Welcome to Professor Gator’s

Hello and welcome! If you’re reading this, it means one of two things: you’re either lost (gator holes are even worse than rabbit holes) or you want to see some of the wild and beautiful places that natural Florida has to offer.

No, not THAT. Here’s the kind of thing I’m talking about:

Florida is home to more than just theme parks, copy/paste subdivisions, and some of the scariest Wal-Marts known to man. Believe it or not, you can find solitude here. And beauty. Forests, swamps, marshland, palmetto prairie, dunes, jungles — and of course all the plants, trees & wildlife that go with them. That’s what this blog is for. Sharing these places that are special to me, places that may be new to you, and hopefully illustrating the vital need for conservation.

A year or so ago I was in the airport talking to a couple from upstate New York while we drank some caffeine in liquid form that I’m not generous enough to call coffee. At one point I mentioned how much I love Florida hiking (a subject I always manage to bring up; I’m rather predictable that way.) The husband looked at me as if I’d just said Clooney was the best Batman. “There are no mountains in Florida,” he said.

He’s not wrong. Our highest point is Britton Hill, a mere 345 feet above sea level. That’s the same height as this tower at Orlando International Airport:

So yeah, while I wouldn’t want to fall off of it…I realized that good old flat Florida doesn’t exactly scream “HIKING!” to a lot of people (it just sort of mumbles it, like an errant schoolboy forced to apologize to his teacher). And that’s a shame, because I wouldn’t trade my experiences out here in the wild for anything.

Can it be hot? Brutally. Are there bugs? Yup. “What about the lightning storms, Professor Gator?” Oh sit down, my child, and let me tell you a tale…

To me, though, it’s all part of the experience. I hope you enjoy visiting these places through my pics. Whether you’re a local or perhaps hope to travel here someday, maybe you’ll find a spot you want to explore.

(I would be remiss if I didn’t mention https://floridahikes.com/ as an invaluable resource and inspiration. Please visit their site for vastly better write-ups on the many trails, parks, and preserves in our lovely state).