Saturday, Feb. 4 was the Third Annual Florida Scrub-Jay Festival at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, Fla., a one-day event with music, educational panels, vendors and guided walks to celebrate the Sunshine State’s unique bird. In my post about birding in Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands, I blogged about some of the cool things about the Florida Scrub-Jay. Pretty neat, aren’t they?
Enjoy these snapshots from the festival and hope you have a chance to visit Southwest Florida and meet one of our rarest residents.
Venice High School Zoology Club Displayed Florida Rat Snakes and Yes, You Could Pet ThemThese Ornaments Were So Cute! Sales Supported the Florida Scrub-Jay TrailA Cocoon? Spotted along a Trail at Oscar Scherer State ParkRanger-Led Walks through Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat Were Offered throughout the DaySo Many Pretty Vistas at Oscar Scherer State ParkFlorida Scrub-Jay Coming in for a Landing! Did You Know they Can Bury Up to 6,000 Acorns to Consume During the Winter?
Jennifer A. Huber is an award-winning travel and outdoor blogger and writer in Southwest Florida. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., a hiking trail led her to a career path in the tourism industry for more than 30 years. She spent a decade with a park management company in Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Everglades National Parks. She founded the travel blog, SoloTravelGirl.com with the goal of inspiring others to travel alone, not lonely.
The unexpected death of her former husband in 2008 reminded her how short life is. His passing was a catalyst for sharing her experiences with the goal of inspiring and empowering others to travel solo.
Jennifer holds a Travel Marketing Professional certification from the Southeast Tourism Society, is a certified food judge, member of the NASA Social community, and alum of the FBI Citizens Academy. When not traveling, she is either in the kitchen, practicing her photography skills, or road tripping with her dog, Radcliff.
At Peace River Seafood & Botanicals in Punta Gorda, Blue Crab University turns a Monday night into a hands-on lesson in Southwest Florida crabbing culture. From crab biology and local history to blue crab cornbread and all-you-can-eat steamed crabs, the inaugural class delivers a uniquely Old Florida experience. I left with my Masters in Crabology.
Reconnecting with nature grounds me in a world ruled by screens. A wet walk through Six Mile Cypress Slough becomes a spiritual, reflective escape—made even richer by a travel challenge card that nudges me to slow down, listen, and experience the moment with intention. Sometimes one prompt changes everything.
My dog Radcliff’s paws led the way through Colorado’s breathtaking landscapes—from the dramatic depths of Black Canyon to a whispering ghost town. Scenic drives along Guanella Pass and wildflower-chasing detours made this dog-friendly summer road trip a memorable blend of adventure, nature, and tail-wagging joy.
