Backyard Adventures

In this issue’s great destinations, BOM checks out the haps with outdoor adventures in the Sunshine State. Not only does Florida appeal to the typical beach-goer and theme park enthusiast, but the state is loaded with outdoor action. From a swamp safari in Big Cypress to diving the warm waters in the Keys, it’s an outdoor playground. Since I was a kid Florida has always courted me as the happy land of oranges a days drive down interstate 95. What ever Florida had, amusement park, beach, boating…we did it… I thought. Just recently, I decided to break from my routine and paddle the Great Calusa Blueway in Ft. Myers. Only minutes away from the heart of a busy tourist city, this amazing 190-mile stretch of historical waterway provided an experience similar to an international excursion.

The Calusa has become a destination for paddling purists who visit to
discover the quiet back waterway trails of Ft. Myers. As you paddle the narrow mangrove trails one can easily catch a glimpse of a manatee, sea turtle or many of the 300 species of birds that inhabit this primitive natural landmark. While many hit the more popular tourist attractions in the state, for good reasons, there are many adventures waiting in some of the most common places. Such waterways as the Calusa provide a filter from the day-to-day urban grind and create an escape to the old world.

There are many outdoor getaways like the Calusa across the country that provide viable outdoor experiences for the novice and enthusiast adventure seeker. With the growing number of limitations and rising gas prices impacting travel, many have turned to the amenities of domestic parks and waterways to venture and explore. Such destinations have become more marketable, even for the international adventurer, due to the revitalization and clean water initiatives with parks and waterways across the country. There are many mountains to climb, trails to hike, paths to cycle, beaches and lakes to fish, exotic birds to watch and rivers to paddle right in our backyards. So find a local or state park and find the adventure that awaits you.

In this summer issue, BOM sails to the British Virgin Islands with sailor Marsha Smith of Blue Odyssey as she chronicles her… And BOM is off to YARD to surf with the Jamaican Surfing Association (JSA) as founder, Billy Wilmot, shares some his best local breaks in JA. And join BOM friend as he paddles in the Neuse River Day race and me as I catch one of my favorite fish to eat … Kingfish… right off the coast of Miami beach. The summer is blazing with water fun and you can catch it at Black Outdoorsman Magazine. Come catch the wave.

B-Out!

Charles K. West
Publisher/CEO