Lake tahoe > Florida Camping

Florida Camping

by: Steve Gillman

Florida camping can be expensive. My wifa Ana and I paid $23 to camp in our conversion van one night. Of course, it was at a beautiful state park on the beach, and in the morning we saw a dolphin swimming near shore.

Florida camping can be inexpensive too. While at the beach, we heard we could camp for free at the isolated campgrounds which dotted the Apalachicola National Forest. Naturally, our frugality sent us into alligator country.

We camped two nights in the dark woods, next to the dark waters of a slow river. There was was an old guy who seemed to be living there, and a young couple with their two-year-old daughter. Lester was from England, Kari from Texas, and Indya was born in Guatamala. They met in India, of course.

No crowds, and the price was right. March nights can be chilly here, so the six of us circled the fire at night, trading stories, and sometimes sneaking down to the water to look for the eyes of alligators. Unfortunately, we saw nothing, but we did hear splashes in the night.

Lake Talquin

The old guy told us that camping was also free at Williams Landing, on Lake Talquin, about twenty minutes west of Tallahassee. We moved up there, looking forward to the hot showers. Lester, Kari, and Indya followed the next day in "The Beast," which was an old RV that had carried them there from Texas.

For eight days, we continued trading stories around the fire each night. We saw all kinds of wildlife. Packs of armadillos walked through camp, and giant grey herons fished offshore from the van. There were racoons, owls, squirrels, ducks, and turtles. Then there was the "monster."

I was poking around near a corner of the lake, when I heard the splash. We had already seen two small alligators sunning themselves the day before, but this one had to be a giant. I returned with Ana the next morning, and again heard the splash, but it was under the water before we could see it.

Every morning we visited the monster once the sun was high enough for him to come out and soak up the heat. We caught glimpses, enough to know he was at least ten feet long. Lester and Kari made a "Crocodile Hunter" movie of us stalking it. Soon it no longer panicked, but just slowly lowered itself into the water, as if getting ready to hunt us properly.

After that we stopped trying to get so close to it. The five of us went to view alligators safely after that, from the tour boat at Wakulla Springs. I even got the chance to jump off of the big diving platform there. We eventually said our goodbyes and went our separate ways, but we hope it wasn't our last time in Florida, camping.

About The Author

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For travel stories, tips and a free e-book, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com.

Do You Really Need A Fishing Guide?

by: Dan Farrell

"Do I really need a guide?" is one of the most frequently asked questions from anglers going on their first fishing trip to a remote lake. It's impossible to accurately answer that question with a "yes" or a "no", but we can give you the information you need to know to answer the question yourself.

Guides can frequently be worth having as long as you know just exactly what you're getting.

For example, hiring a guide is no guarantee that you're going to catch a ton of trophy fish. The guide will take you to the places known to have fish, but catching them is still up to you.

If you don't know what you're doing, the guide can only help you so much. But, that said, if that's the case, a guide may be well worth it to you.

Since you will be arriving at a lake you've never been on before, and you only have a few days to catch fish... a guide can really be a big help. Without a guide,...

Do You Really Need A Fishing Guide?

Lake tahoe > Do You Really Need A Fishing Guide?

Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

by: Clif Calderwood

Maine is one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, containing over 17 million acres of natural beauty, hikes, and magnificent summer and fall foliage scenic drives.

This scenic drive is through Maine backcountry. A rugged environment of thick forests and impressive mountain terrain.

The drive is magnificent in summer but not-to-be-missed in fall foliage season.

The route follows a 218-mile loop through central west Maine along the lower western shore of Moosehead Lake, and then runs parallel with the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec River. It?s best experienced over a few days rather than a one-day excursion trip, and lodging reservations are recommended during the popular fall foliage season.

Let?s get you started?

In the first part of the tour you?ll wind your way towards the town of Greenville on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Begin...

Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

Lake tahoe > Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

Choosing The Perfect Fishing Destination

Choosing The Perfect Fishing Destination

by: Dan Farrell

Whether you plan to saltwater or freshwater fish, you need to think about what

your priorities and what you consider the 'perfect fishing trip'. Salmon fishing in

Alaska or Bonefishing in the Florida Keys are obviously totally different in

destination, type of tackle, weather gear...etc.

