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| Nature Rules on St. George Island |
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| St. George Island has been a favorite rest and recreation spot for humans for more than 5,000 years. Archaeologists estimate that pre-Columbian natives regularly visited to feast on the oysters that are so plentiful in Apalachicola Bay. |
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| Tags: St_George_Island, camping, hiking, parks, nature, canoeing, kayaking, birding, wildlife, Apalachicola, |
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| Park Yourself in Marianna |
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| You'll walk through amazing stalagmite and stalactite formations that resemble massive waterfalls, cathedrals and wedding cakes – which is why areas of the cavern have names like Waterfall Room, Cathedral Room and Wedding Room. |
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| Tags: Marianna, parks, nature, camping, |
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| A Zoo Without Bars |
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| Quickly, I grabbed Mo by the arm and spun him around. His face immediately lit up. “I don’t believe it – it’s a panther,” he whispered. |
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| Tags: nature, wildlife, parks, Egmont_Key, St_Petersburg, Everglades_National_Park, Tampa, Ocala, Okeechobee, |
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| Florida Beach Survey |
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| A painfully obvious but nevertheless satisfying thought crossed my mind the last time I was there; the refreshing sea breeze you feel has crossed the entire Atlantic before making landfall, making it some of the cleanest, freshest air on earth. |
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| Tags: beaches, parks, St_George_Island, Dunedin, Fort_Myers_Beach, Clearwater_Beach, Anna_Maria_Island, Longboat_Key, Siesta_Key, Sanibel_Island, Marco_Island, Boca_Grande, Florida_Keys, Fort_Lauderdale, Cocoa_Beach, Flagler_Beach, Palm_Coast, St_Augustine, South_Beach, Daytona_Beach, |
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| Delve Into the Underground at the Caverns |
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| Stalactites reached down from above, often bleeding into the stalagmites poking from the floor, forming pillars and columns painted in vivid hues. |
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| Tags: Marianna, parks, nature, tours, camping, fishing, wildlife, hiking, trails, |
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| Island Intrigue |
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| I love to walk the quiet streets lined with taverns, clapboard cottages and tin-roofed huts, all reminders that – despite a bustling tourism crowd – this was, and still is, a commercial fishing village with a frontier persona. |
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| Tags: parks, beaches, boating, Cedar_Key, wildlife, |
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| Best Beaches |
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| This oasis near Santa Rosa Beach along Florida’s Northwest coast mystifies with gnarled driftwood juxtaposed against ethereal sea oats. |
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| Tags: Marathon, Florida_Keys, parks, beaches, Port_St_Joe, Grayton_Beach, St_Petersburg, Dunedin, Panama_City_Beach, Bonita_Springs, |
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| Go Dog, Go! |
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| St. Pete Beach’s Don CeSar, the region’s signature 1928 pink palace, allows dogs, and even performs doggie massages. |
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| Tags: Tampa, Winter_Park, Miami_Beach, Key_West, beaches, parks, resorts, hotels, bed_and_breakfasts, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Dunedin, St_Pete_Beach, St_George_Island, Pensacola, dining, |
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| Off the Beaten Path |
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| In the 1800s, Florida was an open range with no fences, so the great herds of cattle - some with as many as 50,000 head - roamed freely. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Ocala, Tampa, history, historical_sites, parks, Homosassa, |
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| Rails to Trails |
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| The most rural of Florida's paved trails offers superb opportunities for bird watching and wildlife viewing, and covered benches or viewing stations occur every mile. |
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| Tags: Apalachicola, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Tarpon_Springs, Wakulla_Springs, biking, nature, trails, birding, St_Petersburg, equestrian, wildlife, parks, |
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| Springs Eternal |
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| During dusk, the landscape is shrouded in mystery. What you no longer see clearly, you hear: the shrieks of great horned owlets calling for food, the splashes of jumping mullet, the bellowing of alligators echoing across the water. |
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| Tags: High_Springs, Ocala, Wakulla_Springs, parks, cruises, romance, nature, Homosassa, sealife, manatees, water_sports, diving, |
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| Fantasy Islands |
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| It's a place where nothing is too extravagant when it comes to wowing your partner. As the Resort reminds, "all you have to do is ask." |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Clearwater, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Marco_Island, Miami, Palm_Coast, Panama_City_Beach, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, parks, romance, beaches, spas, resorts, St_George_Island, weddings, |
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| Ports of Call |
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| Nature trails, safe harbors, cabins, tent sites, hiking and biking trails and miles of deserted beaches make this a must-see location. |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Captiva_Island, Carrabelle, Charlotte_Harbor, Coconut_Grove, Fernandina_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key_Largo, Miami, Panama_City_Beach, Sarasota, South_Beach, Venice, nature, parks, camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, St_Augustine, hotels, resorts, Sanibel_Island, |
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| Gilligan Fantasies |
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| We feel as though we've arrived in the South Seas in the mere 15 minutes it takes the ferry to spirit us away from traffic jams and life's other irks. |
