Remnants of the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad as seen from Bahia Honda State Park — my personal photo.
Lu Dodson, Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Park Manager. Photo courtesy of Florida DEP.
Lu Dodson is the Park Manager for the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. This episode is a continuation of my efforts to include land managers into the mix as they are as important and vital to the Florida Trail as hikers are. While the FKOSHT isn’t on the offical Florida Trail route, it is part of the Eastern Continental Trail and is increasingly being used by FT hikers as they begin or end an overall Eastern Continental Trail hike. The Florida Keys offer a glimpse of the tropics and habitats change drastically from tropical hardwood hammocks near Key Largo to scrubbier views further south. There’s something for everyone in the Florida Keys! Lu offers up a brief history of the FKOSHT and what can be found along the way while walking or biking the trail.
Music: “Breathing” by Lee Rosevere
Show Notes
+Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail – official Florida State Parks website
+Florida East Coast Railway – Flagler Museum
+The Flagler Railroad – Florida State Parks website
+Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail Guide – Florida Hikes!
+Florids Keys Overseas Heritage Trail FarOut Guide
My personal favorite stops in the Keys
+Florida Keys Wild Bird Center located in Tavernier
+The Fish House in Key Largo
+Robbie’s in Islamorada. Feed the tarpon and stop for lunch!
+Sombrero Beach – enjoy a swim in Islamorada. Also a great place to launch a kayak to paddle around Boot Key.
+The Turtle Hospital in Islamorada! See sea turtles up close as they are rehabilitated to be released offshore.
+Snorkeling at the Ohio-Missouri Channel: 24.675858 N -81.239604 W
+Blue Hole Observation Platform on Big Pine Key.