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Sometimes it is hard to find a piece of “old” Florida; a reminder of what the Tampa Bay area looked like when settlers first came in the 1800s. Luckily Boyd Hill offers the visitor a glimpse into that not-so-distant past. Spend an hour or two wandering through a Florida wilderness set on the beautiful shores of Lake Maggiore (only 10 minutes from downtown St. Petersburg). Well maintained and signed trails and boardwalks make it easy to enjoy the various habitats and critters. An aviary is home to a number of birds who have been rehabilitated from injuries but are not able to return to the wild. The Boyd Hill Preserve is 240-acres of lake, marsh land, pine flatwood forest, marsh woodlands, and sand scrub. The gopher tortoise make Boyd Hill its home and it is delightful to watch a pair lumber across the trail. Roseate spoonbills, anhingas, egrets and herons all hang out in the lake and marshes of Boyd Hill. Ospreys and bald eagles are known to roam and nest in the area as well. Are you in the St Petersburg area and maybe have had just about enough beach? It can happen. Maybe you want to take a break from the umbrella drinks on the patio? How about spending the day immersing yourself in the nature here. When that umbrella calls, you can be back in no time.

There is more to the St Petersburg/Clearwater area than beaches and boating; there are quiet pockets of nature filled with beauty and wild creatures. Weedon Island Preserve is one of those spots. Located on the northwestern shores of Tampa Bay, it is a quick 20 minute drive from downtown St Petersburg. This 3190 acre marine ecosystem is accessible by kayak, boardwalk, pier, and a small system of upland trails. We rented kayaks for a half-day and paddled through a well-marked water trail. Sweetwater Kayak Rentals delivered the kayaks to the water’s edge and provided life vests, paddles, and good advice. With a bit of a shove, we were off onto the waters of Weedon Preserve. We paddled in sheltered bays watching American oystercatchers and egrets scavenge for food. We glided through earthy-scented mangrove tunnels where the outside world melted away into quiet paradise. Another day we watched the sunset from the fishing pier. A Great Blue Heron walked along one railing while we leaned against the other, content to savor the late afternoon light. A swish in the water heralded a small group of dolphins, one a youngster. A walk up the observation tower is rewarded with an expansive view of the mangrove “islands” with the downtowns of Tampa and St Petersburg just a glimmer in the distance. For more information about Sweetwater Kayaks, check here.

The Seminole Indians have 2,200 acres at Billie Swamp Safari, Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation in Clewiston,Florida. The Reservation is southwest of Jensen Beach and takes about 2 1/2 -3 hours. The Seminole Tribe runs this safari park where there are many attractions available to the visitor. Billie Swamp Safari is a big south Florida attraction. There is an airboat ride that whisks you through the swamps as you see alligators, heron, egrets, turtles, and other wildlife. The Swamp Buggy Eco Tour drives through the wetlands and brush and there are wild pigs, raccoons, ostriches, wild turkeys, water buffalo, and other wild animals. You can walk the nature trail and see more of the reservation and the Florida everglades foliage. Visit the alligator pit and take in the show and don’t miss the snake & reptile demonstration. You can stay overnight in a rustic chickee on a Seminole Chickee stay. There is no electricity or running water but the reservation has shower and bathroom facilities. Dine on Indian treats (alligator bits, frog legs) or burgers or hot dogs at the Swamp Water Cafe. Enjoy the Butterfly Garden. Watch the Seminole ladies sew traditional Seminole garments on their Singer sewing machines. Stop in at the gift shop and buy a souvenir or two. I enjoyed the Safari and felt it was well-run and informative. All I ever hear about this attraction is positive. I’ll visit again. Try to get there. It’s a fun trip! Info and Coupons: www.billieswamp.com

Fort Pierce is located on the Treasure Coast of Florida. The city has seen a surge in popularity and has renewed both the historic city itself and its causeways, parks, inlet, lagoon, and beaches. Over the causeway the newly paved A-1-A is lined with stately palms and wide sidewalks. The inlet has a few great spots for a meal, burger, or a brew. In 1838, the U.S. Army built a fort in the area during the second Seminole Indian War. Lt. Colonel Benjamin Pierce was the commanding officer. During World War II, the beaches of the lagoon area were the training grounds for the Navy Frogmen ( today’s Navy Seals). About 140,000 were trained and practiced there at the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park. The South Causeway has a great peaceful park with a beach and boat ramp. The 1/4 mile beach along the Indian River Lagoon empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The aqua waters are busy with kayakers, sailors, and pleasure boaters. Picnic tables are placed along the shore. Fishing poles line the beach as people sit in their chairs reading or daydreaming as they wait for a bite. Pelicans, egret, and herons are some of the many birds near Fort Pierce on the Indian River Lagoon. Especially off-season you can find a parking spot. Spend a couple of peaceful hours at this beautiful spot on the Indian River Lagoon near the Fort Pierce Inlet. I enjoy my time spent there and I know you will too. Check out this area and park. You might want to go over the bridge into Fort Pierce and have dinner.

