In October I spent a week camping in North Florida. The weather was still hot, but the nights were cooler. I visited (sorta) five State Parks. Because of the government shutdown I had to cancel my trip to Fort Pickens at the Gulf Island National Seashore, Pensacola. That’ll have to wait for a time when the politicians get their act together.

https://floridaunplugged.net/getaway-to-north-florida-parks/

We’re are into Florida’s camping season so I have put together a Top 10 list of the best Florida campgrounds. All but one are State Parks, but that one is just the best ever. Check out the list and start making your travel plans. Florida campgrounds book up quickly so make your plans well ahead of time.

https://floridaunplugged.net/top-10-florida-state-parks-for-camping-in-2026/

The fall is also a great time to getaway to Florida beaches. No crowds, no traffic, lower hotel rates. I spent a couple days in Daytona Beach. Compared to the high seasons in the summer and winter, it was almost a ghost town. See my list often things to do in “The World’s Most Famous Beach”.

https://floridaunplugged.net/daytona-beach-a-dozen-things-to-do-in-the-fall/

Enjoy! See you next month.

See the whole story at our website: floridaunplugged.net.

Other than Saint Augustine, no place in Florida has a deeper history than Amelia Island.

The French came ashore in 1562, and quickly displaced the native Timucuan Indians, who had occupied the island for hundreds of years. The French didn’t last long. Spain gained control of the island in 1565, setting off a tumultuous history with the island being governed under eight flags over the years.

The United States finally claimed the island in a deal with Spain in 1821. The Americans brought with them slaves, and proceeded to establish cotton plantations. It wasn’t until late in the 1800’s that Amelia turned to the sea in a big way. Men in small row boats, with nets they cast by hand, began harvesting shrimp, which were abundant in the waters of the Saint Mary River and Atlantic Ocean. Even in those days without refrigeration shrimp were shipped to northern markets in places like New York and Philadelphia. For over a century shrimp was the keystone of the island’s economy.

In the early 1900’s the island laid claim to the title “Birthplace of The Modern Shrimping Industry.” Boatbuilders turned out shrimp trawlers with engines that allowed shrimpers to venture farther off shore. Net weavers designed more efficient nets to haul in the harvest from the sea. A number of the shrimp crews were African Americans, descendants of the slaves that worked the plantations. The island’s economy boomed. Maritime history was being made.

Beautiful and Historic Fernandina Beach

The county seat, Fernandina Beach, was developed on the north end of the island prior to the Civil War. At one point it was one of the largest cities in Florida, and during the shrimping heydays it was prosperous.

The town was originally founded in one location, but moved to where it is today, in order to be closer to the shrimp docks. The town was laid out in a grid, with Centre Street ending at the docks. A fort was built to protect the town and harbor. Fort Clinch was occupied by Confederate troops at the start of the Civil War, but Union forces soon took control. Today the fort is a state park.

The shrimp economy began to falter in the late 1900’s. Competition from foreign shrimp, mainly from China and Southeast Asia, flooded the market. Fewer shrimp boats were docking at Fernandina Beach’s docks. From the time of hundreds of boats, at the turn of the century there were only dozens. The fleet eventually abandoned Fernandina Beach altogether and moved operations to the deep waters of Mayport, near Jacksonville.

Shrimp Festival

Even so Amelia Island hangs on to its shrimping heritage. Every year, the first weekend in May, thousands are drawn to Fernandina Beach for the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. There are arts and crafts, live music, a parade, fireworks, and of course, lots of shrimp dishes at all the restaurants downtown.

Spend the day, or more, at Fort Clinch State Park

Construction of the fort began in 1847, and continued under both Confederate and Union troops until the war ended. There followed years of abandonment until it was reactivated during the Spanish-American War in 1898. That war only lasted a year, and the fort was again abandoned. After a period of private ownership, Fort Clinch became a Florida State Park in 1935.

The park has campgrounds, hiking and biking trails, and a beach. For a small admission fee visitors can walk through the actual fort, walking along the ramparts, seeing the cannons, and peeking into barracks. The fort overlooks the St. Mary River, which is the border between Florida and Georgia. Across the river you can see Cumberland Island National Park.

The cannons are actually fired during re-enactments the first weekend of the month.

The Historic Amelia Island Lighthouse

This is the oldest, continuous operating lighthouse in Florida. It was originally activated in 1839 and is still active today. Tours are offered by the city, and from the state park, and the lighthouse is open to the public on Saturday’s, but the tower is not open for climbing.

The lighthouse today is located in the midst of a neighborhood and trees have grown up around it. Public access is very limited.

Beach Access Is Plentiful

There are 13 miles of beach on Amelia Island, all with public access. There is a large beach park located at the end of Atlantic Avenue. There is plenty of parking, including electrical hookups for RV’s. Down the beach, along Highway A1A, there are beach parks at

Peter’s Point, Burney Park, and a state recreation area at the southern tip of the island.

Historic American Beach

American Beach is located mid-island on the Atlantic Coast. Six acres of beach were purchased in 1935 by an African American doctor so that black residents on the island could have access to the beach during the time of segregation. Today anyone can use the beach, and there is a small museum that showcases the history. The community is a part of the National Park system.

You can drive on the beach if you have a four-wheel drive vehicle. The sand is very soft and it’s easy to get stuck, even with an all-wheel drive car. Trust me, I know from experience.

