Hiking
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park: The Beginning of Blooming Season!
Alfred B. Maclay Gardens is located right on the outskirts of Tallahassee, and offers year-round opportunities for visitors to experience outdoor Florida. The Park offers many different activities that should not be overlooked (see this post for details!) including several hiking trails, canoeing, swimming, fishing, and five miles of biking trails. However, it is the gardens themselves that …
Manatee Springs State Park: Perfect in Winter
A trip to the springs is a no-brainer in hot weather, when the 72-degree water provides a welcome retreat from the heat. But camping at the springs is a lot more pleasant in winter and spring, even if swimming isn’t part of the attraction. So what do you do at Manatee Springs State Park in …
The La Chua Trail, Sandhill Cranes, Alligators, and More!
The La Chua Trail is on the East side of Gainesville, and is one of the best locations in the area for winter wildlife viewing. The trail is located on Paynes Prairie which is home to many different species which can be viewed from the platform at the end of the trail. The sandhill crane …
San Felasco Hammock: Two Hikes, One Great Trip
San Felasco Hammock is a 7000 acre preserve that hosts one of the few remaining mature forests in the state of Florida. Located just outside of Gainesville, San Felasco makes a great day trip for casual hikers and pet owners. There are two different trail options on the North Side of the Park, the Moonshine …
Nature Coast State Trail Part 3: Fanning Springs to Trenton
Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City Part 2: Fanning Springs to Chiefland The Nature Coast State trail is a 32 mile trail that runs through Dixie, Gilchrist, and Levy counties. For casual bikers, the trail is easily divided into three shorter pieces. The third and final chunk of the trail is a 7 mile …
Nature Coast State Trail Part 2: Fanning Springs to Chiefland
Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City The Nature Coast State Trail follows the track of a former railroad, and the 32 mile trail can be divided up into three separate mini-trails perfect for casual bikers and hikers. Part one of this series covers the 12 mile track from Fanning Springs to Cross City and can …
The Nature Coast State Trail, Part 1: Fanning Springs to Cross City
In the late part of the fall, the weather in North Florida becomes perfect for hiking and biking. The temperature stays mild, and rainy days are few and far between. The Nature Coast State Trail, formerly known as the Nature Coast Greenway, is a 32 mile trail that winds its way through Gilchrist, Dixie, and Levy …
Post-Thanksgiving Family Fun: The Gainesville-Hawthorne trail
Thanksgiving, a day of indulgence, a huge feast with friends and family where the average American eats nearly three times as much as they normally would. The day before is usually spent in half-starved anticipation, and the day after is usually spent rolling around in regret and thinking that perhaps that extra serving of sweet-potato casserole wasn’t …
Devil’s Millhopper State Geological Site
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is located in Alachua County just outside of Gainesville, Florida and is an amazing place to visit year round. It is one of the largest sinkholes in the state, at 120 feet deep and 500 feet across at the top. A wooden boardwalk provides access to the bottom of the sink, and …