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Sunshine State Seekers

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Documenting Florida’s Public Lands
Helping people understand & enjoy Florida responsibly.
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Another Florida Hiker Fest in the books and we’re heading home with full hearts (and a very tired kid).

Chris and I spent the weekend volunteering, and it was one of those events that reminds you just how special the Florida trail community really is.

I spent most of my time at the Florida Trail Association sales booth, and y’all showed up—merch was flying off the tables. We sold out of quite a few items, which is always a good problem to have when it helps support the trail.

Chris was over at the Florida Hikes! booth, where they were giving away free books and collecting donations for the Florida Trail Hikers Alliance (FT Thru Hike)—supporting the folks who take on the big miles.

We also led a class about taking the first steps to get your kids out on the trail. Only one family showed up… but honestly, that turned out to be perfect. We ended up becoming fast friends. Later that night we all met up at the playground, let the kids burn off energy, and then headed out on a night hike to a drum circle, which was every bit as magical as it sounds.

Torrey had the time of his life. Every evening he hung out with the thru-hikers, who welcomed him in like one of the crew and made him feel like one of the cool kids.

That’s the thing about this community—it’s welcoming, a little wild, and full of people who remember what it felt like the first time they fell in love with the trail.

Already looking forward to the next one. 🌲

#SunshineStateSeekers #FloridaTrail #FloridaHikerFest #FloridaNationalScenicTrail #HikingWithKids @floridatrail by @sunshinestateseekers

We’re incredibly excited to finally see Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State getting ready to hit the shelves!

This book represents years of exploring Florida’s trails, long days outside, and a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Chris and Sandra personally hiked every trail included in the guide. Chelsey and Torrey joined on many of those adventures, and the girls accompanied us on only the best hikes (their rule, not ours 😄). Along the way, so many friends joined us on the trail to share miles, stories, and memories.

We’re also pretty thrilled that the cover chosen by the publisher features Chelsey and little Torrey out on the trail — a moment that perfectly captures what this whole journey has been about for our family.

The book officially releases May 12, and we’re counting down the days. If you’re as excited as we are, we’ve added a preorder link in our bio for anyone who wants to grab a copy early.

Huge congratulations to Sandra Friend and Chris Stevens for bringing this incredible guide to life. Florida has so many amazing places to explore, and we can’t wait for people to discover them. @floridahikes @floridapress by @sunshinestateseekers

A New Year on the Trail.

For many hikers, January 1 marks the beginning of a long journey north on the Florida Trail. We weren’t starting a thru-hike this year, but there was something special about welcoming the new year at the southern terminus—surrounded by people about to take that first big step.

We began the day by dropping off Waterbear and Twig at the Oasis Visitor Center to tackle the 17-mile Blue Loop. While they put in their miles, the rest of us spent the day exploring, wandering slowly, and soaking in the places that make this corner of Florida so wild and unique.

Later, after a day of separate adventures, we met back up on the trail. Sending our little guy ahead to surprise Dad was pure joy—and a reminder that even when we hike different distances or at different paces, the trail has a way of bringing people back together.

As the day wrapped up, we found ourselves standing together at the southern terminus of the Florida Trail—for the first time, all of us in the same place at the same moment. A quiet, meaningful way to start the year.

Here’s to new beginnings, long journeys, and the many paths that lead us forward—together. 🌿🥾 by @sunshinestateseekers

Happy 60th birthday to the Florida Trail! 🧡🥾

When Chris and I first started dating, I remember him showing me a signed Florida Trail book by Sandra Friend. He was already a member of the Florida Trail Association and wanted to get more involved. Ironically, I’d been hiking the Trail near my home for years without realizing just how extensive it was.

As our relationship grew, so did our involvement. One thing I noticed early on was that Chris, despite being a faster hiker, always matched my pace. We even spent our honeymoon backpacking along the Suwannee River, where finding clean tap water was a highlight worth celebrating!

Chris and I are a team. We love having projects and working toward a common goal, and the Florida Trail has given us both. It’s brought us closer, introduced us to wonderful people, and given us something we genuinely believe in.

Through my time in chapter leadership and on the FTA Board, I’ve learned how much work goes into keeping this Trail a reality.

I’m especially grateful for staff, past and present, including Van Tran, who brought so much life to the Association; Abe Christian, who kept things running despite his questionable coffee skills; Jeff Glenn, who works incredibly hard and remains one of the goofiest people I know (please never leave! ❤️); and Sean Amidon, who has taken on the enormous responsibility of leading the organization.

And of course, the countless volunteers, land managers, and advocates who make it all possible.

None of this was handed to us. The Florida Trail and the public lands it crosses exist because generations of people have worked tirelessly to protect them.

When I think about the next 60 years, I’m hopeful but concerned. I dream of a fully connected, permanently protected Trail with fewer road walks, serving both people and wildlife. I want future generations to experience the same wild Florida we’ve been fortunate enough to know.

Here’s to the miles, the friendships, the people who made it possible, and another 60 years.

