Summer at Corkscrew
There is a special magic surrounding a summer hike through Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where ghost orchids dance high above in the soft green canopy created by the ancient cypress protected here
Summer in Big Cypress
Vibrant, green, and blooming - there's no better time to visit Big Cypress National Preserve than in the summer months, when the gentle flow of collected raindrops across the landscape nourishes the sawgrass prairies and cypress strands
Tamiami Trail Triathlon
Big Cypress National Preserve 3 miles3.0 miles. Trying the hiking portion of the Tamiami Trail Triathlon in summer is a little crazy, but we wanted to check it out. The swamp is lovely, but the loop uses a rough OHV road
Ten Thousand Islands
Where the waters of Big Cypress and the Everglades meet the Gulf Coast, the Ten Thousand Islands are a maze of mangrove forest: the second largest mangrove forest in the world, bested only by Bangladesh
Ten Thousand Islands Marsh Trail
Everglades City 2.4 milesOn the Marsh Trail, immerse yourself in the mangrove maze of the Ten Thousand Islands on a trail that takes you to places you'd normally only see from a boat.
The Ghost Orchid
On a guided swamp walk into the Fakahatchee Strand, I discover how difficult it is to spot a ghost orchid on your own, let alone keep your bearings in this tangled tropical wilderness
The Naples Preserve
Naples 0.4 milesAlong US 41 near downtown Naples, traverse a tiny urban patch of pine flatwoods and oak scrub along an accessible boardwalk to watch gopher tortoises below.
Thinking small at Collier-Seminole
One of Florida's most beautiful nature trails, Collier-Seminole State Park's Royal Palm Hammock Trail can be a challenge, but worth it for both vistas and details