Photos and Text by Kelsey Walters The holidays are over, winter break has come to an end, and life is returning to normal after the excitement (and chaos) of the season. If you find yourself in a wintertime rut after all the hustle and bustle searching for something to do, I have just the thing. Unlike the rest of the country huddling inside away from … Continue reading Natural Wonder Meets Old Florida at Tallahassee Museum
Photos/Text by Kelsey Walters Our corner of Florida isn’t exactly known for higher elevations. The coastline is relatively flat and hills in the area are mostly man-made. As you travel further inland, however, the scenery begins to change and rolling hills creep up from the sea level to which we are accustomed. The area surrounding Lake Apopka, Florida’s fourth largest lake, is a wealth of … Continue reading Hike and Seek: Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Trailhead – Lake Apopka Wildlife DriveÂ
Save The Manatee Club, a non-profit dedicated to the conservation of manatees, is reporting 330 manatee mortalities have been recorded in Florida so far this year. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC), the year 2021 was the worst record of manatee mortalities since record keeping began 50 years ago. For 2022, the numbers are on track for another disappointing year of manatee … Continue reading Local Manatee Crisis: Seagrass Conservation is Key
Photos by Kelsey & Scott Walters You may recall earlier this year, our family visited Wild Florida, just south of Orlando. We had an amazing time there and were thrilled when we were invited back to try out the wildlife park’s newest experience, the VIP Safari Tour. Wild Florida offers the chance to not only see native Florida wildlife, but exotic creatures as well, in … Continue reading Wild Florida: A New Ride on the Wild Side
Photos by Kelsey & Scott Walters Living in a peninsula like Florida, we are surrounded by water and ocean life, but it’s rare that we get to see the animals beneath the waves face-to-face. The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota combines adventure with education to provide the opportunity to meet hundreds of marine species from in and around our coastal communities. Mote Marine … Continue reading Somewhere Beyond the Sea
Photos by Kelsey & Scott Walters Florida is home to a number of wild creatures. Although animals like alligators, bobcats and the elusive Florida panther may be plentiful in our state, they can be a challenge to spot in the wild (and from a safe vantage point). Wild Florida – Kenansville, FL Wild Florida offers the chance to see not only native Florida wildlife, but … Continue reading The Wild Side of Florida
I’ve spent my entire life as an animal lover. I’m raising our daughter, Avery, to be just as caring and loving towards animals as well. Our evenings and weekends are often spent outdoors looking for critters to study and learn from, catching toads and raising caterpillars. When we heard about a place offering a chance to meet some animals that we have only seen from … Continue reading Epic Encounter – Amazing Animals in St. Cloud, FL
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park – FL’s First State Preserve All photos by Kelsey Walters If you’ve ever visited the Gainesville area, or even just driven through, you may have noticed a huge expanse of undeveloped land. Things to Do Outdoors in Florida The sleepy little town of Micanopy, located just south of Gainesville, is home to an array of antique stores and quaint cafes…as … Continue reading Home on the Range
