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My Trip Planner |
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| Doug Kelly |
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| Outdoors Expert |
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| Tampa native Doug Kelly, the Editor In Chief of Traveling Sportsman magazine, never tires of visiting Florida's state parks and enjoying the state's unparalleled natural geography. Look for Doug's recommendations on the best of Florida's outdoor adventures. |
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| Doug's Blog |
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| Look: Up in the Sky, It's a ... Tree! |
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| May 05, 2008 |
| I used to think that trees were sort of boring – one looked pretty much like another, what with the same basics of roots, trunks, branches, leaves, etc.
All that changed when I started really looking at trees when walking about Florida parks and even on ... more |
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| Tread Gently on the Beach |
| April 27, 2008 |
| I admit that going to a beach means I’m mainly focused on the waves, sand, shells and just kicking back. But another interesting aspect of most beaches centers on the bird life dwelling in the vicinity.
For example, sandy beaches also serve as nesting areas for ... more |
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| Good News for Baldies |
| April 22, 2008 |
| Sometime around 1970, my dad and I paddled an aluminum johnboat up a shallow creek near Flamingo at the bottom of Florida’s mainland. Birds were scarce and getting more so, especially wading birds. As we moved into a wide lagoon, dad touched my shoulder and ... more |
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| Come Hither, Come Slither |
| April 14, 2008 |
| As one who’s “in the field” a lot, I’m often asked about snakes. While I know most people would rather not encounter a snake while moving about in the outdoors, I actually hope I do. And that doesn’t make me a bad person.
Truth be told, ... more |
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| From the Water to the Field |
| April 07, 2008 |
| My first kayak trip turned into a disaster. I spent more time with the hull facing the sky and my head nearly scraping bottom than in the traditional position. Practice refines anything, and, sure enough, my techniques improved, and so did my ability to remain ... more |
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| Appreciating Apalachicola |
| March 31, 2008 |
| I don’t visit northwest Florida often enough. Even single venture makes me wonder why it’s been such a long time since my last trip through this fabulous chunk of Florida.
One of my very favorite places of all: Apalachicola. Just saying “Apalachicola” seems poetic. Right ... more |
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| Hitchin' A Buggy Ride |
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| March 25, 2008 |
| It was far off the beaten path, but my fiance Kelly Braden and I quickly came to realize what a wise decision we’d made. Turning north off Alligator Alley’s exit 49, we sped through nearly 20 miles deep into the heart of the Big Cypress ... more |
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| Skidaddle With A Paddle |
| March 18, 2008 |
| So I'm paddling down the Econfina River north of Perry, Florida, and the kayak turns over. I sunk like a sack of silver dollars, resurfaced with a gasp and rejoined the kayak. My friend looked back at me with no expression of surprise, since this ... more |
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| Know Before You Go |
| March 10, 2008 |
| I recently visited the Ocala National Forest just for grins. I packed a lunch, some water bottles and snacks into my backpack and wandered off.
Not having a GPS handy, I took a compass reading and toddled down a path into the woods and foliage.
Rule ... more |
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| Take Me to a WMA |
| March 03, 2008 |
| The "outdoors" encompasses just about everything around Florida, but this time of year as spring approaches I like visiting various Wildlife Management Areas found throughout the state.
The general gun hunting season is long-since over, spring turkey hunting hasn't begun in most areas. It's a nice ... more |
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Recent Q & A for Doug
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| Asked by Ilona Rónay-Csordás on April 29, 2008 |
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Q: A few years ago I saw a film on NatGeo on Florida. There was a small river with quick flow shown in the film where visitors could swim through a reach of a few miles sitting in rubber tyres - as an adventure trip. Now, we plan to travel to Florida but I cannot identify the place where this river can be found. Perhaps you can help us, thanks a lot.
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A: Hi Ilona, I'll try and offer a suggestion although I didn't see the TV program you mention. Quite a few ... read more
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| Asked by karolita on April 22, 2008 |
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Q: I am the leader of a youth group in Borward County. Every year we plan an outdoor expedition in one of Florida State parks. This year we will be visiting Mike Roess Gold Branch Park. We will be there for 3 days and the park does not seem too exciting. Is there anything in that area that you could recommend we visit (we are on a budget!). We plan to visit St. Augustine on our way back home.
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A: Hello Karolita. I've yet to experience this park personally but I've spoken to those who have and they've said good things ... read more
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| Ask Your Question |
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| Doug's picks |
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Canoeing trailsYou may find miles of hiking, biking or canoeing trails right outside your door. ... View |
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Kayaking 101A young camp worker drives us upstream to our launch point, unloads our boats, gives ... More |
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