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Fakahatchee ferns

Lake Placid

Dewey Litl Loj

Dewey Lil Loj

October 3, 2009    Sandra Friend

Did you know the creator of the Dewey Decimal System also created Lake Placid, Florida? Here’s the story.

Fisheating Creek

Lush cypress trees and knees along placid waterway

Moore Haven      ( 26.937053, -81.316270 )      

Beloved of paddlers and largely protected by Fisheating Creek WMA, South Florida’s wildest waterway rises south of Lake Placid and flows towards Lake Okeechobee.

Gatorama

Gatorama

Palmdale      ( 26.917172,-81.290718 )      

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

Hickory Hammock Trail

Lorida      ( 27.402100, -81.169300 )      4.3 miles

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

Narrow boardwalk through swamp forest

Sebring      ( 27.4704, -81.5329 )      12.4 miles

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 Preserve State Park

Two track through scrub forest

Lake Placid      ( 27.296511,-81.424338 )      

Protecting 845 acres of the whitest, brightest sand on the Lake Wales Ridge, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve State Park has one of the highest concentrations of rare plants in North America.

Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Trails

Sandspike moss and sand squares

Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve  |  Lake Placid
( 27.296503, -81.424316 )      3.3 miles

A trio of trails following established firelines provides a challenging 3.5 mile walk in Florida’s own desert for an up close look at uncommon species endemic to ancient scrub.

Lake Placid Scrub

Trail in pine forest leading to bridge

Lake Wales Ridge WEA  |  Lake Placid
( 27.219727, -81.381679 )      3.5 miles

Home to Florida scrub-jays, this 3.5 mile loop in the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife & Environmental Area provides views of the lake and a walk through ancient scrub.

Lake Wales Ridge

Lake Wales Ridge above Crooked Lake

South of Lake Apopka, the Lake Wales Ridge is a significant landform down the middle of the Florida peninsula, with its highest hills and oldest biological communities.

Tomoka Trail

Scrub plants

Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve  |  Lake Placid
( 27.2967, -81.4207 )      0.3 miles

Following the tannic flow of Tomoka Run, this short nature trail traversing scrub and bayhead at Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve is an introduction to the diverse nature of the Lake Wales Ridge.

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