Being Spooky at St. Peters Cemetery

Located on Atlantic Avenue on the way to the beach, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and cemetery were founded in 1858. Most of the headstones were chiseled by African Americans, although blacks were not permitted to be buried there until after the Jim Crow era ended. Today the cemetery is the scene of popular ghost tours.

The Historical Museum

The Amelia Island Museum of History is located on Third Street in downtown Fernandina Beach, in the old jail. There are twice daily tours of the museum, plus tours around the downtown area. The tours include local architecture, the Centre Street business district, and a ghost tour.

The museum features exhibits on the Timucuan period on the island, the Civil War era, the Gilded Age period of the late 1800’s, and a large section is devoted to the history of shrimping on the island. There is an admission fee, which includes the docent led tours.

Centre Street, At The Center Of Downtown

Centre Street is the hub of business in Fernandina Beach, lined with historic buildings that today house restaurants, gift shops and small businesses. The Amelia Island Welcome Center is located at the end of the street where it meets the marina. There is a Main Street organization that promotes the local businesses and strives to preserve the historic charm of the downtown area.

Over 400 buildings are listed on the National Historic Register.

The Outdoors Life

Being Florida, there are lots of things to do outside. Biking is popular on the island and the streets are generally bike friendly. There are several deep sea fishing charter companies. If you like golf, there are five championship golf courses on the island. The Amelia Island website has all the details to enable you to get outdoors and enjoy the Florida Sunshine.

Places To Eat

Restaurants in the downtown district are pretty casual, and as you might expect, shrimp is usually on the menu somewhere.

Right at the docks you will find Brett’s Waterway Café. The shrimp is fresh, right from the nearby waters. I had the fried shrimp and I gotta tell you it was the best I’ve ever eaten. At $11 for a full order, I thought it was a bargain. Being right at the dock, you can expect the catch of the day to be fresh as well.

Another delight to the palate is Ciao’s Italian Eatery on Centre Street. There is an extensive wine list, both domestic and Italian. Order by the bottle or the glass. The menu includes everything from veal to shrimp and scallops, to pizza. Only go there if you’re really hungry because the servings are very generous. Dinner for two, with a couple glasses of wine, will still come in under $100.

For lunch try the Beech Street Grill. It isn’t in the downtown district, but conveniently located along Highway 200 as you come in to town. There is inside and patio dining. They are also open for dinner. The food is locally grown on area farms, or harvested from local waters. The restaurant is located in the historic William Bell House, which was built in 1889.

Another lunch spot right on the beach is Slider’s Seaside Grill. Fresh fish tacos and shrimp highlight the lunch menu. There is both inside and outside patio seating, and a full bar. There is also live music in the evening, and even for lunch several days a week.

Hotels and B&B’s

Upscale overnight accommodations start with the Ritz-Carlton Spa and golf resort, and the Omni Amelia Island Resort, which features 36 holes of championship golf.

We were hosted at the Marriott Springhill on Atlantic Avenue, which offers a full hot breakfast, and shares a resort size pool with the Courtyard Marriott. Both properties are new and located a short walk to the beach, where there is abundant public access. On the beach is the newly renovated Seaside Amelia Inn. All three properties are operated by Innisfree Hotels.

If your taste runs to Bed and Breakfast inns there are seven in the town of Fernandina Beach. They are located in the historic section of town, in restored historic homes

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Originally published on bluedotliving.com

You can’t quite call Floating Solar new, it’s been around a few years, but it’s still certainly an emerging technology in the United States. Florida, with its abundant sunshine, is at the technology’s epicenter. Enough time has elapsed to deem the technology a success.

Floating solar panels are called “floating photovoltaics”, and are similar to regular solar except differences in the racking systems and anchoring in the water. They are made from HDPE plastics that are more durable and resistant to corrosion.

D3Energy of Miami has installed all of the floating solar systems in Florida, and many of those around the country. According to Stetson Tchividjian, D3 Business Development Director, “Florida is the perfect center.”

Florida projects include the Orlando International Airport, which installed solar panels on a lake on the property, and Miami International Airport. The Orlando project was a joint partnership between the airport and Orlando Utility Commission. It is working so well that in addition to powering the airport, there is enough energy left over to feed back into the grid and power a small number of local residences.

Right now floating solar provides about 5% of the solar in the USA. Tchividjian estimates that figure could double in the near future. He says Southeast Asia countries are currently the biggest users of the technology. Industry sources expect the technology to triple worldwide in the next two years.

The big advantage of floating solar is it doesn’t require scarce and pricey real estate. “Land is at a high premium and costly,” Tchividjian says, “and roof tops sometimes are not enough space. Saving land is more and more of the conversation.”

That is what led Manheim Auto Auctions in Central Florida to floating solar. The giant car lot is filled with cars that take up all the land, and the rooftops won’t provide enough electricity. The solution was a floating solar array on a large drainage pond on the property. Tchividjian refers to it as “the perfect test case.” Manheim now has installations at two locations in the Orlando area.

The Central Florida Expressway Authority makes use of floating solar to power their traffic message signs. The arrays are anchored in retention ponds along the highway. In cases of power outages due to storms, the signs keep working to keep drivers informed of traffic conditions.

Floating solar can generate more efficient energy than traditional solar because the water helps cool the solar panels, boosting their performance. Some floating solar systems are equipped with tracking devices to follow the sun, increasing their efficiency.

