Just five hours north of Los Angeles sits a national park that should be on your outdoor bucket list.

It features a valley carved millions of years ago by glaciers, hulking mountains made of granite and other rock, countless waterfalls, massive ancient trees and a cool, clear river.

I know what you’re thinking: “That sounds like Yosemite.” Even better. It’s like Yosemite, but way more chill.

Kings Canyon National Park will give you the majestic outdoors respite you’re dreaming of without all the busy trails, swarming crowds and traffic jams at the park entrance gate that come with the Hollywood Boulevard of national parks. Just east of Fresno, this swath of paradise is the underrated local favorite, with welcoming campgrounds, easy-to-navigate day trails, plentiful backpacking opportunities and swimming holes galore.

As I was heading out to report this story, I steeled myself for the typical national park experience. As someone who once accidentally got into a spat with another grown adult at Yellowstone National Park while attempting to help my 5-year-old niece steal a peek at Old Faithful, I know all too well the way chaotic tourist crowds can get under my skin.

But those crowds never materialized. Kings Canyon gets a fraction of the foot traffic that Yosemite does. Last August, Yosemite saw almost 594,000 visitors, and Kings Canyon saw 81,000, according to federal data. At its busiest, in June of last year, Kings Canyon welcomed 126,000 visitors, which was just over a fourth of the visitors who went to Yosemite that month.

You might be wondering: Is Kings Canyon’s landscape as spellbindingly majestic? The short answer is yes, if a tad more rugged. Both parks feature massive granite mountains, gorgeous rivers and alpine meadows. But Yosemite’s natural wonders have the manicured sheen of a famous name. Kings Canyon is its untamed, serene cousin. When I asked a ranger the name of a nearby cliff, they quipped: “We don’t name everything like Yosemite.” During my three-day stay, I heard multiple guests say: “This is like a chill Yosemite.”

In fairness, many of the best experiences you can have at Kings Canyon are in the back country and require some level of backpacking knowledge. But even if you’re a camping novice, this guide outlines the many different ways you can experience the park, whether it’s from a cozy lodge or magnificent campground.

This guide focuses on the Cedar Grove area of the park. After being closed for more than a year because of major flooding, it reopened this summer. Its campgrounds are slowly but surely becoming available to book. (More on how to do that below.)

Please enjoy your stay in this slept-on paradise. And eat your heart out, Yosemite.

Getting there

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are two parks managed as one. Kings Canyon is the northern half of the parks. They have several entrances. The most direct way to reach the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park from L.A. is to take Highway 180 near Fresno to the Big Stump entrance.

From here, you’ll follow this scenic seasonal roadway into Kings Canyon. It’s a beautiful drive, especially the beginning that passes through Sequoia National Forest. There you’ll be met with incredible vistas and waterfalls, including one you can take a short walk to visit. (More on that below.)

This route is not accessible year-round. Highway 180 from Grant Grove Village to Cedar Grove is open seasonally. It generally opens the fourth Friday in April and closes in mid-November. You can check the road conditions on the Kings Canyon website.

If you’d like to take the scenic way to reach Kings Canyon, you can drive through Sequoia National Park via Highway 198. You’ll pass through the idyllic town of Three Rivers before entering Sequoia National Park. A slow winding journey, you’ll drive about 46 miles north until you reach the Highway 180 junction. There are several great places to stop along the way. Honorable mention goes to the General Sherman Tree, a giant sequoia that’s one of the largest and oldest trees in the world.

If you’re craving more giant trees, this route offers multiple spots to see them, although it will add about two hours to your trip. You can also take the first route mentioned and stop at the Grant Grove area of Kings Canyon before you reach Cedar Grove, which doesn’t feature sequoias like the rest of the parks.

Take note that if you have the “avoid tolls” option selected on your mapping app, it might try to direct you to take an unpaved road to avoid paying the park entrance fee. In short: this is a bad idea. Also, beware that service is scant in these parts, so it’s best to download the area on your GPS app before you leave. While I’m ticking through lifesaving necessities, be sure to top off your gas tank in a nearby town before entering the park, since options are limited inside. At present, there are no electric car chargers in Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Best to enter the park with a full charge.

Where to stay

Sentinel Campground

Reopened in July, Sentinel Campground is the only campground open in the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon as of late August. It offers 82 sites for tents, RVs and trailers that you can reserve on Recreation.gov. There are no first-come first-served sites in the campground.

The South Fork of the Kings River runs along the northern side of the campground, near a handful of coveted (read: quickly booked) sites. But you don’t have to be next to the river to enjoy yourself. No matter where you end up staking your tent, you will be treated to a dark sky full of twinkling stars, a concert of crickets, the calming sound of the nearby river rushing and the soothing whoosh of wind through the canyon. This is hopefully not all drowned out by the roar of your neighbor’s RV generator. Quiet hours are at 10 p.m. after all.

