By Chelle Koster Walton The Withlacoochee River isn't the kind of place that begs for attention. 141 miles long, it squiggles through the state forest and river towns that tick to the tempo of its slow flow, rewarding visitors who prefer nature over nightlife. Here, the biggest decisions are…
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Tom Scherberger Want to explore the cultural, historical, and architectural treasures of Bartow, Fla.? There’s an app for that. Just go to Florida Stories Walking Tours, and download the app created by the Florida Humanities Council. With this app you can learn, at your own pace and on your own…
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A quick reference to the birds of Florida, from the common to the rare. Florida's diverse habitats are home to a wide variety of plumed citizens, from tiny hummingbirds to huge herons and seed-eating buntings to predatory hawks. Here's a general guide to our feathered families in taxonomical…
Read MoreBy Chelle Koster Walton When she paddles southward on the Myakka River from Snook Haven through “the visceral beauty and seclusion of Jelks Preserve, Robin Draper said, she feels the weight of the world seep out of her bones. “The beauty of the river is subtle, as sabal palms -- the state tree --…
Read MoreBy Gary McKechnie My first impression of Taylor County Florida was a lasting one. On March 7, 1970, our family traveled to Florida Taylor County seat of Perry to experience a solar eclipse, witnessing an extraordinary astronomical event as mid-day turned into midnight. I’ve traveled through Taylor…
Read MoreHere's how to explore the Florida outdoors near the towns of DeFuniak Springs and Milton. Heritage Highlights East along Highway 90 is DeFuniak Springs, so named for the spring-fed almost circular lake that sits in the center of town. Park along Circle Drive and take a walking tour around the…
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Ready to get your float on? Here's where and how to enjoy pristine waters and idyllic scenery on these favorite Florida tube trips. By Lauren Tjaden Florida invites you to kick back in a tube and drift along the currents of its spring-fed rivers, an adventure that involves baptizing your toes in…
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By Gary McKechnie Birds fly south for the winter for the same reasons people do: sunshine, beaches and the great outdoors. Yet birds have the advantage of free accommodations courtesy of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a natural navigational route that stretches more than 2,000 miles…
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By Jeff Klinkenberg After a rigorous morning of fly fishing, swamp wading, bird watching, airboat riding, snake examining and, if I’m lucky, a little skinny-dipping, I get hungry. When I’m in the western Everglades, I head for Joanie’s Blue Crabs for vittles. I’ll be honest. Joanie Griffin’s eatery…
Read MoreBy Chelle Koster Walton The first time a half-ton manatee came up to nuzzle my snorkeled face, well, yeah, I was inclined to back paddle. I’ll admit it: The pig-nosed face is hardly the prettiest I’ve nuzzled. In the end, though, I just had to laugh through my snorkel at the tickle of its whiskers…
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