VOLUME 01 FEB. 2018 W E L C O M E T O N AT U R A L F L O R I D A ’ S G R E AT E S T T O U R G U I D E
T RAV EL & L I FES TYLE
S O U T H F LO R I DA
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EDITOR’S NOTE
I’ve walked many many miles along an empty coast. Nothing in sight except the water on my right and mangroves to my left. The gentle ocean breeze against my back. The slow quiet sound of the tide being pulled in toward shore engulfs me. In the distance I can hear seagulls chirping, and the restless wind howling over the water. As the sun starts to dip; lower and lower into the sky, I take a moment to soak it all in. I am left breathless each and every time I embark on another adventure. Growing up in Florida, I’ve had some pretty unique experiences. From spending my summers biking around sanibel’s historic neighborhoods, to 6 day canoe trips through the Everglades. I’ve seen a lot of this great state. Around the age of 13, I picked up a camera for the first time. And what would follow has been nearly 8 years of adventures, trying to capture Florida’s essence in a series of photographs. Many of these photos have never been released, so please enjoy my rendition of Florida. Shine On.
C R E AT E D B Y: M A X X E VA N
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SANIBEL ISLAND... K N O W N F O R I T ’ S Q U I E T R E S E R V E D B E A U T Y, S A N I B E L L A N D S I T S E L F T H E T O P S P O T F O R P E A C E F U L G E TAWAY S L I N I N G P R I S T I N E W H I T E S A N D B E A C H E S . . .
Growing up, Sanibel was always a mysterious place that was just a stone throw away. Full of adventures to be had, and nooks to explore, I spent many of my weekends, on the island. Whether I was hanging out on Bailey’s beach overlooking the causeway, or biking from a friend’s house on Periwinkle Way to the Sanibel Lighthouse, there was never a dull moment. Known to many tourists as the Shell Capital of the world, Sanibel’s unique landscape helped shape my love of adventure into what it is today. Sanibel’s beaches stretch on for miles, lined with the most lovely shells you can imagine. The beaches are home to some of the most diverse marine life as well. Wading out a few feet into the water with a net and scraping it through the sea grass can reward even the most inexperienced fisherman. Filled with needlefish, cowfish, horseshoe crabs, pufferfish, spider-crabs, sea-horses and much more, Sanibel’s beaches have it all. Growing up, my school curriculum revolved heavily around marine biology, and we would frequent these beaches to collect samples to study and care for, ultimatley releasing them back to the wild at the end of the year. As I got older I began to move away from Sanibel’s beaches. More then half of the island is home to wildlife refuges, the largest being the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Found along the Gulf of Mexico, Ding Darling, is a 5200 acre wildlife refuge, known for it’s migratory bird population. Currently the refuge houses over 220 species of birds native to the island. With a few nature trails to boast, Ding Darling has some of the most impressive mangrove ecosystems in Florida. Attracting an abundance of wildlife, like alligators and bobcats, visitors can walk, bike, drive, or kayak though the five mile long wildlife drive to see nature in it’s truest form. Wild.
C R E AT E D B Y: M A X X E VA N
QUIET
LANDS
BROUGHT
TO
LIFE
E A C H PA S S I N G D AY B Y T H O S E W H O INHABIT IT
There is plenty to do on the island outside of exploring and seeking out the native wildlife. Sanibel is home to some of the most distinctive mom and pop style restaurants in South West Florida. With some interesting names; The Island Cow, Doc Fords, The Lazy Flamingo, and The Pecking Order, you really can’t go wrong deciding where to eat. All restaurants are similar in style, having everything from golden snapper to burgers to the classic mahi-mahi with fries. Sanibel has the classic beach style eats we all know and love. A number of years ago Sanibel passed a law that prohibits the island from building restaurant chains, and big hotels. An attempt to preserve the island’s special charm. One of the most popular ways to get around the island is by bicycle.
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With a few bike rental stores at the entry point of the island, Sanibel has over 22 miles of bike paths. Sanibel is also home to 3 beautiful golf courses. The courses are set among the beautiful natural, island backdrop. While playing you might catch a glimpse of an Osprey or Roseate Spoonbill. Fishing is also huge on the island. Lighthouse beach park is home to one of the island’s most well known fishing pier. Try your luck at catching tarpon, snook, redfish, sharks, and trout. Private fishing charters are also available from the island taking people to some of the more exclusive fishing spots. Sanibel is not the typical destination. You will not find unruly college kids littering the beach, or many young kids without their parents. Sanibel is a place meant for peace and connecting with nature, offering endless possibilities for those who can appreciate it’s endless beauty.
Top Left Moment’s Reprieve 2016 Top Right Painted Islands 2017 Bottom, Left Road Less Traveled 2018 Bottom, Right Gone Fishin’ 2015
C R E AT E D B Y: M A X X E VA N
SECTION 02
THE FLORIDA KEYS... THE FLORIDA KE YS ARE A STRING OF ISL ANDS STRETCHING 120 MILES OFF T H E C O A S T O F F L O R I D A . F I L L E D W I T H W O N D E R A N D E X C I T E M E N T, T H E Y R U N B E T W E E N B O T H T H E AT L A N T I C O C E A N A N D G U L F O F M E X I C O .
The Florida Keys are a place of immense beauty. From the mangrove bays surrounding Key Largo, to the oldest fishermen of Key West, inspiration is found around every corner. International influences, especially those from North and South America, and the Caribbean, have made the Keys a favorite getaway for those looking for an atmosphere with unrivaled natural beauty. The Keys have been called home by many great painters, photographers, politicians, and novelists, and were the birthplace to one of the greatest American novels, The Old Man and The Sea. With an unmatched beauty more pure then most of Florida, The Keys are home to a multitude of native animal species ranging from birds to reptiles to mammals. The Keys are a delicate ecosystem unlike any other in the United States. With mangrove forests, salt ponds, tropical hardwood hammocks, and shallow tidal flats all working together to provide home to one of the most diverse and evergrowing ecosystems in the world. From Key Largo, to Islamorada, to Duck Key, to Marathon, and down to Key West, are over 2,800 square nautical miles of protected coral reef. Fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving are very popular with people visiting the Keys. The area’s waters are filled with varying marine and plant life. You can find sea turtles, sharks, dolphin, and many tropical fish within it’s warm coastal waters. But the Florida Keys are under threat, from a rapidly changing ecosystem. I have seen the effects first hand. Over the last ten years the abundance of marine life and coral reefs have slowly faded, more and more each year. Once labled one of the top diving destinations in the world, the effects of human tourism and population growth can be easily seen.
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