Outdoor Adventures in Florida
For those seeking the best outdoor adventures in Florida, the Sunshine State offers an endless array of adventurous outdoor activities and stunning outdoor destinations. From the pristine Florida Gulf Coast beaches to the surf-friendly Atlantic Coast beaches, there’s no shortage of destinations to explore. outdoor adventures in Florida
Adventure-seekers can enjoy kayaking, canoeing, or riding bikes on the state’s large network of paved bike trails. Nature lovers will be captivated by the beauty of Florida state parks, scenic hiking trails, and thrilling wildlife tours, where you might spot dolphins playing in the surf, gentle manatee encounters, or exciting airboats tours to spot alligators. outdoor adventures in Florida
If you prefer a more serene experience, you can take a scenic drive, enjoy outdoor yoga, or capture breathtaking landscapes at top outdoor photography spots.
Water lovers can dive into snorkeling spots in Florida, go scuba diving in the Keys, or enjoy paddleboarding along crystal-clear springs in Florida. For an immersive nature experience, you might want to try beach camping, RV camping, or even luxurious glamping in Florida. Whether you’re looking for fishing, an Everglades adventure, or the best Florida sunsets, there’s no end to the nature adventures waiting to be discovered!
Florida is a water state. Not only are we surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, but there are many miles of rivers, bays, and large lakes. For those who enjoy kayaking or canoeing, Florida has much to offer....
A Beach In The Shadow Of Rockets- Canaveral National Seashore Winter brings a transformation to the Canaveral National Seashore in Florida. In the cooler months the beach is not the main draw. Beaches that are typically crowded in the summer have fewer people in the cooler winter months. But the seashore is far from desolate. According to National Seashore spokesperson Laura Henning, in the winter visitors come to fish, camp, kayak, and go on group “Walk and Talk” hikes with Rangers. “March is actually one of our busiest......
A photographer’s journey at dawn and dusk – Fred Mays Photography Every photographer knows the best and most dramatic light is around sunrise and sunset. It’s called the “Blue Hour“, although not all are blue in color. I’ve assembled some pictures here that were taken at dawn and dusk, in and around my home in Satellite Beach, Florida. Enjoy. Fred Mays Photography I was walking my dog along the beach one afternoon and everything was great. Then we turned around to head home and saw this…a storm blowing......
I have been to Myakka River State Park many times over the years. It is one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks. It’s a shame I can’t recommend it in its current situation....
From November to April Florida is a birdwatchers paradise. Migratory birds nest here in the winter, or travel through on their way to the Caribbean or Central America. Birdwatching is one of the most popular hobbies...
Florida is bear country. Large expanses of the Sunshine State are home to black bears. Bear populations are growing, and human interaction is more frequent. Black bears generally are not aggressive, and there are no known human deaths from black bear encounters. But it is still something you want to avoid....
Nestled in the rolling hills of Florida’s Panhandle, Florida Caverns State Park offers visitors an experience unlike any other in the Sunshine State. While Florida is famous for its beaches, crystal-clear springs, and tropical landscapes, few people realize that it is also home to spectacular limestone caves. Located just outside the city of Marianna, this remarkable state park invites guests to explore a fascinating underground world filled with stunning rock formations, rich history, and abundant wildlife. Exploring The Caverns The park’s most popular attraction is its guided cave......
Cooler weather in the fall and winter brings out the campers in Florida. There are few places for outright boondocking in Florida, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to camp. I have tried to compile a guide to some of the best inexpensive, even free, camping spots in the state....
Florida Mangroves are among the most abundant trees on the planet, covering temperate and tropical intertidal shorelines around the world. But as development sprawls in coastal areas, mangroves are disappearing at an alarming rate....
As I teetered at the top of the hill, the words “insurance copay” kept running through my mind. Below all I could see was a gauntlet of roots, rocks and chewed up sand ready to grab my front wheel and launch me over the bars. When you go mountain biking on the Cross Florida Greenway in Ocala, be prepared to get a little lost and a little bruised. Or as one mountain biking friend says, “you get a little mud and a little blood”. But you’re going to have a lot of fun....
Let’s face it, we all want to walk that path through the dunes and find that secluded place in the sun…Florida uncrowded beaches. Florida has over 1,500 miles of coastline. Surely, we can find a quiet spot all our own. But in today’s Florida all too often this is what we find....
It is said by some that America’s big national parks in the west…Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier…shout to nature lovers, but Florida’s Everglades speaks with a whisper. It takes a special person to hear that whisper, and be able to bear the heat, mosquitos, and wildness of Florida’s Everglades....
Florida’s Pine Island. Fish On! Florida’s Pine Island sits off the southwest Florida coast, just north of Fort Myers, tied to the mainland by a tenuous two-lane drawbridge, and is arguably the most laid-back island in the Sunshine State. There are no beaches, few hotels, no high-rise condos. So what draws people to Pine Island? Fish! Lots of fish!...
