Adventure Travel Photography Blog
I’m thankful for Florida’s forgotten coast because you can visit the historic town of Apalachicola and the beautiful beaches of St. George Island with your dog in tow and without the crowds. It was a perfect getaway place for me and my dog Annie as we roadtripped to Florida for three weeks in Venice to horse show in January.
DON’T FORGET!
During our three week visit to Venice, Florida, we enjoyed the local dining scene ranging from elevated waterfront seafood at the jetties to the charming, pink-hued comfort of “old Florida” bistros tucked along Miami Avenue.
Whether you are sipping a craft brew from a self-serve beer wall or sharing a decadent homemade muffin at a sidewalk café, every meal reflects the city’s unique blend of sophisticated Mediterranean architecture and relaxed coastal hospitality.
Below is a list of restaurants in Venice we tried, with favorites being Made In Italy, Food + Beer, Oak and Stone, and Blue Island Bistro.
TAKE A TASTE!
I recently visited Venice for three weeks of horse shows at Fox Lea Farms, and on my time off I like to escape to nature while hiking with my dog Annie. Venice affords nature seekers a variety of places to hike including preserves, reserves, state parks and beaches. Below are five places I hiked in Venice.
HAPPY HIKING!
Well, I finally made it to the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. I’ve always been interested in rocks, so what better way to indulge in stones by digging for diamonds?
The Crater of Diamonds State Park is only a four hour drive from my hometown of Dallas, Texas. So, I don’t know why it has taken me so long to try my luck. Especially with a recent trip to Mena and passing through the state too many times to count for horse shows in Gulfport and Ocala.
The good news is that now my piqued interest in digging for diamonds has been satisfied. For anyone else who wants to try their luck, below is a helpful guide.
DIG FOR DIAMONDS
The Cascades National Recreation Trail in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests is a spectacular fall hike near Pembroke, Virginia.
HAPPY HIKING!
Much to my dismay, aside from hiking the Wild Pacific Trail in Vancouver, trekking this summer eluded me. Fortunately, however, on my way to Maryland for a horse show, I stopped to stretch my legs with my dog Annie on the Dam Mountain Trail in Lake Catherine State Park.
Lake Catherine State Park is located outside of the popular resort City of Hot Springs in the forest-clad Ouchita Mountains. The 2,240 acre park offers many outdoor activities including camping, fishing, water sports, hiking and horseback riding.
With the majority of the campsites on the lake shore, camping and water activities including fishing, party barges, canoeing, kayaking, water biking and pedal boating are the biggest draw.
HAPPY HIKING!
Continuing my road trip home from Ocala, Florida, I stayed the night in Historic Blakeley State Park on the way to visit some horse friends in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Historic Blakeley State Park, located in Spanish Fort, Alabama encompasses more the 2,000 acres and affords visitors many things to do. Along with RV camping, primitive camping, improved tent camping and cabin rentals, the park features 30 miles of trails, boat cruises, a Civil War Battlefield, the Townsite of Blakeley, and remnants of American Indian habitation.
EXPLORE!
The Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark was an interesting stop on my road trip home from Florida. I’m glad I spent a few hours checking it out after visiting Cathedral Caverns State Park and the Unclaimed Baggage Store in northeastern Alabama.
JOIN A TOUR!
After spending two months in Ocala on the horse show circuit, I headed back toward Texas with a detour to northeastern Alabama to visit The Unclaimed Baggage Store. It was time to let my dog Annie stretch her legs, so after completing my secondhand shopping we ventured to Cathedral Caverns State Park.
The park, only 21 miles southwest of Scottsboro, features five hiking trails, RV and tent camping, cave tours, gem mining, and many educational programs. Since I am infatuated by caves, the cavern tour was a big draw for me.
GO SPELUNKING!
The Unclaimed Baggage Store is likely just what you have guessed. A store with unclaimed baggage from all the airlines in the United States. As an avid traveler, when I first heard about the place over five years ago, I was highly intrigued. So much so, that I have always wanted to visit.
I planned on visiting about four years ago while I was roadtripping through the southeast United States. After VANgo ended up with an electrical problem in Florida, my itinerary and life changed dramatically, and I didn’t make it to Scottsboro, Alabama, the location of the Unclaimed Baggage Store. Instead, I returned to Texas and promptly bought a horse!
Now, four years later, I was again in Ocala, Florida, this time showing my horse. And upon my return to Texas, I was bound and determined to visit the Unclaimed Baggage Store. I drove out of my way to do so, which is particularly crazy for me since I truly dislike shopping. But in the end, satisfying my curiosity was worth it!
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP