Everglades National Park admission is free this weekend in honor of National Trails Day, along with four other National Parks in Florida that charge admission - Dry Tortugas, Canaveral National Seashore, Biscayne National Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Castillo de San Marcos. Enjoy!

On June 5, take the plunge into the Big Cypress Swamp on a guided walk led by the Happy Hoofers Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. It’s the perfect time of year to cool down on a swamp tromp, and you’ll have the expertise of local hikers in the lead on a 4 mile walk, starting at 8:30 AM off Alligator Alley. To register for this free excursion, contact Kay Ferrara at 954-609-4727 or e-mail happyhoofers@bellsouth.net

Oscar Scherer State Park south of Sarasota will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new accessible Osprey Trail around Lake Osprey. This is the second trail within this expansive state park to provide comfortable access to a forest setting for visitors with limited mobility, wheelchair-bound visitors, and families with strollers. The ribbon-cutting celebration is set for Saturday, June 5, from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., in conjunction with National Trails Day.

Visitors can enjoy free admission to the Park, free hot dogs (while they last), music by Turn Back Time and a relaxing walk along the shore of Lake Osprey on the new natural-surface trail.

Saturday Jun 5 is National Trails Day, with hundreds of events being held throughout the United States, including here in Florida. I’ll share some specific guided hikes and special celebrations on the blog this week, but to get going tracking down an event near you, check into the American Hiking Society web site

To honor National Military Appreciation Month, this Sunday, May 16, all Florida State Parks except the Skyway Fishing Pier are offering free day use admission to all visitors.

Get out and enjoy your state parks … and honor the men and women who serve.

Not sure what park is right for you?

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