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Category Archives: Outdoor Florida Magazine Travel

Treasure Coast A Bountiful Amount of Nature & a Beach That Goes So Far!

While this Canadian jaw drops, the locals on the beach barely look up. The small spinner sharks don’t worry anyone here too much.

A surfer ignores the half-hour “no swim order” after it’s spotted and runs back in after a few minutes: “The waves are too good,” he says, flipping his long bangs as he heads into the water off Hutchinson Island.

This 50-kilometre strip of Florida along the Atlantic — from Sebastian down to Stuart — is called the Treasure Coast, for the silver and gold left in the sea after a hurricane wiped out a Spanish fleet in 1715. But that’s not the only bounty here.

Related story: 6 Treasure Coast experience

In the state known for Disney World, spring-break parties and packed beaches, the Treasure Coast offers something else entirely. Long stretches of uncrowded beaches — with ample room in their parking lots — others that are preserved wetlands and plenty of opportunities to hang out with some of the area’s original inhabitants.

Such as alligators.

We see dozens of them lollygagging about during an airboat ride on Blue Cypress Lake, 40 minutes inland from Vero Beach.

“Their ancestors walked with dinosaurs,” our captain says after cracking the requisite joke about going waterskiing in the lake.

“A lot of people don’t realize this is the real Florida,” Capt. John Smith of Florida Airboat Excursions says of the 500-year-old cypress trees and magnificent birds that are soaring overhead — osprey, white egrets and great blue heron.

We’re the only mammals around while horseback riding on the beach on Hutchinson Island, although someone spots a few dolphins frolicking in the ocean. As we amble single file along the water line listening to the waves, soaking up the turquoise of the water and the blue of the sky, we keep our eyes peeled for turtles walking up from the Atlantic to nest on the quiet beach.

Kayaking through the mangroves in Indian River Lagoon — the body of water between Hutchinson Island and the mainland — we watch pelicans dive for fish and meet Larry, a heron minding his own business on a rock.

“He’s retired now,” says Billy Gibson, our Motorized Kayak Adventures guide and avid naturalist. “We know the names of the birds that stay here,” he explains, and grins.

At a visit to the Florida Oceanographic Society’s Coastal Center in Stuart, we hear about local restaurants donating mounds of oyster shells so the centre can build oyster reefs to boost oyster populations and improve the water quality in the area. We learn to keep the beaches “clean, flat and dark” to not upset sea turtles and their babies.

“We get families changing their behaviour on the beaches,” says Zack Jud, director of education and exhibits at the centre. “We teach them that the environment matters.” The big draw is “petting” stingrays in a pool. You hold your hand still and the patient are rewarded with a stingray swimming up against you.

“Ecotourism seems to be the new economic boom for Florida,” says Charles Barrowclough, our guide as we walk along the boardwalk into the Barley Barber Swamp to see a 1,000-year-old bald cypress tree. “People want something to do, something different, and a whole industry has been created around that.”

We pause to taste the salt that’s formed on the leaves of black mangroves and look down to try to spot imaginary faces in the cypress stumps below the boardwalk. “This is old Florida, a remnant of what it was like before the Europeans came here,” says Barrowclough over the choir of cicadas.

“You can ride a roller-coaster anywhere,” he says, looking around at the ancient and very much alive swamp. “You can’t see this anywhere.”

 

Speed Concealed Carry Pistol Shirt by VERTX Designed 37.5 Relative Humidity for Best Comfort & Enhanced Action

Smart and comfortable and I can absolutely conceal my weapon-tool!
Smart and comfortable and I can absolutely conceal my weapon-too!

AmericanPressTravelNews-October 7th,-Bob reporting that these New Products for gun owners really work wonderfully for their designed uses.When I picked up this shirt (available in long or short sleeves and other color patterns)  and put it on, I immediately noticed that this was no ordinary piece of wearing apparel. It is a seriously woven piece of specialized, yet totally comfortable shirt with several innovations and uses. Two multi-purpose, reinforced zippered pockets that can be used to conceal your pistol, even the buttons on the shirt are snaps, but with button simulated snaps heads that actually conceal the real purpose of what this shirt is all about.  There are also snaps on the sleeves so you can roll them up and have your forearm free as if you wore a short sleeve model. The technology here is in, and discussed as the 37.5 factor, which is the core body temperature at which you feel most comfortable. The technology uses millions of particles to capture and release moisture vapor-helping you zone in on a personal micro-climate of an ideal relative humidity and core body temperature. 37.5 active particles are naturally derived with zero harsh chemicals to irritate the skin. The product dries up to 5-times faster than similar clothing cutting down on wet cling. The technology is permanent and never washes out or degrades.

Personally, I love this shirt. Not only can I comfortably wear a high quality, comfortable shirt, but I can easily conceal my pistol and only I know where it is and how really fast I could deploy my weapon if ever necessary.  Go vertx.com for more information and to order your great shirt too! Also check out thirtysevenfive.com  for checking out all the science and micro-diagrams of this shirts makeup. 

Totally conceal your weapon in a comfortable long or short sleeve high quality engineered shirt.
Totally conceal your weapon in a comfortable long or short sleeve high quality engineered shirt.

Fall Favorites at the Orchard Inn, Saluda, NC.

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AmericanPresstravelNews–From the Orchard Inn in Saluda, N.C.–On Oct. 9, 2016, “we will host an October Beer Dinner at Newman’s Restaurant to celebrate the fall harvest and support St. Gerard House, a local non-profit organization. Chef Stuart Partin has created a five-course menu highlighting our fall harvest with dishes such as Braised Veal Cheeks, Potted Duck Confit Pie, and Long Island Brussels Sprouts. Each course will be paired with artisan beers produced by Asheville’s most established brewery, Highland Brewing Company” said the Newman’s!

Explore The Amazing Eliada Corn Maze This Fall

When you think about fall, so many wonderful images can pop into your mind. The first is the much awaited cooler weather. Along with that is our stunning changing of the leaves and opportunities to pick pumpkins and attend fall festivals. One activity that is a lot of fun and benefits the community is the Eliada Corn Maze. It is a great way to spend an afternoon here in the mountains!

The North Carolina Fall Foliage is the Most Beautiful

We love fall in the Western North Carolina mountains. There are so many ways to enjoy our autumn landscape, from hiking to scenic drives. We have put together a few options for some of the best things to do during your stay at the Orchard Inn so you can enjoy a wonderful day amidst the red, orange, and golden leaves!

See All There Is to Do in the Asheville Area This Autumn

Asheville is noted for its orchards, climate, art, crafts, antiques, biking, hiking, white water kayaking, and fly fishing. There’s also great food, craft beer, and music! With so much to explore in town and outdoors, Asheville is a favorite autumn destination. Take a look everything there is to see and do in the Asheville area this fall.

Request Your Free Vacation Guide to Asheville, NC

If you are planning a visit to the Asheville, NC, area, you should request our free Vacation Guide. The Asheville/Saluda area has so many things to do for a romantic getaway, a family vacation or even a trip for “me time,” and we want to share our suggestions with you!
Click the link to download our complimentary Vacation Guide to see all that you can take advantage of in Asheville.

Our Guide covers:

• Restaurants You Will Want to Visit Time & Time Again
• Festivals & Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss
• Outdoor Activities for All Skill Levels
• Shopping For One-of-a-Kind Items
• Orchard Inn Exclusives
100 Orchard Inn Lane, Saluda, NC 28773 | Call: (800) 581-3800 or (828) 749-5471
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