Opt Outside

Seminole Woods Trail, Hillsborough River State Park

REI started the ball rolling two years ago announcing they’d be closing their stores nationwide on Black Friday and encouraging their employees and customers to #OptOutside: spend the day outdoors instead of in a shopping frenzy. Other retailers, particularly those who sell outdoor clothing and gear, have followed suit. Now it’s a movement: spend Black Friday outdoors! In fact, why not spend the entire weekend?

Here are our suggestions for some great places for a Black Friday hike, bike, paddle, or family gathering outdoors. Zoom into your area to find the places we think you’ll enjoy. Click on an icon for details.

Keeping in mind this is hunting season in much of Florida, these are public lands with no hunting allowed, but plenty of miles to roam. OptOutside!

Alfred A. Ring Park

Alfred A. Ring Park features a dense slope forest along Hogtown Creek with old-growth trees and rare wildflowers along Appalachian-style
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Alligator Creek

Part of Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, Alligator Creek has two loop trails where freshwater and saltwater habitats meet, enabling
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Alligator Lake

In the city once called Alligator, first home of the University of Florida and named for a great chief of
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Barefoot Beach Preserve

In a hidden corner of Collier County, Barefoot Beach Preserve provides immersion in nature at a beauty spot along two
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Big Lagoon Hiking Trails

Near Perdido Key, Big Lagoon State Park is best known for its (really big) lagoon, but the scenic trail system
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Biking the Lake Butler Trail

There aren't a lot of places you can (or should) bike down the Florida Trail, but the Lake Butler Trail
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Bill Frederick Park

Inside the city of Orlando, the urban Bill Frederick Park has a wild side, too, with more than 2 miles
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Bill Sadowski Park

At the Bill Sadowski Park and Nature Center, the Old Cutler Hammock Nature Trail offers a glimpse of what Cutler
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Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail

Trot out your sense of adventure for an immersion into one of the wildest trails you'll find near Orlando, the
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Blowing Rocks Preserve

One of the most dramatic shorelines in Florida, the rocky shore of Blowing Rocks Preserve has sea caves and bluffs
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Boca Ciega Millennium Park

With its highlight an observation tower providing you a sweeping view of Boca Ciega Bay, Boca Ciega Millenium Park is
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Bulow Creek Loop

Stretching 5.2 miles through an primordial forest of sluggish, fern-lined waterways, ancient live oaks, magnolias, and cabbage palms, the Bulow
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Buster Island Loop

The 7-mile Buster Island Loop at Lake Kissimmee State Park is a favorite for both day hikers and backpackers, as
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Castellow Hammock Preserve

At Castellow Hammock, you’re stepping into Florida’s past as you follow the nature trail into a remnant of tropical forest.
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Caverns Trail System

Most people come to see the stalactites and stalagmites at Florida’s only show cave. But the hiking’s even weirder at
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Cayo Costa Hiking Trails

Offshore from Boca Grande and Pine Island, Cayo Costa State Park is tough to get to but the 6.5 miles
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Cedar Point Environmental Park

Charlotte County's flagship environmental park, with a broad range of habitat diversity and wildlife, Cedar Point protects 115 acres of
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Circle B Bar Reserve

At Circle B Bar Reserve, an extensive network of trails with an outer circuit of nearly 6 miles is atop
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Coastal Prairie Trail

Ready for a wilderness challenge? On the Coastal Prairie Trail, battle mosquitoes, unrelenting sun, and deep and sticky marl mud
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Coconut Point Sanctuary

Call it the Ocean-to-Lagoon Hike: this 1 mile loop through one of Brevard County's most diverse natural lands connects the
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Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

You'll find Florida's best and most extensive boardwalk hike at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, meandering 2.3 miles through an old-growth cypress
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Crooked River Preserve

On a 1.7-mile loop, Crooked River Preserve showcases a wide variety of habitats in a short hike on the northernmost
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Cypress Boardwalk

Teeter-tottering above a swamp, experience a stretch of old-time catwalk through the cypress swamp on the Cypress Boardwalk at Highlands
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Ding Darling Indigo Trail

At Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island, the Indigo Trail is the easiest trail to access from the visitor center
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Doris Davis Foreman Wilderness

A pretty patch of tropical hammock hides amid the bustle of suburbia in Parkland in Broward County on the 0.5
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Eagle Lake Park

In the heart of Pinellas County, Eagle Lake Park is the legacy of the Taylor family, who helped to found
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East Loop Trail

An immersion into vast pine flatwoods that includes scrambles over ancient dunes, the East Loop at Jonathan Dickinson State Park
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Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area

In the floodplain of the Econlockhatchee River, Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area is a 706-acre showcase of upland habitat diversity with
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Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park

Ancient magnolias, massive tulip poplars, and sinuous alluvial streams are all part of the delights of Phipps Park, the city
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Enchanted Forest Sanctuary

