From the deepest swamps to the most civilized sidewalks, 50 Great Walks in Florida features the best short, but significant, outdoor jaunts in the Sunshine State. Experienced tour guide Lucy Tobias fills each page with fascinating local history and vivid descriptions of the sights and sites encountered along the way. 50 Great Walks in Florida is divided by geographic regions and each section includes at least one beach or wetlands walk, a historic walk, a garden walk, a place to see wildlife, and one locale with an unusual natural feature. Included are the Vietnam Memorial, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Coca-Cola Town, Ybor City Fresh Market, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and even a ghost tour! Tobias recommends additional activities for each walk and offers suggestions for where to stop nearby, including local restaurants, to enhance the regional and cultural experience. This handy guide includes comprehensive locator maps, listings of trip essentials, and useful warnings about possible dangers such as poisonwood sap. These manageable walks will appeal to tourists in search of the real Florida, as well as to residents who want to become better acquainted with their state but still be done in time for lunch. Though shoes may be required, backpacks are not.

"Lucy makes my toes itch! I can't wait to get out and explore all the destinations she describes."--Sandy Huff, author of Paddler's Guide to the Sunshine State "By using modern technologies like GPS coordinates and internet resources, 50 Great Walks in Florida brings the genre of tour guides clicking and screening into the twenty-first century."--Lars Andersen, author of Payne's Prairie: A History and Guide From the deepest swamps to the most civilized sidewalks, 50 Great Walks in Florida features the best short, but significant, outdoor jaunts in the Sunshine State. Experienced tour guide Lucy Tobias fills each page with fascinating local history and vivid descriptions of the sights and sites encountered along the way. 50 Great Walks in Florida is divided by geographic regions and each section includes at least one beach or wetlands walk, a historic walk, a garden walk, a place to see wildlife, and one locale with an unusual natural feature. Included are the Vietnam Memorial, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Coca-Cola Town, Ybor City Fresh Market, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, and even a ghost tour! Tobias recommends additional activities for each walk and offers suggestions for where to stop nearby, including local restaurants, to enhance the regional and cultural experience. This handy guide includes comprehensive locator maps, listings of trip essentials, and useful warnings about possible dangers such as poisonwood sap. These manageable walks will appeal to tourists in search of the real Florida, as well as to residents who want to become better acquainted with their state but still be done in time for lunch. Though shoes may be required, backpacks are not.

Best Easy Day Hikes Jacksonville, Florida includes concise descriptions and detailed maps for twenty easy-to-follow hikes in and around the River City. Discover the natural splendors of the First Coast—including the Ralph E. Simmons State Forest and the St. Mary’s River; Jennings State Forest; the hammock woods, shell mounds, and river views at Fort Caroline; and the best of Jacksonville’s coastal islands Look inside for: • Thirty-minute strolls to half-day adventures • Hikes for everyone, including families • Mile-by-mile directions and clear trail maps • Trail Finder for best hikes for river and stream lovers, children, dogs, or views • GPS coordinates

Raw, gritty, rich, and captivating, the stories in this book will astonish you. High Seas Wranglers presents real scenes from the lives of some of Florida's best-known commercial and charter fishing captains. Through Terry Howard's interviews, Captains Tristram Colket, A. J. Brown, Ray Perez, Glenn Cameron, and George Kaul tell true stories about hunting swordfish, kingfish, sharks, tuna, and billfish. They describe falling overboard alone many miles offshore, riding out deadly storms, navigating angry east coast inlets, orchestrating dangerous rescues at sea, struggling to land huge fish, playing pranks on other captains, and how they ended up living the lives that some only dream of. These fishermen have long been a part of the maritime life and culture of Florida, but today their livelihood is challenged and their industry fading. In this book, you'll hear in their own words the reasons they've chosen a life away from land, as well as their opinions about drift nets and falling fish populations. Their firsthand accounts of commercial handline mackerel fishing, commercial longline swordfish and shark fishing, and the growth of charter fishing on Florida’s eastern seaboard provide insights into a fascinating world. Gutsy fishing exploits like the ones in High Seas Wranglers are usually passed down through storytelling alone. This book preserves a thrilling history that would otherwise be lost.

When Ray Whaley set out to accomplish his bucket-list goal of kayaking the length of the St. Johns River, it didn’t take long for him to realize he was in over his head. The longest river in Florida, stretching 310 miles between Vero Beach and Jacksonville, the St. Johns had been paddled in its entirety by only a handful of people. Whaley found himself blazing his own trail on an exciting and unexpected adventure. In Journey of a River Walker, Whaley tells the whole story of his experience, from his preparations beforehand to the techniques he learned along the way to his daily escapades and discoveries on the water. Learning from Whaley’s recommendations, along with his mistakes and close calls, readers will gain valuable knowledge that will help them in planning their own paddling trips. Whaley’s journey also highlights the delicate ecosystem of the river and the importance of conserving its environment, raising awareness of the fragile yet critical link between humans and nature. A volume in the series Wild Florida, edited by M. Timothy O’Keefe

One of only 11 National Scenic Trails in America, the Florida Trail was first blazed in October, 1966. Documenting a half century of progress of the creation of America's most unique National Scenic Trail - which stretches from the Big Cypress Swamp to Pensacola Beach, this full-color book weaves together past and present, showcasing the trail's beauty while explaining how it was created. Stories from participants in the process capture the moments that built momentum for both the Florida Trail and the Florida Trail Association.

A hike for every interest and ability! Alabama has so many great hikes to offer, including those in national and state parks and forests and in national wildlife refuges. In this book, the emphasis is on the most scenic destinations and unique places that help make Alabama so beautiful, like the rock formations of the Wall of Jericho, or the dunes of Bon Secour. Many hikes described here are off-the-beaten-path treks to lesser-known sites such as Needles Eye and Blue Spring; they show visitors the state’s wide range of beauty and biodiversity. Others take place at various spots along the Pinhoti Trail, the master path through Alabama’s mountains.