Throughout Florida's early human history, there were trails-footpaths and water routes that carried people and trade goods for millennia. Over time, many of these trails became roads, highways, railroads and shipping channels, but in the past few decades, Florida has been reclaiming its non-motorized trail heritage. Recreation, conservation, alternative transportation, healthy lifestyles, a vibrant economy, and quality of life are all reasons to embrace Florida's trail renaissance, and the future looks bright. You can help shape that future.

With the college students back in Tallahassee, the city is a little busier, to say the least. Over the past month, thousands of students left their nests and made their way to Florida's Capital City. I felt like the change happened over night. Last Saturday I strolled around Lake Ella and had me a stuffed snowball from Big Easy Snowballs. The weather was beautiful and the people were sprinkled about the lake side shops. The next morning I went to Target to get some scissors and I was met with a packed parking lot and checkout lines that were not actually a mile long, but I had heard them described as such.

Some may see it as an end of a beautiful summer, but I see it as a sign of great things to come. Fall!

I recently purchased a used mountain bike, an upgrade from my old one, so I had a good excuse to test it out on the Munson Hills Off-Road Bicycle Trail just south of Tallahassee. The trail is a 7.5 mile loop with an option for a shorter loop by taking the Tall Pine Shortcut. It traverses rolling hills of pristine longleaf pine flatwoods, and if the hills aren't enough, the Forest Service and volunteers have scalloped out hundreds of shorter dips and rises after laying down a bed of hard clay on most of the single-track surface. The jumps, twists and turns and sometimes narrow openings through the pines make for a fun and challenging ride. Make sure your brakes are working properly!

The Gaines Street area has seen a lot of revitalization in the recent years. From the road being rebuilt and subsequent growth in activity, I am excited to see what the future holds. As a regular visitor to the area, I can see that a lot of that activity has to do with the quality of atmosphere that the bars create.

One of the prime movers in the scene is the team that runs Fermentation Lounge. Those guys really have a knack for crafting an interesting experience with top shelf beers and a quirky surrounding. For example, if you haven't realized, the décor of Fermentation Lounge is based around a 1950's American feel. One that utilizes pieces of comic art and a film projector that plays classic black and white films.

For more than thirty years now, The Museum of Florida History has partnered with Quilters Unlimited of Tallahassee to put together an amazing collection of more than 80 works of "quilted art." Come see these expertly handcrafted works, old and new in the R.A. Gray Building on South Bronough Street in downtown Tallahassee during this limited time. You won't be disappointed...this year, they'll even have an historic quilt, circa 1935-1945 in the exhibit.

This past weekend I drove over to Lynn's Oriental Market with my brother to see what sort of crazy flavors of Doritos that they have. After seeing this list on Buzzfeed I had an urge to seek out and try every flavor. Only after ingesting the first chip would I read the ingredients list since I don't want to know the science behind the Doritos magic.

Enter this industrial purple warehouse in the All Saints District off Macomb Street in Tallahassee and you'll feel immediately transported back to the 80's. Alternative music plays over the sound system (we were greeted by a Ramones song upon arrival) and pop memorabilia surrounds you.

The game is on! Two heavyweight contenders with incredible connections, Leon County commissioner Bryan Desloge and Wilderness Way owner Georgia Ackerman, are leaping ahead in fundraising and I'm left wondering if there is any chance for a little guy like me to compete. No, I'm not talking about running for office. I'm talking about raising money for the Apalachicola Riverkeeper.