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| Tags: Fort_Myers, Miami, beaches, parks, biking, hiking, resorts, nature, Florida_Keys, romance, Englewood, |
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| Birds of a Feather |
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| The unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide a wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl and is one of the oldest in the National Wildlife Refuge System. |
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| Tags: Fernandina_Beach, Key_West, Merritt_Island, Micanopy, Orlando, Sanibel_Island, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Titusville, wildlife, trails, birding, St_Petersburg, parks, nature, Homosassa, |
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| Natural Beaches |
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| If you count all bays and inlets - where you'll find the "secret" sandy getaways usually known only to locals - Florida has nearly 8,500 miles of shoreline. |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Apalachicola, Cape_San_Blas, Fernandina_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_West, Pensacola, Ponce_Inlet, Ponte_Vedra_Beach, beaches, nature, wildlife, sealife, birding, camping, St_Augustine, parks, Florida_Keys, Tampa, New_Smyrna_Beach, |
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| Beaches 101 |
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| Seekers of relaxation and tranquility go to Dunedin's state-protected Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island for a serene visit with nature. |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Anna_Maria_Island, Beaches_of_South_Walton, Cape_San_Blas, Captiva_Island, Cedar_Key, Clearwater, Clearwater_Beach, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Daytona_Beach, Dunedin, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Fort_Myers, Fort_Walton_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Grayton_Beach, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marco_Island, Miami, Naples, Navarre, New_Smyrna_Beach, Palm_Beach, Panama_City_Beach, Pensacola, Sanibel_Island, Sebastian, St_Pete_Beach, Venice, beaches, parks, camping, |
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| Paddling Pursuits |
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| Most folks who paddle the trail will make this a nine-to-10-day journey that tests self-reliance as much as it rewards the love for adventure. |
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| Tags: Cedar_Key, Estero, Flagler_Beach, Fort_Lauderdale, Kissimmee, Suwannee, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife, nature, parks, |
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| Florida's Fantastic Forests |
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| With more than one million acres of undeveloped wilderness, Florida's 31 state forests are a veritable playground for backpackers, birders, paddlers and off-road cyclists. |
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| Tags: Brooksville, Dade_City, Inverness, Jacksonville, Lake_Wales, Naples, Tallahassee, parks, nature, fishing, hiking, biking, motorcycling, wildlife, canoeing, kayaking, water_sports, camping, |
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| RV Road Trip: Ocala |
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| Imagine swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving in the springs; canoeing and kayaking on varied rivers and lakes; hiking and biking on hundreds of miles of trails - just outside your door. |
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| Tags: Crystal_River, Milton, Ocala, camping, nature, parks, diving, biking, hiking, |
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| Island Hopping in the Charlotte Harbor Area |
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| Accessible only by boat, this seemingly untouched island has more than a mile-long stretch of white-sand beach perfect for collecting seashells, fishing or soaking up the sun. |
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| Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Englewood, Punta_Gorda, kayaking, beaches, fishing, parks, birding, shelling, nature, wildlife, |
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| Go Off-Road |
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| Osceola National Forest has 200,000 acres of wilderness with dozens of unnumbered forest roads that are open to dirt bikers. |
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| Tags: Apalachicola, Dade_City, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake_City, Ocala, Pensacola, Tallahassee, motorcycling, parks, |
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| Biking Daytona and Beyond |
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| St. Augustine's Colonial Spanish Quarter is a pedestrian maze of shops, eateries and attractions such as the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in America. |
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| Tags: Daytona_Beach, Flagler_Beach, New_Smyrna_Beach, Ocala, Orlando, Palatka, Winter_Park, St_Augustine, museums, parks, beaches, Ormond_Beach, motorcycling, historical_sites, Ponce_Inlet, lighthouses, |
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| Great Reunions in the Great Outdoors |
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| Here your family can boat, hike nature trails, bird-watch or fish from two piers. |
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| Tags: Amelia_Island, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, nature, reunions, beaches, parks, canoeing, kayaking, family, |
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| Dry Feet, Warm Memories |
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| Plan an early morning or late afternoon visit to National Key Deer Refuge if you want to spy the endearingly tiny white-tailed deer that seek shelter there. |
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| Tags: Big_Pine_Key, Islamorada, Key_Largo, Key_West, Marathon, parks, museums, resorts, wildlife, |
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| A-Foot in Fort Lauderdale |
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| Big city meets carefree beach within a three-mile stroll along Fort Lauderdale's most fashionable streets and walkways. |
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| Tags: Fort_Lauderdale, Miami, Palm_Beach, West_Palm_Beach, transportation, resorts, shopping, hotels, parks, museums, |
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| Cruising Around Charlotte Harbor |
