My Florida

Truth be told, I am not a Florida native. I was born in the mountains of New Jersey, grew up within sight of the Appalachian Trail, and came to Florida because my parents, who loved to vacation here every year, decided as many Northerners do to make it their home. I was in the middle of high school and it was a very hard adjustment to make. So much so, that I headed back up to the mountains a few years later, after graduating from Forest High School and CFCC in Ocala.

Yet time has a way of connecting us to the landscape, and for me, it was a combination of factors. My family remained here. I returned to Ocala after a traumatic life event, the loss of my younger sister. And I began to explore Florida with my eyes open, as an adult, instead of as a teen who wanted to escape. In Pennsylvania, I backpacked and hiked with a local club and on the Appalachian Trail; when I moved back to Ocala, I sought similar experiences. I discovered the Florida Trail hiding right under my nose. Who knew there was a National Scenic Trail right here in the Ocala National Forest? Not me. That led me to hiking Florida, which led me to writing about hiking Florida. And when you put one foot after the other for thousands of miles, you get to know the place.

My Florida is a place of natural wonders, of untamed wilderness, and of small towns brimming with friendly people. I have no interest in condo-lined shores, nor do I appreciate seeing forests and citrus groves mown down to build houses for newcomers. I write about Florida from a perspective gathered from first-person exploration: research on the War Between the States, drives down country roads, stays in vibrant towns, and one foot in front of the other. From my childhood, I bring a love of the old-time tourist attraction; as an adult, I appreciate the artist’s colonies and quiet bed & breakfast getaways. 

As I share these people and places that are My Florida, I ask you to treat them gently. Remember you are in the South, and show the courtesy and respect that the long history of our state is owed.

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