Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Outdoor Activities
Florida doesn't have mountains, valleys, cliffs, or snow. What
does
she have?
Water, and lots of it - freshwater, saltwater, rainwater, springwater, swamp
water. Florida's peninsula bends with more than 1200 miles of coastline,
which include more than 660 miles of the best beaches in the US. Plus: coral
reefs, prehistoric swamps and forests, all teeming with Ice Age flora and
dinosaur-era fauna. In short, Florida doesn't have everything, but her surreal,
watery landscape still provides one of the greatest shows on Earth.
Great Hiking & Camping Guides
30 Eco-Trips in Florida
(2005), Holly Ambrose
Hiker's Guide to the Sunshine State
(2005), Sandra Friend
The Best in Tent Camping: Florida
(2010), John Malloy
Hiking & Camping
One thing Florida hikers never have to worry about is elevation gain. But the weather more
than makes up for it. If your destination is South Florida, it's best to hike and camp from
November through March. This is Florida's 'dry season,' when rain, temperatures, humidity
and mosquitoes decrease to tolerable levels. In summer, hike before noon to avoid the mid-
day heat and afternoon thundershowers.
The
Florida National Scenic Trail
(
www.fs.usda.gov/fnst
) is one of 11 national scenic
trails and covers 1400 not-yet-contiguous miles. It runs north from the swamps of Big
Cypress National Preserve; around Lake Okeechobee; through the Ocala National Forest;
and then west to the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola. All the parks above are
filled with great hikes.
Other prime hiking areas include the remote pine wilderness, karst terrain and limestone
sinkholes of Apalachicola National Forest and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Wekiwa
Springs State Park rewards hikers, paddlers and snorkelers.
South Florida swamps tend to favor 1- to 2-mile boardwalk trails; these are excellent, and
almost always wheelchair accessible. But to really explore the wetlands, get in a kayak or
