Beaches & Adventure Insider

I guess I asked for it!

I wrote a blog recently that included a little slide show of adventures I’ve had in Florida and someone -- quite reasonably -- asked if I could provide info about where the pictures were taken, as well as links.

Gulp. Do you know how many pictures were in that thing? Well, I don’t either, but suffice to say there were LOTS. 

So here it is, as well as the slide show. Enjoy! The adventures have been listed alphabetically.

Ballooning: I took these pictures on a great flight with Magic Sunrise in Orlando, an adventure you can enjoy in many locations. Here’s an article about it with lots more details and links.

Bikers: I took the biker pictures at Daytona’s legendary Bikeweek – truly wild!

Florida Gator Game: The shots were taken at a Gator Game in Gainesville. The college team is legendary as is its tailgating tradition. Here’s a video of the action.

Golf: Me pathetically clutching a club at the Swiss Water Ski School in Groveland. Obviously you can do this at famous courses all over the state.

Hang Gliding: These pictures are of me taking a girl for a tandem flight at Quest Air Hang Gliding in Groveland, an adventure you can enjoy at several locations in the state. This blog has links to all of them, plus a little video.

Horse and rider in the water: I snapped this of a rider and her mount enjoying the waters of Palma Sola Bay in Bradenton. You can go “horse surfing” there with Great World Adventure Tours. Here’s a blog I wrote about it with links and a video.

Jumping Horse: This is me jumping my horse, Geddy, in a class at Horse Shows in the Sun – aka HITS – in Ocala. It’s a winter show series with international talent that the family can watch for almost nothing. Here’s a blog with links.

Me and Hog: Getting snuggly with a Red River Hog was part of the fun at the Miami Metrozoo’s Zookeeper for a Day experience.

Me Standing on Rocks: This was taken at the House of Refuge in Stuart. It’s the oldest structure on the Treasure Coast. It features cool limestone rock formations and a wrecked ship right offshore. Here’s a blog about it, including video.

Mountain Biking: These shots were taken of me (and by me) of the incredible mountain biking trails at the Santos Trailhead in Ocala. Here’s a link to an article about it with lots more info, including where you can rent bikes and gear.

Parasailing. The picture is of me and my husband over Key West, where we were enjoying a flight with Sebago. You can enjoy parasailing almost anywhere on the coasts of Florida. Here’s an article with details.

Race Car Driver: I snapped this picture of a young man competing in the Star Mazda Championship at the opening race at 12 Hours of Sebring. I was honored with dropping the green flag to start this race! Here’s a blog I wrote about it with video.

Racecar: This is me standing by the stock car I drove at the Daytona International Speedway in the Richard Petty Driving Experience – one of the most thrilling adventures I’ve ever had. Here’s a link to a blog I wrote about it and here’s a video of the experience.

Sailing: This picture is of me and my girlfriends sailing on a private boat in the gulf, an adventure you can enjoy all over the Sunshine State, from Fernandina Beach to Martin County to Pensacola.

Sailplane: All the sailplane pictures were taken at and above Seminole Gliderport in Clermont, where my husband and frequently fly. Here’s a link to a blog with a video of it and links. Yes, you can go for a Discovery Flight there!

SCUBA diving: This is my hubby and I diving in the Florida Keys. There are great diving spots all over Florida, but the Keys are particularly awesome because of the living barrier reef that runs parallel to them.

Skydiving: The pictures are of my buddy Mario and I WAY above Lake Wales. Here’s a blog with lots more info.

Snorkeling: This is me and my hubby sitting on Sebago’s giant catamaran in Key West waiting to go snorkeling, as part of their power adventure.

Spring Training Baseball Game: This was a spring training game between the Rays and the Phillies in Charlotte Harbor (the Rays won – here’s a video of that day!). Florida is famed for its Spring Training games, and they are a great bargain. Here’s an article with lots more info – and lots more info on other Florida sports, too. 

Sunset: You can enjoy this everywhere in Florida! The picture was taken in my back yard.

Tennis: This picture was taken of me enjoying a lesson at the Colony Tennis Resort on Longboat Key. Here’s a blog with lots more info.

Wakeboarding: The pictures were taken at a private lake I go to in the Lake Mary area with friends. You can enjoy it all over Florida. Here’s a link to a blog with some locations.

Waterbike: This picture of me was taken in front of the Colony Tennis Resort on Longboat Key. Here’s a blog with lots more info.

Windsurfing: This picture is of my instructor at Calema Windsurfing on Merritt Island – a great place. Here’s an article I wrote about it.