In addition to renewable solar power there is an added benefit. The floating solar arrays shade the water in lakes and ponds, and consequently there is less algae. Algae is a chronic pollutant problem in lakes and ponds in Florida, leading to toxic water and fish kills.

As far as energy generation Tchividjian says the efficiency of floating units is in line with ground and roof top installations. Most Florida installations are in the 1 megawatt category, some a little larger or smaller.

The units are anchored to the bottom of the lakes, with enough slack to allow for the natural rise and fall of water levels during periods of droughts and heavy rains.

Other partners in floating solar in Florida include Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light.

When D3 first started with floating solar, Tchividjian says “people thought we were really crazy.” Now the company has installations not only in Florida but Texas, North Carolina, Delaware and Ohio. The U.S. military has installed floating solar at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, formerly Fort Bragg. The company even has a project in New Zealand. “We and the technology are rapidly growing,” Tchividjian concludes.

We’re into the hiking season in Florida. Cooler temps, lower humidity make for an ideal time to explore some of Florida’s many hiking trails. I thought this is a good time to list some safety tips for your preparation for hiking in Florida. These recommendations are for day hikes.

1- Things you need in your backpack

Cell phone (with charger and cable)

Compass (and know how to use it)

Flashlight (I’ve gotten stuck on a trail in the dark)

Trail map (usually available at trailheads)

First aid kit

Whistle

Bug repellant

Sunscreen

Lighter

Poncho

2- Clothing

Hat with all-around brim

Dress in layers

Sturdy hiking boots

Comfortable socks

I recommend long pants to avoid chiggers

3- Equipment to carry

A good hiking pole, or two.

Binoculars

Bear spray (but Florida black bears are usually pretty docile and won’t bother you)

Utility knife on your belt

4- Food & Water

Take plenty of water

Energy bars (I love Clif Bars)

Fruit (apples, oranges, etc.)

Trail Mix or walnuts

I usually have some cheese or peanut butter crackers along

5- Safety

Tell someone where you’re hiking and when you’ll return

Don’t hike alone

Yellow safety vest (if you hike during hunting season)

Know your limits, don’t overestimate your hiking abilities

You should consider joining AllTrails, with the app and maps on your phone. They have trail maps of many of the popular trails in Florida. The Florida Trail Association is another good group to join. They lead many group hikes all over Florida.

I have often hiked with my Nikon camera, which is a little bulky and heavy. But many of the newer cell phones have excellent high-resolution cameras. Save the weight, use the phone.

Helpful websites for hiking information

Florida Greenways & Trails

Florida State Parks

Florida State Forests

National Forests

National Parks

Most Florida Water Management districts have camping/hiking information on their websites.

There’s plenty of the natural Florida left. Get out there and enjoy it.

No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse. The original lighthouse was the first ever in Florida, built in 1824. It was replaced in 1874 by a taller lighthouse that was located a short distance away, to avoid erosion problems. The tower is 165 feet tall, and sturdy, having survived three earthquakes in the late 1800’s. The original Fresnel lens is still used today.

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The lighthouse property includes a museum, gift shop and several buildings that were occupied by the lightkeepers in the days when it was lit manually. The light was electrified in 1933, and automated in 1955.

Admission to the lighthouse and grounds is $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors and kids under 12. The lighthouse is located at 100 Red Cox Drive, and is just north of the Anastasia State Park.

Courtesy History.com

Florida’s first tourists came ashore at St. Augustine in 1513. Juan Ponce de Leon and his Spanish fleet were in search of gold and the legendary "Fountain of Youth". He named the land "La Floridad".

The actual settlement of "San Augustin" didn’t occur until 1565. Despite wars, fires, and hurricanes, St. Augustine has been around ever since, making it the oldest permanent settlement in the New World.

History beckons at every turn in the "Old City". A weekend tour leads you back through four centuries of Spanish, English and U.S. history. St. George Street is for pedestrians only, and the shops and buildings are restored and maintained for historic preservation.

George Street by Fred Mays

On foot or by bike is the recommended way of getting around. The streets are narrow, and finding a parking space is, in itself, a historic event. You can also get around town via several tourist trams that run through the historic district. Better yet, after a night out for dinner, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride along the Avenida Menendez before heading back to your room.

Lightner Museum by Fred Mays

A stop at the Lightner Museum is a pleasant couple of hours in air conditioned comfort. The museum collection traces the history of the city and it’s residents.

The museum is directly across the street from Flagler College, named after its founder, Henry Flagler. Henry is worth a whole article or book on his own (read Last Train To Paradise). In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s he built a railroad down the east coast of Florida. It opened up previously inaccessible locations that became places like Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach and Miami. He is most noted for the railroad line that connected mainland Florida with Key West. That line was wiped out in the Great Hurricane of 1935.

St. Augustine B&B by Fred Mays

The charm of the "old City" of St. Augustine is best experienced with a stay at one of the many Bed and Breakfast Inns that can be found in the historic district. Other than Key West, St. Augustine probably houses the widest selection of B & B’s in Florida.

St. Augustine is perhaps Florida’s only coastal city where the beach is not the main attraction. St. Johns County has more than 40 miles of coastline, and the beaches of Ponte Vedra and Anastasia Islands are relatively uncrowded, even on weekends.

Anastasia State Park campground by Fred Mays

Anastasia State Park is a special destination. I have never seen a cleaner campground. They even rake the camping spot after each visitor. Much praise for the volunteer campground hosts. The restrooms are clean and well maintained. The hot showers work. Some of the campsites are a pretty tight fit for RV’s. I camped on the Queen Conch loop and it was mainly occupied by tent campers like me.

