Green Springs vs. Gemini Springs? Each is amazing in its own way. Best of all, they’re about five minutes away from each other! So, you can easily hike around both like I did on an early Saturday morning. What are you waiting for?
Florida Parks
Palm Island Revisited
Palm Island Park and adjacent Grantham Pointe in Mount Dora never fail when it comes to viewing Florida wildlife in its natural habitat. If you’ve never been there, what are you waiting for?
Cadwell Park, Umatilla
We love watching this cool PBS show called Central Florida Road Trip. We always get new ideas of great places to explore. That’s how we discovered these amazing wildlife chainsaw sculptures at Cadwell Park in Umatilla!
Fort Zachary Taylor
We rode bikes to one of our favorite Key West spots, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park. Normally we just relax on the beach, snorkel and swim to the rocks. However, this time I decided to take a self-guided tour of the actual fort itself. Very rewarding!
Bahia Honda State Park
After years of driving past Bahia Honda State Park on the way to Key West, we finally budgeted some time to stop for an hour or so and wander around. It’s a very cool place, especially if you have any interest in Florida history. For example, the highlight of our visit was standing atop the Bahia Honda Rail Bridge (a remnant of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway) for a magnificent view of the entire state park and surrounding waters. It also seems like an ideal spot for camping, swimming, picnicking or just relaxing on the beach. We’ll definitely be back soon!
Dickson Azalea Park
According to the City of Orlando website, ” Dickson Azalea Park offers an oasis for those who want to enjoy its shady trees, picturesque landscape, beautiful birds and flowing water. Frequently a location for those who want a quiet lunch, a relaxing view or an intimate outdoor wedding, this park is truly one of Orlando’s gems.” The iconic Washington Street Bridge was built in 1926. The Orlando Garden Club operated a garden center here during the Great Depression. We took a nice stroll through Dickson Azalea park yesterday. We were impressed! Dickson Azalea Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Birch State Park
I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, so I spent a lot of time at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in the 1970s. However, I haven’t been there in about 40 years, so I enjoyed a nostalgic visit over the weekend. The good news is that is really hasn’t changed that much. The huge banyan tree is still a major attraction here. One welcome addition is Park & Ocean, an open-air snack bar that serves craft beer. Nothing beats drinking an ice-cold beer during a sweltering hot day in South Florida! Known as Fort Lauderdale’s “Central Park,” Birch State Park gets mobbed on weekends, so arrive early or you might have to wait in a very long line. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Venetian Gardens
Seeking some solitude for reflection? Head out to Venetian Gardens in Leesburg! This unique city park features seven small islands connected by bridges. It’s full of wildlife and scenic landscaping. We saw the purple gallinule above just wandering across one of the bridges. The Venetian Gardens overlook Lake Harris (you can even catch a glimpse of tiny Monkey Island in the distance). Check it out!
Lighthouse Point Park Revisited
After a great lunch at DJ’s Deck in Port Orange (I highly recommend the rare Tuna Sandwich basket with fries!), we headed to Ponce Inlet to wander around. We parked at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and strolled to the jetty at Lighthouse Point Park. We got there just in time to catch the end of a surfing competition, so the place was bustling with activity! We headed back via the boardwalk in a quest to view some gopher tortoises, but no such luck this time. All in all, a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon, wouldn’t you say?
Sawgrass Lake Park
According to the Pinellas County website, 400-acre Sawgrass Lake Park in St. Petersburg features “one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast of Florida.” We strolled along the mile-long boardwalk at Sawgrass Lake Park on a sunny Sunday morning and viewed an alligator, some turtles and even a yellow-crowned night heron. Sawgrass Lake Park also offers an observation tower, picnic shelter, restroom. Admission is free.
Wandering Florida 