All 9 people on our fossil tour had an AMAZING time!!! Afterwards, we were on a fossil high! We all…read morefound LOTS of shark's teeth in addition to larger fossils like deer, dolphin, turtle, stingray, whale, bison, ancient horse, mammoth, megalodon, and dugon artifacts, among others. My wife and I each found a rare pathological shark tooth! Chris, the owner, was an amazing guide and made sure that everyone was on good material. He gives a very informative talk before the fossil hunt, demonstrates how to use the equipment once you reach the river, constantly checks to see how you are doing and answer questions, then helps everyone identify their fossils after the hunt. SO MUCH FUN! It was money well spent!!!

Went on the airboat and fossil digging tour w my 11 year old niece. Our guide Sean was amazing…read more Very knowledgeable and helped the little ones dig as well. I was def afraid of getting into the river but felt safe w the guide and the group. The digging is hard work- and we were both worn out before the end! Great tour w expert guide and shout out to the gentleman who gave us such a fun airboat ride!

We had a great time walking the preserve. There is a parking lot with a handicapped porta potty on…read moresite that was clean. My sister and I planned to walk a few miles so we brought a backpack cooler with drinks and lunch. We walked a total of 6.5 miles. Most the of the trails did have some shade. There were numerous benches to sit throughout the preserve. We did end up coming to a dead end and had to crawl under the Bob wire fence but was totally worth it as the trail was trees lined and absolutely beautiful. We did see some cattle that moved out of our way. Lots of birds and some baby gators. It was a very nice hike and was worth it. We seen two other people on horses on the trails but besides that very peaceful.

I'm so glad that Walton Ranch Preserve is opened to the public…read more Great walking place and what is even more exciting it is a wonderful biking area. You can bike for miles on well kept dirt roads,best time to go is the dry season,after rain the Preserve could flood. I loved biking through the Cattle fields.Beautiful and timeless experience. Lots of cows few babys too.So beautiful and peaceful. Walton Ranch Preserve is not well known even by the locals,it only went public a few years ago. So this place is never too busy.Planty of free parking. Only has a porter potty,no real restrooms. Bring planty of water and plan your trip ahead. Not all the trails are well marked,so best if you make a map before heading out for your first hiking trip. As far as biking the best way to go is north from the parking lot kinda towards the Myakka State Forest although it is a long way from there. I think the farthest we went was about 8 miles. Beautiful,beautiful unspoiled Florida. For that 8 miles it was flat,hard packed dirt road,easy to ride even with a bicycle without any gears. No motorized vehicles. Safe with the kids. Minimal traffic. My only wish would be that I could take my dog on a leash here. Other than that it is fairytale like!

We recently spent four nights camping at Myakka River State Park while also making day trips to…read moreVenice for some fossilized megalodon tooth scuba diving, and this park was a perfect home base for our adventures. The RV sites are spacious, well-maintained, and thoughtfully laid out. Unlike many campgrounds where you're practically sharing coffee with your neighbors, Myakka provides plenty of room and natural vegetation between sites. It felt private, peaceful, and uncrowded. If you enjoy the outdoors, you'll never run out of things to do here. There are miles of hiking and biking trails, abundant wildlife, and excellent opportunities for photography and birdwatching. For those looking for a little adventure, the canoe rental outpost offers a chance to paddle the Myakka River and lake system while getting up close and personal with about 10 bazillion alligators. (The OG Floridian!) One attraction you absolutely shouldn't miss is the Trail and Observation Tower. The suspension bridge is a fun experience, and the views from the 72-foot tower are spectacular. Looking out across miles of untouched Florida wilderness really gives you an appreciation for how wild and beautiful this state still is. One word of caution: be mindful of the poison ivy. It's everywhere around campsites, trails, and wooded areas. As a native Floridian who should know better, I managed to find it the hard way and am still paying for that mistake. Learn from my suffering and keep an eye on where you're stepping, leaning, and reaching. Whether you're camping, hiking, biking, paddling, or just looking for a peaceful getaway, Myakka River State Park delivers. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are already "itching" to return. This time without the poison ivy. Pro Tip: Bring your camera, binoculars, comfortable walking shoes, and a healthy respect for Mother Nature. You'll be glad you did!

