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Explore State Without Taking A Step

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By KAREN HAYMON LONG

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2008

Publishers seem to be turning out books with Florida themes faster and faster. That's good news for residents - and visitors. Here's a look at some out or on the way:

"Easygoing Guide to Natural Florida: Central Florida Volume 2," by Douglas Waitley (Pineapple Press, $14.95)

Reading the "Easygoing Guide" is like riding and hiking along with Waitley, thanks to his conversational style and eye for detail.

We discover as he discovers, visits and explores the St. Johns River, Rodman Dam, the Yearling Trail, Hillsborough River State Park and other Central Florida highlights. We meet locals, hear their diverse opinions about nature versus development and learn fun facts about history, critters and parks.

Adventurers as well as armchair travelers should enjoy this guidebook. The former will want to get out and explore, the latter to kick back and enjoy.

"Roadside Geology of Florida," by Jonathan R. Bryan, Thomas M. Scott and Guy H. Means (Mountain Press Publishing Co., $26)

In these pages you'll find valuable insights into Florida's minerals, rocks, fossils, springs, dunes, lakes and more.

Color photos, maps, graphics and charts complement the text, which explores the state's geological and paleontological history and uniqueness. This is also a guidebook of sorts, directing readers to parks, islands, prairies and other places where they can see fossils, coral formations, sand dunes and other natural treasures.

"Tampa Bay: A Photographic Portrait," photos by Robert La Follette and text by Karen T. Bartlett (Twin Lights Publishers, $26.95)

You'll want to get in your car and explore the Bay area, either to revisit places you've been or to discover new ones, after taking in La Follette's photos.

Just about every facet is represented: the Hillsborough River, Busch Gardens, Pinellas County's historical courthouse and treasured resort hotels, Ybor City, Lowry Park Zoo and more.

Some of the prettiest photos are of the Columbia Restaurant, an Ybor City landmark, and Pinellas's award-winning beaches.

But some photos have been manipulated way too much - with garish colors and fancy filters. Some scenes would have been so much more attractive shown as they actually appear.

But overall, "Tampa Bay: A Photographic Portrait," which will be released Friday, would make a nice keepsake for locals or a souvenir for visitors.

Karen Haymon Long is the Tribune's book editor.

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