Steller’s jays and robins may appear when you start cooking your dinner, optimistic for a treat. Hopefully, you aren’t greeted by one of the park’s larger hungrier residents, the black bear. Throughout the campground, there are flush toilets, sinks to wash dishes and spigots with drinking water. Each site has a campfire ring, picnic table and bear-proof food storage box.

During the day, when you aren’t out adventuring, you can find a shady spot beneath a towering ponderosa pine or cedar tree. Some might even be small enough to hang a hammock.

The Cedar Grove Lodge

Location, location, location! The Cedar Grove Lodge is a rustic but charming throwback to simpler times. The Wi-Fi is iffy at best, and there aren’t televisions in the rooms. But you aren’t coming here to hang out in your room. The lodge is close to all the area’s main attractions. It’s situated next to the Kings River, where guests pull up a lawn chair and enjoy the serenity of the space. It offers standard and suite rooms with queen and king beds and a complimentary breakfast.

It also has a gift shop (with fairly priced souvenirs), a market and the Cedar Grove Diner, a counter-service snack bar, on its first floor. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the diner serves burgers, sandwiches and wraps. The menu includes beef, chicken and fish offerings as well as a plant-based veggie burger and hummus wrap. But sorry, no fries.

Meanwhile, its market is a good resource in case you forgot to pack something. It sells tent stakes and chairs, as well as food and ice.

The most luxurious part of the Cedar Grove Village area is the showers, available to anyone in the park. The lodge’s market sells shower tokens for $1.50 for three minutes. (You can use multiple tokens to extend your hygienic routine, but make sure to allow each token’s time to run out before inserting the next. Otherwise, it’s a wasted token.)

Other options

Outside Kings Canyon, nearby campgrounds include:

—Convict Flat Campground, a first-come first-served spot with five campsites in Sequoia National Forest. It’s free to use with the entry fee you pay to get into the park. Light on amenities, it has a vault toilet and no potable water. It’s about 11 miles from the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon.

—Princess Campground, an 88-site reservation-only site in Sequoia National Forest featuring giant Sequoia stumps, a Sequoia grove and a meadow with wildflowers. Amenities include drinking water, vault toilets and an amphitheater. It’s about 23 miles from the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon.

—Sunset Campground, a 158-site reservation-only campground in Sequoia National Forest, three miles from the Kings Canyon entrance. It boasts beautiful trees, cellphone reception, flush toilets and a camp store that sells ice, firewood and other necessities. It’s about 30 miles from the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon.

What to pack

If camping, you’ll want to pack the usuals, including: a tent, sleeping bags, an air mattress or other cushioning, extra blankets and pillows. Remember to pack a few light sources. I always like to have both a headlamp and a few solar-powered lanterns. And, just because I’ve forgotten each of these items on various trips, I will remind you: Don’t forget to bring a mallet for your tent stakes, your camping chairs and a shovel to dig out the campfire pit.

You will not have cellphone reception in the Cedar Grove area. For safety reasons, you should share your trip itinerary with a family member or friend, along with an estimated time of when you’ll be back. There is a pay phone at the Cedar Grove Lodge. For the zoomers reading, that’s a coin-operated phone you can use to make calls. Maybe put a roll of quarters in your car, just in case.

Bear safety

Kings Canyon is home to American black bears. Throughout the park, you’ll find signs reminding you to be “bear aware.” That includes ensuring that all food, beverages and scented items (like shampoo, toothpaste and lip balm) are stowed in a bear box when you aren’t using them. This applies to not only campgrounds but also trails. At trailheads, you will find bear-proof brown vaults where you should stow any snacks and scented items you aren’t taking on the hike. (I left half a bar of chocolate in one, and no one stole it. The honor system is alive and well in this park!)

The park advises that, if you see a bear, clap your hands and in a loud firm voice yell: “Get out of here, bear!” You should report all bear sightings to a ranger. Leave the bear spray at home, though. Bear spray is illegal in national parks where only black bears are present.

Where to day hike

The Kings Canyon Cedar Grove area has plenty of day hikes to choose from, all of which you can hike without a permit. Wilderness permits are required only for overnight trips. Here’s a three-day itinerary of the best spots to go to if you’re visiting for a quick weekend.

Roaring River Falls to Zumwalt Meadows

Day 1: After setting up your tent, hit the trails for an introductory stroll at the Roaring River Falls parking area. This short paved path leads you to a nice-sized waterfall noisy enough you’ll know how it earned its name. This is a nice spot to unwind and have a picnic. (Though swimming is not advised. Drowning is the most common way people die in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.)

Once you’re done at the waterfall, you can take the nearby dirt path about two miles to the backside of Zumwalt Meadows. Flooding in 2019 washed out its boardwalk, so this is no longer a loop trail. That said, it’s a pleasant walk between the canyon walls where you can appreciate your first taste of beauty before embarking on bigger adventures tomorrow. Plus, there are a few sandy spots where the current is manageable. Life jackets are advisable for younger kiddos or anyone who cannot swim.

