July is Florida Recreation and Parks Month, and what better way to celebrate than to visit your local state park? It’s summer, so if you’re going to hike, get there when the gates open at 8 AM, or pick a park where paddling and swimming is a part of the fun too, like Lafayette Blue Springs State Park or Wekiwa Springs State Park.
On Sunday July 13, admission to all state parks is free. Get out there and enjoy your Florida treasures!
A committee collecting community petitions for construction of a multi-use trail dubbed the Panama City Crayfish Trail pitched the Lynn Haven commission on the concept, according to the Panama City News Herald. A five-mile stretch of old railbed from the fuel depot east is what they’re eyeing for a new trail.
Living as I do in an urbanized setting where our local government has public connector trails of this nature in the comp plan but no plans on the ground, I’m glad to see grassroots efforts like this to work with local government to provide a benefit to residents and visitors alike. I suggest the fine folks in Panama City and Lynn Haven take a look at their neighbor to the north, Blountstown, for an excellent example of how a trail can bring a community together.
Just found a new blogger to add to my blogroll: Buford Pruitt, a fellow Marion County resident, writing about hiking, kayaking, birdwatching and all things outdoorsy on his Florida Nature Adventures blog. Give him a look! Today’s post is about walking through the dry marshes of Orange Lake. With a serious sinkhole in its bottom, Orange Lake tends to drain out pretty quickly in times of drought like we have now.
New! The University of Florida has opened up public access to its 60-acre Natural Area Teaching Laboratory (NATL) in the heart of Gainesville, right behind the Museum of Natural History and Performing Arts Center on Hull Drive. Open dawn to dusk, this set of interpretive trails totals about 1.5 miles in four trails, inclding a 500 foot boardwalk. I just picked up the info on it, and will head down there soon to check them out. Meanwhile, here’s a link to the map and details about the trails.
July is Florida Recreation and Parks Month, and what better way to celebrate than to visit your local state park? It’s summer, so if you’re going to hike, get there when the gates open at 8 AM, or pick a park where paddling and swimming is a part of the fun too, like Lafayette Blue Springs State Park or Wekiwa Springs State Park.
A committee collecting community petitions for construction of a multi-use trail dubbed the Panama City Crayfish Trail pitched the Lynn Haven commission on the concept, 