The beach at Anastasia is only accessed at the south end of the state park. If you want isolation, just walk north a short distance to find your sand dune solitude. The beach parking lot is huge and rarely full, and the park almost never has to close the gates due to overcrowding.

Just about every weekend there are special events scheduled in St. Augustine, most of them focused around historic dates or special holidays.

Florida’s a big state. Over 800 miles and two time zones between Key West and Pensacola. With all that territory there are lots of roads to get you where you want to go. So many roads that locals like me complain that they’re paving over paradise. But on the good side there are some delightful road trips.

Here are seven non-interstate road trips that allow you to explore the beauty and history of the Sunshine State. Each can provide a memorable weekend on the road.

US 1, The Florida Keys

For a little more than 100 miles you island hop your way along the historic Overseas Highway from Key Largo to Key West. The highway was originally Henry Flagler’s railroad line that carried freight and passengers to Key West, which at the time was a major seaport.

If you push it, you can do this trip in less than one day. But don’t! There is so much to see and experience along the way.

Go diving or snorkeling at Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. Just down the road is Islamorada, a hub for off-shore sport fishing. Sombrero Beach in Marathon is one of the best beaches in the Keys. Across the Seven Mile Bridge is Bahia Honda State Park, a great spot for camping (you need reservations far in advance). Big Pine Key has some of the best kayaking in the Keys.

Then, of course, there is Key West. Do yourself a favor and don’t spend a lot of time on the very touristy Duval Street. Explore the town, find historic sites like the Truman White House, Jimmy Buffett’s recording studio, and the Hemingway House. Find unique restaurants like Blue Heaven.

Mallory Square is always packed for sunsets, but it’s very touristy. My favorite Key West solitude sunset was in my kayak at Zachery Taylor State Park.

Tamiami Trail, between Naples and Miami

People in a hurry zip across the Everglades on Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley), but take your time and instead go via Route 41, the Tamiami Trail (the original Alligator Alley). There are many stops along the way to see the real Everglades.

Naples is a great stop to explore the Ten Thousand Islands for fishing and kayaking. Not far away is Collier-Seminole State Park for camping. Everglades City is the spot for airboat tours and the western gateway to Everglades National Park. There is a large Visitor Center at the entrance to Fakahatchee Strand State Park with Everglades history and lots of information about Native Americans who inhabited the area.

Ochopee is home to the smallest post office in the USA. Buy a pre-stamped postcard for a buck and take a picture. Nearby is Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery, featuring the black and white landscapes of Florida’s most famous photographer. During certain times of the year you can go on a guided swamp walk through the Butcher property. Be prepared to get wet.

Stop at the Miccosukee Indian Village. It’s a little touristy but you can also come away with an understanding of the way of life of the Everglades original inhabitants. Just down the road is Shark Valley, a National Park attraction. You can take a tram (fee) or ride your bike along the 15 mile (round trip) paved trail that takes you into the Everglades, with an observation tower at the end. Along the way you’ll see plenty of alligators sunning themselves along the roadway. There have been no reported incidents of alligators eating bicyclists, if that made you nervous. Just keep pedaling.

A1A/ US1, Amelia Island to St. Augustine

This part of Florida is where most new settlers made their way into the Sunshine State in the 1800’s. St. Augustine is the oldest permanent settlement in the new world. Fernandina Beach is the original port for Florida’s shrimping fleet over a hundred years ago.

The oldest continually operating lighthouse in Florida is found in Fernandina Beach. Fort Clinch was built in 1847 and used by both Confederate and Union forces during the civil war. It is now a state park.

American Beach is located mid-island on the Atlantic Coast. Six acres of beach were purchased in 1935 by an African American doctor so that black residents on the island could have access to the beach during the time of segregation.

Big and Little Talbot are state parks along A1A. There is limited camping, and a spot called Boneyard Beach offers a brilliant sunrise among wave-weathered trees that have toppled into the surf.

Stop at Mayport, where Florida’s largest shrimping fleet is now headquartered. It is also home to the large Mayport Naval Air Station.

Ponte Vedra Beach is south of Jacksonville, and prime beach-front real estate for luxury oceanside homes, and the location of the famous PGA golf course.

St. Augustine is the premier destination in the area. Founded by Spanish explorers in 1565, and has been permanently occupied ever since. There’s a lot of history in the town, including the lighthouse, the first in Florida dating back to 1824.

Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish to protect the city in the early 1700’s, and is now a national monument. Saint George Street in old St. Augustine is a little touristy but rebuilt to reflect the settlements of the past.

St. Augustine is a popular Bed & Breakfast town, with dozens located within the historic district. The large Lightner Museum is a must stop, and you can tour the grounds of Flagler College across the street.

US 98/ FL 30A, Pensacola to Apalachicola

This trip takes you to the most unspoiled beaches in the Florida panhandle. It starts with the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a long and undeveloped stretch of beach that allows you to find sand dune solitude like nowhere else in Florida.

Stop in Navarre to see Florida’s longest pier, that stretches 1,545 feet into the Gulf Of Mexico. Beach towns like Fort Walton Beach and Destin are popular stops. The state park at Grayton Beach is one of Florida’s most beautiful.

Panama City is a major Spring Break center, and attracts many mid-western tourists year-round. If that a little too touristy for you, continue on to Mexico Beach. Virtually wiped out by Hurricane Michael in 2018, the beach community is building back and has one of the prettiest beaches in the panhandle.