Mist Falls trail

Day 2: This is when you’ll want to do your longest hike. For that I’d recommend heading to the Road’s End parking area to tackle the Mist Falls trail, an eight-mile out-and-back trail that will lead you through forest, wetlands, over boulders and up to a massive, humbling cascade of water. The last mile is where you gain the most elevation, so make sure you’re hydrated and sated with a power snack for that final push. After completing the trail, head over to Muir Rock for a swim. Be mindful of the current.

Hotel Creek trail

Day 3: Do you have one more hike in you? Great! This last one is a treat, especially as the sun rises. Head to the Hotel Creek trailhead, located about a half mile north of the Cedar Grove Lodge. You have two main options here. You can hike 4.4 miles out and back to the Cedar Grove overlook, where you will find panoramic views of the whole park. Or, you can do a 7.3-mile loop of Hotel and Lewis Creek. From the overlook, I watched the early morning light over the canyon, feeling like a little speck of stardust in our vast universe.

Bonus: I was alone until the final mile when I saw three hikers. Like I’m saying: a chill Yosemite!

Other activities

—Fishing is allowed in most areas of Kings Canyon. Those 16 and older must have a valid California fishing license. The park advises you should buy one before arriving, as they aren’t always available in its markets. You are allowed to keep some of what you catch, including rainbow trout. You must follow daily limits, and must take note of the areas of the park that are catch and release only.

—Horseback ridesare sold through the Cedar Grove Pack Station. They offer one- and two-hour rides for $70 and $110 respectively, and half ($180) and full-day ($230) trips. They also sell pack trips where mules and horses, led by a packer, carry your group and gear to a backcountry site.

—Head underground to the Boyden Cavern, a marble cavern that features stalactites, stalagmites and other geological delights. A walking tour, which takes about an hour, will cost between $8 and $23 depending on age, date and time. Staff also offers a flashlight tour at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. if at least four people buy tickets. That tour takes up to 75 minutes and is $35. The cavern is about 10 miles west of Cedar Grove off Highway 180.

—Picnic near Grizzly Falls, an 80-foot waterfall in Sequoia National Forest, just under five miles from Cedar Grove. It’s a short walk from your car to the picnic area where you can view the falls.

Regardless of whether you spend your days relaxing along the South Fork, or hit the back country for more rugged hiking, you will return home feeling refreshed and energized. In an era where escaping the bustle of the city often means swapping one type of crowd for another, Kings Canyon is an underpopulated gem that, for now, proves that nature can still be peaceful.

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©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Started in 2011 in Wilmington, North Carolina, before moving north to the Outer Banks in 2016, the event takes place Monday through Wednesday at Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head.

Sponsored by the Wilmington-based Cucalorus Festival, it features music, food, drinks and, of course, 14 surf-based films, including 11 shorts (3-20 minutes) and three features (40 to 90 minutes).

Many of the filmmakers will be on hand for question-and-answer sessions.

Though there are plenty of wave-riding and exotic locales in the films, they address subjects such as the environment, the world and different cultures that should engage non-surfers.

The films are at times poignant, comical and thought-provoking.

“Surfing is a great backdrop,” said Dan Brawley of Wilmington, who calls himself the “chief instigating officer” at Cucalorus, which formed in 1994. “But there are stories.”

Case in point: Ben Judkins’ feature-length, immersive documentary “The Cigarette Surfboard,” the festival’s opening film, examines littering on the beach and how “surfing can create a platform to spark ocean mindfulness and stewardship.”

Spoiler alert: The Southern California-based surfer, who will be on hand, hits the waves on a surfboard made of butts collected on the beach.

Other films in the lineup include “Walkabout: The Songlines of Surfing,” which focuses on the longstanding friendship between an Australian pro surfer and his mentor, and “Lola,” which follows a “nomadic musician-athlete” who uses the name “Goth Babe.”

Another highlight should be a three-minute film titled “Sleepwalking,” which captures a surfer hitting the icy-cold waves on the northeast coast of the United Kingdom at first and last light of the day.

Closing the three-day festival, which coincides with the Eastern Surfing Association’s annual year-end competition at Jennette’s Pier, is the documentary “Channel Man,” which chronicles the short but impactful life of an eccentric Hawaiian surfer named Col Smith who rode channel-bottomed boards (designed to give grip and speed with different faces).

“The films are about adventure and surfing, for sure,” said Zach Hanner, the festival’s director and head of the curating team (32 films were submitted) in Wilmington. “But also about finding unclaimed land to do your dance.”

Hanner also is a member of Coastal Carolina, which plays original “southern-fried Hawaiian” music.

The band, along with the accomplished dobro and steel guitar player Billy Hardeen, kicks off the festival at 6 p.m. Monday.

In addition to the films, music, surf-story-swapping and refreshments, the three-day event includes the North Carolina Oyster Trail Social Hour.

