CORKSCREW SWAMP HIKE: BALD CYPRESS, GATORS, RAPTORS The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary , just about three hours south of Tampa Bay, is a watery wilderness that is fun to saunter through and explore any time of year. A 2.25-mile boardwalk will take you through pine flatwoods, a wet prairie and the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. Some of these trees stand nearly 130 feet tall and are every bit as impressive as their cousins, the California redwood. While their girth might take your breath away (some measure 25 feet around), the real show is up above: Moss, lichens, bromeliads and ferns cover huge branches. Be ready to see some big gators, otters and, of course, white-tailed deer. A birders paradise, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to water birds and raptors. After the turn of the 20th century, when much of southwest Florida was being logged, the National Audubon Society made sure that this patch of paradise would be protected for generations to come. Today, the 14,000 acres at Corkscrew are maintained to sustain the native plants and animals no differently than they have been for thousands of years. The only difference is you get to be there, too. AT THE BEACH: REMEMBER 'STINGRAY SHUFFLE' The best way to beat the heat in the middle of August is to head to the beach. But remember, you're sharing the water with a host of other creatures, including stingrays. This secretive animal spends most of the day hiding under the sand, hoping it doesn't get stepped on. Occasionally, one might not "feel" you coming, and wham! All rays have "spines," which most people mistakenly call "barbs." The location of this razor-sharp apparatus can differ from species to species and may range in length from 1 to 10 inches. The bad boy on the Gulf Coast, the Atlantic stingray, measures about 1 foot across and during peak season may tag as many as 100 beachgoers in a day. When a swimmer even brushes against a ray, the tail whips up and strikes because the animal thinks it is being attacked. The cownose ray, on the other hand, is a free swimmer that often forms into schools of 1,000 or more, causing great alarm among beach crowds. This ray, which can measure 3 feet across, is relatively harmless, unless you try to catch it with your bare hands. While stingrays can be found in local waters year-round, they are most prevalent during the spring and summer. The best way to avoid being hit is to shuffle your feet and stir up the sand so the ray moves off. Locals call it the "stingray shuffle." But if the diamond-shaped spine does make contact with the foot or ankle, be prepared for agonizing pain that could last for hours. If you do get stung, submerge the wound in hot water and head to the nearest emergency room to make sure the spine has not broken off inside the wound. SEE LIGHTNING? HEAD FOR SAFETY As a beach lifeguard, I also developed a healthy respect for summer storms. Lightning kills an average of 100 people each year in the United States; about 10 of these deaths occur in Florida. If you see lightning in the distance and wonder if you are in danger, don't bother counting. Just get off the beach and find a safe area. After the coast is clear, wait 30 minutes before heading back to your umbrella. More than half of all lightning deaths occur after a storm has passed. Some of the most powerful lightning often occurs at the front and rear of storms, hence the phrase "a bolt out of the blue."