If you're looking for a little something unexpected, try Lovers Key State Park near Fort Myers Beach, Florida. This is not your typical Florida beach, not even close. Sure, you'll find the white sandy beaches typical of the beautiful Gulf Coast. But at Lovers Key State Park, there's so much more, and there's definitely something for everyone.

If you just like to lounge on the sand, head to the main beach. Go through the main entrance and take the tram or walk the scenic boardwalks over the intercoastal waterways to find a beautiful, unspoiled piece of beach. Pack a cooler of essentials, or hit the concessions before you head over. Add a few accessories for a little bit of beach glamour and you're good to go.

Perhaps you'd prefer a more active day? Lovers Key has plenty of options for you, both on land and water. This park is a favorite for kayakers, with its beautiful, peaceful shoreline and abundance of wildlife such as dolphins, manatee, and an amazing range of shore and wading birds. Pack your camera and binoculars because you could spot American Bald Eagles, Osprey, or the beautiful pink roseate spoonbill.

Looking to stay on land? You can rent bikes for the day or just a few hours at the concession stand. Don't forget your watch because it's easy to lose track of time once you've found your quiet piece of Florida's paradise.

No matter how you choose to spend your time at Lovers Key State Park, just be sure to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy it. You'll be glad you did.

Canyon white water rafting or shooting rapids in a kayak or canoe is an experience more exciting than any roller coaster. But remember these sports can turn deadly in the event of a flash flood.

Whatever craft you're using, you need to pack basic equipment. A waterproof bag is a starting place, something to keep your food and most valuable gear, including things like a camera, a waterproof flashlight, your goggles (when you're not wearing them to protect your eyes), and a first aid kit, although the Paddler by Adventure Medical Kits comes in its own drybag and includes both an emergency blanket for two people as well as waterproof matches. On the water, whether it's smooth or not, you should be wearing a flotation device, and a helmet to protect your head from rocks.

The absolute best way to survive flash floods is to avoid them. Before you start, check the weather forecast. If it includes thunderstorms or heavy rain, even 30 miles away, be aware that a flash flood is likely, so don't go. The waterways feeding the river are likely to fill or overflow with rainfall or snow melt, then enter your river all at once, creating a flash flood. Having a portable waterproof radio can help you keep track of weather conditions and help you avoid floods.

Keep an eye on the sky and the water upstream as you run the river. If you see thunderheads, afar away, get out of the water and get to high ground, out of the canyon if possible. If you hear a sudden loud rushing noise, get out and to high ground as fast as you can. A flash flood comes down a canyon like a wall of water, and you may have little time to get out.

If you can't get out, hang on to your raft and kayak, even if it capsizes, and try to use your paddles to push away from rocks and debris in the water. You may survive the flash flood with a great story to tell.

(Sources: http://www.secretsofsurvival.com/survival/flood_flash_floods.html, http://www.disastercenter.com/guide/flood.html ; http://www.frankstehno.com/sagemesa/guide/bcconsiderations/rivers.htm#ff )

A few years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Miami with my parents. My parents like to hike so, after a couple of days on the beach, we decided Florida's stellar hiking trails were calling us, and off we set.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park
This park is on the banks of the Loxahatchee River and has some great trails, all mapped out for you by the Florida Trail Association. The trails are all looped trails, so eventually you'll end up back where you started, but meanwhile you'll see some lovely mangroves, swamp land and pine woods. You can also camp here in the designated camping areas. Some of the trails are also board walked, which makes hiking easy. You can concentrate on the beauty around you instead of worrying where you're putting your feet.

South Fork St. Lucie Hiking Trail
This trail is about two and a half miles long, but what makes this trail really cool is it's a hiking-canoe trail that can only be accessed by canoe (at least at the moment, though that's likely to change in the future, so try it out soon). You get to the hiking trail by first paddling your canoe for around three miles, then get out at the trailhead. All along the canoe trail and into the hiking trail you're likely to see turtles and alligators. Make sure you watch where you're stepping though as alligators in Florida have been known to eat people.

Corbett Hiking Trail in Palm Beach County
The Corbett Hiking Trail is a bit further out but well worth going to. It's 16 miles long, which is more than 30 miles if you do the round trip, and goes over flatlands, wetlands and into copious amounts of saw palmetto, the famous Florida fan palm. You'll see a lot of wildlife on the Corbett Hiking Trail. River otters, white-tailed deer, bobcats, woodpeckers, herons and many other species have been spotted from Corbett Trail. The trail also has a 1.2 mile boardwalk, which is a great place to stop, take a rest and check out what might be lurking in the undergrowth. The best time for the most sightings is usually either early morning or late afternoon, when the trail is quieter. Make sure you take your camera too.

Miami doesn't have to be about a flashy lifestyle or a nice tan, it can also be about getting out into nature and trying one of the Miami areas' many hiking trails.