Tuscawilla Preserve
Peek through thick curtains of Spanish moss beneath grandfather live oaks to watch sandhill cranes dance along the shores of an ancient lake in Micanopy.
Articles & Destinations
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
Protecting a massive natural basin of prairie between Micanopy and Gainesville, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park combines panoramic views with wildlife watching along its trails.
Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve
On the high ground above Lake Tuscawilla, an ancient village once stood. The Micanopy Native American Heritage Preserve is dedicated to its memory and preservation.
Bear Swamp Trail
Little known except to those who frequent Salt Springs Recreation Area in the Ocala National Forest, the Bear Swamp Trail provides a walk into an ancient forest.
St. Francis Trail
One of Central Florida's most scenic and easy-to-follow day hikes, the St. Francis Trail leads to a ghost town within the St. Johns River floodplain.
Paddling the Thousand Islands
One of the hidden natural treasures of Cocoa Beach, the Thousand Islands provide a fun paddle through a maze of mangroves on a marked trail through a conservation area.
Black Bear Wilderness Walk
Tackle the easiest portion of the Black Bear Wilderness Loop Trail with a walk on its original trail segment out to the St. Johns River.
Black Bear Wilderness Area
North of Orlando, Black Bear Wilderness Area in Sanford offers some of the best wildlife watching in the region on its loop along the St. Johns River.
Falling Creek Falls
A gentle walk along a boardwalk in a bluff forest surprises with its ending: a spectacular Florida waterfall in a deeply wooded setting.
The Moon Tree Garden
Florida's most unique arboretum features a circle of sycamores honoring the Apollo missions, all here thanks to an Apollo 14 project for the U.S. Forest Service to take tree seedings into orbit around the moon.
Canaveral National Seashore
Canaveral National Seashore protects 58,000 acres of maritime hammocks, dunes, and coastline north of Cape Canaveral, a natural sandy cape that formed where ocean currents meet.
Seminole Rest
The accessible Seminole Rest Trail interprets a historic and archaeological site at Canaveral National Seashore along the shores of the Indian River Lagoon.