If you're looking for an up close and personal experience with nature, this might just be the place…read moreyou've been looking for. Depending on when you visit you may experience total isolation from the outside world, I have to be honest it can be a little intimidating if you aren't a brave soul this is nothing like visiting a zoo. As beautiful as this place is being aware of your surroundings is of the utmost importance, the wildlife here has little fear of man and I'm not sure they understand that man is at the top of the food chain. The trails are well maintained but if you are the adventurous type and choose to get a little closer look it's likely you could be considered an intruder and some inhabitants may resort to the laws of self-preservation and become a little aggressive. I don't think exhibiting risky behavior exposes you to imminent danger of being attacked but walking up on a alligator or snake could be taken as a threatening act to some of those that call this home. Although alligators can be viewed and may seem harmless from a distance I don't recommend getting too close they are hunters and you may be considered prey and remember you are in their environment so who do you think the advantage goes to. There are plenty of great vantage points to get that perfect photo without risking your welfare so stay on the trails and follow the recommendations on the posted signs and you'll have a great day and remember keeping quite and still may present a very rewarding experience, nature is defined as "the material world, especially as surrounding humankind and existing independently of human activities" we all act differently when we are alone at our homes with no visitors around, the same applies here...

Fantastic slice of nature. If familiar, it's a cross between Paynes Prairie and Orlando Wetlands…read morepark. There are two parking areas We parked in the Myaka trail area. Started in a woodsy area surrounded by swamp. It led to an open area around the lake. Which is where we ran into three otters playing on the trail. We were attempting to head to the Audobon overlook but didn't want to disturb them. Well groomed path. Recommended for a cloudy or cooler day as there is little cover. There is another trail, the live oak trail, which we will explore on another trip. Worth the drive from Orlando

Ponce Preserve is a hidden gem located along the Port Orange intercostal. Some friends and I wanted…read moreto explore some local parks and hiking trails to enjoy what Florida has to offer, and we stumbled along this preserve. There's ample parking areas within its gates. There's even a bathroom that has toilets that flush which can be hard to find at some community parks. There was a playground, picnics tables, beautiful oak trees and probably a mile or so worth of trails. You have two options when you begin your exploration-you can go to the river or close to the beach. The trail to the intercostal was my personal favorite, walking along the beautiful dock made me feel like we striding through the Mangroves. There was also a great lookout at the end. If you choose to head toward the beach, there's several trails that loop together and you can even walk over to the beach too!

Great place to relax at the beach and away from the crowded tourist areas. Limited parking spaces…read morein this area. Nice walking boardwalk to the beach. Great sand that is not rocky. Enjoyed my time here with family. Will be back.

Gentle river and cool…read morebreezes Riverbreeze Park is well named because no matter how hot it gets around here a cool breeze always seems to be flowing off the water. The park is 37 acres with 5 acres right on the water and the rest of the park is within a stone's throw of the river. The park has a great boat ramp that allows access to the river and cool paths that that circle around the park for some easy hiking. A huge boardwalk extends out into the river and offers some great fishing or bird watching opportunities. The park is open 24 hours and has some of the cleanest bathrooms I have even seen in a public place. The entire area was appreciated by the native americans for centuries and lots of artifacts and huge mounds of clams, oysters and other shellfish are still being discovered. The park is definitely a cool and relaxing place to sit, walk, fish or just become one with the flow of the river.

If you're looking for a few hours of serenity in a tranquil surrounding this may be the place…read moreyou've been looking for. Nestled on 37 acres between US 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway this park had a lot to offer including lots of green space to walk and explore, clean restrooms, benches and pavilions. There's a very nice concrete 4 lane boat ramp as well as a fishing pier.

Amazing service everybody was super nice and made the atmosphere great the building was really…read morenice. The seats were comfy and we saw animal bones. Learned so much. Staff were amazing. And YES we saw nesting turtle! So cool. Make sure you wear LOTS of bug spray!!!!!!

Excellent place to see Canaveral National Seashore., walk ways leading up to scenic views make for…read morea quick little hike with historical info provided...over 1000 years old. Our family loved it..

Trees fires and…read moreturpentine The Buncombe Hill Trail is a relatively short but very interesting trail in the huge Tiger Bay State Forest. It's an called an interpretive trail because it has lots of information on signs as you walk along the paths. The whole area got hammered by a monstrous wildfire in the summer of 1998 that burned almost half of the huge area. Now lots of young pine trees dot the area from the reforestation that took place and fire breaks, burned trees, and scrub from the preventive fires are obvious. This isn't a vast or strenuous hike, it's best to go slow and read the signs and look for different critters and plants. It's well marked and very easy to hike and a nice place to take the little ones to teach them about nature. Lots of strange and exotic flora in the forest, and having the signs identify them is a cool idea. There is even the remains of an old turpentine camp that housed the workers that produced the pitch, rosin and turpentine. Just pieces are left and it would be easy to walk right by it if not for the markers. A cool place to come for a couple of hours of slow hiking and learning. There is even a little lake and picnic area for when you are through with the hiking. A very cool place that allows you to learn while you walk.

This park features free parking, a beach access ramp, picnic tables, a public-use, charcoal grill,…read morea pet-waste clean-up station, restrooms, and a water fountain. We happened to pass by this spot as we were looking for beach access. We're so glad we did! The area was clean and peaceful. Please note, it is a very small picnic area.

Over four years ago, I left an amazing recommendation for Horseshoe Park and Fairy Trail. My review…read morestill stands! I returned, like I said, 4+ years later with a different son, who equally enjoyed it just as much as my last son. I have to say I equally enjoyed it myself. It has changed a little bit since the last time I had been there. I think that is what made it all the more interesting to look around! The same would be boring! I love the horseshoe Park and Fairy Trail. That little girl inside of me always comes out when I go there. So thank you for that.

Cool park kinda cool and creepy lots of gnomes and fairy's butterfly's all randomly placed in a…read moreartful type of way

A park with an…read moreocean Callalisa Park is a small place that serves as a place to go to another place.. It doesn't really have an ocean but it does have a nice boat ramp and parking area. From the park you can get into Callalisa Creek, then into the Indian River, then into the Intracoastal Waterway and then into the Atlantic Ocean if you want. Not a whole lot in the small park, just some benches and trash cans but it is a great place to fish or better yet launch a boat and go somewhere else. No bathrooms or drinking water and the parking lot does get bumpy and muddy in the wet season but the park and ramp is a very convenient place to get access to some very cool water.