By Dalia Colón Growing up in Orlando, Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed was the outdoorsy type—an Eagle Scout whose mom took him to beaches and state parks, canoeing and fishing. But after a random act of violence left the college student in a wheelchair, getting back to nature was the last thing on his mind…
Read MoreBy Kevin McGeever Long before Cordell “Cisco” Jeter envisioned tracked wheelchairs as a means of unlocking accessible travel, long before he realized his life’s ambition of opening the Florida outdoors to people of all abilities, Jeter was 19 years old, pinned under a crumpled wreck on the side of a…
Read MoreBy Saundra Amrhein There is that special moment when Matt Chatowsky is a mile or so out on his 19-foot Boston Whaler Montauk, heading toward the Gulf of Mexico. He will look back to the shoreline near Cedar Key that forms part of the Nature Coast of West Central Florida. Gazing at miles of…
Read MoreBy Carlos Harrison Gliding under a canopy of trees beside a shimmering river, Frankie Reilly hunches low over his racing bike’s handlebars, knees pumping furiously. In this place of dappled Florida sunlight, serenaded by the hiss of his sleek cycle’s tires and the rush of wind in his ears, Reilly…
Read MoreBy Dalia Colón For Jaime Hurtado, scuba diving brings relief. On social media, he posts glamour shots from dives: sharks and stingrays, fish and birds. The photos are a testament to the healing power of nature—something Jaime wants everyone to take advantage of when they visit Florida. “It heals me…
Read MoreFlorida vacations are gifts that are best experienced and remembered with the senses. Think about how song lyrics can trigger the memory of a first date or how the heady whiff of popped corn evokes a darkened movie theater. Well, you’ve gotta come to Florida to forever appreciate the whiskered face…
Read MoreBy Dalia Colón Describing the new St. Pete Pier as a place to go fishing would be like describing your smartphone as a device for making phone calls. Yes, it is that. But it’s also so much more. The $92 million pier, which was completed in 2020, appeals to fishermen and foodies, fitness buffs and…
Read MoreBy Lauren Tjaden Imagine a paddling journey through an enchanted land of shimmering blue-green water where dolphins, rays and manatees are mysteriously illuminated under Florida’s vast, starry sky. While bioluminescence feels like a bit of magic, it’s not. But it is Mother Nature at her spectacular…
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By Lauren Tjaden Sited at the core of lively Tampa Bay, the Florida State Fair is a blockbuster by any measure, stretching across 330 acres chock-full of fun and excitement for 12 days each February. The food is endless and decadent; you can swoon over don’t-count the-calories concoctions like…
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By Lauren Tjaden Florida promises dreamy sunsets, opulent getaways and miles of glittering beaches, all guaranteed to send butterflies fluttering through your stomach and make your heart sing. Here's where and how to discover resorts, experiences and ideas dedicated to helping the love bug take a…
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