It’s designed to raise awareness of the oyster industry in the state and its impact on tourism.

“It’s a pretty chill environment,” Brawley said in describing the festival.

North Carolina Aquariums and Dare Arts are partners in the event. See surfalorus.org for details and ticket information.

Saturday’s route will include sites symbolizing 400 years of the city’s Black history, including areas active in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Civil War and the modern civil rights movement. It was in 1619 that enslaved Africans first arrived in a British North American colony, aboard ship at present-day Fort Monroe in Hampton.

The Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, in Richmond, is among several community organizations collaborating with the race, which includes a 10.6-mile run and a 6.19K (3.85 miles) walk/run. Registration fees, which vary depending on the run or walk, include access to an audio app narrated by Hounsou; educational videos; and entry to a post-race festival and the Valentine Museum.

This is the event’s third year, and Hounsou has participated in each. He started his California-based nonprofit in 2019 to connect people of the African diaspora to Africa, to contribute to healing and reconciliation, and to raise money to combat modern slavery and human trafficking.

“I feel this compelling need to give back to my continent, to my people, and to champion the idea of reconciliation and reconnection,” he said in a news release.

Shakia Warren, executive director of the Black history museum, said  Richmond is the perfect setting.

“Throughout America’s history, there is no other city that defines the progression of African Americans’ freedom story like Richmond, Virginia,” she said in a news release. “From the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade along the banks of the James River, to the removal of the Confederate monuments, Richmond has become the center of African American culture and history in the United States.”

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If you go

A Time to Heal

When: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20

Where: Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St., Richmond

Cost: Free

Details: runrichmond1619.org 

Run Richmond 16.19

When: 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21

Where: Kanawha Plaza, East Canal Street

Registration: Required. Information pickup Friday and Saturday.

Details: runrichmond1619.org

Bill Caruso sent a photo of a great egret and its shadow at sunrise on the Cove Pointe waterway off the Lafayette River in Norfolk.

Connie Owen has been seeing a lot of snowy egrets on the beach in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore. “I love the yellow slippers!” Owen wrote. The yellow feet of the snowy egret help to distinguish them from other egrets. Egrets feed in the shallow waters spearing the fish with their pointed beak.

Waterfowl are making their way back into the area. Clay Winn spotted a black duck and blue-winged teal in the Lafayette River in Norfolk.

Gail Juren spotted a committee of turkey vultures perched on a tree branch as well as on the ground with wings spread outward sunning themselves in the West Belvedere neighborhood of Norfolk.

Cody Chaplain had 14 wild turkeys cross the road and into a field in front of him on North Muddy Creek Road in Virginia Beach. “I have been patiently watching the turkeys move east over the last few years,” Chaplain wrote. “I hope their numbers continue to increase.”

Cindy Morrison sent a photo of a beautiful buckeye butterfly in Ridgley Manor in Virginia Beach. Buckeye butterflies are medium-sized butterflies with several large, conspicuous eyespots.

Denise Becker had a rare sighting of a luna moth in Lake Shores in Virginia Beach. “This luna moth was hanging on for dear life during Hurricane Debby,” Becker wrote. Host plants for the luna moth include sweetgum, wild cherry and sumac.

Jean Broughton took a photo of a cicada exoskeleton that was spotted on the side of the house in Morgans Walke in Virginia Beach. Cicadas shed their exoskeleton when they emerge from underground.

Evan Rhodes photographed a beautiful black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar feeding on a fennel plant in Duck in North Carolina. Members of the carrot family are among the host plants for the black swallowtail caterpillars.

Tammy Woodell sent photos of Cope’s gray treefrog posing in Pocahontas Village in Virginia Beach. “Throughout the summer, the sounds from those frogs have reminded me of the bayou,” Woodell wrote. “We have many tadpoles in our pond now.”

Shonda Davis was surprised to see three tiny box turtles emerge from a nest that she and her husband had marked in the spring after seeing a box turtle lay her eggs in their front yard in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake. “Our area seems to be a hotspot for box turtles as we see them all the time,” Davis wrote.

Tiffany Froman sent photos of a cottonmouth peacefully floating on the surface of the water at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach.

Justin Fuller photographed sea turtles and dolphins on a recent Pelagic Wildlife Exploration out to Norfolk Canyon for Rudee Tours in Virginia Beach.

Robert Parker sent a photo of a manatee taken by Dixie Benton in Lilly Creek in Churchland in Portsmouth. It is common to see manatees in the waters in the Hampton Roads region during the summer months.

Vickie Shufer, wildfood@cox.net

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If you go

What: Pelagic Wildlife Exploration

When: 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 22

Where: 200 Winston Salem Ave., Virginia Beach

Cost: $165 per person; adults

More information: Reservations are required. Call (757) 425-3400; email rudeeangler@gmail.com.

The inverted roller coaster will have a 2,583-foot track and reach speeds of 40 mph. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride alone and 42 inches to ride with a companion.

