Florida Hikes

Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Articles by Sandra Friend

Maitland Art Center

Conceived in the Art Deco era and shaded by a canopy of ancient oaks, the Maitland Art Center is, in part, a fantasy of a Mayan temple with formal gardens around historic art studios.

Manasota Scrub Preserve

Englewood   1.5 miles

A Sarasota County preserve established for the Florida scrub-jay, Manasota Scrub Preserve has a 1.5 mile loop in 145 acres of scrubby flatwoods.

Manatee Springs North End Trails

Chiefland   4.7 miles

Loop the lushly forested north end of Manatee Springs State Park for a peek at scenic karst features on this 4.7 mile route encompassing the perimeter of the North End Trails System.

Maritime Hammock Sanctuary

Melbourne Beach   3.5 miles

Protecting a strip of waterfront and maritime hammock along the Indian River Lagoon, Maritime Hammock Sanctuary showcases a parade of coastal habitats along its trails.

Marshall Hampton Reserve

Lakeland   2.6 miles

Sample a colorful corner of more than 1,100 acres of conservation land along the eastern shore of Lake Hancock on a hike combining oak hammocks and wetlands for birding.

Matching Florida books to outdoor adventures

Have you ever matched a book to an outdoor adventure? Well, now’s the time to try it out. A special focus on the outdoors is part of this year’s summer reading program “Just Read, Families!” from the Florida Department of Education. …

Matheson Hammock Park

Miami   miles

A tropical retreat along the coast of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park has two distinct sides: a wild slice of the ancient Miami Hammock and a waterfront with a man-made atoll on Biscayne Bay.

Matheson Hammock Trails

Miami   1.4 miles

One of the wilder places showcasing a remaining piece of the ancient Miami Hammock, the Hammock Trails at Matheson Hammock Park immerses you in a tropical forest.