My favorite Florida state park is near Port St. Joe, the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Also heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael, the park features camping by the beach, and plentiful snorkeling for scallops in the bay.

Apalachicola is Florida’s original oyster harvesting center. The water quality in Apalachicola Bay has caused a major drop off of the oystering, but the town is an important historical stop.

While in the panhandle I recommend an overnight at the Edward Ball Wakulla Spring State Park, south of Tallahassee. The hotel is a little rustic but historic, and shows Florida’s tourism in the early part of the last century. Take the boat tour of the springs and river, and get a feel for the unspoiled Florida of yesteryear.

US 27, I4 to Sebring

Heading south from Interstate 4 on U.S. 27 takes you through small cities that grew up in the late 1800’s around Florida’s growing ranching and agriculture populations. Today, along this road, you will find the current center for Florida’s citrus industry.

Bok Tower, and its gardens, in Lake Wales is a popular stop. Built in the 1920’s, the 205-foot tower is the center of a 250 acre property on a high point known as Iron Mountain. It is known as the Singing Tower because of the carillon that plays for a half hour daily at 1 and 3 p.m.

Frostproof is an early home for citrus growers, and many more have established themselves in the area after devastating killer freezes in north and central Florida in the 1980’s.

Sebring is the home of a 12-hour LeMan’s GT format road race every year at the old Sebring airport. There are other sports car races during the year. Nearby Avon Park is known for nationally known entertainers performing at South Florida State College’s Wildstein Center. Lake Placid is the southern end of the circus belt, and known as a fishing center on the many lakes in the area. Downtown Lake Placid is decorated with 50 murals painted on historic buildings.

US 19, Cedar Key to Dunedin

Cedar Key is a quaint village located on the Gulf of Mexico. It started out as a turpentine producing center many years ago. When the cedar trees were exhausted in the area, it became a fishing town. Today it is known mostly for tourism, a quiet getaway from Gainesville, Orlando and Tampa Bay.

The founder of the modern day environmental movement, John Muir, walked to Cedar Key from his home in Indiana, over a thousand miles, arriving in 1867. He nearly died from a bout with malaria while on the island.

Crystal River is regarded as the manatee capital of Florida. Manatees can be found year-round in King’s Bay and the river. In the winter thousands cluster together in the relatively warm waters of Three Sisters Spring. It’s the only place in Florida where you can legally swim with manatees.

Homosassa Springs is home to a state wildlife park that features native Florida animals, descendants of animals rescued from old roadside attractions that went out of business.  The only non-Florida resident is Lu The Hippo, who was adopted after a short career in the movies. The park has an elevated boardwalk for viewing the animals, making it ideal for wheelchairs and strollers.

Tarpon Springs is an old Greek sponge diving city. It all started in the early 1900’s when Greek divers were recruited to come to Florida and dive for the abundant sponges in the Gulf of Mexico. Today the sponge business is mainly a tourist attraction at the city Dodecanese dock, where you find small mom-and-pop businesses and restaurants that cater to tourists.

Dunedin is a vibrant small community that attracts active outdoorsy people. It’s home to two state parks, Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island. The popular Pinellas bike trail runs right through the center of downtown. In the winter there is a large population of Canadians because it’s the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays.

A1A, The Space Coast to Vero Beach

The area south of the Kennedy Space Center on A1A is known as the Space Coast. Named for the thriving space industry in the area, you stand a good chance of actually seeing a rocket launch at any time, as there are now launches every couple of days. Night launches are the most spectacular.

The Space Coast is a string of beach communities along the Atlantic coast. You’ve heard of Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, and there are lesser known beach towns like Satellite Beach and Melbourne Beach.

Much of the southern part of the Space Coast is designated as the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most prolific turtle nesting beaches in the country. The nesting season runs from roughly April to October, with the peak in the summer. There are night time tours to see momma turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. If you don’t feel like staying up late, an early morning beach walk can find turtles finished with their nesting and crawling back to the water.

The Sebastian Inlet State Park is a popular fishing spot, and regarded by many as the best surfing beach in Florida. There is a campground and swimming area.

Go across the bridge into Indian River County and you will find the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, the very first refuge in the country, so designated by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. It’s a great location for birding and photography.

The inland waters of the Space Coast are the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary. Aside of the Chesapeake Bay it’s the largest estuary in the country. It’s a popular fishing and birding habitat. As the population around it has grown the lagoon has been beset with pollution problems in recent years, leading to a stunning die-off of manatees in 2022 and 2023 because their primary food source, eel grass, had disappeared. Efforts to clean up the lagoon are showing some progress.

Vero Beach is a popular, upscale retirement city along the Atlantic Coast. It has a thriving beachside commercial district with lots of shops and restaurants. The area has a reputation for a vibrant arts community. McKee Botanical Gardens is one of the most visited in Florida.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Not really a road trip, but a trip nonetheless. Take a day and travel to Tampa Bay to drive over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It connects St. Petersburg with Bradenton.

If heights scare you, don’t look down and hold your breath. It’s an engineering marvel like none other in Florida.

We may not have towering mountains or vast canyons, but there is a lot of natural beauty in the Sunshine State. If you get off the interstates and away from the theme parks you will find it.

Map source: Florida Trail Association

The spring months are the perfect time to explore hiking trails in Florida. The weather is still cooler, there are fewer bugs, and dryer hiking conditions. There are thousands of miles of hiking trails in the state. State and local parks all feature hiking trails.

