Location Spotlight:  St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

About a quarter-mile offshore, at the mouth of the Apalachicola River in the Gulf of Mexico, is a small, undeveloped barrier island, St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. With many types of habitats, ranging from tidal marsh to freshwater lakes and streams, St. Vincent is a haven for many endangered species. Bald eagles, alligators, sea turtles, indigo snakes, colonies of bats, red wolves, and a vast compliment of migratory and tropical birds take up residence here.

With no motor vehicles allowed, and access to the island only by boat, St. Vincent is preserved in as natural a state as possible. Hunting is done in a managed way with the goal of maintaining wildlife populations at a level compatible with the habitat. Our visit to St. Vincent was a unique pleasure; the absence of motors always brings us joy, but it was the uniqueness of such a small island with so many diverse species and habitats that really stands out for us. The Naturespace track Infinite Shoreline was recorded here. Since it is at the mouth of the river, the waves strike the shore at a very oblique angle, which presents a waveline that cascades from right to left, as opposed to head-on. Totally unique, quiet, clean, diverse, and on the ocean; it is one of our favorite spots so far.