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| Using live bait, we released one snook after the other for a solid hour before the fish wised up. What an awesome time we had. |
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| Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Port_Charlotte, Punta_Gorda, kayaking, wildlife, tours, cruises, parks, nature, |
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| A New Frontier: The Florida Everglades |
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| Deep in the park, practiced fly-fishermen and novices alike can just coast or cast, catching grouper, snapper and snook. |
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| Tags: Marco_Island, Naples, parks, Everglades_National_Park, kayaking, fishing, nature, tours, boating, |
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| A Beach for Each |
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| Getting to Captiva Beach is a romantic adventure in itself; quaint restaurants shaded by tropical foliage, cozy bed & breakfasts and colorful boutiques dot the path to seductive seclusion, breathtaking sunsets and romance. |
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| Tags: Estero, Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, beaches, family, parks, water_sports, museums, romance, shelling, |
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| B&B Beautiful |
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| The Colonial Revival home is so stunning that passing cars slow down to see it. And though it's three blocks from busy Main Street, we heard nothing but songbirds during our stay. |
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| Tags: Bartow, Lake_Wales, Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, bed_and_breakfasts, parks, hotels, museums, historical_sites, romance, weddings, |
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| Park It! |
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| Heading back, we were not alone. To our right, two gray snouts emerged from the water, so close we could see black nostrils and pink tongues. These manatees were actually smiling at us, alternately revealing heads and huge, fan-shaped tails. |
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| Tags: Fort_Myers, Fort_Myers_Beach, Sanibel_Island, nature, wildlife, parks, sealife, |
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| Exploring Estuaries: Indian River Lagoon and Charlotte Harbor |
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| I'm startled from my historical reverie by some movement in the grass. Could I be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the threatened Atlantic salt marsh snake? |
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| Tags: Charlotte_Harbor, Cocoa, Cocoa_Beach, Merritt_Island, New_Smyrna_Beach, Tampa, kayaking, wildlife, parks, nature, |
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| Estuary Adventures in Tampa Bay |
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| The island, a major seabird nesting area with plenty of human history as well, can be reached with an hour of hard paddling. |
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| Tags: Egmont_Key, Tampa, wildlife, fishing, canoeing, historical_sites, parks, kayaking, hiking, St_Petersburg, nature, |
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| A Walk on the Wild Side |
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| Later, I spot what I can only assume is a family of sandhill cranes, two gray-and-red adults, and juveniles whose feathers have not yet turned - they're still a downy yellowish brown. |
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| Tags: Kissimmee, Lake_Wales, Winter_Haven, hiking, nature, parks, wildlife, |
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| Florida Keys Scenic Highway |
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| Key West was home to many literary greats including Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Robert Frost and Thornton Wilder. |
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| Tags: Homestead, Key_Largo, Key_West, parks, museums, Florida_Keys, Scenic_Highway, driving_tours, |
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| St. Petersburg, Dunedin and Ybor City |
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| Downtown St. Petersburg's streets are lined by more than a hundred cafes, restaurants and eateries, two dozen fine galleries and Mediterranean-style architectural treasures, including the historic open-air U.S. Post Office, still in operation today. |
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| Tags: Clearwater, Dunedin, Tampa, Ybor_City, historic_districts, parks, driving_tours, |
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| Winter Park, Mount Dora and DeLand |
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| In typical New England fashion, the opulent residences of Winter Park are often secluded and hidden from public view. However, a scenic boat tour offers views of various mansions from the lakes and canals of the gracious and historic city of Winter Park. |
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| Tags: DeLand, Mount_Dora, Orlando, Winter_Park, shopping, antiques, museums, art, parks, historic_districts, historical_sites, |
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| Great Florida Birding Trail |
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| Comprised of 564,961 acres, the Apalachicola National Forest was established in 1936 and hosts the largest red-cockaded woodpecker population in the world. |
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| Tags: Apalachicola, Gulf_Breeze, Marianna, Pensacola, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, birding, nature, driving_tours, parks, |
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| Uncovering the Ancient and Avant-Garde in Bradenton |
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| At Emerson Point Park, whispers and shadows of a 1,400-year-old Native American village hide amidst 195 acres of mangrove swamps and salt marshes. |
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| Tags: Anna_Maria_Island, Bradenton, Bradenton_Beach, Cortez, beaches, art, museums, parks, fishing, historical_sites, historic_districts, antiques, |
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| Southern Comfort |
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| Like doting Old South aunties, massive live oaks hunch over the town's canopy roads waving delicate, intricate Spanish moss like lace hankies. The winding roads lead straight to the past, to natural and historic places steeped in adventure. |
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| Tags: Apalachicola, Suwannee, Tallahassee, Wakulla_Springs, nature, wildlife, parks, |
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