One of the first things you must do to plan a great fishing trip is to identify your

priorities. You need to be more specific than just saying you want great fishing.

Great fishing may mean different things to each person in your fishing party.

One person might be happy with catching 20 fish per day, while another might be

expecting 30 fish per hour. So, you need to decide this up front.

Let's take a look at some of the most important things to consider when deciding

where to go on your fishing trip.

What type of fish do you want to catch?

While...

Choosing The Perfect Fishing Destination

Lake tahoe > Choosing The Perfect Fishing Destination

Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique

by: Joseph J. Breunig 3rd

Maneuvering a canoe does take a certain level of skill. Although one can easily maintain a sense of balance, a canoeist consciously needs to be aware of his surroundings at all time. On occasion, other boaters have been known to (either intentionally or unintentionally) create sets of waves that can topple the most experienced paddlers, in addition to the challenges that Mother Nature contributes.

Developing that experience of oaring proficiency can only occur when taking to the water. As a suggestion, plan your canoe outing with other canoeists. Besides the camaraderie of quality time spent with friends, traveling in small groups provides you with opportunities to perfect the "Cane-Over-Canoe" Rescue Technique. This technique is best performed when on any body of water. Once having mastered this procedure, an experienced canoe veteran...

Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique

Lake tahoe > Are You Ready to Get Wet? An Explanation of the Canoe-Over-Canoe Rescue Technique

Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

by: Clif Calderwood

Maine is one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, containing over 17 million acres of natural beauty, hikes, and magnificent summer and fall foliage scenic drives.

This scenic drive is through Maine backcountry. A rugged environment of thick forests and impressive mountain terrain.

The drive is magnificent in summer but not-to-be-missed in fall foliage season.

Let?s get you started?

In the first part of the tour you?ll wind your way towards the town of Greenville on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Begin...

Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

Lake tahoe > Fall Foliage Scenic Drive ? Lakes and Leaves Maine

Easy Invention Ideas

Easy Invention Ideas

by: Steve Gillman

Easy invention ideas? Why easy? Sometimes it's just too intimidating to think about building a new type of car, television, or other complicated invention. So these are ideas for garage or basement tinkerers. Coming up with a prototype for most of these will cost no more than the money in your pocket. They are not patented yet, as far as I know.

Wild Game Carrier

Deer hunters regularly die of heart attacks while carrying their bucks out of the woods. The invention here would solve that problem. It would have an inflatable wheel, using coated nylon that won't puncture easily. Once you get your deer, blow up the wheel, and using the clamps on either side, you attach two poles or sticks that you cut on site. Attach the simple nylon sling between the sticks, and you have a wheel-barrow-like device that will carry a deer over even rough trails. Probably weighing no more than two pounds, it could be carried...

Easy Invention Ideas

Lake tahoe > Easy Invention Ideas

Banff - Lake Louise: Stunning Beauty and Nature At Its Best in the Canadian Rockies

Banff - Lake Louise: Stunning Beauty and Nature At Its Best in the Canadian Rockies

by: Susanne Pacher

For the first time ever, my husband and I are going to go skiing in the majestic Rocky Mountains: in March of 2006 we are going to go to stay a week in Banff, Alberta and we are also going to explore Lake Louise, the turquoise jewel of the Canadian Rockies. As we have never been to this region, I have started to do some research and contacted the official visitor information website for the communities of Banff and Lake Louise in Banff National Park.

I had a chance to speak with Quintin Winks, Manager of Media Relations for

Banff Lake Louise Tourism, who was able to provide me with excellent background information about the Banff / Lake Louise Region.

1. Please provide us with some general information about Banff/Lake Louise. Where is it located, what is the weather like?

Banff is located within Banff National Park, in...

Banff - Lake Louise: Stunning Beauty and Nature At Its Best in the Canadian Rockies

Lake tahoe > Banff - Lake Louise: Stunning Beauty and Nature At Its Best in the Canadian Rockies