Florida Outdoor Getaways 2008 - (Page 14) Left, Ocala National Forest. By Lynn Seldon Right, Kayaking on the Peace River. Courtesy Charlotte and the Gulf Islands CVB. > North Florida: Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail Paddling down the Aucilla River at sunset, headed to an island a few miles off the coast, my friend spotted a large black animal moving through the salt marsh. “It’s a cow.” “No. Looks like a wild hog.” “You’re both wrong,” I said. “That’s a Florida black bear.” These secretive animals seldom get close to humans, but this one probably never heard or saw us as we slid silently by in our sea kayaks. The Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail, a 105-mile series of designated campsites stretching from the St. Marks River Lighthouse in the north to the Suwannee River, is the first segment of a trail that will soon circumnavigate the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission allows only a limited number of paddlers on the trail at any given time, assuring that the area remains pristine and that travelers enjoy a unique wilderness experience. This stretch of coastline southeast of Tallahassee has few towns or inhabitants. During the Civil War, rebels boiled salt in iron kettles in camps along the shore to make Confederate salt. The area was also known for bootleggers, who counted on raccoons and wild pigs as their only witnesses. In many areas, the water is less than a foot deep. As you skim across the grass flats, look for scallops hiding in the turtle grass and the boils of red drum as they scurry for cover. See www.myfwc.com/recreation to pull their dugout canoes right up to their thatched huts. Today, the dugouts are long gone and the canals are filled with sand, but sea kayakers can still get a taste of what life for the “Fierce People” must have been like by paddling The Great Calusa Blueway. The 100-mile canoe/kayak trail winds through the pristine waters of Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound. With more than 300 species of birds – including brown and white pelican, bald eagle, great heron, snowy egret, osprey, ibis and roseate spoonbill – birders come from all over the country to add to their life lists. The beauty of this waterway is that it is well-marked and user-friendly. A novice can find adventure in a one-hour paddle, or the seasoned veteran can tie several segments together for an all-day excursion. Outfitters offer a variety of guided and selfguided trips. Geo-cache enthusiasts, who search for prizes hidden by global positioning system coordinate, will also find hidden “treasures” at several points along the trail. See www.greatcalusablueway.com. Southwest Florida: The Great Calusa Blueway Standing on top of Mound Key, a 35-foot-high shell midden at the mouth of the Estero River, you get a view that is normally reserved for seagulls and pelicans. Once the capital city of the Calusa, the Natives who ruled South Florida, this ancient island south of Fort Myers had an intricate system of canals. It was a sort of rusticated Venice that allowed its residents 14 VISITFLORIDA.com/outdoors http://www.myfwc.com/recreation http://www.greatcalusablueway.com http://VISITFLORIDA.com/outdoors
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