We’ve still got work to do! 🧡 @floridatrail by @sunshinestateseekers

Trail Maintenance Season is Finally here! No better way to kick it off than with a bridge rebuild!

I will have fond memories of this wrinkly old bridge, but for many reasons an upgrade was necessary.

Still a bit of work to do, but we’re almost done. @floridatrail by @sunshinestateseekers

Labor Day weekend is often called the unofficial end of summer, and this year we had already decided it would also be the official end of the @ospreypacks baby carrier era for us.

We spent the weekend camping at Oscar Scherer State Park, planned as Torrey’s last ride in the backpack.

There is something pretty full circle about that. The last time we camped here, he was still too little to use it. The girls were still too small to carry him in anything substantial, as you can see…

Since then, that Osprey has carried him on at least 100 hikes, through parks and preserves all over Florida, and even onto the cover of A Hiker’s Guide to the Sunshine State.

Now he is almost three, much more capable on the trail, and much more interested in climbing trees, wandering off to investigate things, and doing everything himself.

Which is wonderful.

Right up until the exact second he decides he is DONE walking. 😂

At this point he is also just too big to be comfortable in the framed carrier, so we are passing it along to another family and trying to figure out what comes next.

We are looking for something for a 3+ year old who can hike plenty on his own but still occasionally needs to be carried. We are not looking for a stroller, and ideally we want something that works as a standalone carrier rather than something that has to attach to another pack. We will use it for regular day hikes and park adventures just as much as backpacking, so we want something we can grab on its own when needed.

Basically, we need a solution for that very specific toddler phase of: “I can do it myself” followed, without warning, by “carry me.”

Hiking parents, what worked for you after the framed backpack carrier stage?

It is definitely a little bittersweet retiring a piece of gear that has been part of so many of little man’s first adventures, but judging by the tree climbing lately, I think he is more than ready for whatever comes next. @fl.stateparks by @sunshinestateseekers

Come on out and support the OFV Scholarship with some great folks! Hope to see you there! by @sunshinestateseekers

45 looks pretty good floating down Rock Springs Run.

Happy birthday to Chris! ❤️ For his 45th, we spent the day doing something that feels pretty perfectly us; floating one of our favorite places in Florida with all three of our kids.

Rock Springs has been part of my family for generations. My mom came here as a baby, I grew up coming here, and now I get to watch our 16- and 12-year-old girls float the same run alongside their little brother, who is somehow almost 3.

And right in the middle of it all is Chris… celebrating 45 with two teenage stepdaughters and a toddler. 😂 If that doesn’t keep you young, I don’t know what will.

Places like this become more than just places when you keep coming back to them with the people you love. Different generations, different memories, same cold water. Same land.

Happy 45th, Waterbear. ❤️ Here’s to many more birthdays spent outside with this crazy little family of ours. @ocfl by @sunshinestateseekers

We’ve visited Myakka River State Park many times over the years, and it never disappoints. If you’re looking for true Wild Florida, this is one of the best places to experience it.

From the canopy walkway at sunset to the wildlife below, every visit reminds us why these places are worth protecting.

One thing that stood out on this trip, though, was a reminder that even our wildest parks aren’t immune to human impacts. We witnessed guests being reprimanded for feeding alligators, and the raccoons were noticeably bolder than we’ve seen in a long time.

Wildlife habituation may seem harmless in the moment, but it changes natural behaviors and can put both animals and people at risk. The best way to enjoy Florida’s incredible wildlife is to admire it from a respectful distance and never feed it.

Here’s to many more family adventures in truly wild places. 🌅🌿🐊 by @sunshinestateseekers

This week’s tragedy hit especially close to home.

The trailhead where it happened is part of the section of the Florida National Scenic Trail that our Central Florida Chapter helps maintain. It’s less than 6 miles from my house… about a 10-minute drive. This is a place I’ve hiked countless times and a place many of us know well.

When something like this happens in your own community, you often hear parts of the story that get glossed over in the media. In this case, that the dogs with the victim had been splashing in the water just moments before the attack. While we’ll never know exactly what caused this tragedy, it’s an important reminder that alligators are wild predators, and activity at the water’s edge, whether from people or pets, can attract their attention.

As I go through my photos over the next few days, I’m going to share some of the many alligators I’ve encountered over the years. Not because I want people to fear them, but because I want people to understand them.

The reality is that fatal alligator attacks are incredibly rare. They receive enormous attention because they’re shocking, while far more common dangers; car crashes, heat illness, drowning, lightning, and falls… rarely dominate the news in the same way. But “rare” doesn’t mean impossible, and respecting wildlife is one of the best ways to keep both people and alligators safe.

If you want to learn more, we recently had Gator Chris on The Florida Madcaps podcast to talk about alligator behavior, common misconceptions, and practical safety tips. I’ll put the link to that episode in our bio.

Knowledge is one of the best tools we have. Let’s use this tragedy as an opportunity to learn, respect wildlife, and help prevent another one. @gatorchris @florida_madcaps_podcast @the_fl_excursionist @fta_central_florida_chapter by @sunshinestateseekers