About the Explorer!

There is nothing more enlightening than exploring the world we live in firsthand!

My name is RJ Prieto, and I’m an explorer! I was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, my own backyard! I’ve seen it grow from a sleepy Florida city to a southern metropolitan jewel. But the best part is not just what Florida cities like Tampa have become, but what they haven’t lost. There is a proud history and culture wherever you go in this amazing state. From South Beach to Ybor City, to Disney, to the sand dunes of Panama City, every dirt road and river in between contains hidden treasures waiting to be discovered by anyone willing to take on the adventure!

I’ve been exploring since I was old enough to ride a bike. When I was a teenager, my friends and I used to explore along a dirt road we called “The Creek.” With BB guns cocked and loaded, we deviated off the road into the saw grass palmettos always on the lookout for trouble. By trouble, I mean those killer rattlesnakes that we were sure just waited to ambush us at any moment! Of course, now I understand we were the trouble. That road and the wild part of Florida that surrounded it has long since given way to housing developments, but that was the beginning of my obsession with the natural beauty of not only our state but traveling in general.

Today, I want to see it all. I want to experience it all. From birds wading in the surf to roller coasters screaming at break-neck speed, it’s all part of what makes life beautiful. I’ve always dreamed of sharing the travels of RJ Prieto through this great state, so what better place to start than my own back yard, and most importantly you get to come along!

Florida is a unique and special place in the world. Known for the beaches, but in reality, it is so much more. By taking a drive from Pensacola to Key West, you have the opportunity to observe an amazing diversity of ecosystems. Start with the dense forests of the Panhandle. Then onward to the palmetto and pine flats of Central Florida and the winding Kissimmee River Basin. Pass through the coastal estuaries of Southwest Florida and enter the Everglades’ sea of grass. You’re journey ends amongst the coral reefs off the Florida Keys. There are not many places you can find such a wide range of diversity over such a short distance. This is every Floridians’ backyard!

The best way to start exploring Florida is to walk into your own backyard. With a little patience, chances are something is going to get your attention. I’ve had the luxury of living in so many different environments in just the Tampa Bay area alone. I grew up in South Tampa, spent my teenage years around the palmettos and pinewoods near Brandon, and also near the estuaries of upper Tampa Bay. I’ve lived near the banks of the Hillsborough River, and close to the Hillsborough River watershed cypress swamps in Pasco County. The amazing thing is whether I’m in the heart or the solitude of the country, taking a few steps out the door reminds of everything that is Florida.

Never was this more apparent than on one Christmas just outside of Temple Terrace in Hillsborough County. There was a lot of frost that morning, which is rare for December in Florida. We sat in the family room by the Christmas Tree opening gifts. It was a particularly special Christmas because my grandmother had come to spend Christmas day with us. We were drinking our coffee and enjoying each other’s company when we noticed what we thought was a dog in the back yard.

The animal walked across the frosty grass from our neighbor’s yard toward the swampy wetlands that backed up to our yard. As the critter crossed in front of the glass doors, it was not a dog at all. It was a fox carrying a dog toy in his mouth. Within moments, he disappeared into the woods. I joked he was shopping for Christmas. That fox became the inspiration for Charlie Fox in my book, Dewey’s Christmas Adventure.

The best part of Florida is that you don’t have to go exploring all the time to find adventure. Sometimes it comes to you. Sometimes it’s right there in front of you (or behind you) in your own backyard. Often you don’t even know it’s there. The truth is it’s not even hiding. All you have to do is open your eyes, grab a chair and wait. Keep your camera close by. The highlights of this movie are going to be just a matter of seconds. You won’t expect to see what is almost certainly seeing you.

Everyone has a backyard of some sort. The common backyard is one of green grass, a wooden fence, maybe a few trees and shrubs, and the tire swing. But that is not the only backyard. The backyard can be anything. It can be a roof top. It can be parking lot. It can be a view from a skyscraper or an entire neighborhood. Regardless of how it is defined it is always going to be the backyard. It is a source of life, love, adventure and inspiration. I wrote an adventure story, and it all came right from the backyard!