Named after the town in New York where Melvil Dewey – he of the Dewey Decimal System – moved from when he came to Florida to retire, Lake Placid started as a resort that Dewey started as a retirement project. It’s a quiet town among the rolling hills of the Lake Wales Ridge, now known for its public art projects, murals large and small.
Trails and Parks in Lake Placid
Bobcat Trail - The Bobcat Trail at Lake June-in-Winter State Park leads to a 3.3 mile trail system atop snow-white ancient dunes on the Lake Wales Ridge, where rare and unusual plants thrive
Gatorama - Started in 1957 as a roadside attraction to show tourists one of the two Florida experiences they wanted - alligators! - Gatorama still has that funky Old Florida feel.
Hickory Hammock Trail - With moss-draped oaks and tall hickory trees, stands of cabbage palms and a beautiful campsite, the Hickory Hammock Trail is an enjoyable destination
Highlands Hammock State Park - One of Florida's oldest state parks, Highlands Hammock protects an old-growth forest while enabling you to explore it on a network of fascinating interpretive nature trails 
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park - Protecting 845 acres of the whitest, brightest sand on the Lake Wales Ridge, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park has one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in North America.
Tomoka Trail - Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park is a pristine snapshot of Florida’s scrub atop the Lake Wales Ridge. This short nature trail follows Tomoka Run, a fern lined waterway