Most of us are familiar with hiking stories about the Appalachian Trail that runs over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. We’ve all probably heard about the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, through California, Oregon, and Washington. Florida has its own long-distance trail.

The Florida National Scenic Trail is approximately 1,500 miles long, running from the Big Cypress Preserve in the Everglades, to Gulf Shores National Seashore at Pensacola. It leads you through Florida’s most dense wilderness areas, along rural roads, cattle ranches, and farms. It crosses through state parks and national forests. You may have seen the blue and orange paint markings, called “blazes”, on trees along the way. Blazes help you confirm you are on the trail route.

Most hikers enjoy sections of the trial that they can hike in a day or a weekend. A few hearty souls have “thru hiked” the trail from start to finish. The Florida Trail Association estimates over 400,000 hikers hiked parts of the trail in 2023.

Royce Gibson, Executive Director of the association, there are about 360 miles of gaps in the trail, mainly in urban areas of Central Florida. The trail has east and west corridors to bypass the Orlando area. He says closing the gaps is a priority. They hope to install a hiking land bridge to get over the Beachline Expressway and Brightline train line in Osceola and Orange counties.

The association is a non-profit organization based in Gainesville. Its volunteers help maintain the trail. Most of their work is done clearing undergrowth along the trail, repairing bridges, and building storm shelters and hiker rest areas.

The association has 19 chapters across the state. Membership is $35 a year for individuals or $50 for a family.

According to Gibson, the biggest issues with the trail are “absent minded development”, developers not considering the landscape, and not being conservation minded.

To qualify as a thru hiker you have to complete the entire trail, usually in one season. It’s an arduous undertaking, usually taking several months to complete. The association maintains a list of thru hikers on its website.

The shortest distance for a thru hike is about 1,100 miles. That means hiking along highways and streets in urban areas. The longest distance of about 1,500 miles is by taking the east or west bypasses.

The Florida Trail is officially designated by congress, and overseen by the U.S. Forest Service. Designated “Land Managers” oversee use of the trail and maintain the trail. These land managers consist of state and local governments agencies, national parks, and volunteer groups.

Photo courtesy Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The Florida Panther is a big winner in a federal court ruling. A federal judge in Washington D.C. has struck down a Trump-era action that turned wetland permitting oversight to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The oversight was previously done by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Judge Randolph Moss ruled the transfer to the state violated the Endangered Species Act, threatening the Florida Panther. The lawsuit was brought by environmental groups who feared the state DEP under the DeSantis administration would be more likely to acquiesce to the permitting requests of developers.

At central issue was a state permit for a more than 7-thousand-acre development in Lee County, in the middle of prime panther habitat. That permit is now blocked by the ruling.

In the lawsuit environmental groups projected the development and resulting highway traffic would kill as many as 30 panthers a year. There are an estimated 200 panthers remaining in the wild, most in southwest Florida.

One of Florida’s most protected pristine swamps is drying up, facing a water supply dilemma. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, northeast of Naples, has seen its water flow sharply diminish as development booms all around it.

The swamp sits on 13,000 acres of undisturbed woodlands on the edge of the Big Cypress National Preserve. It contains over 700 acres of virgin Bald Cypress trees, the largest remaining concentration in the world.

Corkscrew is owned and operated by the National Audubon Society, and 100,000 visitors a year walk the 2.25-miles of boardwalk that winds through the sanctuary. It is home to migrating birds, alligators, and even an occasional Florida Panther.

The swamp is used to the natural ebb and flow of water. The winter months are usually dry, the summer months are usually wet. But changes are occurring outside the natural seasons.

“Starting in 2000 water levels began dropping precipitously,” says Brad Cornell, Audubon’s point person for working with government on environmental issues. A hydrology study commissioned by Audubon identified the drainage canals around the sanctuary as the main culprit, even though the canals are not on sanctuary property. “There are canals all around us,” Cornell observes. Audubon is looking at options to keep the wetlands in Corkscrew wet.

North and east of Corkscrew is mostly agriculture land, and irrigation canals draw water away from the sanctuary to irrigate the crops and provide fertile land for planting. West and south of Corkscrew is development of the rapidly expanding Naples community. Here canals draw water away to make land suitable for building housing, golf courses and commercial development.

“Corkscrew is influenced heavily by what’s going on around it,” says Cornell.  The changes have dramatically altered the sanctuary. The swamp was a natural habitat for nesting wood storks in the winter. Now they are rarely seen, their population estimated at only 10% of what it used to be.

“They are destroying wetlands to build homes and roads. The canals are effective, too effective,” Cornell says.

Audubon is exploring options to protect its water resources in the sanctuary. Thought has been given to importing clay to form dam-like barriers to block off the flow of water out of the swamp. The clay barriers would have to go deep beneath the surface as the water flows naturally through the underground limestone formations.

The South Florida Water Management District and Collier County are on board with the effort to find a solution. “They want to help,” Cornell says. But it’s hard to ignore that over 30,000 acres of wetlands have been lost to development in Collier County since 1996. He estimates 80% of the wetlands in Corkscrew are in peril.

Everyone seems to agree that buying and protecting land is necessary. Collier County has a special property tax that is assessed for that purpose. Voters renewed it in 2020 by a resounding 74% of the vote. There are also negotiations to trade off land with developers. In one case 12,200 acres was protected, while 3,500 acres was set aside for development.

