Big Bend Scenic Byway
City of Sopchoppy, FL

Perched on the banks of the beautiful Sopchoppy River, this was one of Charles Kuralt’s favorite stops. Sopchoppy is the Worm Gruntin’ capital of the world, and locals still practice the art of coaxing earthworms from the ground to sell as bait. They go into the “Bait Woods” at dawn, drive a hardwood stob into the ground, and rhythmically rub the top of the exposed wood with a heavy piece of iron, such as a leaf spring from an old tractor. The friction—which resembles the vibrations of Moles digging—causes the earthworms to escape to the surface where they are collected in bait cans. Each year in early April, the town celebrates its tradition of Worm Gruntin’ with a daylong festival, coronation of the Worm Grunters’ King and Queen, and the Worm Grunters’ Ball.