I am a big fan of the Florida Hikes website and Facebook page. I have followed it for quite a while on Facebook, and have used the website to get hike information. Just a couple of days ago I logged onto the library's website to renew the books I have out and I noticed on the main page it said there was going to be a Florida Hikes presentation at the Ormond Beach library today. I knew at that moment I was not going to miss it!

I asked my daughter if she had any interest in going with me and she was excited about the idea. My family and I are avid hikers, and my daughter loves it. If we go too long between hikes (a couple of weeks in the cooler months) she tells me it's time for us to hit the trails. This is rare, because in all the hours and miles of hiking we hardly ever come across other children out hiking. We come across adults, but it is (sadly) rare when we see children out for a hike with adults.

Anyway, she loves hiking and was excited to attend the presentation today. She was the only child in the room (not surprising), despite there being a good turnout for the event. She was totally engaged in the entire presentation, which focused on the Florida Trail (e.g., pictures, information about hiking it, etc.), as well as tips and pointers about hiking in general. She really wanted to buy a book afterward. But she also wanted the authors to sign it and wanted her picture taken with Sandra Friend (who does Florida Hikes and writes the books). She was so excited!

We bought the Florida Trails Guide and wanted to buy the 50 Hikes in Central Florida book, but they didn't have enough of those on hand. We ordered it online it as soon as we got home though! Great stuff... loved the presentation, enjoyed getting the books that we will put to good use, and it was great to meet the people behind this site that I love. And the icing on top was that my 10 year old was so excited about it all, too! 

Here are pictures from today's Florida Hikes presentation at the Ormond Beach library:

Pictured above: Sandra Friend and John Keatly before the presentation started.

Pictured above: Kayla excited to be getting a picture with Sandra Friend, as well as getting a book that she had them sign.