On chilly days like these, thoughts turn south to the Florida Keys. While hikes in the Keys are strictly day hikes, short and sweet, tropical forests this time of year are certainly appealing! One … [Read more...]
Hiking the Tropics: The Wild Side of the Florida Keys
Deep in a tropical jungle, Ranger Joseph Nemec points out some of the weirdest plants I’ve ever laid eyes on. “This is a whisk fern,” he says, gesturing to a spindly green slip of a plant … [Read more...]
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park
Preserving more than 30 acres of tropical hammock north of Islamorada – saved from condo development in the 1980s, with support from local residents – Windley Key Fossil Reef is a very unique … [Read more...]
Long Key State Park – Layton Trail
The quiet, lesser-known side of Long Key State Park is the bay side of Long Key, a mostly-undisturbed and undeveloped fringe of mangroves and tropical hammocks along Florida Bay. The Layton Trail … [Read more...]
Long Key State Park – Golden Orb Trail
A coconut palm plantation. An exclusive fishing resort. Long Key has been many things over the past century. We can be glad it's now a Florida State Park, a place where you can camp along the … [Read more...]
Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is truly a botanical treasure, with the highest concentration of champion trees in one place in the United States—and none are over 45 feet tall. Current and … [Read more...]
John Pennekamp State Park – Wild Tamarind Trail
While John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is known for its offshore delights, its onshore amenities are not as well known. Two nature trails provide places to explore as you wait for a guided trip or … [Read more...]
John Pennekamp State Park – Mangrove Trail
One of Florida's most well-known state parks, John Pennekamp State Park is famed for its coral reefs, but not so well known for its trails. Two nature trails showcase the land-side habitats of the … [Read more...]
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park
The southernmost hike in the United States is one of the lesser-known attractions of Key West, where pub crawls are more popular than nature walks. Still, this classy and quirky historic city has its … [Read more...]
Curry Hammock Nature Trail
While Florida thatch palms (Thrinax radiata) are often seen in South Florida landscaping, they're a rare and endangered species in the wild. At Curry Hammock, a 1.5-mile interpretive trail twists and … [Read more...]