My mother is such a good sport when she visits. She knows I have to be constantly moving outside to feel alive and on this visit, I thought a fun way to be active in the wine country region of the Russian River, would be to take her out on a 10 mile canoe rental through Burke’s. Yes, she survived and was rewarded to a gourmet picnic packed by her daughter and some celebratory bubbles for good measure at Korbel to finish the day. You’ll find Burke’s a mile north of tiny Forestville, CA and it’s about an hour and a half drive from San Francisco. Be sure to have brought directions with you in hand, since your phone will most likely not have a signal the deeper you get into Redwood country. The cost is $65 per canoe and you can call ahead, reserve on line or just do it when you arrive. They’ll set you up with life jackets and paddles and explain where the ‘put out’ is, where you’ll finish up and find their shuttle bus that will get you back to where you’d parked. The joy of this self guided expedition lies in the timing being entirely up to you. Picnic, swim, sunbathe at beaches along the stretch of this beautiful river. You’ll be able to view wildlife such as otter, Great Blue Heron, osprey, turtles, egret, and more. Make a canoe trip on the Russian River a part of your next California wine country adventure, you’ll love it! Pack that sunscreen and plenty of water.

Visiting the boathouse is great this time of year. There is nobody else around so you can take your time with the visit. It’s a lovely house where the poet, writer and broadcaster Dylan Thomas live the last four years of his tragically short life. The upstairs exhibit is not extensive and it includes a 24 minute film about Dylan Thomas. Downstairs there is a lovely tea room offering great tea and snacks. The shop sells books and other small mementos. The paintings around the house are also for sale. The Boathouse terrace offers wonderful views of the Taf estuary and the Gower beyond – a haven for egrets, lapwings, herons, oyster catchers, seals and otters with fishermen and cocklers continuing the ancient traditions. Photography is not permitted in the house, except for the tea room.

Two broad snouts snuffle up from the water at the edge of the walking path along Coffee Pot Bayou. A manatee and her baby drift over to the storm drain to drink fresh water coming down from nearby Lake Crescent. The baby cuddles close. A small group of locals lean over the edge of the concrete bulkhead to watch “their” manatees. They speak in happy whispers and take photos with their cell phones to send to friends in colder climes. Common to the bayou for most of the year, manatees are almost an everyday sight during the cooler winter months when colder waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay drive them to the shallow warmer waters of Coffee Pot Bayou. As spring approaches groups of courting manatees can be seen rolling around each other in the shallow waters. Keeping them company are statuesque Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets, shy Green Herons, and gregarious Laughing Gulls. Red-ear slider turtles can often be seen popping their heads up in the water or sunning themselves on boat ramps. Even a dolphin or two join in on the fun. The broad sidewalk along Coffee Pot Bayou is part of a 2-mile walking/biking path that extends from downtown St. Petersburg and follows the edge of Tampa Bay before entering Coffee Pot Bayou. It is a safe, well-lit path with fantastic views, comfortable benches for resting, access to a small beach off of North Shores Park, and opportunities for fishing. Our manatee spot is at Coffee Pot Blvd and 23rd Ave NE.

An antidote to hectic modern life, Travaasa Hana, on Maui’s remote eastern coast, feels like a step back in time. There are no televisions, radios, clocks, or air-conditioning (ceiling fans and panoramic sliding doors capture ocean breezes) in nearly all of the 70 cottages and suites, but you won’t miss them. Your days will be spent soaking up Hawaiian culture, whether that means fishing with throw nets, making traditional ti leaf leis, or enjoying an open-air ukulele lesson. Of course, no visit to these parts is complete without a journey along the legendary Road to Hana, which lies to the north and west and promises primordial views of waterfalls, gardens, and secluded swimming holes. Upon your return to the resort, savor the fresh-caught specialties at the Preserve Kitchen & Bar, overlooking Hana Bay.