The Camping Trip That Didn’t Go As Planned (But Still Worked) by Fred Mays (October, 2025) My plan was to spend a week in North Florida in October camping at two parks that I had never camped at before. Things didn’t work out as expected. The weather people were calling for a cold front, making the weather perfect for camping. That didn’t happen. It was hot and extremely humid. So much for the forecast. My first stop was to be Fort Pickens at Pensacola, on the Gulf Islands......
The Hillsborough River State Park is located northeast of Tampa, just outside Thonotosassa. It has lots to offer…camping, kayaking, bike trails, hiking trails. The Hillsborough River runs right through the park, hence the park’s name. The river is one of the few spots in Florida that you can find rapids....
Hidden Acres Rescue -Thoroughbred Horse Rescue Originally published in Space Coast Living Magazine Words and pictures by Fred Mays “And DOWN the stretch they come…”. That was the memorable call of Triple Crown TV announcer Dave Anderson as the thoroughbred’s turned on the speed and sprinted for the finish line. Those high stake races are known as the most exciting two minutes in sports. Hidden Acres Rescue Very few race horses make it to the Triple Crown field. Most spend their short careers enticing bettors at small tracks,......
The spring months are the perfect time to explore hiking trails in Florida. The weather is still cooler, there are fewer bugs, and dryer hiking conditions. There are thousands of miles of hiking trails in the state. State and local parks all feature hiking trails. Most of us are familiar with hiking stories about the Appalachian Trail that runs over 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine. We’ve all probably heard about the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, through California, Oregon and Washington. Florida has its own long distance trail....
Historic Melbourne Beach Pier If you’re beachside and looking for a quiet place to watch a sunset, head for the Melbourne Beach Pier, on the lagoon side of the island. Located at the far west end of Ocean Avenue and Riverside Drive, the pier juts 650 feet out into the Indian River Lagoon. It’s a perfect spot for sunsets, fishing, and perhaps even seeing dolphins and manatees in the lagoon....
Swim with manatees in Crystal River, Florida Manatee photo by Miles Saunders, Discover Crystal River There is only one place in Florida where you can legally get in the water and swim with manatees. That place is Crystal River, on the Gulf coast, north of Tampa Bay. More specifically Three Sister’s Springs at King’s Bay. They come to the springs every winter to seek out the relatively warm water. Manatees can’t survive long in water under 70 degrees. The springs stay at 72-73 degrees year-round. The peak season......
Paynes Prairie is unique in the Florida State Park system. First off, at 21,000 acres, it is one of the largest parks in the state. But more unique than that, it is home to free roaming bison and wild horses....
Ponce Inlet Lighthouse The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse rises 175 feet above the sandy soil in Volusia County, the tallest lighthouse in Florida. It is one of only six of the 30 lighthouses in Florida that are open to the public. The lighthouse is located on the north side of the Ponce Inlet channel, about 10 miles south of Daytona Beach. ...
Florida has more freshwater springs than any place on earth. The state DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) lists over 1,000 springs in the state. There’s no exact number on record....
Tips For Florida Hiking Fun & Safety We’re into the hiking season in Florida. Cooler temps, lower humidity make for an ideal time to explore some of Florida’s many hiking trails. I thought this is a good time to list some safety tips for your preparation for hiking in Florida. 1- Things you need in your backpack Cell phone (with charger and cable) Compass (and know how to use it) Flashlight (I’ve gotten stuck on a trail in the dark) Trail map (usually available at trail heads) First......
by Fred Mays (November 2025) The Fall through Spring are top camping months in Florida. As you may know I am an avid camper. I particularly like camping in Florida State Parks, especially as a senior Florida resident I get a half price discount on the campsites. But one county park makes my list of top camping destination for 2026. I’ve camped at all but one of these, and rate them for access, privacy, nature experiences, and clean restrooms. Keep in mind these parks get pretty busy, especially......
Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area One of the closest wilderness hiking destinations to Orlando is the Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area in east Orange County, near the town of Christmas, about 30 miles from downtown Orlando. The Toso spans about 30,700 acres of pristine Florida pine and scrub land. There are numerous hiking options in Toso. Perhaps the most traveled is the section of the Florida National Scenic Trail that runs through the WMA. Much of the trail is tree shrouded, providing a shaded canopy to make hiking comfortable, even......
Even though I’ve been traveling and exploring Florida for over 40 years, I still have a bucket list. This past week I checked the #1 item off the list…tubing down the Ichetucknee River, north of Gainesville....
Cooler weather and cooler water lures manatees to their safe warm water homes for the winter in Florida. Manatees begin to migrate from the waters of rivers and the Gulf in November, when ambient water temperatures drop below 70 degrees.The colder the water gets the more they huddle together in the relative warmth of springs and shallows of bays and inlets. ...
If you want to get away from it all for a while, head to southwest Florida. Between Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve, Ten Thousand Islands Wildlife Management Area, and two state parks there is over 3,700 square miles of wilderness awaiting. ...
