Florida, Yes, Florida, Has One Of The Best Winter Hikes
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When it comes to winter outdoor adventures to jump into, you are typically either strapping your boots or lacing them up. To recognize the latter, Travel and Leisure recently named the eight best winter hikes in America, and a Florida destination made the list.
“In the winter, the best hiking trails across the U.S. mostly clear out — you can walk for miles without seeing another soul,” Travel and Leisure exclaims. They also note, many people turn away from winter hikes simply because they are not prepared with the proper gear.
Sure, there are some major technique differences between winter and warm weather hiking in northern regions of the country. This includes having comfortable boots vs. boots that can dig into ice and snowy conditions. Of course, the proper clothing and covering is necessary. In Florida, this means, making sure your clothing is lightweight and you have plenty of water to keep hydrating.
Of the eight hikes that were named as the best for the winter, this Florida trail was the only one in south to make the list. In fact, five of the eight are located out west. Only Cumberland Trail in Tennessee and Acadia National Park in Maine were locations not out west to make the list.
Appropriately, in Florida, the trail named as one of the best winter hikes, requires us to head up north.
Suwannee River State Park – Florida National Scenic Trail
Winter in Florida is significantly different than winter up north, a hike during this season in the Sunshine State can have a different appeal. For starters, this could simply mean hiking during the winter season where the temperature could drop to 60 or 70 degrees. For out-of-staters, this could mean escaping the cold and heading down to Suwannee River State Park during the winter.
Regardless, here are some important details about this trail. “Explore a white-sand beach and the sinks, swales, and sloughs found within the 2,500-acre Suwannee River Water Management District,” Travel and Leisure suggests. In addition, Florida State Parks calls this region a “hiker’s paradise.” It offers over 18 miles of hiking space, and even paths for runners to take it all in.
Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country
According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.
A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.
The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.
Florida Bridges
In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.
“American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity,” Mr. Hudson explains.
What’s fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America’s feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade
Let’s take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.