OCKLAWAHA RIVER, FL — Deep under the shade of cypress, swamp maple and sable palms, central Florida’s Ocklawaha River runs clear and cool, even now in the stifling heat of summer. Out here on a weekday afternoon, far removed from the sound of civilization, you can kayak through a forest so thick you’ll wonder if […]
Ocala National Forest
Alexander Springs: A Favorite Florida Swimming Hole for at Least 10,000 Years Running
Take a dip in the cool, clear water of Alexander Springs, or kayak down the wild and scenic spring run, and you’ll get a taste of why this swimming hole has been popular for at least 10,000 years. The ancient Timucuan Indians enjoyed the springs for the same reason people go today: “It was a […]
Silver Glen Springs: A Scenic Jewel of Ocala National Forest
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 […]
Juniper Springs Wilderness Experience
JUNIPER SPRINGS STATE PARK, FL — As the sun rises over the tall grass and scrub pines of Juniper Prairie Wilderness, lighting up the mist on Hidden Pond, the only sound is the gentle breeze in the trees and the occasional call of scrub jays or the echo of woodpeckers. Here in the nation’s southernmost […]