You're entranced by the crystal clear bluish green water and you find your mind drifting. You notice how the color is reflected in the small clouds above you. It's been fifteen minutes since the last string of tarpon has passed the skiff. The skiff rocks gently as the guide shifts his weight. Suddenly, you're back at ground zero. After the last attempt at the fish, you're looking for a rock to crawl under. Your casting stroke looks as though you're…
Having been an avid snorkeler for many years, I didn't imagine the transition to scuba diving to be much of a change. Fortunately, I was wrong I've never enjoyed the beauty beneath the sea so much! And the staff from Ocean Promotion, my conscientious guides on this spectacular adventure, were the best!Matt Brown, who runs Ocean Promotion Scuba and Snorkel Adventures, Inc., made sure I knew what to expect and ensured I was properly prepared before my first lesson. His…
If you are like most Americans, when you think of the Everglades and Everglades National Park, you think of alligators looking for prey and airboats skimming across the Florida sawgrass. You may also visualize some swampy area in South-central Florida where humans rarely visit, the wildlife still rules and survival of the fittest was still in order. What if I was to tell you that the Everglades was full of Dolphins, Fire Sponges and Sea Horses? Would you believe it?…
The East Coast of Florida may not be on many travelers’ list of “Places to Visit in my Lifetime”, YET! To a wide range of audiences the east coast of Florida means Daytona Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world. An increasing number of adventurers, though, are finding reason to visit this area, rich in ecological and historical diversity. I grew up here, in a small town called Rockledge, Florida; 25 miles from the beach, Cocoa Beach…
When thinking about Cocoa Beach, Florida it’s easy to imagine the beach, space launches, and surfing, but it’s a little more difficult to visualize kayaking in some of the most abundant wildlife estuaries in Florida. I certainly never imagined that Cocoa Beach could offer such an experience, until I learned of Cocoa Beach Kayaking Guided Nature Tours. Their tour has it all…a great tour guide, easy paddling, scenic rivers, and best of all, great wildlife. Kathleen, our guide, met us…
Everyone has heard of the Everglades. Most people know that it’s an endangered environment. Even so, we all need to experience the beauty of the place and learn of the good that it does us in Florida and beyond in order to ensure that we don’t loose sight of its importance. A fantastic way to obtain a solid understanding of this incredible ecosystem is by visiting Gator Park. Its here that visitors can take a diverting airboat ride, see some…
The philosophy of “love what you do and you never have to work a day in your life” fits for Mary Garland, the owner of Ocala Carriage and Tours based in Ocala, Florida. Mary has a passion for horses that started when she was six years old on her grandfather’s ranch. Originally, she came to Florida with no intention of getting into the horse business. She moved to Fort Lauderdale, where she had a sales career but as fate had…
If you’re looking to get away from the bite of winter, to bask in warm sun and surf, North Beach Windsurfing School and its owner, Britt Viehman are awaiting your arrival. Located in Tampa Bay, Florida, North Beach Windsurfing School teaches and assists all levels of windsurfers. From those just testing their skill, to those who want to progress to the next level, Britt and his staff will put all their energy into equipping each visitor with the techniques and…
Websters define the word “‘grotto” as, “a small cave (usually with attractive features).” Seems fairly straight forward, until one conducts a search on the Internet using the keyword, “Grotto”. Web surfers will find non-profit organizations, literature, and even a pizza company. In the process they may miss out on the adventurous opportunities waiting in the world of grottos, specifically, via Hal Watts' Forty Fathom Grotto, located 40 minutes from Ocala, Florida. Hal’s grotto actually began as one of Florida’s infamous…
