If I lived anywhere near here, we'd be at this spring every weekend! There were no crowds present…read moreduring our off-season visit on 9-25 and the water was still between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit. That is how the spring is year-round. We paid a $5 vehicle entry fee to the park, brought our own tubes and stripped down to our swimwear before walking to the start of the run (Rock Springs Run). We found ourselves a slippery rock to launch from and away we went! The current is strong, so you fly through the run pretty quickly up until you reach the "spring head". There were lots of families just hanging out here, listening to music, picnicking and the like. Once you get past that part, the current picks up again. We saw fish, birds, otters, wild turkey and a turtle during our visit. We did not see any gators, thank God! It was so relaxing and serene (aside from a few Bluetooth speakers blasting some tunes). We didn't stay more than a couple of hours, having done the run several times. The park's facilities are meager. The concession stand isn't open during the off-season, the bathrooms were borderline gross, and the lockers were old, small, beat-up and you had to bring your own lock. We opted to cover the windows in our SUV and do our toweling down and changing there. As far as outdoor adventures go, you can't beat the fun you'll have here for $5/vehicle. The water is crystal clear, and you can just float the run if you'd like. Some people were snorkeling and digging for gems/crystals and shark teeth (not sure that there are any really there though). Good, clean fun for people of all ages.

What a beautiful little gem!…read more I've seen Kelly Park - Rock Springs pop up on my Instagram and TikTok SO many times, but I kept reading that it gets PACKED during busy season. My husband and I celebrated 13 years together on September 29th, took the day off, and last minute decided to finally check it out. I'm SO glad we did. It ended up being the perfect way to celebrate our love. We did the lazy river THREE times, and it was honestly exactly what our sore muscles needed. The water was definitely cold, but in the best way! There were spots where the sun would shine through the trees and hit my skin, and it felt absolutely amazing. I also loved that you can find your own little spot along the river if you want to hang out for a while. We brought our own floaty and just relaxed. I didn't really swim, but I tried walking parts of the river and, for reference, I'm 5'1" and the water was around waist-deep for me most of the time. The park itself is HUGE, and because it was nearly empty when we went, it literally felt like we had the whole place to ourselves LOL. They have a concession area, although we didn't grab anything, and the bathrooms were clean. Admission was only $6, which felt like such a steal for the experience. And the best part? It's only about 30 minutes from home for me! So happy we found a new little local gem. Definitely excited to come back!

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.

Great trial to connect to nature. Lots of wildlife and natural Floridian terrain. 10/10read more

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.

This was an easy jaunt from Tampa for the weekend. The "glampsites" are located in the Hillsborough…read moreState Park among all the regular camp sites. The accommodations are beyond comfortable- a/c, fan, fridge, coffee maker, outlets to charge devices, and a comfortable bed. We basically had the comforts of a hotel room while being on a camping trip. The esthetics and convenient set up ensures we'll definitely be back!

We went to Promised Land for our long awaited glamping experience only to be told that our…read morereservation had been cancelled. we were told that Timberline sent notification of such in an April email. Funny thing is.... we never received this email but lo and behold when we contacted them they were able to find our email and phone number. hmmmmm! Their irresponsible attitude leaves us bewildered. We will never have anything to do with Timberline again!,,

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.

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.

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.

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.