There are three options for the name: WölfSturm, WölfsReign or GeisterWölf. The voting period ends Sept. 25. To vote, visit https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/vote2025/.

The ride, described as an “immersive” experience on the Busch Gardens website, has a deep lore behind it.

“Long ago, a wolf swept through a Bavarian town, turning townsfolk to werewolves and destroying the village,” the description reads. “Forty years later, it’s time to honor the past during the annual Festival of the Silent Bells.

“The area is quiet at first, but strange noises are soon heard … footsteps and growling, then bright red eyes appear. The wolf has returned.”

The theme may be familiar to fans of the park’s Big Bad Wolf ride, which was shut down in 2009 after 25 years.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

The Cooke Book: The Music of Sam Cooke starring Darrian Ford. Featuring more than 20 classics from Cooke’s songbook, including gospel to pop. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The American Theatre, 125 E. Mellen St., Hampton. Tickets start at $25. To buy online, visit hamptonarts.org.

NashFest 757 will feature “Hot Chicken, Hard Drinks, and Music City Sounds!” Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. Admission is free. For more information, including vendors, visit festevents.org.

“Misery,” presented by the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 6. 550 Barberton Drive. Tickets start at $25. Season passes or single ticket discount options available. To buy online, visit ltvb.com.

Parker McCollum brings his “Burn it Down” tour to Portsmouth. Opening are Chayce Beckham, Ashley Cooke. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion, 16 Crawford Circle. Tickets start at $25. For more information or to buy online, visit pavilionconcerts.com.

Chelsey Green and The Green Project, part of the Arts for All Community Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Ferguson Center for the Arts, Peebles Theatre, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News. Tickets start at $10. To buy online, visit fergusoncenter.org.

Events may change. Check before attending.

The phenomenon is called depredation, and it’s at the core of a research project that is asking East Coast anglers to recount the moment something ate their fish off the hook in the Atlantic Ocean.

Sharks are often blamed, but the team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst is challenging the lore and suggesting it might be something else.

They believe saltwater anglers have the answers.

“Depredation has been an increasingly common human-wildlife conflict in the South Atlantic and is becoming more common throughout the Mid-Atlantic,” marine social-ecologist Evan Prasky, who is leading the survey, told McClatchy News in a phone interview.

“Unfortunately, the face of depredation is sharks. However, we are also exploring how common it is to see seals, dolphins, birds, and other fish are depredating. … It could be any predator, any fish that is bigger than the fish you have.”

The survey, which can be accessed here, is focused on depredation experiences along the continental shelf from North Carolina to Maine.

Among the questions being asked: Did you see the predator and what was it?

The survey also wants to know how anglers reacted, including whether they felt awe or anger.

“If you are fishing and a 10-to-15-foot shark is eating your bait near the boat, it’s like watching a lion eat a zebra,” Prasky said. “The sharks will slap the side of the boat and fight for it. It’s the greatest show in nature.”

The survey was inspired by Prasky’s own depredation experience. He says he was 13 years old when a predator turned fishing into a three-way battle off the Atlantic coast of Florida.

“You see a kingfish hit the line and jump straight out of the water and it is flying. It is freaking out. And then you see a barracuda jump. You are trying to reel (the kingfish) in as fast as you can and the line goes limp and it’s half a kingfish,” he recalled.

“In the moment before the barracuda gets it, it is like you are fighting with it. It’s a battle between you and the fish that is trying to get the fish you have on the line.”

Among the things researchers are puzzling over is whether depredation is more common or if that is a perception fueled by the increased popularity of saltwater fishing and social media posts of half-eaten fish.

Any saltwater angler age 18 and older who had a “recreational angling experience from North Carolina to Maine” is allowed to participate in the survey.

The study — titled “Assessing recreational angler experiences with depredation along the Northeast continental shelf of the United States” — is being conducted by Prasky, Dr. Andy Danylchuk, and Dr. Ezra Markowitz of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Reefs and trails await underwater explorers just beneath the surface of the ocean’s warm, blue waters off the shoreline in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Need an escape from the daily stresses of life? Grab a snorkel and mask, wade into the surf and submerge yourself in a world in which the only traffic you’ll encounter is a vibrant school of fish swimming by, or a graceful sea turtle crossing your path.

Of course, before you dive in, there are several things to figure out: the right location for your skill level, the necessary equipment, access points, cost, safety factors, and parking and other amenities.

We’ve taken all of this into account when compiling our list of must-snorkel spots that are easily accessible right from the beach — no boat required — and are either free or, in some cases, involve only parking or park fees.

SAFETY FIRST

Before anything else, let’s talk safety. Here are some important tips for snorkelers, courtesy of the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation department’s website:

• Know your personal swimming limitations and snorkeling abilities.
• Always snorkel with a buddy so you can share your experiences and have somebody to help if needed.
• Check the ocean conditions, including waves, currents, wind, water visibility and weather.
• Decide on entry and exit points.
• Keep in mind that the best time to snorkel is within two hours before or after high tide.

