Florida, Yes, Florida, Has One Of The Best Winter Hikes

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.

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.

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.

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.

Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.