Yesterday, my friend, Lydia and I drove to Kelly Springs State Park for fun in the sun and a day of…read morerelaxation. The park is about 40 minutes from where she lives off of colonial. You get to bring your own food and drinks. They also have a concession area where you can just your own food and drinks. At the state park, they have a concession booth and a restroom as well. The park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM and I have a recommend staying at the full day. It was so nice and relaxing plus parking was only three dollars. 10/10

Kelly Park was the first spring I've ever been too and I just fell in love!! Make sure you take a…read morefloatie because It is a lazy river type of spring. There is also an option to rent tubes outside the park! You have to get there SUPER early to get in as there will be a line!! You walk to the very beginning and the spring will take you with the current all the way to the end where you need to get out and walk all the way to the beginning!! I have seen a hand full of people trying to walk back while in the water but it is a work out! They have showers, restrooms and even a concession stand! You can even camp there and they have trails to walk through. The beginning of the spring is probably the deepest at -about 3ft and the rest is about 2 feet tall if that! There is also a kiddie pool area that is part of the spring. It was only $5 to get in for 2 people in one car and bring cash! It is a nature park and you do see wild life!! Only reason I gave 4 stars is because if it is peak season you may not get in unless you get in line by 6am Make sure to pack a lunch or use the grill there... they also have pavilions you can rent

This is a beautiful park!!! They have bathrooms, pavilions for picnics. air pump for bike tires,…read moresun screen dispenser and more. There is plenty of parking and the trails are well maintained. I enjoyed the view from the look out tower and appreciated plenty of signage along the way.

This is one of my favorite trails in the area that a lot of people don't really know about. It is…read morean easy pathway to walk and varies from gravel to paved and then even into just grass. You do need to watch the weather because if you're trying to do the loop it can get a little too marshy back there to make it possible. Bring bug spray. The horseflies almost carried me away. If you'd like to look at nature and just get outside and walk this is a great spot to do it. Watch your footing because some of the spots do get a little slick.

We so enjoyed our visit to this park! It was a low humidity, rather cool day. Perfect for bug…read morefree hiking and exploring. Wonderful boardwalk path, a great paved path, and we even hiked on the Cross Seminole trail. The river and dock were beautiful, but we didn't put our kayaks in since the current looked pretty strong. The camping looks really nice and the RV sites were large and had electric. Would like to come back and camp there. The park, paths, bathrooms, playgrounds were well maintained. Kudos to the people working there for providing such a beautiful place!

Rural, quiet, and peaceful, Withlacoochee River Park is a county park with tons of hiking…read more(including the Florida Trail!), camping, river views, fishing, and canoe launch. I was visiting Dade City on a gorgeous day and couldn't bear to eat lunch inside so this was my picnic spot and it was glorious. There was no fee or donation box; however there may be one for camping facilities so do your research beforehand. Highly recommend. Note: No swimming allowed in the river.

This is a pretty nice trail. It's a 7 mile trail with plenty of things to see like the St John's…read moreRiver. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid the Florida heat. You'll definitely feel the mugginess in the afternoon. Though it is a popular place to hike. It was actually quiet and peaceful. It's an easy trail but I wanted to challenge myself so I did it with a weighted vest on my back. In fact, I passed a few other hikers with weights on too . so if you're training for something, this place is it.

I've lived in Orlando 7 years and I've heard that the trails out here weren't the greatest,…read moreespecially coming from Cali so I didn't try many of the trails here. I'm so glad I finally decided to check this one out. The roots and elevation in some areas definitely made this a moderate hike. I was tripping all over the place LOL. 7.1 miles definitely added up. It was a great workout. I enjoyed the views and animal sighting. I will be back again!

The last time I went camping was in the 20th century, and I was an Eagle Scout. Wanting to ensure…read moreour first "camping" experience since then would be one to remember and inspire more, I chose glamping to reduce the heavy lifting. And boy, am I glad I did. Not because of the: - Ice-cold AC that felt like a personal Arctic breeze - Mini fridge that perfectly held all our essentials (and a sneaky stash of chocolate for S'mores) - Keurig coffee maker that made mornings in the wild feel like a cozy café - Extremely comfy beds that cradled us like marshmallows - Strategically placed fan keeping the cool air flowing and the bugs away - All in a safe, clean, well-appointed tent and campsite that made us feel like nature royalty But also for the pure joy of being able to immerse ourselves in nature with none of the hassle. In just five minutes, you could be on the river or fishing. We saw everything from alligators and turtles to amazing birds. The water was crystal clear, and the campers were extremely friendly and respectful. Even the shower water was hot with great pressure - a true luxury in the wild. For novices and pros alike, this is the perfect way to introduce kids and adults to camping. You get the best of both worlds - the thrill of the great outdoors with the comforts of home. However, a quick tip for fellow glampers: make sure the Velcro seams on your tent are sealed. Otherwise, you might wake up at 3 am to a raccoon staring at you eye to eye, munching on a bag of Cheetos. Trust me, nothing says "good morning" quite like a critter with a penchant for junk food and personal space invasion! In the end, our glamping trip was the perfect blend of comfort and adventure. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a first-timer, this experience is bound to leave you with great memories and a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors - with the added bonus of a good night's sleep and no backaches. Plus, you get to tell the tale of your midnight raccoon rendezvous - a true badge of glamping honor!

