rupaldev

Driving across Alligator Alley with my family in the early morning, we saw the Everglades gloriously alive with birds, flying, swooping, gliding and diving over the marshy plains of saw-grass. We were on our way to Pine Island a little strip of land just off the coast of Fort Myers to meet with John Paeno of Calusa Ghost Tours and Craig “Snook Cowboy”. Timbes, our Stargazing Story Teller and inventor of a special attachment for the fishing rod that makes…

  Another year has past; it was time for me to take my Godson out for his 10th Birthday. We decided to see where the Seminole Indians live and what they had to offer at Billie Swamp Safari. So we set off from Fort Lauderdale, west, for the 1 ½ hour drive into the Florida Everglades where the Indians live. Since living in South Florida for many years, I have heard of Billie Swamp Safari but today was the day to…

  Are you ready for your summer vacation? Florida has some of the best beaches in the world and has a beach for all tastes. You can find a beach for a secluded getaway, family beaches, romantic beaches, hiking beaches, fishing beaches and so much more. You can read this list and save this for your future reference. Sandy beach accounts for 1,350 miles of Florida coastline. Two distinct waterfronts -- the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico – mean…

The first week in May heralded the last week of classes and final exams and the day after I headed north on Highway 19 for a desperate need of getting away from it all and rest and relaxation. I found it in this quiet, out-of-the-way, beautiful spot named Cedar Key. A must for anyone who loves Florida's history and Nature Coast, Cedar Key is a serene, friendly place with breathtaking views and some of the best food in Florida. My…

Ideally situated between Orlando and Tampa, Central Florida is one of the state’s best-kept secrets. There are over 500 lakes in which to play and get close to nature. Well-kept gardens to admire. Museums and great places to eat. Campgrounds in the most ideal settings. Spend a weekend. Spend a month and be in the midst of some of Florida’s best nature. One of Central Florida’s largest counties – Polk – is blessed with an incredible number of lakes –…

What is a Scallop? The text book definition says that a scallop is a member of the shellfish family known as bivalves, named for its two valves, or shells. Its upper valve is a dark mottled color, occasionally bright yellow or orange, and its lower valve is typically white. Bay scallops may reach a shell height of two inches and live two years; although, in Florida their life span is generally only one year. Take a peak at the Shell…

Spanish explorers settled Key West, once known as Bone Island for its plentiful source of Indian burial sites. Key West began to hustle in 1822 when it gained a naval base and Anti-Pirate Squadron, which eventually squashed buccaneers’ attacks on the area. The Keys has meant different things to many people over the years, especially after Henry Flagler built his Overseas Highway, that runs from Florida’s mainland to Key West. In the early 20th century, bootlegging was the draw, and…