In the heart of Florida’s cattle ranching country, Arcadia sits along the Peace River, which offers up an array of public lands for outdoor recreation.
Sarasota
The area around Sarasota and Venice is known for its beaches, and has coastal hiking trails that show off Sarasota Bay and the estuaries.
At Spanish Point
At Spanish Point, scents hang heavy in the morning air: a moonflower in the act of closing for the day, the sweetness of citrus blossoms, the purple morning-glory clambering over mangroves, the brush of salt breezes.
Bradenton
Bradenton, between Sarasota and St. Petersburg, on the south side of Tampa Bay, has trails that explore the mangrove-lined coast as well as wooded uplands to the east.
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.
Get outdoors at Oscar Scherer State Park
It’s summer, but that shouldn’t stop you from playing outdoors. Down in the quiet town of Osprey between Sarasota and Venice, you can see their namesake bird along South Creek at Oscar Scherer State Park. The extensive trail system gets you deep into Florida scrub-jay habitat, but a summer morning is best enjoyed with a […]
How to backpack Myakka State Park
With 39 miles in four loops, the Myakka Hiking Trail at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota is one of the state’s finest destinations for a weekend or long weekend holiday hike. I frequently get asked about places backpackers can go during hunting season – deer season starts very soon throughout Central Florida – and […]
Lake Osprey Trail
Circling Lake Osprey, the wheelchair-accessible Lake Osprey Trail at Oscar Scherer State Park offers an exploration of the uplands surrounding the artesian-spring-fed waters.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Most notable for its collection of more than 6,000 orchids, Marie Selby Gardens are a must-see for those who love tropical plants, especially epiphtyes. The many specialized gardens range from a children’s garden play area to succulents and cycads to a banyan grove, mangrove walkway, and tropical fruit and medicinal gardens.
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 Sarasota
Myakka River Canopy Walk
At Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, the Canopy Walk provides a sky-high view of the Myakka River basin as well as an intimate immersion in the live oak canopy in a beautiful hammock of oaks and palms.