Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Among the Palms

December 18, 2011    Sandra Friend

Of all of Florida’s habitats, the one that truly sings “Florida” is the palm hammock, a richly textured riot of green and fronds, of mosses and lichens, of light and shadow perfectly balanced. Enjoy it on the Taylor Creek Loop.

Arlington Park

Jacksonville      ( 30.376967, -81.618467 )      1.1 miles

A breezy walk along the St. Johns River is an easy way to start your day in Jacksonville at the Arlington Lions Club Park, with riverside boardwalks and a mile of trails

Bayard Conservation Area

Green Cove Springs      ( 29.976802, -81.639217 )      7.0 miles

Bayard Conservation Area preserves an untouched riverfront forest on the St. Johns River. Follow this route through the John P. Hall Nature Preserve to visit the river

Bear encounter at Black Bear Wilderness

October 20, 2012    Sandra Friend

Visiting this Seminole County preserve for the first time, a string of excellent wildlife sightings culminates in seeing three bears at the trailhead.

Biking around Osteen

November 6, 2018    Sandra Friend

Using Beck Ranch Park as our launch point for a cycling adventure in Osteen, we discovered how easy it was to stitch together the local network of bike paths into a pleasant ride, with the Osteen Diner right at hand for lunch.

Biking Tosohatchee

April 5, 2018    John Keatley

A 20.2-mile circuit on forest roads by bike provides a unique perspective on this 31,000-acre preserve along the St. Johns River floodplain in Christmas.

Black Bear Wilderness Area

Sanford      ( 28.835294,-81.355201 )      7.1 miles

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.

Blue Spring State Park

Orange City      ( 28.95179,-81.333636 )      

Blue Spring State Park is well acclaimed for being the best place in Florida to see manatees in the wild, and we don’t mean a dozen or two. Upwards of 200 crowd spring run each winter.

Bluffton Nature Trail

Lake George State Forest  |  Volusia
( 29.125353, -81.503343 )      1.2 miles

South of Astor along the St. Johns River, the Bluffton Recreation Area in Lake George State Forest paints a picture of Florida’s prehistoric past, leading you through uplands habitats above the river basin.

Camp Chowenwaw Park

Green Cove Springs      ( 30.036493, -81.712794 )      2 miles

In a deeply forested area on Black Creek north of Green Cove Springs, Camp Chowenwaw Park provides campers and hikers a unique destination, a former Girl Scout Camp with a rich history.