It's not rocket science: the first and finest of the Brevard Environmental Endangered Lands, Enchanted Forest Sanctuary in Titusville is
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Estero Scrub Preserve State Park

A tough hike when it's wet, Estero Scrub Preserve State Park has several loops through wet flatwoods and tidal marshes
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Fern Forest Nature Center

A bounty of ferns await at Fern Forest Nature Center, an urban wilderness area established in 1979, spanning 247 acres
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Florida Trail, CR25A to Stephen Foster

This roly-poly section of the Florida Trail is pretty rugged despite its short distance, since it involves a lot of
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Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway

A prime destination for backpacking and day hiking near Ocala, the Florida Trail, Cross Florida Greenway stretches 30 miles between
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Florida Trail, Little Big Econ State Forest

One of the most beautiful hikes near Orlando is rugged, too: the Florida Trail atop bluffs above the Econlockhatchee River
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Florida Trail, Pruitt

Switchbacks, scrambles, and a smattering of history - the Pruitt section of the Florida Trail along the Cross Florida Greenway
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Florida Trail, SW 49th to Land Bridge TH

Enjoy rough and rugged terrain topped with a fluffy pine forest on this segment of the Florida Trail on the
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Florida Trail, UWF Dunes Preserve

It's a rare opportunity to scramble over dunes as the Florida Trail winds its way along the bay side of
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Fort Caroline

At the site of the original French settlement in Florida, circa 1562, the Hammock Nature Trail interprets the interactions between
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Fort Cooper Hiking Trails

Follow in the footsteps of soldiers in the Second Seminole War through the forests along Lake Holathlikaha at Fort Cooper
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Fort George Island Cultural State Park

With layer upon layer of human habitation atop the highest hill on the Southeastern Atlantic coast, Fort George Island still
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Gap Point Trail

At St. George Island State Park, the 5-mile round trip Gap Point Trail offers an opportunity to backpack or day
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Garden of Eden Trail

Try one of Florida's toughest day hikes on for size: local legend has it this was the Garden of Eden,
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Gemini Springs Park

With up to 5 miles of gentle woodland paths and paved trails, playgrounds, picnic area, paddling trail and a dog
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Grassy Waters Preserve

Protecting a sheet flow of rainfall moving steadily southward and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean, Grassy Waters Preserve bears a
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Hal Scott Preserve

At Hal Scott Preserve, enjoy vast prairies and seepage bogs, the Econ River, and camping under a live oak canopy—within
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Hillsborough River Hiking Trails

One of Tampa's oldest parks, Hillsborough River State Park has a 5.8-mile trail system as its centerpiece, through old-growth forest
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Hinson Trail

Circling Hinson Conservation and Recreation in Marianna, the Hinson Trail offers rugged hiking, scenic views, and historic sites along its
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Indrio Savannahs

Only a mile from the Indian River Lagoon, Indrio Savannas has 3.5 miles of hiking around freshwater wetlands where sea
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Island Hiking Trail

At Little Talbot Island State Park, the Island Hiking Trail is a 3.5-mile loop that guides you on a scramble
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James E Grey Preserve

A hidden treasure among a sea of subdivisions in New Port Richey, James E. Grey Preserve hugs the shores of
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Johnson Pond Trail

One of the best places in Florida to walk through a rosemary scrub on a hiking trail, the Johnson Pond
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Kayaking Oleta River State Park

Paddling within sight of downtown Miami? Kayak or SUP fromt Blue Moon Outdoor Center in Oleta River State Park to
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Kelly Park Loop Trail

Tubing down Rock Springs Run is why most folks show up at Kelly Park, but the Kelly Loop Trail is
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Kendall Indian Hammocks Park

At Kendall Indian Hammocks Park, wind your way through one of urban Miami’s last stands of natural forest—a hardwood hammock
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Kirby Storter Boardwalk

An accessible walk through the habitats of the Big Cypress Swamp, Kirby Storter Boardwalk gets you up close to the
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La Chua Trail

Located at the north end of Paynes Prairie, the La Chua Trail is an excellent wildlife watching site, with an
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Lake Harney Wilderness Area

A 300-acre preserve at the outflow of Lake Harney, part of the St. Johns River, Lake Harney Wilderness has panoramic
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Lake Mills Park

One of Seminole County’s prettiest county parks with boardwalks through a cypress swamp, Lake Mills Park makes an excellent family
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Lemon Bay Park

On nearly 3 miles of mostly-accessible trails, Lemon Bay Park and Environmental Center showcases pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes, and mangrove-lined
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Little Hamaca Park

A preserve along the historic Key West Salt Ponds, Little Hamaca Park has a boardwalk and footpath leading through a
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Little Manatee River Trail