I made a reservation for August 7 and 8 and canceled it in writing on July 18. I received no…read moreresponse until July 22 from Sarah asking if I wanted to cancel "as the final balance is scheduled to be charged on Friday". I sent another email asking for cancellation and Sarah says "I have canceled your reservation". The reservation should already have been canceled, based on my July 18 written request.

Kicking off the new year on a new trail - and it was a great one! This trail is part of the Majorie…read moreHarris Carr Cross Florida Greenway that stretches from the Gulf to the St Johns River, the Greenway is a Florida State Park. This address takes you to the Landbridge Trailhead (approximately 1.4 miles NE of the actual I-75 Landbridge) and has separate parking and trails for equestrians -vs- hikers and bikers which is nice. There are bathrooms, a water bottle filler, a bike wash station, a few picnic tables, a bike tool station (although the air hose was cut) and all of it very well maintained given the impressive number of acres. The mountain bike trail intersected the paved trail so when we had enough bumps (hello, beginner here?!) we could take the paved trail a little while longer and all the back, thank goodness.

Came here for the first time this past weekend and really enjoyed it. We will definitely be coming…read moreback. At this trailhead, there is PLENTY of parking (when you pull in go to the right - it goes around a corner and there is where you'll see a couple of parking lots). There are bathrooms, a water fountain, and trail map here at the trailhead. You can choose a couple different trails - going to the right is a 3.5 mile hike (one way - so there and back is 7 total) that goes over to the 49th ave trailhead or to the left goes to Santos (7 mile one way). We went with Santos. Things were pretty clearly marked; however we somehow ended up on the bike trail at some point (there were 4 of us and we were busy in conversation so ya know, it happens lol), but was easy enough to make our way back so our 7 miles turned in to about 8-8.5. Worked out great because we ended up coming out where Santos Bike Shop is and took a Lyft/Uber back to our car at the trailhead. The bike shop was great, super nice people, plenty of knowledge in there. The trail itself is shaded for the most part, sun creeps in, but it's definitely shaded with all the trees. We saw a LOT of cool looking trees. I'm a big fan of being able to explore Florida (free is even better) so it's nice to be able to go out on the trails without having to pay to get in to parks or for parking or what not. If you have bikes, this is a GREAT trail to come to - the trails are separate as far as bike friendly and people hiking friendly which is nice for both parties. We really enjoyed and can't wait to visit again.

i had a great time walking around this garden located in winter park. there was a wedding…read morehappening, a family gathering elsewhere by the river, & the whole space was buzzing w/ summer energy. there is a whole area of the garden i have yet to explore but good thing is - it's free! i was a little lost on the map, it would have been nice to have a more clear distance gauge because some of the lines look like the trail is super long when in reality it's not and just the placement of buildings/parking too. i'll be back to conquer that map !! or maybe i'll stay a while and smell the roses.

The Gardens are beautiful and a great place to reconnect with the world. We went to see the…read moreNight-Blooming Cereus. It's a once a year blooming that is amazing. The trails are an easy walk and quite beautiful. I highly recommend it.

