My friend Matt tied on a special fly to the end of his fishing line, one of his own design that he has since named the “pompinator” (less colorfully known as a #4 tan/olive clouser minnow). We had arrived with our buddies on a sunny Key West afternoon, chasing after the island’s best fly-fishing, swimming,…

As my husband and I hopped out of the car and joined a large group of people streaming towards the park’s entrance gate, we were joining an even longer, metaphorical line of humans who have been visiting Rainbow Springs for over 10,000 years. The park encompasses the fourth largest spring in Florida, and right away…

The park’s kayaks had been carefully aligned in orderly rows, shining bright yellow and orange under a layer of morning dew. My friend Margaret and I picked up life jackets and paddles from the ranger station and then picked up our watercraft. The land within the park is made up of multiple islands, including Fat…