By Janet K. Keeler Tampa Bay, the easy way. If that sounds like a solid catchphrase for a regional airport with all non-stop flights, it’s because it is. St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport boasts convenient parking lots in front of the terminal and is almost exclusively a gateway to cities…
Read MoreBy Julie Laviolette Flamingo Gardens packs a lot of family fun in lush, tropical surroundings. Whether the kids want to hang out and watch sea otters at play, see a wildlife encounter or ride the tram on a tour around the grounds, it’s all here in a laid-back, serene setting. This wildlife sanctuary…
Read MoreBy Kevin McGeever Welcome to Crystal River, Florida, the Manatee Capital of the World. That bit of branding is not braggadocio but fact. So says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: “Between November and April, King’s Bay is home to the largest aggregation of manatees in the natural environment in…
Read More
By Lauren Tjaden Batten down the hatches! For over a hundred years, the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar has invaded Tampa Bay every January, marking the start of two months jammed-packed with picarón parades, festivals and extravaganzas. It begins with an epic invasion by water boasting a pirate ship…
Read MoreBy Terry Gibson More than a few years ago, I walked into a favorite waterfront watering hole after a great day of fishing. As I bellied up, a stranger a few seats down said, “Hey Terry.” Searching my memory, I looked at that guy, who seemed like he’d be lot more at home in a CrossFit box than in a…
Read MoreThere's a moment, partway down the staircase, when the sound of the outside world drops away. You've just left a Florida parking lot in April sunshine, walked past picnic tables under oak trees, and followed a narrow wooden staircase into what looks like a hole in the ground. The stairs are steep…
Read MoreBy Kevin Mims Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is as unique as it is beautiful. There’s nowhere else in Florida where you can see bison and horses roaming in the wild, and the hiking trails at this park deserve a spot on any Florida adventure-seeker’s bucket list. Situated between Micanopy and…
Read MoreBy Kevin Mims When it comes to mountain biking in Florida, there may be no better place than Santos. With more than 80 miles of singletrack trails winding over some of the most rugged and stunning terrain around, it’s easy to see why Santos is known for mountain biking. Located in north central…
Read MoreBy Lauren Tjaden Nestled deep in Florida’s Heartland in Central Florida, Hardee County is home to the cities of Zolfo Springs, Wauchula, and Bowling Green, delivering a getaway where you can escape the crowds, unplug from the noise, and reconnect with nature, family and friends. Adventures include…
Read MoreBy Lauren Tjaden Florida museums promise to ignite the imagination, with offerings that treat the eye and feed the spirit. If breathtaking works of art move you, you can wonder at cryptic paintings within paintings by Dali in St. Petersburg; colorful images of lush women and flying cherubs by Rubens…
Read More
