Wild Florida Adventures: Exploring the Sunshine State by Land and Water

"With a naturalist's keen eye and the sense of adventure of an explorer, Doug Alderson reveals a compelling glimpse of Florida. Wild Florida Adventures proves that there's so much more to the Sunshine State than condos and theme parks." Conor Mihel, editor-at-large, Canoe & Kayak Magazine "Only consummate Florida outdoor writer Doug Alderson could have penned such a delightful - and practical - guide to exploring the state's natural wonders." Jennifer Portman, Tallahassee Democrat senior writer. "I've had a great time traipsing around the Florida rivers and trails with Doug Alderson, and as a Florida native, I learn something new every trip. I'm very excited about this book... so I can help unlock the secret places Doug knows about and I haven't been!" Bryan Desloge, President, Florida Association of Counties On land or water, Florida is a wild playground because of its incredible beauty, diversity and vast stretches of public lands. In Wild Florida Adventures, author and photographer Doug Alderson will inspire you to pick up a paddle or lace up the hiking boots and start exploring the Sunshine State. From kayaking the length of the Florida Keys to searching for record-sized trees in a huge swamp to meeting the famous naked man of the Santa Fe River, this complementary sequel to Wild Florida Waters takes readers into Florida's unique places. A couple of favorite rivers such as the Suwannee and Wekiva are revisited with a different twist, and land adventures include a journey through the botanical wonderland of Torreya State Park, an exploration of a wild cave near Marianna, and a frigid campout in the Osceola National Forest with former Florida senator and governor Lawton Chiles. One out-of-state adventure-trying to tackle the mighty Mississippi River by canoe-has been added because it reveals the shortcomings of planning a long-distance trip a thousand miles away in Florida. The results are disastrous-and funny. Useful how-to information at the end of each chapter helps people plan their own adventures.