Scenery, rugged landscape, and botanical diversity are all important factors for a great Florida hike. You'll find that on the
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Lyonia Preserve

Florida's best place to see a Florida scrub-jay up close is Lyonia Preserve, with 2.2 miles of loops through the
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Marshall Swamp Trail

On this 5.6-mile round-trip hike, follow the Florida Trail on a linear journey through the giant trees of Marshall Swamp
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Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

One of Florida's oldest state parks and notable for its Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State
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Moonshine Creek Trails

The Moonshine Creek Trails immerse you in the botanical beauty and karst weirdness that are important facets of San Felasco
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Myakka Hiking Trail

For immersion in Florida's central prairies, the 39-mile Myakka Hiking Trail is a serious backpacking destination in South Florida near
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Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park

An excellent spot for birding, Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port follows the natural curves of the creek, with
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National Key Deer Refuge

Established in 1957 to prevent the extinction of the diminutive Key deer, the National Key Deer Refuge spans 84,351 acres
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Naval Live Oaks Preserve

Naval Live Oaks Preserve outside Pensacola was our nation’s first tree farm, established in 1828 by President John Quincy Adams
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Okeeheelee Nature Trail

A network of wheelchair-accessible walkways wind through 90 acres of pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, and dense palm hammocks in the
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Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area

Lush tropical hammocks, great birding, and a dash of history along the Indian River Lagoon make Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area
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Oxbow Eco-Center

Protecting 225 acres of natural habitats along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River amid busy Port St. Lucie,
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Palm Hammock Trail

Delving deep into the hammocks of North Merritt Island, the Palm Hammock Trail treats you to a lush forest of
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PEAR Environmental Park

At PEAR Park south of Leesburg, enjoy a deeply shaded walk on a nature trail that follows the trickle that
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Pondhawk Natural Area

Pondhawk Natural Area protects 79 acres of scrub habitats and wetlands, including a relict pond apple slough with some of
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Princess Place Preserve

Four gentle hiking loops showcase wild spaces and cultivated grounds at Princess Place Preserve, an 1880s homestead on Pellicer Creek
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Robinson Preserve

Farmland turned back to mangrove marshes: that's Robinson Preserve, with more than 4 miles of hiking on shell and wild
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Rocky Point Hammock

With a trail traversing both tropical forest and scrub, Rocky Point Hammock is perched along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in
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Secret Woods Nature Center

Designated the first “urban wilderness area” in Florida back in 1978, Secret Woods protects a 56-acre floodplain of cypress strand
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Silver Springs River Trails

With more than 4 miles of hiking in two trails, the River Trails of Silver Springs State Park are the
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

Winding 1.4 miles through the slough, the broad wheelchair-accessible boardwalk at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers leads
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Spruce Bluff Natural Area

At Spruce Bluff Natural Area, trails lead to the site of a pioneer settlement and the largest Ais mound in
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Sugar Sand Park

In Boca Raton, the trails at Sugar Sand Park radiate from a nature center and playground surrounded by the remains
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Sunnyhill Levee Trail

At Sunnyhill Restoration Area, the Levee Trail provides a scenic stroll atop a levee paralleling both the Ocklawaha River channel
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Tillie K Fowler Island Trail

On a hike of nearly 2 miles, the Island Trail at Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park shows off upland and
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Topsail Hill Preserve Hiking Trails

Protecting more than 3 miles of oceanfront on the Gulf of Mexico, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park has an extensive
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Torreya Hiking Trail

One of the most rugged hikes in Florida, the Torreya Hiking Trail treats you to an scenic landscape of bluffs
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Tower Pond Trail

At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Tower Pond Trail loops a mile through vast impoundments and marshes along the
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Trimble Park

A 1.3-mile nature trail at Trimble Park near Mount Dora offers a family-friendly outdoor adventure beneath ancient oaks and cypresses
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Trout Lake Nature Center

On 230 forested acres on the northern shore of Trout Lake, Trout Lake Nature Center in Eustis offers a fun
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Turkey Creek Nature Trail

A broad boardwalk trail that showcases a clear, healthy tannic stream, the Turkey Creek Nature Trail is a family park
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Upper Tampa Bay County Park

Three short nature trails - the Eagle Trail, the Otter Trail, and the Bobcat Trail - explore different aspects of
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Viera Wetlands

One of the best destinations on the Space Coast for birding and wildlife photography, Viera Wetlands is both a man-made
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Wakulla Springs Trail

Looping around the floodplain of Wakulla Springs, the Wakulla Springs Trail provides up to 10 miles of hiking showcasing the
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Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail

A 10.2-mile loop through landscapes both vast and intimate, the Wekiwa Springs Hiking Trail shows off the best of nature
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Wild Persimmon Trail

At DeLeon Springs State Park, the Wild Persimmon Trail is a 4.5 mile wild walk along the edge of habitats
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