We took a short trip to Myakka River State Park and had a wonderful time. The animals were running…read morefreely. You could stop and look at them and they wouldn't run away from you. They encourage you not to feed them, but you'll see in the picture of the squirrel, he lives by the camp store and where they make food so I'm sure he raids the trash bin often. I had the feeling of being watched as I sat in my golf cart close to the store where they offer free Wi-Fi. Not more than 6 feet away from me. I happen to see two Beaty little eyes with a bandit mask on. A raccoon was watching me and probably hoping that I would throw something his way to eat. It was mating season for the alligators and I am a little intimidated by them so I don't get too close but they have one that's called big daddy and he is massive. You can get boat rides you can go fishing. They have a like a really tall truck that takes you through trails and wet areas where you can see the land and see some of the wildlife. They have beautiful sunrises and beautiful sunsets. If you've never been to Myakka River State Park it is definitely worse the trip. We love camping there.

We rented a canoe and opted for the 5-mile trip, although we arrived later in the day and had to…read moresettle for the 1:30 trip. Despite the timing, it was incredibly peaceful as the sounds of traffic faded away, leaving only the symphony of nature - birds, animals, and plenty of sightings of alligators and turtles.

Awesome time, great prices. Very friendly staff. I would recommend this place to any new kayakers,…read morealmost no current and a nice breeze.

Beautiful preserve. Great for natures walks and photos! Follow me on TikTok: MariaSocialsCoread more

Nice wide trails that two people can walk side by side. Dog friendly so bring your canine, but…read moredon't forget a leash. Not much shade and very sandy so make sure to bring some water. My favorite part is the pine tree area near the pond. The pine tree needles lay on the ground and when the wind blows the sound is melodic blowing through the pine trees. There is one picnic table to sit on for a picnic, but try and ignore the graffiti. There is an area that's preserved and protected for Burrowing owls. I wish I could have seen one or two, but no luck this time. There is traffic noise and watch for what looks like a homeless individual who had ridden a bike in.

If you want to change from beach scenery to more nature theme setting, try Caloosahatchee Regional…read morePark (CRP) in Lee Country along the Caloosahatchee River in Alva. You can set up camp, ride mountain bike and Equestrian trails or hiking in CRP. For mountain bike and equestrian trails, go to Parking Lot #3 known as North Park Entrance. For hiking, go to Parking lot #2 or Main Park Entrance. For camping go to Parking Lot #1 or Campground Entrance! You must register for camping and have a campsite assigned to you or your group! BBQ pits and benches are available. There is a lodge with a kitchen and ice machine that can accommodate up to 80-100 participants. Before you go to CRP, make sure you call and plan out your activity ahead. Some trials may not be available in the raining season. Check your mountain bike to ensure they are in excellent working condition as there is an advanced or more difficult biking trials. No dogs or alcohol are allowed in the park! Caloosahatchee Regional Park is a hidden gem in Lee County! Bring plenty of water and enjoy the nature, hiking or camping!

Really pretty park! Great for walking, camping, bird watching, etc. There are some beautiful…read moretrees here!

I love to bike here! The best place in Florida to ride challenging trails. It has something for…read moreeveryone! Greens to Double Black Diamonds!

Good spot for the kiddos to play. I didn't do much besides talk to my friend while her children…read moreplayed. Not sure what else there is to do there. Well there is camping ,trails and things like that.

I liked Turtle Beach even more. It's just so close to the free parking. It's super convenient…read more There's not so many people even on the Saturday before Mother's Day. People will gravitate towards Siesta Key not so far away for the sand etc. but it's so crowded and the walk to the beach is a hike. I'm so happy that Turtle Beach is not crazy busy like that. It is truly relaxing. Now, if u are ok with not having that fine powder sand this one will be everything else perfect. I'm ok with not having the same sand. That's the huge difference here besides the crowd. Yes there are bathrooms and showers not right outside the beach but just a little walk away.

Liked the beach itself, amenities are close by. Heard the shelling is usually grand here. Not so…read moremuch the morning we were there shortly after sunrise, so sat down on the black sand and prayed. I liked the secluded feel and the was intrigued by the difference in the sand from just a little further up on Siesta and Crescent. Recommend to at least walk the shore line.