I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone say, “Florida is too flat, there’s nothing but sand and palmettos”. Spoiler alert - It's me. I’ve said this. The fact is, Florida doesn’t have much elevation, but what it does offer is a wide variety of landscapes. Many of which you won’t see just driving on an interstate highway.
I used to bash my native state from a point of pure naivety. What I had experienced up to that point was strictly the white sugar sand trails with surrounding pine trees and palmettos and a few of our local beachfronts in the Tampa area. What I had missed was a perspective of how much can change if you venture out in different directions.
A few years ago, when I began exploring some of the State Parks within driving distance, I quickly realized that this area has more to offer if I'd only take the time to go looking for it. Granted, most of the landscape will be similar in certain areas, but it doesn't take long to stumble upon the unexpected.
I was reminded of this recently as I had an opportunity to visit the northern part of the state up near Tallahassee. Since the birth of The Trail Connection, I had been motivated to visit more of my local parks and wildlife areas to seek out the hidden gems that my state has to offer. Unfortunately, the last couple of years had brought challenges to keeping up with that initiative, which pushed that recognition out of my mind and the efforts ceased. But as I drove through the rolling hillside and wound around the curves in the road in that region, the enthusiasm to get out there again and explore came roaring back.
On this past trip out of state, my family and I got to visit a few National Parks along the way, and I collected my passport stamps and coordinating commemorative pins. Of course, as I was exploring mountains, caves, and dunes, I was jealous of all the incredible features other parts of the country own. As I've said on previous episodes, I'm mostly an east coast kid and haven't gotten to experience the immersive mountain ranges of the western part of the country to any extent. Only being to Colorado once, the longing to explore more is becoming an obsession. I've tasted only a morsel of the wonders of this land. However, upon returning to the Tampa Bay area a few days earlier than we had planned, and with a little vacation time left to spare, I got excited about visiting parts of Florida that I have never seen before. Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Park are all within a day's drive of my hometown, and I've never been to that part of Florida. Unfortunately, trips to a couple of those require a little less spontaneity and more planning to fully appreciate them, so I have plans to visit them soon. One of which is looking to be a pretty epic anniversary trip with my wife! Along with those National Parks, I have a long list of State Parks to check out as well, and I plan to begin working through that list promptly.
All of this got me thinking though - why have I always felt like I can't have an amazing nature experience without it including a mountain range or loads of waterfalls? Why is it that when I get the itch to be curious, I feel like I need to cross state lines? I think the answer to those questions can be summed up in a single word...Perspective. We can all relate to this feeling of wanting something different or that things would be better if - meanwhile we are blinding ourselves of the blessings that we're standing in the midst of. What we have is most certainly the envy of others. Snowbirds want sunshine and heat. Southerners want mountains and snow. City folk want peace and quiet and countryfolk want a grocery store without driving an hour. No matter where we stand, the grass will always look greener - unless we change our perspective. This requires effort and I am living proof that it is NOT easy. The same rule applies to just about any aspect of our lives. Which side we choose to reside on is up to us individually though. I want to move out of Florida, but I don't have to be miserable while I still live here.
I am blessed to live where I do. Yes, it's hot as "H-E-L-L-Double hockey sticks" sometimes, but there are plenty of places to swim. Yes, there isn't much elevation to the trails I walk down here, but there is beauty to been seen. Yes, it's crowded and is getting even more so by the day, but my family has support here.
My family and I may not live here always. Then again, maybe we will. But until the day we don't, I need to be more grateful for what it has to offer. My plan is to keep that perspective fresh by exploring as much of the state as possible. I'll try to log as many of my adventures as I can on here so I can prove to the outsiders that Florida is more than flat land, sand, and palmettos.
-Mitty