Outdoors & Nature Walk & Roll By Gary McKechnie Search { Trails } at VISITFLORIDA.com A walk (or ride) in the woods. Sometimes that’s all you need to appreciate Florida. A quiet walk on a dirt trail cushioned by pine needles. A hike along a riverside path in the shade of sprawling oaks. Stopping for breakfast at an outdoor café during a Saturday morning ride along a rail-turned-trail. Across the state, thousands of miles of hiking and recreational trails o er something for every traveler, from the 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail for the seasoned hiker to shorter paved paths for casual excursions. Wherever you roam, you’ll be enlightened by Florida’s history, nature and beauty. Before setting out, visit the Florida Trail Association (fl oridatrail.org), the non-profi t that’s been caring for trails since 1966. They know all about the sights you can see only on foot or on a bike. And only in Florida. Grassy Waters Preserve In West Palm Beach, warm up with a short walk that gives you a glimpse of the Everglades, the broad and shallow “river of grass” that once fl owed unimpeded across South Florida. A simple boardwalk through the Loxahatchee Slough will lead you into an open and undisturbed marsh of still waters, cypress trees, ferns and pine fl atwoods. When you see the wide horizon open before you, relax in the shelter of a chickee hut. The wading birds, deer, turkeys and other wildlife that thrive in this environment are reminders that the circle of life continues even in the most distant reach of the Everglades. Grassy Waters Preserve, West Palm Beach PHOTO: DISCOVER THE PALM BEACHES OFFICIAL VISITOR’S GUIDE 4 35
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