Plum Orchard Pond Trail
Starting adjacent to the Visitor Center at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Plum Orchard Pond Trail is an easy half mile loop that takes you out along Plum Orchard Pond, a great birding stop.
Articles & Destinations
In a Canoe
Since falling in love, becoming a couple, and marrying, it was time for a real test of our relationship: going upstream with two paddles along Holmes Creek.
Tower Pond Trail
At St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, the Tower Pond Trail loops a mile through vast impoundments and marshes along the Gulf of Mexico, providing scenic panoramas and great birding.
Boulders and blossoms at Florida Caverns
Looking for a compelling wildflower walk? One of Florida's showiest parades of wildflowers clings to the bluffs at Florida Caverns State Park.
Econfina Creek Nature Trail
On the Econfina Creek Nature Trail, discover rugged climbs, steep drop-offs, bubbling springs, and deep crevices into the earth as you walk between two major springs where you can swim.
Two New Bikes for Christmas
It was inevitable that my Cannondale's failure and a ride on a brand new Giant XTC Advanced would lead to trying out new and improved bikes. We took the plunge in time for Christmas.
Paddling Juniper Run
Paddling Juniper Run from Juniper Springs to the take out at SR 19 in the Ocala National Forest, a popular paddling trip along this sinuous, spring-fed waterway that winds through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness.
Farewell to my Cannondale
Requiem for a much-loved bicycle: in November, my vintage Cannondale Super V 1000 mountain bike made its final ride while we were doing trail research in Marion County.
Biking Santos
Biking the Santos Trails for the first time this fall, I opted to leave my vintage Cannondale at home and try a rental bike for my first spin through these famed off-road trails south of Ocala.
Xmas with Zpacks
A field trip, Florida Hikes style, to a lightweight backpacking gear manufacturer creating great products - and jobs - on Florida's Space Coast.
Carney Island Conservation Area
As a peninsula in Lake Weir, parts of Carney Island Conservation Area are naturally air-conditioned. Walk 4 miles beneath ancient oaks and expect to see wildlife.
Florida’s Best Urban Parks
When you live in a tightly packed space, you need somewhere green as your go-to place nearby. These are our top picks for parks in Florida's urban areas, chosen for their diversity of outdoor activities and/or their unique green spaces.