Florida

Sweeping views of open sky and vast palmetto prairies greet  visitors as they drive along the park drive. Here is one of the last remaining tracts of dry palmetto prairie, an ecosystem unique to Florida. This landscape is home to many rare species of wildlife, including the most endangered bird i...

Kitching Creek Loop: Florida's Diverse Ecosystem Trail Adventure Take a day full of adventure to hike the Kitching Creek Loop through Jonathan Dickinson State Park's varied ecosystems—from longleaf pine forests and saw palmetto flats to cypress swamps and oak hammocks. This 6.7-mile loop provide...

Virginia Key North Point Trails offers 8.2 of mountain bike trails ranging from novice to advanced and expert. There is a variety of cool features and bridges to ride on, overlooking the beach and Downtown Miami. The trails are constantly maintained as there are volunteers every weekend. Virginia...

Gold head branch state park has been called the grand canyon of Florida. It hangs on the north central ridge of Florida as some of the first land that came out of the sea, which is the reason for all of the Sandhill ecosystem. The ravine was created by the headspring and flow of the Gold Head Bra...

With a 3 miles stretch of fine, delicate sand along the Gulf of Mexico, Holmes Beach is an ideal setting for a shore hike. As you hike, frequent visits from bottlenose dolphins and manatees 20-30 yards offshore along with Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets lining the shoreline is commonplace. Whi...

SCUBA & Free Diving: Established in 1972 by Doc and Ruth Dockery, Vortex Spring is home to the Red & White "Diver Down" Flag and is one of the largest diving facilities in the state of Florida, with 28 million gallons of crystal "gin" clear water daily at a year round temperature of 68 de...

Sweetwater Wetlands Park is over 125 acres of wetlands and ponds that were created to help improve the quality of water contained in the Paynes Prairie wetlands and the Florida aquifer. This initiative by the city of Gainesville has led to improved water quality as well as a place for people to c...

Homosassa Spring State parks showcases native Florida wildlife including the manatees which can be seen from an underwater observatory in the main spring. Other animals you will see will include black bears, panthers, bobcats, flamingos, alligators, American crocodiles, river otters and many diff...

Just off of I-95 lies this beautiful network of trails through one of North Florida's more varied landscapes. The parking lot is easy to find just follow the gravel path off of Bartram Park Blvd. Parking and trail access is always free and is open year round unless there is a control burn. At the...

Silver Springs State Park is rich with history dating back to the 1500’s when it was first settled by the Timucua Indians. This area has also been explored by the Spanish and was once a settlement of the Seminole Indians.  Native American relics can be seen at the museum located in the park or wh...

Topsail Trails is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

The Archbold Research station has plenty to see as they have a visitor center with exhibits, but the main attraction for me is the great nature trail that takes you through a very unique habitat called Florida Scrub. In this habitat you find a diverse amount of wildlife that is only found in thes...

Located just 10 miles from downtown Tampa right off I-4, this short trail runs through a 31-acre botanical garden.  The park has a variety of exotic plans, ferns, flowers and plants as well as a 0.3 mile boardwalk through cypress, maple and oak trees.  Run by Hillsborough County, there's a $2 fee...

A few miles after the Big Cypress visitor center you will find the Kirby Storter Boardwalk. This is a short 1 mile trail through a mature cypress strand. It is a pretty neat experience since in the Everglades in order to be in the middle of a habitat like this, you have to get your feet wet, howe...

Escape into wild Florida on the River Rapids Nature Trail just minutes from downtown Tampa at Hillsborough River State Park. After a delayed flight had me spending an unexpected night in the Tampa area, I was pleasantly surprised to roll into Hillsborough River's campground without a reservation...

Dupuis Reserve State Forest Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you through a nice forest located near Canal Point, Florida.