Lakeland Highlands Scrub is a beautiful place to encounter native wildlife and plants. It holds…read moreremnants of Florida's ancient landscape. When sea levels were higher it was an island. There is a picnic shelter and portable toilet at the entrance and a boardwalk and gazebo over the lake. There are old phosphate pits nearby. There is access to the Se7en wetlands, a natural wastewater treatment area.

We've lived in the area almost four years and have only just heard of this place! Naturally, we ran…read moreright out to check it out. It's easy to find, free parking, no admission fees, etc. just park, and start walking. There's a great boardwalk over one of the lakes that connects some of the trails. If you keep going, it does connect to the Se7en Wetlands, as well. Check the map at the front entrance! I love a good nature trail, especially in Florida. This one is so quiet and peaceful! Not much wildlife, though; at least, not when we were there. We saw one pigeon. That was it. But it was still a nice walk. Note that these trails aren't paved and the farther in you go, the sandier it can get; like, thick, fluffy beach sand. Most of the trails are really well shaded, though! Also, leashed dogs are allowed but just know that if you connect to Se7en Wetlands, they are not allowed in that area. Very nice little hidden gem in South Lakeland!

The last time I went camping was in the 20th century, and I was an Eagle Scout. Wanting to ensure…read moreour first "camping" experience since then would be one to remember and inspire more, I chose glamping to reduce the heavy lifting. And boy, am I glad I did. Not because of the: - Ice-cold AC that felt like a personal Arctic breeze - Mini fridge that perfectly held all our essentials (and a sneaky stash of chocolate for S'mores) - Keurig coffee maker that made mornings in the wild feel like a cozy café - Extremely comfy beds that cradled us like marshmallows - Strategically placed fan keeping the cool air flowing and the bugs away - All in a safe, clean, well-appointed tent and campsite that made us feel like nature royalty But also for the pure joy of being able to immerse ourselves in nature with none of the hassle. In just five minutes, you could be on the river or fishing. We saw everything from alligators and turtles to amazing birds. The water was crystal clear, and the campers were extremely friendly and respectful. Even the shower water was hot with great pressure - a true luxury in the wild. For novices and pros alike, this is the perfect way to introduce kids and adults to camping. You get the best of both worlds - the thrill of the great outdoors with the comforts of home. However, a quick tip for fellow glampers: make sure the Velcro seams on your tent are sealed. Otherwise, you might wake up at 3 am to a raccoon staring at you eye to eye, munching on a bag of Cheetos. Trust me, nothing says "good morning" quite like a critter with a penchant for junk food and personal space invasion! In the end, our glamping trip was the perfect blend of comfort and adventure. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a first-timer, this experience is bound to leave you with great memories and a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors - with the added bonus of a good night's sleep and no backaches. Plus, you get to tell the tale of your midnight raccoon rendezvous - a true badge of glamping honor!

I made a reservation for August 7 and 8 and canceled it in writing on July 18. I received no…read moreresponse until July 22 from Sarah asking if I wanted to cancel "as the final balance is scheduled to be charged on Friday". I sent another email asking for cancellation and Sarah says "I have canceled your reservation". The reservation should already have been canceled, based on my July 18 written request.

You'd never guess this beautiful park is tucked between Tampa and Brandon, right near the highway…read more For just $2, it's an incredible little oasis and a perfect Sunday evening stop. Parking is limited, but it wasn't busy when we visited about an hour before closing. The park features easy walking trails, a 0.3-mile boardwalk, a beautiful botanical garden, and my favorite, the greenhouse. It's amazing how much history and so many rare tropical plants are packed into just 31 acres. You can comfortably see everything in 1 to 2 hours. We spent the last part of our visit chatting with one of the groundskeepers, who was incredibly knowledgeable and clearly passionate about preserving the park's history and keeping everything so well maintained. This hidden gem is absolutely worth a visit.

Such a beautiful place. I would have never thought all that beauty was back there. A really nice…read moreplace to take some photos. And that is what we did. We used this place to take some graduations photos of me. We got some great shots in the different areas they have inside the park. The pergolas. The gazebos. The bridges. They all add a nice background for photos. So many beautiful plants and flowers also. I'm going to take my granddaughter for a walk in there. She will love it too.

I love camping here! It is magical. We just don't love that the trails are closed off. So far we've…read morecamped here twice using the electric and water. In the summer we were in loop 1 and recently we grabbed a last minute spot in loop 2. Even though there were so many folks we still had a great experience. The dogs love that park. There is a 13 mile trail that is in and out and that would take us way too long especially with the heat. We adore this spot and will be back!!!

I love going to Hillsborough River State Park in Thonotosassa. We regurlarly enjoy its hiking…read moretrails, (we usually combined them all for a good for a 7 miles haul). The trails are tranquil and vary in difficulty from easy to somewhat hard. Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to watch the animal life of the area and capture them in photographs. There a plenty of benches and little nooks where to rest along the way, some good enough to enjoy a picnic! Besides hiking this park offers all kinds of amenities such as camping- (all, including glamping), biciclying, horseback riding, fishing, and canoe/kayak launching. There is a historical fort and grounds within but currently close for renovations, (I believe it is scheduled to open in November). At Hillsborough River State Park there is plenty to do to enjoy a great day outdoors!

This preserve is great for hikers and horseback riding. It is more aimed at equestrian, but there…read moreare nice trails to hike. The parking lot is huge and there is a shady picnic table and maps of the trails. The trails don't have the best shade so it's better to go when it is cooler or the sun is not as bright. At the end of the yellow trail there is a small creek with cool flowing water which can offer some relief for dogs that like water, mine relaxed in it for a while and really enjoyed it. There is a bench along the trail to rest if needed and water for horses. We saw lots of butterflies and some turtles while we were there. There was a sign warning if high water on all of the trails, but we didn't encounter any or even get our feet wet. Overall this is a nice park for hikers or people with dogs or horses, I would recommend visiting once the weather cools off.

Great place I live right down the road go almost every day it's a beautiful place with many…read moredifferent trails would definitely recommend

Awesome hike. Just be sure to take note that however far you walk away from your car, you have to…read morewalk that same distance back lol

Very nice place to spot and let the dog out!! Parking at the entrance and then before the trail…read morethere's a large space with grass and trees to run around. Then you pass an entrance and can start the trail

Nice place to walk-- very peaceful. Not many hikers out here today, but there were a couple of…read morepolite cyclists. Did see lots of birds & a few small gators. Lots of sunshine-- yea:) Oh, & of course bovine. I promised to leave my phone in the vehicle, which is just as well since each & every phone has gravitated to bodies of water from toilets & sinks to oceans:) Why not a lake:) If you love the outside, sunshine, & the stillness of nature, this is a great place to hike, although "hike" sounds as though effort was needed. The trails are quite easy here.

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.