When driving into Key West, the main road, US1, intersects with Duval Street where most of the action and excitement of Key West is happening. As you turn right onto Duval Street, you are surprised with all the active gift shops, street cafe and restaurants, and pumping music spilling from the many bars. You may be scratching your head and saying, “How does my resort advertise that it is paradise when there is so much commotion and action going on…
My wife Shelly and I run a small Drop Zone just outside of Key West, Florida. My name is Christian, I do the tandems and she does the video jumps. Our daughter Skylar was born 12-22-98 and ever since, she has been the center of our lives. Both of us being passionate skydivers with over 10,000 jumps between us, it was a natural desire to take Skylar up with us on a jump as soon as we felt she was…
Growing up I always held a fascination for the English Period, so when I was invited to the Broward County and Florida Renaissance Festival was so excited to attend and anticipated a great day. This festival is held in February of every year in a Broward County park and this year it was in Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach. On entering the festival, I was transported immediately into my favorite period, The Medieval Era. My eyes could not hide my…
Florida has always been famous for miles of sandy beaches and warm sunshine, but beyond the coast endless opportunities abound for the explorer with countless types of wildlife species to visit, observe and appreciate. Whether you choose to view Florida wildlife in a natural environment such as a state park, or from behind a fence in a zoo, there are captivating options for all visitors. Florida boasts 160 state parks covering the state from the Panhandle to the Keys. Myakka…
The Everglades, sometimes called the "river of grass," is seasonally dominated by a shallow, slow-moving sheet of water flowing from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay. Over the years that I have resided in South Florida I have heard about Shark Valley and the 15-mile bike path that leads to the Florida Everglades. Riding the bike path into the Everglades has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. In July, I…
Not so far away there is an exceptional getaway, The Florida Keys. It’s an extraordinary place full of intriguing history, geology, wildlife, and adventure activities. History The Keys extend south from the southeastern tip of Florida then west to the Dry Tortugas. Discovered in the early sixteenth century by the Spanish the islands were populated at an early date by the Caloosa Indians. The British followed the Spanish and settled in the Keys for the fishing and turtle hunting. Bahamians…
Nicki LaPierre is a perfect example of how determination and a little hard work can lead to finding your dream job. Nicki, a slender a 24 year old with a great tan, found her dream job three years ago as a dolphin handler in the beautiful Florida Keys. Her cheerful attitude clearly displays the passion she has for what she does. She always has a smile on her face, and that smile gets even bigger when she's around children. She…
The twin-engine plane soars 2 1O2 miles above the earth, slipping gracefully through the air at 90mph. Suddenly the door opens and the thundering wind rushes in to fill the cabin with brisk air. A man climbs out and around the edge of the opening, his body hugging the side of the plane as he reaches for a handrail on the top of the airframe. Perched precariously on a tiny step between the door and the tail section, he balances…
St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge is one of my very favorite birding hot spots. It is located on the Florida Panhandle just south of Tallahassee. The 65,000 acre refuge supports many different habitats from freshwater swamps to salt marshes, from pine forests to estuaries. There are many attractions here for birders and other wildlife enthusiasts. There is a large nesting population of Bald Eagles and most of Florida's waders can be found here. Many birders come to St. Mark's in…
Moore Haven, FL - Bird enthusiasts are waiting patiently for April 2, 2004. That is the day that the Third annual Big "O" Birding Festival begins and for three days, the lake region will be host to hundreds of avid birders in search of the area‚s winged residents. A project that began as a bid to bring in economic development via ecotourism has blossomed into an event that promises to bring the Glades area the recognition it deserves for its…