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☀️Your guide to the Sunshine State 🌿 Florida State Parks, travel guides & outdoor adventures

08/01/2026

From the archives: July in Florida ☀️🏖️🧨🛶🤿🍦

July is HOT so exploring can be a little limited, but it’s a great time for seeking out shady trails, indoor attractions, and activities on the water.

But my birthday is in July so I’m usually doing something! Past trips we’ve taken in July include: to Amelia Island area, Fort Myers, Tallahassee area, Mount Dora, Jacksonville, plus lots of springs, beaches, kayaking, and hiking in between!

07/15/2026

Florida State Parks I visited in 2026 🌿🥾🌳
✨+5 bonus adventures because why not!

While we haven’t done quite as much as I’m used to, we were still able to do some hiking, kayaking, and exploring in the first half of 2026! I’m so proud that I’ve still been able to get outside in this season of life with a baby.

I’m patiently waiting for cooler weather for more exploring, and looking forward to baby’s first national park trip this fall!

1️⃣ San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park 🌳

First Day Hike New Years Day! Our baby’s first state park! Taking the stroller was definitely a different experience but it was fine for a short trail!

2️⃣ Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - Bolen Bluff Trailhead 🦬

When the trail is dry enough to hike all the way out to the observation tower, we had to take advantage! I still have seen any bison here but it’s not uncommon!

3️⃣ Ichetucknee Springs State Park 🛶

We kayaked on Super Bowl Sunday, which ended up being a great day on the river! The weather was perfect, we saw a ton of wildlife, and there was hardly anybody else there!

4️⃣ Wekiwa Springs State Park 🌿

A quick weekend trip to Orlando led us to check out this state park. The boardwalk trail was fun and the spring swimming area was huge!

5️⃣ Homosassa Springs State Park 🐻

It was a nice day to see the manatees and the other animals at the park. They’re still recovering from the brutal 2024 hurricane season, but this is still one of my favorite parks!

6️⃣ Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park - La Chua Trailhead 🐊

The weather has been so dry, we went to one of our favorite trails recently to check the conditions. I’ve never seen it so dry!

*️⃣ Three Sisters Springs
We visited in January to see the manatees, and they didn’t disappoint!

*️⃣ Gemini Springs Park
This park surprised me with how beautiful it was! It was also super stroller-friendly with paved trails all around the water.

*️⃣ Kanapaha Botanical Garden
I love visiting botanical gardens, and my local one is no exception! It’s hot in the spring and summer but everything is lush and there’s so much in bloom.

*️⃣ The Backyard!
Anything can be an adventure, even the backyard or a walk around the

06/24/2026

Post your favorite paddle trip in the comments! I’ll share a few of mine. Up first is Juniper Run! 🛶

06/23/2026

Florida Summer Bingo ☀️🍉⛱️🌊

How many can you check off this summer? Head to my stories to share yours! I have some catching up to do 😅

I think it’s even possible to get a bingo with one day trip! For example… fourth column, I’m thinking Fort Desoto Park! 🏖️🍦 Bottom row is Everglades vibes 🐊🛶 What are your ideas?

Idea inspired by Travel Stamps | The Most Comprehensive Souvenir Network

06/04/2026

The stunning emerald green waters of the aptly named Green Springs 🌿💎

A short trail leads to overlooks of this gorgeous sulfur spring surrounded by trees and palmetto fronds. Apparently a little gator lives (or lived?) here and I was hoping we’d get to see him, but not this time. There are some benches and picnic tables in the area and a playground. The park also has access to paved biking trails.

I’ve got to step onto my soap box for a minute and talk about something that’s been on my mind since I visited this park: there’s no swimming allowed in the spring. I had to pull my Karen card and confront some teenagers who felt the rule didn’t apply to them. Unfortunately it turns out this a common problem at this park for some reason.

As an introvert who hates confrontation, this was very much out of my comfort zone. But protecting our wild spaces is something I’m going to speak up for every time. Please, if you see something- say something. The rules are in place to protect these very delicate ecosystems. If every person who thought “no one’s looking, it won’t hurt to hop the fence and swim for a minute” did it, all these places would be destroyed.

And on a related note: I know it’s controversial to tag locations on social media. I share these places, not to encourage people to go and overrun them, but so that other nature lovers can go see these places and fall in love with them too, and in turn help protect them. I totally understand and agree with the choice to not tag private or lesser-known places. The majority of my content is centered around city, county, state, or national parks. These are not hidden locations and I will not gate-keep public lands. If you read this far, thank you for coming to my ted talk 🎤 I hope you will join me in advocating for our parks and wild spaces.

05/31/2026

From the archives: May in Florida 🌻🌳🛶🏖️🌅🥾🫐

May is the last of the spring months before summer really arrives (even though sometimes it feels like summer is already here!) It’s a good time for beach days, paddling, sunsets and taking advantage of the longer days, and getting in a few more hikes before the summer heat really sets in. The trees are full again, the flowers are blooming, and the crowds are still lower before the busiest part of the year.

What’s a May adventure you remember?

Photos all the way from May 2019 to May 2026!

05/22/2026

From hiking and biking to snorkeling, paddling and more, there’s a park for every type of adventurer in the Sunshine State.

05/15/2026

🫐 Blueberry season is winding down! If you want to pick your own fresh berries, head to your local farm this weekend! Nothing beats fresh juicy blueberries straight from the bush!

Blueberries are my favorite u-pick fruit because they’re so easy to pick! The bushes are tall so there’s no bending down (looking at you, strawberries 😅), and it’s a great activity for all ages.

What’s your favorite way to use fresh blueberries? 🫐

05/14/2026

10 Unique Florida Adventures to Try This Summer!
☀️🛶🦩⚓️🥞🤿🌟🌳

📩SAVE✨ this post for when you’re trying to make a plan for a fun summer weekend!

☀️Walk the streets of the oldest city in the U.S. in St. Augustine: there’s so much to see and do in this historic city!
☀️Catch sunrise on the east coast and sunset on the west coast in the same day: take a mini road trip across the state and experience something that’s not possible in most other states.
☀️Swim, kayak, or tube in a crystal-clear spring: with dozens to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. Just remember to get there early on a weekend!
☀️Go glamping in Everglades NP: spend the night with electricity and no bugs in Flamingo in the Everglades!
☀️Stop at an Old Florida roadside attraction: from dinosaur attractions to pancakes and everything in between, Florida is known for its historic and quirky tourist stops.
☀️Watch a meteor shower from the beach: the beach may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about stargazing, but it can be surprisingly dark and provides a view without obstructions like trees. Camp at a beach state park for access to undeveloped shorelines!
☀️Climb down inside a sinkhole at Devil’s Millhopper State Park: does it get more Floridian than that?
☀️Have a picnic under the shade of a giant oak tree: Florida has some huge oak trees, and summer is the perfect time to take advantage of their shade!
☀️Feed a flamingo at Sarasota Jungle Gardens: still one of my favorite experiences, and we love a good botanical garden. Great for all ages.
☀️Take a boat to a remote island: whether one of the national parks or one of the other stunning islands, you just can’t beat the sandy shorelines and turquoise water.

05/08/2026

Built for river dips, long afternoons, and the kind of summer days you want to replay, our Summer Geyser Capsule is rooted in what we love most about being near the water 🌊

But as much as the river gives us, it deserves that love back. The best river days come with responsibility, too. Wear what was inspired by the river, then do your part to protect what inspired it 💚

Shop the collection, link in bio & let us know, how are you helping to protect the rivers?

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