothing's Old If It's New To You |
|
 |
|
| January 22, 2008 |
| When you’re heading north or south on I-75 along Florida’s west coast, take my advice on a great place for a break: Hillsborough River State Park. It’s just north of Tampa on State Road 301 and signage on the interstate marks the exits heading north (exit 265) or south (exit 279 ).
If you go nowhere else here, head for the Rapids Nature Trail.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| How to Better Enjoy the Outdoors |
|
 |
|
| January 13, 2008 |
| Something that irks me and most others when enjoying the great Florida outdoors is distracting behavior. Just as no one likes to sit in a movie theater and put up with incessant chatter or cell phone melodies going off, unwanted noises really interfere with the experience of being with nature.
Case in point: This weekend I moseyed down a trail on Honeymoon Island State Park in Pinellas County.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Air it Out on an Airboat |
|
 |
|
| January 06, 2008 |
| If you haven’t been on an airboat, put it on your “to do” list. It’s quite different from a traditional boat in several ways and I find that really exhilarating. Of course the propulsion is obviously not the same as a regular boat, requiring ear protection so the engine noise needed to spin the giant aircraft propeller doesn’t deafen you forever.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Stop and Look Around |
|
 |
|
| December 31, 2007 |
| I've never been that fond of squirrels. It's not that I really disliked them either, mind you, but other than catching the gray blur of one dashing across the street, up a tree or scurrying over a limb, they never really drew my greater interest.
Yesterday I began removing Christmas displays in the front yard of my home.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A Backroad Boogie |
|
 |
|
| December 22, 2007 |
| Today I felt bored and just jumped in the jalopy for a mini road trip.
I headed west from Tampa on I-4 and in Lakeland saw an exit for SR33. Turning left to take a northward jaunt, I crossed through Polk City, admiring the feed store and other small businesses, wondering the life locals lead in a rural area where everyone knows everyone else in town.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gotta Yack About Myakka |
|
 |
|
| December 16, 2007 |
A park is a park is a park, right? Not always, although it’s true enough that in some cases one park looks quite similarly to another: lots of trees, plants and animals, lakes and streams, hiking trails, a visitor center, and yadda yadda. But on Thursday I discovered that Myakka River State Park in Sarasota offers more than the expected.
For one thing, they boast two of the largest airboats in the world: the Myakka Maiden and the Gator Gal.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A Fitting Birthday Celebration |
|
 |
|
| December 06, 2007 |
What can you say about the importance of the Everglades? I pretty much took Everglades National Park for granted, which is to say I loved going there and knew of all the conservation initiatives but otherwise never gave it much mind.
Quite frankly, much of the time such news bored me. But recently some events have been sponsored I've found not only interesting but downright cool.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Little Deer, Big Gators |
|
 |
|
| November 28, 2007 |
Kneeling in a field, I held out my hand to coax a wild deer to approach me. It did, verrrrrry cautiously, sniffing for food and finally putting its wet nose into my palm. I felt enraptured, at once surprised that the animal didn't bound away upon seeing me and thrilled that the encounter resulted in actual contact.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| NOT Singing in the Rain |
|
| November 19, 2007 |
|
Camping in a downpour doesn’t sound like much fun, and in fact during the day it isn’t. But those pitter-patters from raindrops on a windless night while high and dry on a cot in a cozy tent drift me off to sleep faster than anything.
Much more challenging: Trying to cook under a flimsy lean-to when the wind kicks up or vainly walking about to search for animals that are smarter than me because they’re seeking dry shelter.... more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Doug's picks |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canoeing trailsYou may find miles of hiking, biking or canoeing trails right outside your door. ... View |
|
|
|
|
|
Kayaking 101A young camp worker drives us upstream to our launch point, unloads our boats, gives ... More |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
