Gainesville is a city in North Central Florida best known as the home of the Florida Gators at University of Florida. But Gainesville is also a nature hotspot with some amazing parks. Gainesville has four completely distinct Florida State Parks within the city limit, a State Trail, and several other county parks, gardens, and even …
O’Leno State Park is a beautiful park in North Florida, but it also has a very unique feature – the Santa Fe River flows completely underground in a sink and then reappears above ground three miles away in River Rise Preserve State Park. O’Leno was one of Florida’s first state parks. It opened in 1940, …
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a unique Florida state park just outside of Gainesville. The park encompasses over 21,000 acres of Florida wetlands and prairie, miles of hiking trails and a campground. This park has three entrances: the main entrance with the majority of trails and activities, the La Chua Trail & Alachua Sink …
The Ocala National Forest is just north of Orlando and is a perfect destination for nature lovers. The forest is great for hiking, camping and wildlife viewing, but there are also four crystal-clear natural springs in the Ocala National Forest. They are Juniper Springs, Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and Alexander Springs. Each spring is within a recreation area where there are plenty of activities to do. The springs are great for families, Florida road trips and even day trips.
Silver Springs State Park is one of Florida’s oldest tourist attractions. The park’s world famous Glass Bottom Boats have been delighting guests in central Florida since the 1870s. Silver Springs became a state park in 2013. Prior to that it was a privately owned “nature theme park” that featured zoo-type animal exhibits, entertainment and rides. …
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park is one of North Florida’s many pristine natural springs. The crystal clear, 72-degree fresh water is perfect for swimming, snorkeling and paddling. And it’s the newest Florida State Park!
Little Manatee River State Park is a hidden gem featuring paddling, wildlife viewing, hiking and camping. The beautiful Little Manatee River is the star of this state park. The primitive North Entrance will give you a great “Real Florida” adventure. Little Manatee River State Park is located in Hillsborough County south of Tampa and east …
Sunken Gardens is a gorgeous tropical oasis in the middle of St. Petersburg teeming with gigantic palms, philodendrons, flowers and waterfalls. Spend the afternoon wandering the winding paths of this plant lovers’ paradise! The Sunken Gardens is over 100 years old, making it one of Florida’s oldest roadside attractions. The garden started in 1903 when …
Experience a Real Florida day hike through a variety of undeveloped ecosystems, with plenty of wildlife viewing and solitude at Terra Ceia. Less than an hour from Tampa, the surprisingly wild Terra Ceia Preserve State Park features 9 miles of trails through mangrove swamps, creeks, estuaries, wetlands, uplands and more. This 2,000 acre park is …
Enjoy the peace and quiet of one of Florida’s largest mature hardwood forests on the trails of San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. The 7,360-acre preserve provides plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking and horseback riding. San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park is divided into two sections. The southern entrance to the park (located four miles …