Candid Florida

Lake Mills

One of the first Florida Trail Association events I attended was a picnic at Lake Mills Park in Chuluota, almost a decade ago. It was a delight to return and wander the lush forest – where Florida rhododedron were in bloom in the uplands, and the fern forest a deep green in the cypress floodplain – and enjoy a stroll along the lakeshore. This Seminole county park is an off-the-beaten-path favorite of mine because of its eminently appealing campground set in the shade of a scrub forest; I’ve camped here several times, and always enjoy being tucked away in the woods with a good bathhouse nearby. Large picnic shelters, lakeside shelters, and a playground round out the high points of the park.

Fishing at E.G. Simmons Park, Ruskin

“There’s a dolphin … right there!” The angler, looking to pick up a fish or two for the evening meal, had been moving from spot to spot around the park as I drove through, enchanted with my new discovery. I found her on an observation deck over a shallow lagoon, watching the surface break as a fin sliced past the mangroves.

Ruskin isn’t a place you’d think of for camping, or so I thought until I discovered E.G. Simmons Park. This was another foray off US 41, watching for those brown signs that signify that something natural is hiding around the bend. I’ve not known the eastern shore of Tampa Bay to be a place for hiking, but it’s a paddler’s delight. Clinging to slender mangrove-lined spits of land that jut out into the wide open of Tampa Bay, this particular county park has two campgrounds where you can launch a kayak right out of the back of your space, plus a beach with lifeguard and pleasant playground with a mini climbing wall. Paved trails link various sections of the park, and the winding road system is perfect for an outing on a bicycle with the tots.

It’s been about five years since I stopped in at Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville, and this time, the trails were open and ready for business. On my last visit, I was too close on the heels of hurricane damage in the region, and my time was short. Did a full survey of the beautiful trail system here, three loops that offer views of bayou, stream, and cedar forest, and tromped through the campground twice, wishing I had indeed finalized plans to camp here, as it’s one of the nicer ones I’ve encountered. The sites look out over the water but are in deep shade.  Whether you’re picnicking, birding, camping, or enjoying the hiking trails (soon to be discussed in depth on Florida Hikes!), this park along SR 20 is worth the stop!