Great news for paddlers! The old Fisheating Creek Campground is under new management looking to cater to the needs of paddlers coming to enjoy this world-class kayaking route. I’m happy to report the new managers are two friends of mine, Patty and Allen Register, who have deep roots in Glades County - they own Gatorama, which has been in business as a alligator farm and roadside attraction for more than 50 years - and have a serious interest in outdoor recreation and showcasing the beauty of their area.
Their new Fisheating Creek Outpost debuts today, and I’d expect major changes in the way of improvements to the campground itself. Livery service will deliver you to several points along the creek so you can enjoy a leisurely trip down this winding waterway.
For more information, please visit their new website: Fisheating Creek Outpost
Who first encouraged you to go outside? Was it your parents? Mine sure did. We had a great backyard full of plants that I only recently learned were very rare and special, a North Woods habitat filled with ferns, mosses, princess trees, club moss, and nodding lady slippers. I’d make little trails in the backyard - honest, I did! - and create critters out of cardboard and string to entertain my younger sisters when they took hikes on the backyard trails. And then there was the blueberry bush, which by mid-summer was dripping with succulent berries and stood taller than me. We had a wooded lot behind us, a dense forest to get lost in, and our neighbors preserved all their trees and rocks too, so there were plenty of places to play.
Driving down International Drive in Orlando a couple of years ago, I found out that Thorlos - my favorite brand of hiking socks - opened the Thorlos Orlando Factory Outlet right down there in the middle of all the theme parks and shopping. An odd place, you say? Not so. Savvy choice for foot traffic - now we just need to get those shoppers out on the great trails nearby at Tibet-Butler Preserve, Disney Wilderness Preserve, and the Osceola Environmental Center in Poinciana.
In these tough economic times, the squeeze is on for outdoor retailers, especially the small independent folks who’ve been your reliable local source for gear when you need it fast. Over the years, I’ve visited many Florida retailers, and it’s my experience that small local shops beat the big chains every time when it comes to customer service. As I have the opportunity to revisit these shops, I’ll be posting full details about them, but I’ve been asked more than once for a list of independent outfitters in Florida who carry backpacking and hiking gear, so here goes:
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