“If unsure of skills, stay within lifeguarded areas,” Fine said. “Look but don’t touch is the slogan to follow with snorkeling, and keep feet and hands off coral and marine life.”

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

Next, we asked marine biologist and Master Scuba Instructor John Christopher Fine — who calls Boynton Beach home when he’s not traveling around the world exploring shipwrecks and studying ocean pollution — about the equipment first-time snorkelers need before heading out into the water.

He said to start with the basics: a mask, snorkel and pair of fins (or swim shoes). Also, “wear a dive skin or nylon tights and top to protect from sun as well as stings,” he added. “Skins are inexpensive online, last a long time and are far less expensive than coral-killing sunscreens.”

A dive flag and float are required for safety and to comply with Florida law, he said.

“For beginners, I suggest a car inner tube on a yellow (polypropylene) line with a weight at the end, so the line can be dropped and the tube not float away,” he said, adding that a dive flag can be tied to it or secured with a special device.

“A tube is great to rest, holding on to it,” but it should be made of strong materials, not a typical pool float.

PLACES TO SNORKEL

Ready to jump in? We’ve gathered six snorkeling spots where you can meet marine life and experience the serenity of the sea.

And if you want a snorkeling sneak peek beforehand, just search YouTube.com for underwater videos by divers and snorkelers featuring the locations on our list below.

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Phil Foster Memorial Park Snorkel Trail 900 E. Blue Heron Blvd., Riviera Beach

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Free

INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org/parks

An underwater paradise awaits snorkelers of all levels on the south side of the Blue Heron Bridge, just beyond a guarded swimming area. Venture out about 200 feet to explore submerged structures and shark sculptures while keeping an eye out for some of the trail’s residents, including squid, octopuses, spotted rays and starfish. Six hundred tons of rock were used to build the artificial reef, made of limestone boulders and prefabricated reef modules that span 2 acres in 6 to 10 feet of water, according to the county. Need to take a break? Cool off in the shade on the beach under the bridge. To the south, you’ll see Peanut Island, another popular snorkeling location accessible by boat or ferry.

Ocean Inlet Park/Lofthus shipwreck6990 N. Ocean Blvd., Boynton Beach

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Free

INFORMATION: discover.pbcgov.org

Whether you park and walk across Ocean Boulevard or under the road by the jetty, when you see the shoreline rocks along the guarded beach on the south side of the inlet, you’ve found the entry point to another popular snorkeling spot. Suit up with your equipment and wade into the ocean. Sea turtles, nurse sharks, reef fish and corals have all been spotted in the waters. For intermediate to advanced snorkelers who swim beyond the guarded area, be aware of boat traffic.

For those looking for a challenge, the Lofthus shipwreck is 1.1 miles north of the inlet, about 150 yards offshore in about 10 to 18 feet of water, Fine said. Park at Ocean Inlet Park and make the trek along the beach before the high-tide mark. He has seen guitar fish, a nurse shark and spiny lobsters hanging around the wreckage.

“Watch the weather. When the ocean is rough, waves break in shore and the shipwreck remains are not safe to dive,” he said. “Calm ocean and little wind make it a fun place to explore.”

Red Reef Park Snorkel Trail 1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton

HOURS: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

PARKING: $35 on weekdays and $50 on weekends/holidays (day pass); $3 per hour at metered lot across State Road A1A

INFORMATION: myboca.us

Twenty artificial reefs just offshore and a jetty that extends from the beach into the water make up the snorkel trail. Walk directly into the ocean from the guarded beach and be on the lookout for sergeant major, parrotfish, bar jack and spottail pinfish. Snorkelers also have reported seeing a small reef shark, eels, lobsters, crabs, stingrays, barracuda and a sea turtle on their adventures.

Fourteen of the reefs were installed in late 2021, which extended the snorkeling trail. They are constructed from native limestone boulders sourced from a quarry near Fort Pierce, according to the city.

“Creating an artificial-reef snorkel trail offers residents and visitors another unparalleled outdoor experience in the city,” said recreation services director Greg Stevens. “This unique attraction not only provides a stunning adventure for snorkelers but also fosters a thriving and sustainable habitat for local marine life.”

It’s the ideal location for children to learn to snorkel and get up close with ocean life as well.

“I was able to view beautiful sea life such as turtles, colorful and bigger fish,” said 12-year-old Boca Raton resident Shea Ferris, who snorkels there. “It’s a safe and peaceful place for them, and I was able to enjoy everything around me.”

BROWARD COUNTY

Shipwreck Snorkel TrailDatura Avenue and El Mar Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

PARKING: Metered parking on side streets or at South Ocean Lot, 4324 State Road A1A

INFORMATION: discoverlbts.com/diving-snorkeling

Just south of Anglin’s Fishing Pier, one of Broward County’s most popular dive and snorkeling areas provides a trail in 10 feet of water and three coral reefs just off the beach.