Meanwhile, in addition to man-made pressures, Corkscrew is impacted by climate change. The dry seasons in the winter are longer and dryer. It’s noticeably colder in the winter, impacting the natural flora of the area, which can not withstand prolonged cold snaps. The natural wet seasons in the summer and fall replenish the water supply, but not enough to restore it back to normal.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a natural treasure, one of the few wilderness areas in southwest Florida remaining. The boardwalk through the swamp is open daily and the visitor level is slowly returning to pre-Covid levels, but Audubon is still restricting access and encouraging social distancing. Visitors are required to book a reservation online. No walk-ins are allowed.

Managers at the Canaveral National Seashore in Central Florida have a big decision to make. Do they try to restore Playalinda Beach, or let nature take its course?

About half of the Playalinda Beach has been closed since two hurricanes in 2022. Back-to-back hurricanes Ian and Nicole blew out dunes and, in one section, created a wash over that floods during extreme tides and storms. Things only got worse after a No Name storm hit just before Christmas last year.

Restoring the blown-out dunes would cost millions, and be contrary to park policy. The National Park System’s policy is to let nature take its course. Playalinda will never be the same.

Canaveral is faced with a decision on just how much can be done to get use of the beach back. Bulldozers are used to plow sand off the park road to give access to some of the parking lots. But Lots 9-13 are closed as of now.

According Laura Henning, Public Information person for Canaveral, a study is underway to determine how to proceed. She said there is no timetable for that study to be done. She said some lots were opened for a while, but closed after the December storm. The status of some lots will depend on whether drifting dunes shut off the roadway.

Work has been done to restore Lots 1-8. Crossovers that were damaged in the storms are mostly rebuilt. Vault toilets in those lots are working again. Henning says Lot 6 is permanently closed due to damage to the boardwalk.

As for the future, Henning says they will await an environmental assessment from the current study. But she says “we’re not going to build a seawall or rock abutment”. Lots north of Lot 8 may open occasionally, depending on the weather.

A once wide pristine beach is now much narrower because of beach erosion. During high tides much of the beach disappears completely. Nesting areas for sea turtles that came ashore to lay their eggs no longer exist in some areas.

Over two million beachgoers visited Playalinda each year before the hurricanes. It was one of Central Florida’s most popular beaches. But with only eight parking lots remaining that number will fall drastically.

Oh, and as for the nudist beach that used to be at Lot 13, they have now taken up residence on the north side of Lot 8.

The north end of the National Seashore at New Smyrna Beach remains open as usual.

With the arrival of cooler and downright cold weather, manatees have been migrating to their traditional warm water spots in Florida springs and other locations.

King’s Bay at Crystal River is home to the largest concentration of endangered manatees in the United States. They cluster there in the winter months to escape the cold waters in the Gulf of Mexico and rivers.

Photo by Citrus County Visitors Bureau

During the cold weather months of November to March, according to the Florida Wildlife Commission, it’s estimated nearly a thousand manatees crowd their way into the relatively warm waters of the bay. Manatees can’t survive in water temperatures below 68 degrees.

The best viewing is at Three Sisters Springs.

Photo by Citrus County Visitors Bureau

The water in the bay and numerous springs stays a relatively warm 72-73 degrees year-round. Manatees crowd into the springs when the weather is cold, and when it warms up, they swim back into the bay, and some even head down the eight-mile Crystal River to the Gulf of Mexico. King’s Bay is great for manatee viewing as some of the herd stays in the bay year-round.

As one shop owner in town described it, the area is home “to manatees and retirees”. Many businesses in town depend on manatee tourism to survive. There are at least a dozen companies that offer manatee swimming tours. Others are kayak outfitters, offering rentals to tourists interested in doing their own paddling in the manatee waters.

Manatees are often called “sea cows”. The adults can exceed one thousand pounds. They eat sea grasses and marine vegetation.

Photo by Kathy Jones

How You Can Swim With Manatees

While manatees can be spotted throughout King’s Bay, the mega manatee habitat in cold weather is Three Sisters Springs. We hopped a boat ride from Captain Mike’s manatee swim charters to see the gentle giants for ourselves.

Photo by Kathy Jones

Captain Bill Ruiz and Dive Guide Liz Van Fleet knew right where to take us. Outfitted in wet suits, snorkels and pool noodles for flotation, we jumped in the water.

We found several manatees in the springs, including a momma and her calf. There were dozens of swimmers in the water, and the manatees didn’t seem to be bothered by all the attention. In fact they appeared curious. The water nearest the spring head is roped off to keep divers at a distance, but manatees will sometimes swim out to check the crowd. They are docile, and at times seem to want to play. They are endangered and protected, it is against the law to touch them, but often it is the manatee that actually initiates the contact.

While the spring water is warm to manatees, it is cold for humans. A wet suit is highly recommended, preferably 3mm thick. Liz, our guide, is in the water eight hours a day and actually wears two wet suits to stay comfortable. Some divers use “shorty” suits, but I recommend full body suits if you’re going to be in the water for any period of time. Keep in mind the springs are 72 degrees year-round, so even in the hot Florida summers the water is cold.

While a certain number of manatees die from exposure when they can’t find warm water in the winter, man is their greatest threat. Boats and water pollution that kills off their food sources are the main culprits. Manatees are a threatened and protected species. Observe laws that limit human contact, don’t approach them but they often will approach you. They are completely non-aggressive but avoid getting between a momma manatee and her calf.

