GoNOMAD Stories About Florida

A surf skipper running on the beach in Vero Beach, Florida - photo by Max Hartshorne

Vero Beach Florida: Far From Miami

Vero Beach and the rest of Indian River County Florida are a far cry from the fashionista-laden, self conscious show-off atmosphere that can make Miami a bummer. And the beaches are just as nice, even if they're not topless.

Ok, ok, there are those who love Miami's hipness. That cool South Florida feeling, those many Cubanos, and that sizzling nightlife. Contrast that with 'Zero Beach,' as some locals jokingly referred to the city of 21,000. Here the lights go out at 10 pm, and there's more emphasis on outdoor activities like kayaking or early morning beach strolling.

Florida's Gulf Islands: An Old-Fashioned Family Vacation

Sand dune, sea oats, and evergreen trees. When I look back from the water’s edge at Coquina Beach, on Anna Maria Island, that’s all I see. No high-rise condo buildings or hotels, no concrete boxes looming over the sea. If it weren’t for the modern playground near the snack shop, this scene could be from a 1940s postcard.

In the early days of Florida’s development, there were lots of laid-back beaches like this, where families rented a little apartment for a week and spent time reconnecting through days on the shore.

The Gulf Islands of Florida, at the bottom of Tampa Bay, have fought off the twin temptations of massive tourism development and large-scale retirement development, however. They have managed to retain the feel of a laid-back old Florida.

**Gainesville is home to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Shown here are the skeletons of a mammoth and a mastodon. Photo by Shady Hartshorne**

Gainesville, Florida: More Than Just Gators

For college football fans, Gainesville needs no introduction. It’s the home of the University of Florida’s famous Gators, archrivals of FSU’s Seminoles. In 1911, the University of Florida chose the alligator as their mascot and Gator Pride has ruled the city ever since. The 90,000-seat stadium is sold out for every game of the season.

I don’t follow college football all that closely, but I recently had the opportunity to visit Gainesville and I can tell you that the city is loaded with fun, interesting activities that don’t involve painting your body orange.

**Sunset on the Suwannee River - photo by Shady Hartshorne**

By the Banks of the Suwannee: Natural North Florida

When people think of Florida, they often think of Disneyworld, the Keys, or Miami’s South Beach. But I decided to take a trip to Florida’s northern region to get an alternative view of the Sunshine State. I found excellent hiking, boating, fishing and birding as well as historic mansions and farms, great food and places to stay.

A coordinated effort by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Suwannee River Water Management District in collaboration with county governments and private partners has produced an ambitious project that will allow boaters to travel the entire length of the Suwannee from the Georgia border to the Gulf of Mexico.

**An alligator in the Everglades - photo by J. Lang Wood**

The Everglades: Filled With Beauty and History

Picture a ‘river of grass.’ Wide and shallow, not like other rivers. A river lush with vegetation. It has no current, no falls or rapids, and no sound of moving water. As this river moves, it passes through swamps, sawgrass prairies, and mangrove-rooted islands, which separate and distinct species of plants, and where animals flourish.

It moves at a rate of 100 feet a day, and its depths vary from just a few inches to almost two feet high. Barely enough to support its variety of life, yet this inhospitable beauty has survived many, many assaults from both nature and man. It is the one of the richest, densest and most subtle eco-systems the world has ever seen.

Read more GoNOMAD stories about Florida:

Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast: Abundant Wildlife and Unspoiled Beauty

Little Havana, Miami, Florida