SoWal Book-o-the-Month Club

Exploring Wild Northwest Florida, by Gil Nelson
Pineapple Press, Sarasota FL 1995
ISBN 1-56164-086-7

Here's a nice guide to the panhandle's outdoor natural recreation areas, with a focus on state parks, state forests, and state recreation areas.

Several introductory chapters review the origins of the panhandle's geology, the basic types of habitats, and our native flora and fauna (including the pesky coral snake that sometimes visits my storage shed :blink: ). These chapters are concise and informative and not at all academic or dry.

Each individual outdoor area has its own review, covering geography-wildlife-plants and other points of interest, facilities and fees, roads and access, etc. Included from in or near SoWal are Grayton Beach State Park, Falling Waters State Recreation Area, Pine Log State Forest, St. Andrews State Park, and Rock Bayou State Park. It's not a complete listing - missing near me are Pt. Wash. St. Forest and Deer Lake St. Pk. But it does give you a clear sense of what you'll find at each area listed.

This is great food for thought for anyone wanting to see the unspoiled panhandle. Every single listing is doable as a day trip from SoWal, if you want to get away from the beach for a while.

I got my copy from Downtown Books in Apalach. Amazon has it, too.

Feedback please, folks? I'll be happy to continue posting about other SoWal-relevent books on a regularly irregular basis.