“Recognized as ‘Florida’s Beach Diving Capital,’ Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s quaint Florida town is teeming with beautiful marine life in the calm, clear waters less than 100 yards off the white sand beaches, making it one of the best beaches in Florida to go snorkeling or diving with the little ones,” said town spokeswoman Aimee Adler Cooke. “The whole family can enjoy snorkeling, diving, kayaking and paddleboarding right off the beach.”

She said the town is a designated Blue Wave beach, a distinction given by the Clean Beaches Coalition to clean and environmentally responsible beach communities.

The Shipwreck Snorkel Trail, which includes an anchor, five concrete cannons and a ballast pile, was dedicated in 2002 by explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (Jacques Cousteau’s son), according to the town.

The waters also are home to the SS Copenhagen, a British shipwreck in a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve, that is reachable by boat.

Vista Park Reef2851 N. Atlantic Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

HOURS: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PARKING: Metered parking lot open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

INFORMATION: parks.fortlauderdale.gov

Just steps from the parking lot at Vista Park, a hidden gem among snorkeling enthusiasts is bustling beneath the blue ocean waters. The reef line starts about 300 feet out from shore and extends past the buoys. The area is the midway point of the reef that runs north and south. More advanced snorkelers can head out to the deeper depths of the reef. What will you see? Hard and soft corals, tropical fish and sea fans. Go early when water clarity is at its best.

Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park/Erojacks6503 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood

HOURS: 8 a.m. to sunset

ADMISSION: $6 per vehicle (up to eight people); $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass

INFORMATION: floridastateparks.org/mizell

There are various places to snorkel along the 2.5 miles of beach in the park, but one of the unique areas is the Dania Beach Erojacks, an artificial reef that runs east to west made up of concrete jacks structures. To find it, drive north to parking lot #1, walk across the bridge and to the right, follow the service trail signs in the sand heading south. You will enter the beach area at the spot where the reef is less than 600 feet offshore. The Dania Beach Pier is visible just to the south. Put your dive flag out and look for eels, fish, coral, slipper and spiny lobsters, stingrays, puffer fish and starfish. Keep in mind that the northern end of the state park, including the jetty parking lot, Jetty Pier and beach access, is closed to the public for construction.

From Sept. 10-13, visitors to the living history farm can meet Russell — otherwise known as “the chair guy” — and see him demonstrate the art of creating strong chair seats from the shucks of corn cobs.

Corn shuck seat weaving stemmed from the necessity of having to use what was on hand to make an item of function.

Several corn shuck chairs are part of Island Farm’s collection, indicative of the period. On Roanoke Island in the mid-19th century, corn was produced in high volumes. Today, original corn-husk woven chair seats are as rare as the people that know the trade.

Admission to Island Farm at 1140 North U.S. Highway 64, north of Manteo on Roanoke Island, is $10, with children under 3 free. See obcinc.org/island-farm for more information.

But this time, he was seeking to benefit others, too.

“In these last 10 years, I went through a divorce, I moved, and just had a lot of personal stuff that I went through,” Scott said. “So turning 50 feels kind of more reflective. I wanted to do something big, but I wanted to do it in a way where I could give back.”

So now, Scott is riding his bicycle 588 miles across Virginia — and raising money for charity — to celebrate his 50 years.

It all began in early 2023, when Scott — a former college English teacher who now runs a fledgling business called Fennario Coffee Roasters — began talking to one of his new customers at the Farmer’s Market in Hilton Village.

That customer, Caroline Dutle, is the director of development at THRIVE Peninsula, a nonprofit that provides food and financial, housing and utilities assistance for those in need.

When THRIVE received a large whole-bean coffee donation a few months later, Dutle thought of her “coffee guy” and asked Scott if he’d be willing to grind the beans down before it’s given away.

“Most of our clients can’t afford coffee, let alone a coffee grinder,” Dutle said. “So a donation isn’t too helpful if it’s in bean form.”

Scott immediately said yes.

“He came to check out our facility, and has been really active and involved in supporting us ever since,” Dutle said. “So it all started with coffee beans.”

Scott took the beans home, ground them up and returned them in packages, ready for distribution. Though most consider coffee a staple, she said, for others it’s a “luxury item.”

“Any time we can provide things beyond the necessities, it’s a real treat for our clients,” Dutle said.

THRIVE Peninsula was founded 50 years ago by several churches in Newport News’ Denbigh section, and still considers itself a Christian-based organization. But Scott said he was drawn to the fact that the nonprofit helps people of all faiths — or no faith.

“I am sensitive to people telling me what to do or trying to evangelize me,” Scott said. “But (faith) doesn’t affect who gets help or who doesn’t get help. The only thing that you have to do is qualify financially.”

“And once I saw how selfless and giving these people are, the volunteers, I was like, ‘Man, I’ve got to be involved in this somehow.’ ”

THRIVE has a pantry where people can come once a month by appointment and get about a week’s worth of groceries. It also offers financial assistance and coaching.

