• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Florida Traveler

Off-beat day trips and things to do in Florida.

  • Florida History
  • Florida Oddities
  • Florida State Parks
  • Florida Day Trips
  • Florida Springs
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Search
Home / Archives for Florida State Parks

Florida State Parks

Rainbow River Tubing: An Existential Adventure

By Michael Warren

Tubing the Rainbow River

RAINBOW RIVER STATE PARK, FL — They say that any dead fish can float downstream. But so what? If we discovered a live fish that managed to float downstream of its own volition, choosing the simple pleasure of idleness on a sunny afternoon above the sisyphean drudgery of fighting the ceaseless current, we’d applaud that […]

Filed Under: Florida Day Trips, Florida Springs, Florida State Parks

Manatee Springs State Park: Chiefland, Florida

By Michael Warren

Manatee Springs

MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK, FL — When naturalist William Bartram visited Manatee Springs in the  late 1700s, he said the place was astonishing: “This charming nymphaeum is the product of primitive nature, not to be imitated, much less equaled, by the united effort of human power and ingenuity!” Two centuries later, much of that beauty […]

Filed Under: Florida History, Florida Springs, Florida State Parks Tagged With: florida manatee, manatee springs, william bartram

Silver Glen Springs: A Scenic Jewel of Ocala National Forest

By Michael Warren

Silver Glen Springs

SILVER GLEN SPRINGS STATE PARK, FL — If you can manage to visit on a quiet day — and it is possible, but not on busy weekends or holidays — there are few better places to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Ocala National Forest than Silver Glen Springs. “People tend to think there isn’t much […]

Filed Under: Florida Day Trips, Florida Springs, Florida State Parks, Ocala National Forest Tagged With: Florida Springs, Ocala National Forest, silver glen

Dade’s Massacre Reenacts Start of Second Seminole War

By Michael Warren

BUSHNELL — During the first weekend of January, hundreds gather from around the country to re-create an event that forever changed the face of Florida. It was late December 1835, and the U.S. government planned to begin its Indian removal in just a few days. One hundred and eight soldiers, under the command of Major […]

Filed Under: Florida Events, Florida History, Florida State Parks Tagged With: Dade Massacre

Paynes Prairie Wildlife Hike: LaChua Trail

By Michael Warren

Wild Bison at Paynes Prairie

PAYNES PRAIRIE STATE PRESERVE, FL — For a short hike with guaranteed wildlife sightings, you can’t beat the La Chua Trail at Paynes Prairie State Preserve south of Gainesville. This trail (3 miles round trip) is just teeming with critters: dozens of alligators, a myriad of birds, even an occasional herd of wild bison or […]

Filed Under: Florida Day Trips, Florida State Parks Tagged With: gainesville, hike, La Chua Trail, paynes prairie

Explore Florida Caverns State Park

By Michael Warren

Deep inside Florida Caverns State Park

FLORIDA CAVERNS STATE PARK, FL — Florida is full of caves. But unless you’ve got scuba equipment, special certification, and what some might call a death wish, you’ll never get to see most of them. Since Florida’s water table is so close to the surface, few of its caves are dry. Florida Caverns State Park […]

Filed Under: Florida Day Trips, Florida State Parks Tagged With: camping, cave, caving, hiking, panhandle, spelunking

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to Next Page »
  • Contribute to Florida Traveler
  • Florida Traveler Forum
  • Florida Travel Marketing
  • Suggest a Story
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 Michael Warren · Contact