When I moved to the Tampa Bay area over 40 years ago, I had no idea what "the real Florida" had to offer. Growing up, our family vacations were always in South Florida, around Miami and Fort Lauderdale. My parents weren't really outdoorsy, so that suited them just fine.

Later, I developed a love for the outdoors. After moving to the Gulf Coast, I was drawn to the beautiful white sandy beaches of Clearwater and St. Pete, and I started spending more time on Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island, followed by Bradenton Beach, Coquina Beach, and Longboat Key.

Before long, I became obsessed with discovering everything I could find within a day trip from Tampa, then weekend trips. This led me to the east coast of Florida. I stumbled upon my first spring, Juniper Springs in Ocala National Forest, which changed my life. I had never experienced a freshwater spring and its natural habitat before.

My journey to what is now East Coast Tour and Shuttle has been a series of discoveries of what I call the "real Florida." I want to share with everyone that right in our backyard are some of the most beautiful places on the planet. There's more to Florida than palm trees and Disney World, including more freshwater springs than anywhere else in the world, such as Blue Springs, DeLeon Springs, and Alexander Springs.

This area is full of historic towns like Micanopy, DeLand, St. Augustine, and Fernandina Beach, as well as State and National Parks, botanical gardens, and a rich history of writers and explorers like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings of Cross Creek, Kingsley Plantation, and Fort Clinch. All of this is bordered by the majesty of the Atlantic Ocean. I call this realm the Golden Triangle, stretching north from Fernandina Beach, south to Merritt Island, and west to Gainesville.

So, this is just the beginning for me. I hope you'll join me on one of these adventures and Florida tours to experience a side of Florida that will take you back in time and leave you wanting more.

Many a bleached bone, on the shores of opportunity who wait.