Nestled along A1A in Melbourne Beach, the Barrier Island Sanctuary Management & Education Center serves as the gateway to the 258-acre Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge. The Center itself features a variety of interactive exhibits, auditorium, gift shop and observation deck. Don’t miss the opportunity to take the one-mile hiking trail through several scenic habitats that are home to wildlife such as great land crabs, gopher tortoises, ospreys and great blue herons.
I accidentally stumbled upon Audubon Park while exploring Green Springs Park and the Spring-to-Spring Trail in Deltona. Audubon Park encompasses approximately 60 acres and features a nice boardwalk, four small water bodies used for stormwater management and access via the Spring-to-Spring Trail. It’s a great place to get away from it all (I nearly had the entire place to myself!).
Back in 1995 when I was a lowly reporter with The News of Orange County in Hillsborough, North Carolina, I got the opportunity to cover legendary singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker in concert at the “Big Barn” and briefly interviewed him after the show. He will be greatly missed …
Several months ago, I got the chance to take a brief stroll and sample Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge in De Leon Springs after I hiked a little bit at De Leon Springs State Park (or was it the other way around?). It’s a great spot for hiking, birding and wildlife viewing in general. I need to return here (after hunting season ends!) and explore some more.
In August, my son and I finally managed to hike the entire 7.1-mile Black Bear Wilderness Loop Area in Sanford. It was a great experience and several miles of the trail run alongside the scenic St. Johns River. We didn’t see any alligators this time out, but we did view two deer along the way. The trail is definitely rugged, so bring plenty of water and bug spray, and prepare to invest at least 3.5 hours if you plan to hike the entire thing. However, a good short hike involves going counterclockwise to the St. Johns River and back for a two-mile stroll.
Off the beaten path in Eustis and within five minutes of Trout Lake Nature Center, Pine Meadows Conservation Area is the ideal spot for an outdoor stroll. The 770-acre conservation area features six miles of hiking trails and lies just north of downtown Eustis off Highway 19.
“It was the seventies, and Key West was cooking. A strange collection of shrimpers, gays, dope dealers, crooked politicians, hippies and tourists roamed the quaint streets of the little town at the end of the world.” – Jimmy Buffett, Where is Joe Merchant?
“Jimmy literally made Phil [Clark] a legend with that one song [‘A Pirate Looks at Forty’]. It was one of the high points of Phil’s life, I would say.” – Vic Latham
“Success turned Jimmy Buffett into a human tourist attraction …” – The Rolling Stone Album Guide
“I love the Church of Buffett because they don’t think I’ve done anything worth a shit since 1974. I tend to disagree with them, but I love the fact that the people that don’t like me still like me.” – Jimmy Buffett
“The Island Hotel [in Cedar Key] is a throwback … It’s a small old hotel – the kind of place where they couldn’t really care less whether you come, as opposed to those overmarketed tourism spots.” – Jimmy Buffett
“… a pleasant hang with a multimillionaire who’s got a chill philosophical side.” – Rolling Stone on Life on the Flip Side, Jimmy Buffett’s 30th studio album
A couple of weeks ago after we explored scenic Withlacoochee River Park (highly recommended, by the way!), we headed to downtown Dade City for a delicious lunch at Kafe Kokopelli, a charming eatery that offers outdoor seating and plenty of social distancing. The lobster roll here was simply amazing! Kafe Kokopelli is open daily at 11 AM for lunch and dinner. Check it out!
Encompassing 209 acres off Avalon Road in Winter Garden, the relatively new Tucker Ranch Recreation and Nature Center is a real hidden gem. Although it’s definitely in the early stages of development, Tucker Ranch features picnic areas, playground, nature trail and a canoe/kayak launch. Plans are in the works for Tucker Ranch Farm, a 12-acre sustainable working and teaching farm. Bottom line, Tucker Ranch is an amazing spot to go out and get some fresh air in the great outdoors!
“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.” – Ursula K. Le Guin
Wandering Florida 