The folks at WLRN-TV are creating a series of small segments entitled “Slices of Life” featuring local residents’ careers and businesses. A small group of friends and I were invited to come along with the crew to interview Charles J. Kropke. I was thrilled to join upon hearing that the filming was to be conducted in Big Cypress National Preserve. This, however, was not going to be the passive outing that most people witness- high and dry. Our guide’s ominous recommendation was to “make sure to bring a change of clothes and shoes”.

(more...)

On Saturday, February 25^th, 2012, it became clear to me that people from all walks of life in South Florida still do care.  Only a few weeks earlier I had called for action for an environmental restoration workday at Broward County’s Deerfield Island Park. The call went viral and 199 volunteers RSVPed.  176 showed up.  My appeal was the following.

“This is something that I rarely do but I am requesting it now, I need your help.  Saturday, February 25^th at 10 am, I am gathering everyone we can muster at the dock that services Deerfield Island Park in Deerfield Beach.  I am responding to a plea from my longtime friend Pat Howell on a project that is dear to both of our hearts.  The gopher tortoise habitat on the island is facing a de-listing as a critical wildlife habitat by the Fish & Wildlife Commission because invasive exotic plants are choking out the area.  I am trying to mobilize an army to eliminate the invasives and prevent the critical wildlife de-listing.  Because it is a large task and we only have one day, I need as many volunteers as humanly possible.

(more...)

The November 2011 issue of Alaska Airlines Magazine featured Dragonfly Expeditions’ “Tour de Grass” (a bike tour in the Shark Valley area of the Everglades) and our “Half Moon Archaeological Snorkeling Tour”.  Seattle-based author Crai Bower emphasizes the unique opportunity of having both very urban and ecological experiences when staying in Miami. The following is an excerpt highlighting the tours:

To read the entire article, click here

As part of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s effort to present Miami as an increasingly eco-friendly destination, Dragonfly Expeditions several times has hosted journalists on our “Great Discoveries on the Bay – A Kayak Journey” to allow a glimpse into the area’s history and ecology in the middle of the city’s urban core. The following excerpt is from the recently published article in the German daily newspaper Hannoversche Allgemeine:

Dragonfly Expeditions would like to thank renowned British travel blogger Yves de Contades for mentioning us in his world travel blog. It looks like Yves had a great experience on our kayak tour “Paddling the Oleta-Miami’s Last Free Flowing River”.

 “…The next morning I started my exploration of Miami with a kayak tour along the Oleta River through the mangrove swamps with Dragonfly Expeditions. It was Homeresque, we paddled out into the wild Mangrove swamps unarmed apart from a large double bladed paddle and two guides. We were instantly besieged by Great Blue Heron, Egrets, Ospreys (Eagle like birds) and Jumping Mullet that leapt out of the water. Turkey Vultures swarmed overhead, wonderful gliders with their outstretched wing feathers riding the thermals. Little Blue Heron, Ibises, Kingfishers and three Brown Pelicans flew overhead in the classic 3 birds on a wall formation a foot away from me. Do not miss out on the Everglades if you want to see manatees, dolphins, alligators, birds, and turtles or go air boating in the flat bottomed boats with a giant fan on the back…”

Read the full article here

The AroundTown Magazine is a monthly issued calendar-magazine dedicated to South Florida’s rich cultural tapestry.  Since early 2011 Charles J. Kropke has been writing a column named “Charles’ Corner” for AroundTown where he talks about cultural events and institutions in South Florida.

For the June/July issue he was given the opportunity to introduce Dragonfly Expeditions and one of our tours: the Everglades Backwater Tour:

(more…)

Since February 2011, Charles J. Kropke’s book “South Beach – Stories of a Renaissance” has been the bestseller at Books & Books in Coral Gables and South Beach!  We are now delighted that Charles’ book has been chosen by the Miami Design Preservation League (MDPL) for their new program MDPL Reads which encourages everyone to read the same book leading up to the next annual Art Deco Weekend in January of 2012.  In their press release below, MDPL details the events leading up to October 5^th, 2011 with a trivia contest through their facebook page.

MDPL Reads is meant to bring attention to great books about South Beach and the Art Deco Historic District. The first event will take place on October 5^th, 2011 at 7pm at the Art Deco Welcome Center, 1001 Ocean Drive. The book chosen for the October event is South Beach – Stories of a Renaissance, by Charles J. Kropke and Eleanor Goldstein, who will be signing and discussing the book at the October 5^th event. Leading up to the MDPL Reads event in October, MDPL will be launching a 10 weeklong trivia series related to stories taken from the book via the MDPL Facebook page. Prizes will relate to each question and include museum passes, freebies at local restaurants, posters, and more!  All the prizes were donated from people and places mentioned in the book. You can purchase the book at the Official Art Deco Gift Shop or online.

(more…)

Charles Kropke recently hosted several journalists on a familiarization tour for the Dutch airline KLM and in the following article is being lauded for his superior knowledge of the area and story-telling abilities – and he doesn’t even speak Dutch!

Er is meer in Miami

door Ron Peereboom Voller

Wie aan Miami denkt, ziet zon, zee en luxe voor zich. Door klassieke televisieseries als ’Miami Vice’ en hedendaagse tegenhangers heb je een beeld voor ogen van snelle jachten, dure auto’s en luxe hotels. Maar Miami heeft meer te bieden dan dat, ontdekte onze verslaggever.

Dragonfly Expeditions was featured in the  Puerto Rican publication – Revista Balance :

Organiza un fin de semana súper prendido y realiza actividades que quizá nunca hayas hecho. Miami tiene novedades fit y ecológicas que te pueden sorprender. ¿Que tal caminar sobre pantanos en compañía de crocodilos? ¿O recorrer Lincoln Road en bici? Te organizamos una propuesta para que te diviertas al máximo.

DIA 1: FITNESS Y RELAX

El nuevo puente en South Beach te invita a pasar todo un día en el disfrute del calor húmedo y sus playas. Puedes caminar, correr o patinar sobre el Cualquiera de las opciones será mejor hacerlas temprano, para evitar el castigo del sol. Si lo tuyo es el yoga, no olvides tu mat para colocarlo debajo de una de las palmeras en los sugerentes jardines. Haz tu práctica de una hora y media y reúnete con tus acompañantes en la entrada de la playa. Ahora si, la tender las toallas y a relajarte.

Puedes terminar el día en un spa con un masaje o un facial. Te recomendamos Palms Spa by Aveda, inspirado en la medicina tradicional india –el ayurveda-, o el Exhale Spa, que ofrece el equilibro perfecto para mente y cuerpo.

(more…)

Dragonfly Expeditions’ own Charles J. Kropke was recently quoted in The Miami Herald, our local daily newspaper, speaking about our efforts to promote outdoors activities. The following article appeared in the February 24^th 2011 publication.

Click the image below to read the article in its entirety:

(If you can not view the .pdf, you may need to Download Adobe Reader)