Other places where manatees gather in the winter where you can view them are: Blue Spring State Park in Volusia County, Homosassa Springs State Park in Citrus County, and the DeSoto Canal in Satellite Beach in Brevard County. They can also be found near power plants, in areas like Tampa Bay, The Indian River Lagoon, and St. Johns River, where they gather in the warm water discharges from the plants.

There is a New Year’s tradition in state parks all over the country. It’s called “First Day Hikes” and many are offered in Florida State Parks.

Maybe you put on a few extra pounds over the holidays. What a perfect way to work them off. The hikes in Florida are usually easy walks on trails in the state parks, most led by a park Ranger. They are typically short, about two miles or less, and not strenuous.

Make sure to carry water and wear sunscreen, and a wide brimmed hat. Hiking shoes or sturdy sneakers are recommended. Flip Flops are a bad idea.

For a list of First Day hikes, visit the Florida State Parks website.

While most of the First Day hikes are in state parks, there are also hikes frequently by the chapters of the Florida Trail Association. You can connect with the chapters on the association’s website.

If you live in South Florida, there are many hiking trails in Everglades National Park.

Whether you’re part of an organized group, or just getting out with family and friends, start the new year off on the right foot (a shameless pun) and get out in nature in some of the wild places Florida has to offer.

Happy New Year from Florida Unplugged.

Time is running out to shop for that outdoorsy person on your list. Passes to Florida State Parks are on sale for half price until January 13, 2024. You can buy them at any State Park.

Individual passes are now $30. Family passes are $60.

The following FWC Gold Sportsman licenses, which include saltwater fishing, freshwater fishing, and hunting privileges and all associated permits, will also be discounted by 50% and will be available at the following rates, plus applicable fees:

• Annual Gold Sportsman - $50.75.

• 5-year Gold Sportsman - $247.75.

• Lifetime Sportsman’s License 

  • Age 4 or younger - $201.50.

  • Ages 5-12 - $351.50.

  • Ages 13 and older - $501.50.

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Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks. Located east of Sarasota, the park spreads across approximately 38,000 acres. It was designated a state park in 1941. During the 1930’s land for the park was purchased by the state of Florida, and turned over to the Civil Conservation Corps for development.

The Myakka River flowing through the park is designated a Wild and Scenic River, and forms two lakes within the park. The Upper Lake is the largest, and closest to the campgrounds, hiking trails, and the park concessions. The Lower Lake is pretty much wilderness area, and requires a permit to explore. The two lakes are connected by the river, which is home to a huge population of alligators, something that can be a little unnerving as you paddle your kayak or canoe.

Much of the park is wild prairie, and was a cattle and swine ranch before becoming a park. There is a Bird Walk (boardwalk) that takes you out over the lake and prairie for great views of wildlife and birds. Over 200 species of birds can be seen at the park, particularly in the winter. The Bird Walk used to let you walk over soggy marsh land to the lake. Because of a drought the area is mostly dry at this time (late 2023).

Small herds of deer can be seen in the wilderness area of the park. Raccoons are known to wander into the campground, so pack your garbage in the dumpster, and keep your food and coolers in your car when not needed.

I had a personal raccoon experience one evening when walking back to camp from the Outpost.

Two raccoons came out of the underbrush in front of me, and as I followed along behind them, I could hear them chattering with each other. I don’t speak raccoon, but they were obviously talking about which campsites they were going to pillage food from that night.

There are plenty of hiking trails in the park, some short, some long. The longest is the Prairie Trail, which runs over 14 miles. The shortest, the Mossy Hammock Trail, is 2.2 miles and the location of a tree canopy catwalk that lets you stroll about 40 yards through the tree tops, about 30 feet off the ground. The trails are maintained by the Florida Trail Association.

The backcountry on the east side of the park has longer trails that are used by backpackers, mountain bikers, and equestrians

You can rent canoes at the Myakka Outpost. I didn’t see any kayaks when I was there. During dry seasons paddling in the lake and river may require portages.

There are three campgrounds, with about 90 sites, all with water and electricity. The sites have large gravel pads, to accommodate RV’s. Tent campers will want to look for a site with some open ground to pitch a tent. There are six designated primitive camp sites along the trails on the east side of the park, each site accommodates up to three tents. There are also three group campgrounds for scouts and non-profit groups.

There are also palm log cabins, built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. They have been modernized inside to include a fully equipped kitchen and a shower. These book up well in advance.

*NOTE- In 2023 the park was in the grips of a severe two-year drought. Lake levels are low, and the river is impassable in some areas. Boat tours from the Outpost are canceled until water levels get back to normal.

*ALSO NOTE- the park’s drinking water system is not functioning (2023) due to a failure of a new osmosis filter, and the inaccessibility of parts to make repairs. Visitors have to pack in their own water, or get free 2-gallon water jugs at the entrance station or the Outpost. This started in May of 2023, and was still in effect at the end of the year.

There are restrooms in the three campground loops. They are immaculately maintained and have plenty of hot water for the showers. They are the cleanest park restrooms I’ve ever seen.

RATING- Overall, the Myakka experience is one of Florida’s best parks. They could try to make the campgrounds more friendly to tent campers. Those gravel pads can easily tear the flooring out of a tent. I’ve been there several times and would rate Myakka an “A”, but due to the drought and water problems, I’d give it a temporary “B” until things get back to normal.

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