Unbelievable I can't believe this but only 10 months ago we visited a beautiful park and I was…read moreexcited to take dog back during cool weather. There's no more Park!! It's a trail with a thin line of forest on each side and mass production of houses on either side of the trail and trees. We tried to go off the trail to find more nature but they have destroyed it. The Deep Wound: How Environmental Destruction Harms Human and Animal Healing In the natural world, forests are not just ecosystems--they are sanctuaries for healing and life. When forests are destroyed, the impact ripples beyond what the eye can see. From a trauma EcoTherapy and Shamanic perspective, the loss of these sacred spaces profoundly affects both human and animal well-being, cutting us off from the very source of life and spiritual restoration. Forests as Sacred Healing Spaces For millennia, forests have been places where humans and animals alike retreat to heal. The earth beneath our feet, the ancient trees, and the rhythmic cycles of nature hold a profound wisdom that facilitates physical, emotional, and spiritual recovery. For those carrying the weight of trauma, nature is not just a place to visit--it is a partner in the healing process. EcoTherapy recognizes that human trauma is intricately linked to the trauma of the earth. Just as humans suffer from wounds of the psyche, the destruction of the environment mirrors and exacerbates those wounds. Forests provide safety, quiet reflection, and an energetic container to process deep pain. When these spaces are destroyed, we lose a vital source of healing. The Animal Kingdom's Silent Suffering Animals, too, seek refuge in forests, not only for survival but for their own innate healing. Trees provide shelter and medicine, while ecosystems offer nourishment and safety. When their homes are destroyed, animals experience displacement, stress, and often death. This destruction severs the ancient relationship of mutual healing between humans and animals--relationships where animals often serve as guides, teachers, and mirrors for our own emotional landscapes. The Consequences of Disconnection When we lose access to nature, our collective trauma deepens. Urban environments, stripped of living ecosystems, amplify feelings of isolation, anxiety, and grief. Without forests to retreat to, trauma survivors are cut off from the natural cycles that regulate the nervous system and reconnect us to a sense of belonging. From a Shamanic perspective, every living being carries a soul contract with the Earth. Trees, animals, and humans are interconnected through unseen threads of spiritual purpose. When forests are razed, these sacred agreements are shattered, leaving open wounds in the physical and energetic worlds. The destruction of nature is not only ecological--it is a spiritual betrayal that fractures our relationship with the Earth Mother herself. Healing Through Sacred Reciprocity Healing these wounds requires a return to reciprocity--a sacred exchange of care between humans and the Earth. By protecting forests, we protect the sanctuaries where healing can occur for both people and animals. Through EcoTherapy practices, we can reconnect with the natural world, remembering that as we care for the Earth, the Earth cares for us. It is our responsibility to stand as guardians of the forests, to preserve the living beings who inhabit them, and to ensure future generations have access to the profound healing that only nature can provide. In the heart of every tree and every creature, there is a truth--when we destroy the Earth, we destroy ourselves. Pamela Nations-Weissman (Namdag Tsomo) Shamanic Life Path Coach, EcoTherapist, Hypnotherapist, and Trauma Specialist "Truth lives in The Dark - It's up to each of us to bring our Truth into the Light and share it with the world. It is our duty as human beings on this planet to do so." I was saddened and sickened by this visit. tried to post photos of the massacre but wasn't able to get yelp site to cooperate.

"Withlacoochee State Trail is a 46-mile (74 km) long paved, multi-use, non-motorized rail trail in…read moreFlorida located in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. It follows along the Withlacoochee River and passes through the Withlacoochee State Forest. It is the longest paved rail trail in Florida." Probably the best paved trail in Florida. A little over 46 miles one way and has a lot of very scenic spots along the way. It is in Florida so it's fairly flat but it does have some elevation changes and some overpass over the busier/wider state roads on the route. Multiple trailheads w parking lot and restrooms. My favorite trailhead is the one in Inverness. Beautiful town along the route.

I had a group meet up here for a fun time of food and games. This was my first time at this park…read moreand overall a good experience. Apparently, the pavilions are first come first served. A sweetheart from the group arrived at 6 am and was able to secure a nice pavilion on the lakeside, adjacent to the restrooms and across from plenty of parking. The pavilion come with a grill (we didn't use) and a large trash bin nearby. The area had a few trees around and was nicely shaded, this made the combination of good weather result in a really good experience. There is a nice trail for walking, hiking and cycling. Near the parking, there is a play area for children and a fenced dog park area. Overall, I thought I had a good experience and think that it is a fabulous area. I do hope to get back out here at some point in the future.

Lake Hiawatha Preserve Park - Frisbee Golf (Disc Golf Course)…read more Finally, a legit 18-hole disc golf course near Clermont, Florida. It's also a great place to bring your dogs! They have a nice fenced in area to let your dogs mingle and play with other dogs off the leash and there's a trail and some back country you can take them and run with. The good: - Solid mix of wooded technical holes and a few open bombers around the lake. Holes 4-8 along the water are gorgeous, especially at sunset. - Tee pads are concrete and in great shape (huge upgrade from the old rubber mats). - New Mach X baskets catch well and the bright yellow bands make them easy to spot. - Multiple pin positions on several holes keep it fresh -- they move them every few months. - Free parking, clean porta-potty near hole 1, and the course flows really well. Rarely any backups even on weekends. The "eh": - Can get soggy after rain (bring boots in spring). A couple fairways hold water like a sponge. - Hole 13's long position is a total prayer across the marsh -- fun once, frustrating the other 19 times. Highly recommend for intermediate and up. Beginners might get humbled on the back 9, but that's how we all learn! Will keep coming back. 4.5 stars rounded down only because mother nature still wins sometimes.