OUTDOORS VisitSPC.com/Outdoors FLORIDA BOTANICAL GARDENS WEEDON ISLAND NATURE PRESERVE Weedon Island Nature Preserve encompasses 3,190 acres of lush wetland and wildlife-filled nature trails. Rich in local history, the preserve was home to indigenous peoples for millennia. See the artifacts from their settlement in the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center . Its long wooden boardwalk and 3-mile nature trail draw local birders. Kayakers favor its 4-mile paddling trail, which winds through awe-inspiring mangrove tunnels. Rent kayaks at Sweetwater Kayaks , located onsite. HONEYMOON ISLAND STATE PARK LAKE SEMINOLE PARK Lake Seminole Park is perfect for a quick moment of zen after contending with the city’s busy roads and shopping centers. Vast and scenic, its lake attracts watersports of all types, and it’s a favorite picnic spot for locals. Fish from one of its two piers or launch your own vessel from the park’s boat ramp. Joggers, walkers and fitness enthusiasts on wheels enjoy the park’s paved trail, which snakes through pine flatwoods in a mile or two-mile-loop option. GEORGE C. MCGOUGH NATURE PARK Known as “the turtle park,” McGough Nature Park tucks away a scenic boardwalk, shady oak hammock and mangroves lining the Intracoastal Waterway. Make it a point to visit the nature center, which houses live animal exhibits and hands-on activities for children. The enclosures introduce you to 22 rescued, non-releasable birds (owls, hawks and an eagle), and offers several environmental education programs. HONEYMOON ISLAND AND CALADESI ISLAND STATE PARKS Before the Hurricane of 1921 split the island in half, Honeymoon Island and adjacent Caladesi Island were one large landmass known as Hog Island. The current landmass features 4 miles of beach and almost 3 miles of trails with swimming, fishing, shelling, hiking and bicycling opportunities. It’s also a ferry launching point for Caladesi Island, which is famed for its jaw-dropping scenery. It’s a great place for fishing, picnicking, shelling, nature studies and marked kayak trails among the mangrove trees. FLORIDA BOTANICAL GARDENS Inspiration blooms at Florida Botanical Gardens. More than pretty plants and flowers, art and culture can be found inside and throughout the grounds adjacent to this lovely landmark. Amble along the gardens’ nature trail, where visitors have spotted a variety of wildlife amid a wide variety of native flora. If you’re around during the holidays, the gardens light up at night to celebrate the season. HAMMOCK PARK Immersing you in vast and varied landscapes, Hammock Park spellbinds with its dense beauty. Five miles of nature trails take you through watersheds and lush canopies. Three picnic pavilions, an observation platform and a play-ground area appeal to all ages. A butterfly garden attracts everyone’s favorite fluttery creatures with around 225 plants in 40 varieties. Signs say that a bobcat may still roam its 90 acres. PHILIPPE PARK Named for Odet Philippe, the first non-native settler on the Pinellas peninsula and the Frenchman who brought grapefruit to Florida, Philippe Park stretches across 160 acres of land purchased in 1842. Stunning views of Old Tampa Bay plus coastal mangroves, playgrounds, nature trails, bike lanes and a tiny beach provide a day full of fun. Most 52 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
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