In Central Florida, rivers and manatees outshine the beach

INVERNESS, FLORIDA – It’s a cool morning by Florida standards and a light fog is hanging over the dark waters of the Withlacoochee River.
The mist rises and swirls over the top of the river as we pull away from the dock for our tour of the river with captain Doug Riggs of Wild Bill’s Airboat Tours. Across the small bay, a blue heron sits motionless, waiting for its breakfast to appear in the water below. Off to our right, a startled ibis flaps its wings and sails over a patch o