Sunshine State Getaways


Natural Awakenings Publishers Name Their Favorite Healthy Escapes by Linda Sechrist


W know the


Sunshine State as a favorite destination with a warm climate, white sandy beaches and


hile visi- tors


Warm Mineral Springs, Northport


awe-inspiring ecosystems, Natural Awakenings knows Florida far more intimately as, “Home sweet home.” Naples, the corporate launching


pad for all Natural Awakenings publish- ers, is the longtime residence of healthy living entrepreneur Sharon Bruckman, who launched the first magazine in 1994. Since then, more than 85 innova- tors in 35 states—14 in Florida—and Puerto Rico have become members of the Natural Awakenings family. Bruckman, whose flagship maga- zine covers Collier and Lee counties, regularly unwinds by walking the beach and watching the west coast’s spectacu- lar sunsets from Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (FloridaStateParks.org). She also enjoys sighting wildlife and explor- ing the wonders of a virgin bald cypress forest via strolls along the boardwalk at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanc- tuary (CorkscrewSanctuary.org). To give our Florida readers some inside tips on great day or weekend summer getaways, we asked Natural Awakenings publishers around the state for their favorite escapes in one of the world’s most famous playgrounds.


East Coast


Linda Palmer, who publishes the Miami Dade & The Florida Keys edition, often joins Sunday morning groups that ca- noe or kayak through the peaceful wa- ters and mangroves of Key Biscayne and the Ibis Preserve to observe and photograph nesting pelicans, herons


36 Collier/Lee Counties


and egrets. An- other favorite destination is the Florida Keys, where opportunities for eco-adven- tures abound. (MiamiDade. gov/ecoadven


tures/kayak_snorkel_keybiscayne.asp) Susan Wood, in Broward County/ Ft. Lauderdale, counts on the acres of peace and serenity at Duncan Re- treat & Conference Center, in Delray Beach—“a little piece of heaven, dropped into West Delray”—and Canterbury Retreat & Conference Center, in Oviedo, to renew her spirit. (DuncanCenter.org; Canterbury ConferenceCenter.org)


When Freddie Zeringue, in Jack- sonville, is up for a great day escape, he plans a trip to historic St. Augus- tine, the oldest European-established city in the United States. The pristine beaches of Fernandina, Florida, and St. Simons Island, Georgia, inspire him to write. (OldCity.com; VisitFlorida. com; ExploreStSimonsIsland.com) Kris Urquhart, of Melbourne/Vero Beach, believes lifelong learners will appreciate the Environmental Learning Center (ELC) in Vero Beach, as well as the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge—140,000 acres that include a manatee observation deck and offer bird and wildlife watching, fishing, boat- ing and paddling. She likes to visit the town of Indialantic during loggerhead sea turtle nesting season (June and July), when volunteers lead groups to see baby turtles make their way to the Atlantic. (SeaturtleSpaceCoast.org; Fws.Gov/ MerrittIsland; VisitSpaceCoast.com) Genevieve Short-Hamiwka, the Treasure Coast publisher, plans an evening at the Lyric Theatre, the center


swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com


for arts and entertainment, in Stuart. This historic showplace hosts world- class performances by local, national and international artists in an intimate, 500-seat performance hall with whisper- perfect acoustics. (LyricTheatre.com) Palm Beach County’s Publisher Leah Patton says the John D. Ma- cArthur Beach State Park, on Singer Island (Palm Beach County), rewards visitors in a number of ways: beaches, boating, canoeing and kayaking, fish- ing, a hiking/nature trail, picnicking, scuba diving, swimming and wildlife viewing. (MacArthurBeach.org)


West Coast North Port’s Warm Mineral Springs is a favorite relaxing getaway of Jason Cross and Jeff Taylor, Sarasota and Peace River publishers. They enjoy the healing power of 9 million gallons of 87-degree mineral water, the holistic spa services and good organic food. An added bonus: Admis- sion covers free daily dance and yoga classes. (WarmMineralSprings.com) One of the top 10 beaches in the


U.S., Fort DeSoto Beach (includes two dog parks—one for small dogs, the other for larger breeds), is an afternoon or evening escape relished by Tampa/ St. Petersburg Publisher Debbie Wilson, who sinks her toes in the sand on Pass- A-Grille Beach and then stops at the Don CeSar Beach Hotel for a cock- tail. (PinellasCounty.org/park.)


Central Florida


North Central Florida Publisher Carolyn Blakeslee heads to the Hippodrome Theatre, in Gainesville, known for its professional theatre group, first-run and independent films and film festivals. The Ocala Civic Theatre also offers professional quality live productions at an affordable price. (TheHipp.org; OcalaCivicTheatre.com)


Florida Mangroves


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