Secluded and service-oriented are the adjectives that best describe Rosewood Mayakoba, a resort in Playa del Carmen that opened in 2008. At 1,600 acres, the resort is expansive, offering plenty of room for guests to feel that they have their own space. Rooms, too, are spacious and have either tile or wooden floors, comfortable beds and chairs, and a layout and design that draws guests to outside spaces such as patios and balconies. The sense of privacy is reinforced by special en suite features, including private plunge pools, garden showers, and sundecks. Service, which includes butler, concierge, and valet support, is first-class. Staff can facilitate or organize a wide range of experiences, both on the hotel property and in the surrounding area. These range from horseback riding on the beach and ocean kayaking to private dining and aerial tours of the Mayan site Chichén Itzá.

Bermuda is located along the northernmost coral reef system in the world and offers a variety of shipwrecks and colorful reefs for aquatic adventurers. PADI-certified diving professionals at Fantasea Diving and Watersports, near the Royal Naval Dockyard, offer beginner to advanced SCUBA lessons and dive trips. You can start a new diving hobby, complete your current requirements, or become certified to dive anywhere. The dive center also provides kayak eco tours and private charter boat snorkeling excursions, perfect for catching some rays or snapshots of colorful fish and inquisitive turtles. Other sightseeing adventures include an Old Bermuda Railway Bike Tour, a Railway Hike and Swim Tour, and the spirited Gosling’s Rum Tasting Cruise.

Orlando’s centerpiece lake sits right in the middle of downtown, close to the pretty neighborhood and dining district of Thornton Park. A pedestrian-only path fringing the water stretches for nearly a mile, offering visitors a great place to stroll or jog. Along the lake you’ll also find an amphitheater for concerts and festivals, a picturesque pagoda overlook, and a kiosk where you can rent pedal boats shaped like swans. Bring the kids to feed the ducks and swans, or visit the farmers’ market, which takes place on the lake’s southeast corner every Saturday morning.

Put on your comfortable shoes and head to the many trails of Cayman Brac to see wildlife, as well as scenic and geological sights. There is a path for all skill sets. Listen to the mating calls of the parrots flying above at the National Trust Parrot Reserve Hiking Loop, or descend carefully into Peter’s Cave and move through the various layers to discover a truly breathtaking natural wonder. Most hotels have a brochure of all the hiking trails; this includes images, difficulty, and a brief description of each trail.

After five days of cooking classes--learning from Estela Salas Silva and Jon Jarvis how to make typical Poblano dishes including sopa de tortilla, crema de chile Poblano soup, tamales, tinga, sopes, pipian verde and pipian roja, mole Poblano, chipotles en conserva, ensalada de nopalitos, and more--the payoff includes a diploma, a loose-leaf folder of recipes, and a deeper knowledge of central Mexican cuisine, culture, and history.

Alcatraz—the very name conjures dark images of impregnable prisons, infamous criminals, and daring escape attempts. But the island is not all murder and mayhem. “The Rock,” set a few kilometers offshore in the San Francisco Bay, is designated a National Historic Landmark and managed by the National Park Service. It’s an important area for nesting seabirds and the site of the West Coast’s first lighthouse, and has hosted a military garrison and been occupied by American Indian activists. The main draw for visitors, of course, is the abandoned maximum-security state penitentiary. Between 1934 and 1963 this almost-mythical prison housed some of the country’s most dangerous and troublesome criminals, including Al Capone. The audio tour is fascinating. Narrated by former inmates and guards, the tour ushers you down dank corridors, into cramped cells, and through common areas and staff quarters. You hear stories about the prisoners’ daily routines, escape attempts, and riots, all set to an atmospheric prison life soundtrack of echoing footfalls, clanging doors, and jangling keys. The only way to reach the island is via an Alcatraz Cruises ferry from Pier 33. Advance booking is recommended; during peak times tickets can sell out weeks in advance. By day you can explore the island, or combine it with a trip to Angel Island; by night you get more broody views of the Rock.

A ten-minute drive from Bahía de Caráquez will bring you to the Isla Corazón bird sanctuary. This eco-tourism project is located on an island in the estuary that sits just to the east of Bahía de Caráquez. Even if you are new to bird-watching, the guides here will identify the various egrets, gulls and frigates flying above you or making their way through the mangroves. In addition to providing a sanctuary for the birds that live on Isla Corazón, the project is dedicated to protecting the four different mangroves on the island. Before you leave, you’ll be able to distinguish between red, white, black and button mangroves.