After reading Internet reviews that the Cadillac Trail is "awesome" and "a must ride trail," I had to venture over to Lafayette Heritage Trail Park just east of Tallahassee. I was not disappointed. Who would have dreamed that an off-road biking trail in Florida could be so well-developed and challenging!

Wakulla Springs State Park just south of Tallahassee is fast becoming a manatee haven. Each winter, more and more of the impressive sea cows are finding the constant temperatures of the springs to their liking. Climb up the diving platform on a cool morning and you might spot a dozen manatees swimming around the spring bowl. And you may find another dozen farther down the river along the jungle boat route.

When I started this blog, my intention was to let people know about all the many fun things to do in and around Tallahassee during the year.  Since I am a Tallahassee native, I thought I would be a pro because I know everything there is to do around here.  What an exciting journey this has been and so much of it is because I am learning how little I really do know about Tallahassee and how many new things there are for me to experience with my children.

Fall and cooler weather is here, and you know what that means? No, not football-hiking! Of course, there is football, too, but in between your favorite games, hiking opportunities abound in the Tallahassee/Big Bend region. And this time of year is perfect for long strolls since pesky bugs are taking a long siesta.

Pizza is one of the few types of food that I could eat every day and not get bored.  The variety of toppings available makes it possible for endless combinations. I've grown to find that the taste of cold pizza in the morning rivals hot pizza in the evening.  I'm not sure if the Bagel Bites commercials in the 90's planted the idea in my brain that eating pizza any time was reasonable, but I am certain that it had something to do with it. My love for eating pizza for breakfast has added an extra requirement to my pizza demands.  Every time I think about ordering a pie, I take into account whether or not I'd also enjoy the left-overs.

Breakfast is an odd thing to me.  Since leaving the regimented comfort of my parents' household, the lines between breakfast, lunch and dinner have been blurred.  During the past 4 or 5 years, it wasn't unusual for me to eat cold wings and leftover pizza at 9 am.  And it still isn't.  Through these experiences I've come to question what makes a food a breakfast food.  Are eggs a breakfast food only if the egg is cracked into a skillet and not hardboiled?  What if bacon is laid atop another piece of meat?  Do breakfast type foods have to be displayed separately on a plate?  But what if you somehow streamline the process of consumption by putting the meal in a bread-like enclosure?  Does it find itself in the lunch or brunch territory?

The first thing I noticed about the Suwannee River was that it was low, low and slow. The current at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (River Mile 148.5) was almost imperceptible. Thirty-foot limestone walls-white and pock-marked-bore silent witness to the drought conditions of mid-October. This promised to be the slowest Paddle Florida trip in its four-year existence. With the west wind blowing fallen leaves on the water, it looked as though the river was flowing backwards! Still, any trip on the famous Suwannee River is special, even one with almost slack water.

Continuing Tallahassee's celebration of earthly delights, the 15^th of October was the Annual North Florida Wine & Food Festival.  For the past three years, the Dedman School of Hospitality has been putting on this event to give their students some educational experience and it's been so popular that the event has become a staple of the Tallahassee's October festival line up.

This past weekend, I was driving home from a friend's place.  It was well past midnight and for some reason I wanted a burger to sit in my belly.   There is a McDonalds right down the road from my place so, in my tired and hungry mind, it was the only reasonable option.  As I pulled into the parking lot, I soon realized that I wasn't the only person with a hankering for some junk food.  The line went around the building and almost met itself in front of those familiar golden arches which would have cemented the Idea in my mind that this "quick bite" would be more of a long wait.