So when it came time for Scott to mark his 50th birthday, he decided he wanted THRIVE to be the recipient of a charity event. He came to Dutle with a concept: He’d bike 500 miles to raise $5,000 and 500 pounds of food — all multiples of 50 — to benefit the organization.

Dutle liked the idea, and helped him put the plan — and the fundraising mechanisms — into action.

It began Saturday morning at Breaks Interstate Park near the Kentucky and Virginia border. Scott will then trek the Virginia portion of the TransAmerica Trail — 588 miles — over nine days. That’s about 65 miles a day.

The route will take him south to Damascus, then northeast to Radford, Christiansburg and Lexington. He will hit the Blue Ridge Parkway, then Charlottesville, Ashland and Richmond before heading back to Hampton Roads.

Scott can be followed online in real time — at www.tinyurl.com/heathwatch — as he makes his way through the commonwealth.

Though Scott has done lengthy rides in the past, this will be the longest. He said the first several days — where the route is most mountainous — will be the most challenging.

Luckily, Scott is no stranger to physical exertion. He has been an ultra distance runner in the past. And over the past couple years, his coffee business includes a guarantee to deliver the java the next day anywhere in Newport News by bike. That also ensures he’s getting in his daily rides.

“Rain and snow doesn’t stop me,” he said. “I had a broken rib last year, and was out delivering on the bike … so it’s gonna take a lot to stop me.”

THRIVE, for one, is appreciative.

“I think it’s just such a superhuman feat that Heath is taking on, and this is just an amazing opportunity for us to be recognized in this way,” Dutle said Friday. “He’s really garnered a lot of support within the community, and it’s been very helpful to THRIVE.”

Scott will carry a tent and sleeping bag, and plans to camp on his route. It’ll be a mixture of “stealth camping” — finding a spot in wooded areas along the way — and campgrounds, and a hotel for his night in Richmond.

He’ll bring a couple days’ worth of trail food with plans to replenish in small towns along the way.

“It’s all back roads, and you’re never more than an hour or two ride from any kind of convenience store,” Scott explained.

A friend plans to meet him Thursday at the Blue Ridge Parkway to help him resupply and offer moral support. Scott’s wife, Woodside High School art teacher Heidi Compton, will meet him in the evenings starting that same night.

He plans to be back on or about Sept. 15 — his 50th birthday.

Road construction on the Capital Trail will prevent Scott from finishing at the end of the cross-country TransAmerica trail in Yorktown. So he plans to end the route at the THRIVE building on Nettles Drive in Newport News, likely arriving by way of Warwick Boulevard.

Scott has already surpassed his initial $5,000 fundraising goal. That’s in large part because of Priority Bicycles, the New York-based company that makes the bike he’s riding, a belt-driven Priority 600.

“I’ve seen them do charitable work, on everything from suicide prevention to getting kids on bikes,” Scott said of the company. “I sent them a letter explaining what I was doing, and they didn’t hesitate. They got back to me within 24 hours and said, ‘We’d love to help out.’ ”

Scott asked Priority to donate a less expensive bicycle than the $2,500 one that Scott will be riding. “And they came right back and said, ‘No, let’s do the Priority 600,’ They completely donated it, no strings attached.'”

The bike will be raffled off as part of the fundraising effort. Tickets are selling for $25 apiece or five for $100, with all proceeds counting toward the $5,000 goal. And last week, an anonymous local family kicked in $2,630 — at the time just enough to hit the $5,000 mark.

“Their anonymity will be respected, but we can assure you that they are one of the most wonderful families we’ve had had the honor to get to know,” Scott wrote on his coffee company’s Instagram page. “They are true models of how to be a good human.”

The fundraiser is now up to $5,370 and counting, with 100% of the proceeds going to THRIVE.

Canned goods and other non-perishables are being collected at THRIVE (12749 Nettles Drive) or Village Bicycles (9913 Warwick Blvd.). Both are in Newport News.

“I’m just really excited,” he said Friday before leaving for the Kentucky border. “I’m pretty humbled by the outpouring of support from folks and the interest from folks. I was doing this as a kind of a small way to help try and raise some money, and the swell of support that I’ve gotten from the community, it’s just been unbelievable.”

THRIVE will host a community day Sept. 22 with Scott, featuring refreshments, a mobile coffee bar and an opportunity to learn more about the organization’s mission. That’s also when the donated bicycle will be raffled off.

To contribute or buy a raffle ticket for the bike, go to the donation website, “50 to 5000: Heath’s Trans-Virginia Birthday Ride for THRIVE,” at givebutter.com/HeathsRide4THRIVE.

“Trading river views for mountains tomorrow,” Scott wrote Thursday on Instagram, with a picture of his bicycle near the James River. “Who knows what adventures lay ahead?”

Peter Dujardin, 757-897-2062, pdujardin@dailypress.com