Looking to social distance during the holidays and enjoy some quality time in the great outdoors? Look no farther than Tucker Ranch Recreation and Nature Complex in Winter Garden. Ideally located off Avalon Road, Tucker Ranch is a true hidden treasure in Central Florida. Grab a picnic lunch and take a hike while enjoying the natural beauty of the surroundings. Leashed dogs are allowed. So, what are you waiting for? Get up from the couch, turn off the TV and get some fresh air at Tucker Ranch!
I spent a perfect Friday afternoon strolling the scenic boardwalks of Lake Lotus Park in Altamonte Springs and enjoying some rare Florida fall colors. I didn’t view much wildlife, but – just as I was wrapping up my hike – I spotted this beautiful alligator grabbing some sun on a log along the creek. What a treat!
One of my favorite places to wander in Central Florida, 212-acre Gemini Springs Park is located in the charming town of DeBary. It’s peaceful (no swimming in the springs allowed), there are some scenic hiking trails and you will almost always get a glimpse of wildlife here.
Nothing beats an energizing hike in magnificent Split Oak Forest on a crisp fall morning. I hiked the northern portion of Split Oak Forest and viewed two deer right off the trail. A great way to start the day!
After planning to hike Sabal Point Sanctuary for more than a year or so now, we finally got the opportunity to sample this scenic Florida wilderness area last week and were not disappointed! Encompassing more than 600 acres, Sabal Point Sanctuary features a linear 3.5-mile hiking and biking trail that starts at a small parking area within a Longwood neighborhood. Wildlife that call Sabal Point Sanctuary home include deer, otters, wild turkeys, limpkins and even black bears. Due to time constraints, we only did about a 3-mile hike. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any wildlife on this outing, but we will be back soon!
It’s been some time since we spent a morning wandering the scenic trails of Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, so we headed out there last Saturday. A couple of the trails were a little soggy, but we had a great outing just the same. One of the gopher tortoises at the entrance even stuck his head out to greet us! All in all, a really nice hike and highly recommended if you’re ever visiting the Titusville area along the fabled Space Coast.
As soon as we left the parking lot and made our way through the entrance of 130-acre Turkey Creek Sanctuary and walked as far as the boardwalk, a light drizzle turned into a significant downpour and unfortunately we had to abort our hike. However, this well-maintained sanctuary looks like an amazing spot in Palm Bay to enjoy the great Florida outdoors and we will return soon! By the way, Turkey Creek Sanctuary was established in 1981 and features not only the 1.85-mile boardwalk, but 1.5 miles of jogging trails, a one-mile mountain bike trail, the Margaret Hines Nature Center and more. It is part of the East Florida section of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Wildlife that call Turkey Creek Sanctuary home include Florida cooters, manatees, alligators, otters, ospreys and owls.
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!).
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.
