Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Oleta River State Park
is Florida's largest urban park, and home to a decent number of
trails; the same can be said of nearby
Arch Creek Park
,
with family-friendly nature trails.
These North Miami parks are a nice example of the subtropical forest and stream environ-
ment that once existed across interior South Florida.
Drive over the Ricenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne, and you'll find sandy trails
leading past beaches and mangroves in
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
. Nature trails
also abound in a lovely coastal ecosystem at nearby
Crandon Park
. These Key Biscayne
parks give visitors a glimpse into the shrub and low-lying hammock ecosystems common
to the offshore islands that ring the southern portion of the Florida peninsula.
If you just need a good walk outdoors, we'd recommend heading to the
Fairchild Tropic-
al Garden
. There are not many hikes, per se, but the park is so large you'll get a good walk
traversing its length and breadth, and you may learn a thing or three about tropical flora
while you're out there.
TREAD LIGHTLY, EXPLORE SAFELY
It goes without saying that any wilderness, even a swamp, is a fragile place. Whether hik-
ing, biking, paddling, or snorkeling, always practice 'Leave No Trace' ethics (see
www.lnt.org
for comprehensive advice). In short, this boils down to staying on the trail,
cleaning up your own mess, and observing nature rather than plucking or feeding it.
As you enjoy Florida's natural bounty, take care of yourself, too. In particular, carry lots
of water, up to a gallon per person per day, and always be prepared for rain. Line back-
packs with plastic bags, and carry rain gear and extra clothes for when (not if) you get
soaked. Reid Tillery's Surviving the Wilds of Floridawill help you do just that, while
Tillery's website
Florida Adventuring
(
www.floridaadventuring.com
) covers backcountry
essentials.
The Everglades
The Everglades may largely consist of wetlands, or prairie that is liable to become water-
logged during the wet season, but it's still a magical place to walk as long you follow the
right trails. In some areas, like the trails near the southernmost
Flamingo
(
%
239-695-3101;
h
store 7am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, from 6am Sat & Sun)
portion of the park, you'll be confronted
with sandy, scrubby trails that traverse stretches of dried out mud flats and run by the
lonely, windswept coast. In other areas, the vast horizons of the Everglades prairie, espe-
