If you take a short stroll from bustling downtown Mount Dora, you can immerse yourself in wildlife at Palm Island Park and adjacent Grantham Pointe, both of which overlook scenic Lake Dora. I wandered around both spots yesterday right after an afternoon storm and had the place to myself. Enjoy your hike!
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The Further One Gets …
“The further one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom.” – Theodore Roosevelt
To-Do List
“What’s a to-do list? … It’s a list of things that you don’t really want to do, or even think about. Everyone you know makes these lists. But how many people get up every morning and make a list of 10 things they want to learn or enjoy that day? Very few. And that’s really what I’m trying to do now.” – Francis Ford Coppola
Experience the REAL Florida
Billed as “Central Florida’s favorite watering hole,” Wekiva Island offers great outdoor recreation opportunities like kayaking along the scenic Wekiva River, as well as the ideal locale if you prefer to chill out, drink an ice-cold draft beer and casually watch the world drift by. It’s also the perfect place to take out-of-town guests who believe that Central Florida is nothing more than overpriced theme parks, chain restaurants and bland, cookie-cutter neighborhoods!
Mount Mitchell State Park
The peak (no pun intended) of my recent Blue Ridge Parkway excursion featured a side trip to Mount Mitchell State Park, which, at 6,684 feet, is the highest point east of the Mississippi. Yes, you can buy a T-shirt at the gift shop (which I did, of course), but there are also several great hiking trails right off the parking lot near the top. Don’t miss it!
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!
Round Lake Park
Although Round Lake Park in Oviedo features a variety of recreational amenities such as basketball courts, lighted tennis courts and a covered playground, we dropped by specifically to stroll along the rather hidden but very scenic boardwalk. We wandered by some turtles sunning and enjoyed the lake views. A nice hidden treasure!
Erna Nixon Park
A hidden treasure nestled within a bustling area of Melbourne, 54-acre Erna Nixon Park features a very scenic stroll along a 3,000-foot elevated boardwalk through a Florida hammock and nature preserve. It is named for Erna Nixon, a local naturalist, who championed the preservation of the natural area, which in the early 1970s was zoned for warehouses. We enjoyed wandering through Erna Nixon Park and admiring some of the huge live oaks we came upon along the boardwalk. After the hike, we headed over to nearby Hemingway’s Tavern for a delicious lunch. A great day indeed!
Exploring Tucker Ranch
I headed out to Tucker Ranch in Winter Garden early last Saturday and had the place to myself. If you take the small wooden bridge to the right of the parking lot and head down the dirt road, you can visit the old barn, hike around the ruins of the old country club and stroll over to the scenic lake. Highly recommended!
Half Wall Beer House
We were wandering around downtown DeLand yesterday and we stumbled upon the Half Wall Beer House, where we sat outside and enjoyed a great lunch, along with several ice-cold beers (I recommend the Ahi Tuna Melt paired with the Feeding Frenzy ale). It’s billed as a Craft Beer House and Sports Bar & Grill. The beer list here is truly impressive (they claim to have the largest selection of beer in Volusia County)! They also have locations in Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach. Check it out!
Wandering Florida 